Upon its release, Dominion ushered in a whole new genre of games: the deck-building game. In Dominion, you not only play the hand you’re dealt, you actually select which cards go in your deck. Dominion has very simple rules, making it easy to teach and learn, and it has many expansions too. The game doesn’t skimp either, with tons of cards included in the box, including 25 different types of action cards. Since you only play with a random set of ten each time, no two games are the same. The game tops out at 4 players, making it a perfect couples game!
Released in 2010, 7 Wonders has quickly become one of the most awarded games in history. What’s so great about it? For starters, you can ply with up to seven players, and the game still takes only about 30-45 minutes. That’s because in 7 Wonders, players take their turns simultaneously, so there’s never any waiting around. One minus: adding up the score at the end is easiest with a pencil and included score pad. If you’re playing on Shabbos, you may want to keep some poker chips or a deck of cards handy to help you with the math. The first game is also a little bewildering, so don’t be discouraged! Wonders is a well-designed, fast-paced game that plays equally well with as few as three or as many as seven players. There’s even rules for a 2-player game, but the game really shines with three or more. If you’d like to play with eight players, check out the Cities expansion.
