What are your recommendations for 5 games under $25?

My last post instigated a lot of talk about whether or not there are many worthy games under $25, and also that $25 gets you a lot more/less depending on where you live. Games are already cheapest in the states because of shipping costs but also we have so many discount retailers that anyone who orders online is likely not paying MSRP. So I thought it'd be cool to see what games people recommend that cost less than $25 MSRP so that MAYBE the games are more attainable to people in other countries for around that price point. Here are 5 (well, 6) that I recommend:

1. Welcome To Your Perfect Home / Railroad Ink ....Both these games play great with high player counts because everyone plays simultaneously. They are also both very portable (especially Railroad Ink) so they're great for a coffee shop or a road trip. Not good for people who like lots of interaction between players as both of these games have little to no interaction aside from in Welcome To with someone attaining goals first, getting a point bonus. They're a relaxing good time though and very satisfying.

2. Hey! That's My Fish! ....Don't let the innocent theme fool you, this game is as cutthroat as they come. The most recent edition is practically pocket sized which is awesome but still plays to 4 players. Perfect filler game, bit don't be surprised if you play it over and over.

3. Jaipur ....I don't actually own this one but have played hours of it online. I prefer this to Splendor actually however it is only for 2 players but it's a lot of fun in a small box.

4. Forbidden Desert ....This co-op game is hard but its more fun than it is difficult. Great entry level game that experienced players can still have fun with. I find that although one player may try and make decisions for everyone because it is co-op and there are no secret hands, the decisions are so tough to make that everyone discusses and debates every decision, especially in the late game. It's very collaborative.

5. Citadels: Classic ....This game has a ton of replay value in such a tiny package. It plays 2-8 (although for me its best with 4-6). Play time is usually around 45 min - 1.5 hours which is unusual for a game that costs less than $15. I personally like the recent edition which has an MSRP of $30 but it's a little more updated and includes expansions but I think this is a great deal for its size and replayability. Some players may not like the "take that" aspects of the game but my friends and I like it.

Honorable Mentions: Kingdomino (the Target edition...comes with a tower), Hanabi (best deal), Star Realms (compact deckbuilder), Hero Realms (Fantasy Star Realms for 1-4 out the box, but needs character expansions to make it shine), Onitama (zen Chess-like game for 2 players), The Grizzled (tough as nails co-op with amazing art), Kanagawa (really pretty drafting game for 2-4), 7 Wonders: Duel (probably my favorite of all these games but it's $5 over the $25 MSRP).

Submitted June 19, 2019 at 12:00AM by Mattdehaven http://bit.ly/2XXeXpo