Board/Card game suggestions

[Rechan]

I recently sat down with a bunch of friends and played Munchkin. While one of the women took forever to grasp it in any capacity, it was fun. A few weeks ago, I also sat down and played Uno with my family, which was also quite enjoyable.

So what I would like is some suggestion for other card/board games that you can casually play with friends. My ideal is just something you can whip out and have a good 20-30 minutes. They don't have to be family/kid level games; I'm going off to grad school, so I just want something to toss out on the table at a get-together.

My criteria:

1) Not too complex. The aforementioned 'took a while to grasp' can be a problem that can slow things down. Something easy to teach, or easy to play. Not to mention the game shouldn't fall apart under the weight of its rules/mechanics (See: Monopoly). Although sometimes complex games can be very rewarding: Chess.

2) Not a lot of setup. Something that's like Mousetrap (with lots of interconnected parts that must be set out) is something I'd like to avoid. Compare to Jenga, which is fast to assemble.

3) Not overly long in play. Settlers of Catan I imagine takes some time. Same with Monopoly.

4) Not expensive. Descent may look fun, but $80 is a bit much to swallow.

 

[Particle_Man]

Once Upon a Time (a fairy tale story telling card game by Atlas Games). You get cards with words on them, you insert those words into your story or if someone else says one of your words you take over the story.

Lord of the Rings[/b] a Cooperative story telling game. You each play one of the hobbits and together you are trying to get that ring into mount doom. You play against the board (don't get the Sauron expansion sets unless you want one of the players to be the Big Bad Sauron).

 

[Mistwell]

Apples to Apples meets your criteria well.

On the Dot does as well (also known as Vitrail, in it's original french version, which means stained glass).

Many of the Cheapass Games will meet your criteria. I like Give Me The Brain a lot. Kill Doctor Lucky is good, and one of it's sequels, Lord of the Fries.

Bohnanza meets your criteria well (and it's a great game).

 

[Bumbles]

Pretty much anything from Looney Labs will meet your needs. Fluxx would be a good first choice, but Chrononauts is pretty good too, but a bit more involved.

Catan doesn't take that long, but it might last long enough to be a bother, so you may want to save it for occasions when you have time.

 

[knifie_sp00nie]

I'd suggest heading over to BoardGameGeek | Gaming Unplugged Since 2000. That site is custom-made for finding board games.

Some fun ones I've played that fit: Citadels, Drakon, No Thanks!, For Sale.

 

[Rechan]

Pretty much anything from Looney Labs will meet your needs. Fluxx would be a good first choice

I once played Fluxx sitting in a hotel lobby at a con. Very fun game.

 

[knifie_sp00nie]

Duplicate post.

 

[Rhun]

It is an electronic handheld game, but my friends and I have a blast playing Catch Phrase.

 

[The Ghost]

Race for the Galaxy and San Juan are both quite fun and can be played in under an hour. We generally can get a game done in thirty-to-forty minutes. They do lean a little toward the complex side, though.

Race for the Galaxy

San Juan

 

[Crothian]

Pandemic, possibly the best board game ever!!