The only 10 games you'll ever need

1. Card Games Around the World: a standard deck of cards

2. Chess: a traditional game

3. Ticket to Ride: a gateway game

4. Goa: a gamers' game

5. Ra: an auction game

6. For Sale: a card game/filler

7. Nexus Ops: a multiplayer conflict game

8. Loopin' Louie: a kids' game

9. Bausack: a dexterity game

10. Time's Up: a party game

Optional extras:

11. Lost Cities: a non-war game for 2

12. Commands & Colors: Ancients: a war game

13. HeroQuest: a dungeon crawl

14. Lord of the Rings: a co-operative game

15. Werewolf: a game for many players

To get names of similar games, comments on these games and other information about them — and every other game out there — visit www.boardgamegeek.com.

— Compiled by Tony Ackroydof www.boardgamegeek.com