As they do every year, the folks at American Mensa hold a weekend o’ games, Mensa Mind Games, where Mensa members play, rate, and rank tabletop games submitted for that year’s competition. This year’s was held just last weekend, and the 2019 Mensa Select winners have been announced!
The winners are always fun and interesting games with a lot of replayability, an engaging play style, and quality components. So, if you need some new games to check out, why not give these a try?
Architects of the West Kingdom from Renegade Game Studios
Impress your king and build landmarks through the kingdom! Collect materials, manage your workers, and stave off your rivals. But can you earn enough Victory Points while making only morally good decisions? Maybe you need to make a few underhanded dealings. But how will your virtue be judged in the end?
Gizmos from CMON INC
This is not your kid’s science fair. In this one, players all compete to build the best machine possible out of Gizmos. Using four kinds of energy marbles, make Gizmos that interact with each other to create the desired results! Create the best machine and win the Great Science Fair, forever giving you bragging rights.
Gunkimono from Renegade Game Studios
It’s in the time of feudal Japan and you’re in charge. Do you earn points from new troops, or build your own stronghold? Pick the strategy that works for you, but you’ll have to keep your enemies at bay. They’re fighting to control the same spaces you are!
Planet from Blue Orange Games
In this game, you design the surface of your own planet to make it the most welcoming to animal life. To do so, decide where to put mountains, deserts, forests, oceans, and glaciers by arranging your continents in an advantageous manner. Create a hospitable environment and earn the most points by populating your planet with more animals than your opponents! Read GeekDad Jonathan’s review of Planet.
Victorian Masterminds from CMON INC
Players take on the role of master villains who are trying to take over the world. Players jump in, mid-master plan, to complete the job and take over before the other evil masterminds can do so. Send Agents around the world to get what’s needed to finish the mechanical monstrosities (of course there are mechanical monstrosities), such as resources, buildings, and scientists. And, while they’re at it, they can ruin the other villains’ plans! Who will rule the world in the end?
Have you played any of these games? Tell us about it in the comments!
