We have so many games in our library it can be hard to decide where to start and which game to play first! We’ve asked our staff to provide their recommendations for what games they think you should be playing the next time to stop by The Malted Meeple.
Chrissy, Assistant Manager: Betrayal at House on the Hill and Sentinels of the Multiverse
Chrissy recommends Betrayal at the House on the Hill for players who enjoy the unexpected. This game is cooperative with a splash of competition with high replayability and always brings something unexpected and different each time. She loves the surprise traitor mechanic that lets players play the game without lying to people throughout the entire game.
She also loves Sentinels of the Multiverse and recommends it for people with a good sense of humor who like spoofy superhero stuff. The cooperative card game has a little something for a variety of card play styles. It doesn’t require a lot of investment, there are many variants if you want to dig deeper into the world of the game and it has adjustable difficulty levels for a variety of experiences. The game pokes fun at itself and each character deck has a backstory that adds to the fun and tongue-in-cheek humor of the game.
Jen, Team Member: The Resistance
In The Resistance you are all members of a resistance group set to overthrow the fascist regime in power, BUT some of your members are spies! The main mechanic is communication and each round you vote in secret whether the mission fails or succeeds, then you try to figure out who the saboteurs in your midst are using your powers of deduction.
This game that requires a good poker face and a logical mind, which is exactly what Jen loves about it. Bluffing is key so you need players who can lie with a straight face and players with good logical thinking skills.
According to Jen, “It’s extremely fun to be the spy and witness the chaos ensue from your misdirections and false accusations!” She recommends The Resistance for teens and adults.
Caleigh, Team Member: Codenames
If you are looking for something easy to learn, but still enjoyable for multiple skill levels, then Caleigh has the game recommendation for you! Codenames is a party game that blends a bit of the old school game Password with the groupthink mechanic of knowing how your teammates think and associate words.
You play in teams with a clue giver for each team and a bunch of clue guessers. You try to get your team to identify the cards on the table that “belong” to your team according to the key that only the clue givers can see. The trick is, you can only give limited cryptic clues and hope you know how your teammates think!
Caleigh’s favorite part about Codenames is you can play in groups of all ages and skill levels so everyone can get in on the fun! We have multiple versions of Codenames in our library so you can try the classic version with just words, play with your favorite Disney or Marvel characters in the specialty themed versions, or ask about our XXL oversized version of Codenames: Pictures!
We hope you’ll come see us again soon and check out one of these staff pick games. Share with us your favorite games in our library or let your server know if there’s something you think we need to add to our collection!
Maureen McCardel is a game industry veteran and has worked with publishers, designers, and retailers. She loves the logistical side of marketing and events and digging into a good spreadsheet. She is obsessed with circuses and survives on sugar and tea. Her favorite games include Citadels, Lost in R’lyeh, and Here, Kitty, Kitty!