BOARD GAMES

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BOARD GAMES AT WALDEN POND BOOKS
The popularity of board games has soared over the past few years, so of course Walden Pond Books has a terrific selection. Discover all the competitive fun and adventure to be had on top of a table with these great games. These are our current top 10 favorites, but you'll find dozens more at our store at 3316 Grand Avenue in Oakland. Stop by and browse, or if you know which board game you've got to have now, give us a call at 510-832-4438 and we'll set it aside for you to pick up.



OUR TOP 10 BOARD GAMES:


WINGSPAN
A competitive, card-driven, engine-building board game that will awake a passion for our feathered friends in almost any player. Players take the roles of bird researchers, bird watchers, ornithologists, and collectors seeking to discover and attract the best birds to a network of wildlife preserves. Each bird extends a chain of powerful combinations in one of the selected habitats. These habitats focus on several key aspects of growth: Gain food tokens via custom dice in a birdfeeder dice tower; Lay eggs using egg miniatures in a variety of colors; Draw from hundreds of unique bird cards and play them. The winner is the player with the most points after four rounds. For 1 to 5 Players with a typical game time of 45-70 minutes. Age: 10+

CODENAMES
Two teams compete by each having a "spymaster" give one-word clues that can point to multiple words on the board. The other players on the team attempt to guess their team's words while avoiding the words of the other team. The first team to correctly select all of its codenames wins. This multiple award-winning word game is both a terrific family-friendly game and one of the most popular party games ever! For any even number of Players (2-10) with a typical game time of 20-30 minutes. Age: 10+

LETTER JAM
A cooperative word game where players each need to try and figure out what their scrambled 5-letter word is, without being able to look at their own letters. They will rely on clues from other players to deduce each letter in their word, and at the end of the game, each player sees if they can reconstruct the word they were given - or not. This is a game that fosters an appreciation for collaboration. A group of new players ending their first game won't be able to wait to start a new game to show off their new-found skills of cooperation. For 2 to 6 Players with a typical game time of 30-45 minutes. Age: 10+

AZUL
A captivating and addictive strategy game with the goal of decorating Portugal's Royal Palace with a mosaic that will please the King. Players take turns choosing a selection of gorgeous artwork from tile "factories" to build patterned walls of tiles. This strategy game builds to the point where the game table itself evolves into a work of art. For 2 to 4 Players with a typical game time of 30-45 minutes. Age: 10+

ROOT: A Game of Woodland Might and Right
A competitive war game where 2 to 4 players battle for control of a vast wilderness. Players drive the narrative and the differences between each role create an unparalleled level of interaction and replayability. Ages 12+, 90-120 minute playing time

ARBORETUM
A strategic card game for the whole family that challenges players to create the most beautiful path through the garden. Choosing the correct cards and placing them in the most efficient orientation will score you the most points at the end of the game. With elegantly simple rules, Arboretum offers players surprisingly complex choices. Create the most beautiful and efficient path through the garden. Plant as many trees as possible, but make sure to save some to exert your control. Ideal for 2-4 players ages 8+ to enjoy in 30 minutes.

PARKS
A point-to-point resource collection game for the whole family based on hikes through America's national parks. The artwork is stunning - based on the National Park Service's Fifty-Nine Parks Print Series. A game takes place over four rounds, called Seasons, which collectively represent a single spectacular year of exploring the boundless beauty of America's National Parks. The ultimate goal is to have the most points at the end of those rounds, and there is a bevy of ways to get points: visiting National Parks, taking photos and meeting the personal goals on a hidden Year card. For 1 to 5 Players with a typical game time of 30-60 minutes. Age: 10+

EVERDELL
Within the charming valley of Everdell, beneath the boughs of towering trees, among meandering streams and mossy hollows, a civilization of forest creatures is thriving and expanding. There are buildings to construct, lively characters to meet, events to host. . . Players send their "workers" (hedgehogs, mice, squirrels, turtles) to different locations on the board to take different actions. They’ll also collect and play cards in front of them in a growing city to use the abilities from those cards. The objective is to earn the most points by building a thriving city before winter sets in. For 1 to 4 Players with a typical game time of 40-80 minutes. Age: 13+

BURGLE BROS.
Players are a group of robbers - each with unique powers - trying to pull off a huge heist without getting caught. To win, you have to navigate through three floors, open three safes, and get past all of the guards to get to the escape helicopter on the roof. If even one player is caught by a guard, everyone loses. An addictive game that blends easy-to-learn rules with brain-twisting puzzles and high tension excitement. Winning this cooperative strategy game requires stealth, planning, and a little bit of luck. For 1 to 4 Players with a typical game time of 45-90 minutes. Age: 12+

DIXIT
A multi award-winning game of storytelling and guesswork. Using a deck of cards illustrated with dreamlike images, players select cards that match a title suggested by the "storyteller", and attempt to guess which card the "storyteller" selected. Where most board games test your logic, wit, or even dexterity, Dixit tests your ability to toy with the imagination of your friends. For 3 to 6 Players with a typical game time of 30 minutes. Age: 8+