Games to buy in Europe because they are not widely available in the US

Jonathan Franklin

(grandslam)

United States
Seattle
Washington

Recommend

It is becoming a FAQ to ask about what games friends should bring back from Europe.

Here is a list to try to address that issue.

Please only add games that are in print (or not rare) in Europe.

I will be pruning this list as games listed below become widely available in the US via FLGSs or a few of the big online vendors.

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Edited Fri Dec 11, 2009 6:32 pm
Posted Fri Sep 12, 2008 4:33 am

1. Board Game: 1936: Guerra Civil [Average Rating:7.84 Overall Rank:1227]

Arturo García

(arturo_garcia)

Madrid

The game is only sold in a few stores in Spain.

Arturo

0 comments

Posted Wed Jan 6, 2010 12:46 pm

2. Board Game: Alcazar [Average Rating:6.07 Overall Rank:3452]

Jonathan Franklin

(grandslam)

United States
Seattle
Washington

Sort of a Big Boss/Torres mashup.

0 comments

Posted Fri Dec 11, 2009 6:38 pm

3. Board Game: Aljubarrota [Average Rating:6.89 Unranked]

Jonathan Franklin

(grandslam)

United States
Seattle
Washington

Available through FNAC - not coming from Z-Man.

0 comments

Posted Sun May 9, 2010 8:20 pm

4. Board Game: Anno 1503: Aristokraten und Piraten [Average Rating:6.60 Unranked] [Average Rating:6.60 Unranked]

Jonathan Franklin

(grandslam)

United States
Seattle
Washington

This expansion was not released in the US, but is it still available in Europe?

0 comments

Posted Fri Sep 12, 2008 10:51 am

5. Board Game: Anno 1701: Das Brettspiel [Average Rating:6.84 Overall Rank:1743]

Jonathan Franklin

(grandslam)

United States
Seattle
Washington

Nice game so far (2-3 plays).

0 comments

Posted Fri Sep 12, 2008 10:40 am

6. Board Game: Anno 1701: Das Kartenspiel [Average Rating:6.42 Overall Rank:2467]

Jonathan Franklin

(grandslam)

United States
Seattle
Washington

Modified Settlers the Card Game from the Kosmos 2-player series.

0 comments

Posted Fri Sep 12, 2008 10:41 am

7. Board Game: Atlantic Star [Average Rating:6.96 Overall Rank:474]

Jonathan Franklin

(grandslam)

United States
Seattle
Washington

I saw lots of copies of this on a recent trip.

3 comments [Hide]

Posted Fri Sep 12, 2008 10:56 am

Gary Heidenreich

(bop517)

United States
Milwaukee
Wisconsin

I enjoy this one.

Posted Fri Sep 12, 2008 1:23 pm
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Douglas S

(Duglis)

United States
Torrance
California

We really like this one too. I'm glad to whoever sold it to me , here in the usa! I forgot.

Posted Tue Mar 3, 2009 1:02 am
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Jonathan Franklin

(grandslam)

United States
Seattle
Washington

Queen rumored to be rereleasing Showmanager/Atlantic Star. Might be available in the US in 2010.

Posted Fri Dec 11, 2009 6:26 pm
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8. Board Game: Auf Achse [Average Rating:6.35 Overall Rank:1389]

Jonathan Franklin

(grandslam)

United States
Seattle
Washington

There is an older edition and a newer one, but no US version or English language edition. Paste ups are on the geek thanks to DVA.

0 comments

Edited Fri Sep 12, 2008 4:19 am
Posted Fri Sep 12, 2008 4:17 am

9. Board Game: Big City [Average Rating:6.93 Overall Rank:447]

I suck at Bingo .... but I don't mind

(KrisVerbeeck)

Belgium
Mol

It's worth looking at 999 games. This publisher releases dutch versions of games. Quite often there are some copies left of games that are OOP by other developers.

8 comments [Hide]

Posted Fri Sep 12, 2008 10:16 am

Matthew Marquand

(matthew.marquand)

United States
Columbus
Ohio

Isn't there a reprint coming at the end of the year (2008) by Valley Games?

Posted Fri Sep 12, 2008 1:41 pm
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Show 3 more comments...

William (Andy) Anderson

(2ndPlace)

United States
Las Vegas
Nevada

Attention: Grammer error: Valley Games and the word "soon" should never be used in the same sentence. Use the words "possibly far in the future" to replace "soon". I had this on preorder with them about 9 months ago. When they did a reload on their website it was dropped and I had by then wised up and will wait until if really shows up.

Posted Fri Sep 12, 2008 7:14 pm
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J.L. Robert

(J.L.Robert)

United States
Sherman Oaks
California

2ndPlace wrote:

Y'all waiting on Big City have nothing on wargamers waiting for MMP's re-issues of PanzerBlitz and UpFront.

And let's not get started on Wiz-War...

Posted Fri Sep 12, 2008 11:23 pm
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Dea Draper

(familywontplay)

United States
Boise
Idaho

I read it will be out Spiel '10

Edited Sat Dec 12, 2009 1:05 am
Posted Sat Dec 12, 2009 1:05 am
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Tom Rosen

(Thommy8)

United States
Arlington
Virginia

matthew.marquand wrote:

Isn't there a reprint coming at the end of the year (2008) by Valley Games?

Reading this comment for the first time in May 2010 is amusing

Posted Sun May 2, 2010 5:15 pm
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10. Board Game: Big Points [Average Rating:6.53 Overall Rank:1295]

Jonathan Franklin

(grandslam)

United States
Seattle
Washington

Nice Tutankhamen-type game. Light. Part of the Schmidt Easy Play line.

0 comments

Posted Fri Sep 12, 2008 6:40 pm

11. Board Game: Blox [Average Rating:6.56 Overall Rank:1475]

Jonathan Franklin

(grandslam)

United States
Seattle
Washington

SdJ Nominee

1 comment [Hide]

Posted Fri Sep 12, 2008 4:29 am

I suck at Bingo .... but I don't mind

(KrisVerbeeck)

Belgium
Mol

very easy to be found. Ravensburger is something of a household name in belgium. So i was amazed that a shop (not a specialized boardgameshop) was carrying this quite quickly after its release

Posted Fri Sep 12, 2008 10:12 am
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12. Board Game: Breaking Away [Average Rating:7.44 Overall Rank:768]

Dea Draper

(familywontplay)

United States
Boise
Idaho

I am told it is still available in England, along with the bicycles in extra colors. One came up for sale in the USA on BGG at a reasonable price--I saw it right away, but dumb me had to ask what shipping was. While I was doing that it sold.

0 comments

Edited Sat May 16, 2009 4:30 am
Posted Sat May 16, 2009 4:27 am

13. Board Game: Burgen Land [Average Rating:6.20 Overall Rank:2695]

Jonathan Franklin

(grandslam)

United States
Seattle
Washington

Another in the Schmidt EasyPlay line.

0 comments

Posted Fri Sep 12, 2008 6:41 pm

14. Board Game: Cheesy Gonzola [Average Rating:7.14 Unranked] [Average Rating:7.14 Unranked]

Jonathan Franklin

(grandslam)

United States
Seattle
Washington

Chateau Roquefort expansion!

3 comments [Hide]

Posted Fri Sep 12, 2008 4:31 am

Chris Bailey

(ixnay66)

United States
Broomfield
Colorado

I'd like to get this as well.

Posted Fri Sep 12, 2008 6:56 am
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Jon Theys

(AnakinOU)

United States
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma

Most definitely. As silly as it sounds, this expansion to a kid's game is at the top of my "to get" list.

Posted Fri Sep 12, 2008 2:52 pm
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Jonathan Franklin

(grandslam)

United States
Seattle
Washington

I got a copy of this when Gordon made his offer to get goodies from Germany (Thanks, Gordon).

It is lots of air, but the tower is cool and it is nice in that the base game is still fun, but this adds zest to the game.

If you want this, don't forget the two tile Spielbox expansion (Burg Appenzell Erweiterung: Völlig mausgeflippt which is not in the European release of the Cheesy expansion. Yes, I'll admit to wanting to be a Chateau Roquefort completist.

Posted Fri Sep 12, 2008 3:08 pm
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15. Board Game: Cities [Average Rating:6.61 Overall Rank:1123]

Jonathan Franklin

(grandslam)

United States
Seattle
Washington

Take It Easy meets Carcassonne.

1 comment [Hide]

Posted Fri Dec 11, 2009 6:36 pm

Matthew Goddard

(mgoddard)

Canada
Toronto
Ontario

Z-Man Games will be publishing this in 2010 according to their most recent newsletter (Issue 13).

Posted Fri Jan 1, 2010 1:24 am
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16. Board Game: Code Omega [Average Rating:6.21 Overall Rank:3654]

Patrick Korner

(PatK)

Canada
Coquitlam
British Columbia

Stop poking me! Ow! I mean it! That hurts!

More puzzling goodness from the designer of Ubongo, this time released by Schimdt and also Europe-only.

0 comments

Posted Fri Sep 12, 2008 6:38 pm

17. Board Game: Coloretto [Average Rating:7.00 Overall Rank:273]

Sneezy96

(Sneezy96)

United States
Cranston
Rhode Island

The Russian version, Колоретто, has beautiful artwork.
Box:

Some of the cards:

I wish I could get my hands on a copy, but I can't justify $65 just for the shipping.

0 comments

Posted Sun Jul 24, 2011 10:53 pm

18. Board Game: Deukalion [Average Rating:6.12 Overall Rank:4008]

Jonathan Franklin

(grandslam)

United States
Seattle
Washington

Another in the Parker designer game series.

0 comments

Posted Fri Sep 12, 2008 10:33 am

19. Board Game: Dschunke [Average Rating:6.79 Overall Rank:807]

Jonathan Franklin

(grandslam)

United States
Seattle
Washington

I think this is still generally available, along with Atlantic Star and other OoP in the US Queen games.

1 comment [Hide]

Posted Fri Sep 12, 2008 10:56 am

I suck at Bingo .... but I don't mind

(KrisVerbeeck)

Belgium
Mol

True. A lot of queen games are still available in europe.

Bargain Hunter leiter nicht soblue

Posted Fri Sep 12, 2008 11:03 am
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20. Board Game: Futurisiko [Average Rating:5.59 Overall Rank:6273]

Mr. B @ Rockin' B

(cln777)

United States
Batavia
Ohio

Another Italian RISK variant.

0 comments

Posted Fri Sep 12, 2008 12:40 pm

21. Board Game: Gonzaga [Average Rating:6.76 Overall Rank:1231]

Jonathan Franklin

(grandslam)

United States
Seattle
Washington

Not sure when it will get to US shores.

0 comments

Posted Fri Dec 11, 2009 6:39 pm

22. Board Game: Graenaland [Average Rating:6.82 Overall Rank:1043]

Dea Draper

(familywontplay)

United States
Boise
Idaho

Good comments, graphics. Hard-to-find in US. I have been unable to get.

0 comments

Posted Sat Jul 4, 2009 11:37 pm

23. Board Game: Die Händler [Average Rating:7.07 Overall Rank:580]

Cory Williamson

(Koryo)

United States
Austin
Texas

Nine years and counting. Sill available in das Vaterland.

0 comments

Posted Sat Sep 13, 2008 10:23 am

24. Board Game: Helden in der Unterwelt [Average Rating:6.63 Overall Rank:3052]

Jonathan Franklin

(grandslam)

United States
Seattle
Washington

Return of the Heroes expansion! A smaller Europe-only expansion was Graalsuche - still waiting for Niebelungen.

0 comments

Posted Fri Sep 12, 2008 10:55 am

25. Board Game: Himalaya [Average Rating:7.08 Overall Rank:385]

Jonathan Franklin

(grandslam)

United States
Seattle
Washington

Cool programmed motion pickup and deliver area majority game. Actually, what mechanisms does this game not have?

0 comments

Posted Fri Sep 12, 2008 3:10 pm

7 comments [Hide]

Post Comment

Steve Kearon

(SteveK2)

United Kingdom
Cardiff
Feeling great. How about you?

Well I don't know why I love you like I do. Nobody in the world can get along with you.

There's just one last favor I'll ask for you. See that my grave is kept clean.

It's probably worth noting that these games tend to be available in Germany, but often aren't available in other countries in Europe.

In the UK, for example, I know of only one shop that stocks Keltis (SdJ winner) and they have to import them direct from Germany - they just can't get them from any UK distributors.

Posted Fri Sep 12, 2008 8:54 am
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Show 2 more comments...

Jonathan Franklin

(grandslam)

United States
Seattle
Washington

I think that a similar list for European coming to America makes sense, but I don't know what games are not available in Europe, so someone else should do it. Then all you Europeans can ask the Americans coming to Essen to bring you those games in their empty suitcases.

Posted Fri Sep 12, 2008 10:46 am
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I suck at Bingo .... but I don't mind

(KrisVerbeeck)

Belgium
Mol

grandslam wrote:

For instance i bought my copy of Vegas Showdown for 30 euro in a sale.
That was a steal because it is priced around 50 euro over here.

I'm sure if you brought a suitcase to Essen and sell them for 25 euro (around 35 dollars) you were out of them before the doors open.

http://boardgameprices.com/game.aspx?id=103808

I have seen sales on that game for as low as 10 dollar.

Posted Fri Sep 12, 2008 11:09 am
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Jason Cheng

(Zalasta)

United States
Catonsville
Maryland

Himalaya and Himalaya: The 5-6 Player Expansion should be qualified for this list as well.

Posted Fri Sep 12, 2008 12:53 pm
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Jonathan Franklin

(grandslam)

United States
Seattle
Washington

Jason, thanks, Himalaya & exp. added.

Posted Fri Sep 12, 2008 3:16 pm
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