Doing some research for my side project.
My current top favs - Agricola, Ark Nova, and Terraforming Mars. If any of those are among your favorites:

What are the things that you love about the game? What makes it more enjoyable than many of the other games? Likes? Dislikes?

I'll start. 🧵 👇

Technowatermelon. Elder Millenial. Building Farcaster. 

nf.td/varun

Unabashed gaming geek. RPGs, board games, and exploring the intersection of AI, blockchain, and the pen & paper. 

@v loves Ark Nova, it supplanted TM for him I hear

@rustopian any thoughts?

Gamer, educator, dev translator | Writings, memes, thoughts, and mints in /nerdery | lead /tabletop /gaming /sobriety

Terraforming Mars is much more tactical. You spend decision time on short term tactics, not long term strategy

So TM is easier for new players. In Ark Nova, newbs don’t have a prayer of hitting a good strategy in game 1. In TM, they do

But for gamers who’ll play more than a couple times, Ark Nova is a better game

Agricola starts you out at negative points! Probably best for games to avoid that and have a different baseline. Nobody wants to end with negative points

That said, the entire modern worker placement genre owes an incalculable debt to Agricola. And I really love the game.

Good point on the "short term tactics" vs long term....

TM is definitely easier for new players to get the gist of it (usually within 15 minutes of play time, even). That is one of the complaints I have heard of Agricola - it is unforgiving for new players.