It is difficult to find your way around the world of board games. What is a meeple? (game pieces made popular from the game Carcasonne). What is AP that afflicts many game players? (Analysis Paralysis). What is the difference between Monopoly and Designer Board Games? (miles and miles). Where do I go for news, reviews & prices on board games? Here is where I frequent on the net:
1. http://www.boardgamegeek.com/ . Simply the best place to find reviews, commentary and playtesting on any board game you want. The all-time ranking system and bajillion entries make this the mecca. The well-organized user reviews with pros and cons make this spot absolutely necessary to visit before you buy any game. Even has a collection of variant rules or game helps for each game. No games sold from here, but there are links.
2. http://www.timewellspent.org/ . A great place to review, window shop and buy games. The layout is easy to navigate, with rankings of popular games by month and all-time. Also links to the Spiel des Jahres winner (the Oscar of the hobby) and Deutscher Spiele Preis (for heavier/brainier games). Great customer service for purchasing.
3. http://www.cardhaus.com/ . I know this site deals more with Collectible Card Games, but they have a good list of board games with great prices, and I was able to sell them cards and trade for games painlessly. Great customer service.
4. http://www.criticalgamers.com/ . I can spend hours here reading articles. Goes more in depth in the gaming world with strong reviews and even helps one to understand game development. Not a huge variety of what you find, but it doesn't get meatier. It will even include tips for game strategy.
5. http://www.boardgamenews.com/ . Another portal into the board game world, they also have good in-depth articles, I especially enjoy the interviews with game designers. They don't pull any punches in their observations, but give you a great feel for what is out there. They even have a cartoon strip of game pieces for some comic relief.
6. http://www.funagain.com/ . Excellent overall site that is easy to navigate with top sellers, reviews and favorites. The reviews are substantial to allow you to assess the game. Their beginners guide is great, with "building bridges" to help you make the transition from kid games like monopoly to strategy games, tailoring a game to your personality, and even video blogs that show, explain and review games.
7. http://www.boardsandbits.com/ . A nice site to order from with a great layout and a rotating front page that highlights many games at once. Good prices and a constant list of new arrivals every day.
8. http://www.boardgamerevolution.com/ . Bundles, bundles, bundles. The best place to buy games in groups, or basic games along with all of their expansions. Discount prices for the game bundles makes this a must for bigger orders.
9. http://www.gateplay.com/ . Great place for basic designer game understanding. Simple reviews, but the complexity rating groups for games will help a novice navigate. Free shipping over $100 attractive, and their gateway bundles to introduce you to gaming well-thought out.
10. http://www.tabletopwars.com/ . This is a colorful site, but hard to find your way around. The best part are the forums and user reviews of games.
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