My Favorite Board Game Publishers

Although Djeco makes a wide variety of board games — even for the very youngest children — which are also excellent, here I'd like to focus specifically on their card games.

As both a father and an educator, I find most Djeco card games a breath of fresh air. On the one hand, I really like the unique, varied yet visually cohesive illustrations; on the other, the mechanics are truly suitable for playing with preschoolers.

Card games are a bit different from board games, and if we want to move beyond Old Maid or UNO when playing with children, the Djeco card game selection offers a wide range of great alternatives.

One of my personal foundational experiences is with Piou Piou — I must have played at least 200 games of it. And as a game designer, one of my big dreams is to one day have a Djeco card game of my own published.

The games I'll be talking about: Familou, Mysterix, Piou Piou, Pipolo.

If someone is looking for something truly special, I usually recommend Marbushka. On one hand, I'm genuinely impressed by what my fellow Hungarians have created on an artisanal level; on the other, I truly believe their board games are unique and extraordinary. At first, it was the distinctive design and natural materials that caught my attention, but playing with my daughter made me realize that although the game mechanics aren't the most innovative, they work remarkably well.

The games I'll be talking about: Full Moon Circus, Grand Prix, Dogs & Homes.

My first encounter with an OINK game was at a board game picnic, where someone handed me a slightly battered — which, of course, was a good sign — odd little blue box. The game used a rather outdated mechanic, roll-and-move, and yet I instantly fell in love with Deep Sea Adventure, and with the publisher's tiny boxes too. I wouldn't say I have a full collection, but it's getting there. So let's take a look at why I love their games and what makes their designs so unique!

The games I'll be talking about: Deep Sea Adventure, Nine Tiles Panic, Scout, Souvenirs from Venice.

Although Long Shot: The Dice Game is a fantastic game, we're now going to focus on the Pack O Game series from the same publisher. These are incredibly tiny, yet incredibly creative card games. No two table setups look the same, the mechanics are varied, and the illustrations are charming. My first experience was with the game TAJ, and ever since, Chris Handy keeps surprising me with how much can be achieved using just a few small, narrow cards.

About the whole series in general.