Botswana

Five colours, six cards, and one very simple decision that turns out not to be simple at all.

Botswana is Reiner Knizia at his most stripped-back. Play a card, take a chip, and try to end up holding the right animals when the round closes — except the value of every colour keeps shifting depending on what everyone else plays. There is almost nothing to it, and it will still tie your table in knots.

The design has been around a long time under several names — Flinke Pinke, Wildlife Safari, Quandary, Loco! — which is usually a sign a game is worth keeping in print. This is 25th Century Games' edition.

Perfect for: Families, filler slots, and anyone who thinks a game needs a rulebook thicker than a postcard to be interesting.