F:AT Favorite Economic Games

I put this under eurogames but honestly I prefer my economic games less abstract rather than more. I don't have any economics games now that I traded away some euros I didn't like so the question stands: what are your favorite economic games? Why? What would you recommend to someone who doesn't want an insanely abstract Econ game experience?

Does I'm the Boss count as an economic game?

Planet Steam is the only one I can tolerate.

I would say go with Imperial. A good Economic game with direct confrontation.

I hate to say that a $125, incredibly hard to get title is the best economic game I've ever played, but there it is. GREED INC. from Splotter is just amazing. It's also less abstract than most business games, and I think it actually conveys a theme and even some pretty smart subtext incredibly well. One of the really cool things is that it's not really about making money- it's about getting into CEO/CFO positions in corporations, tanking them, and taking money out of them and buying extravagant shit.

Other than that...1830 is a good one but I guess it's a train game more than a pure economic thing, ACQUIRE if you really want to call it an economic game...INDUSTRIAL WASTE...I'M THE BOSS...EXECUTIVE DECISION...FORTUNE 500...SHARK...BIG BOSS...PLANET STEAM...FANTASY BUSINESS...

Does Hotels count? Those 3D buildings rock.

I'm not a big fan of economic games but end up playing themn a lot becuse Dan Baden loves them. My favorite is Shark. Its got a simple stock escalation mechanism and great opportunities to screw other players.

'm the boss is in my top 10 but it doesn't really qualify as an economic game becuse its pure negotiation. It is inicidental that you're negotiating for money.

BTW if you've never played a negotiaion game with Dan Baden- he can sweet talk you out of your liver then sell it back to you 10x the price since its a perfect match.
Be Warned: you too will become Baden's Bitch...

Steve"EconomicGenius"Avery

I'm not a big fan of economic games but end up playing themn a lot becuse Dan Baden loves them.

One of my absolute favorite "Avery Moments" was when he got "nuclear" mad at Dan Baden and part of his furious tirade was "I came over and you said we weren't going to play economic games and we did, you know I don't like economic games!"

Definitely INDONESIA for me. It's full of interaction as others are trying to steal your companies and block your trade routes. Tense and cutthroat.

Although it's not strictly economic, I like how Supremacy handles the market. Sadly, anytime I've played it there's not the volatility in the market there should be because noone wants to help out anyone else.

But for pure economic, I guess I like how Power Grid handles the resource markets.

I think the only economic game I play is Merchant of Venus, and I don't even think it belongs in the same category as those games that are being mentioned... but it sure is a fun and thematic game about being a space trader with a simple and fast supply/demand system that doesn't get in the way...

the only one i can really remember liking is Container. it seemed a bit loopy, the players just come up with their own economy, restrained by a few factors (you can't sell to yourself, for example). i think the designer (Franz Benno Delonge) had a real knack for making Euro games that were more enjoyable than those of his peers, the gaming world is worse off for his passing.

Acquire and 18xx (I think the whole genre is more economic game than track-layer) for me.

Industrial Waste is a fun one too, but I'm not sure if you'd consider it more Euro than economic game.

Where's Bulwyf? He'd have some useful insight into this topic I think...

Monopoly.

You get to buy houses, hotels and all sorts of other shit.

You can even end up in jail like Bernie Madoff.

I'm the Boss. Easy decision. We just played it again this last Friday and it rocked the house, as always. But it has to be played with 5 to 6 players to get maximum effect. I LOVE that game.