Think back to the last time you played a board or card game. Were you smiling? Were you relaxed? Did you learn something new about the game or one of your friends? From Uno to complex, tabletop role-playing options like Dungeons & Dragons, games are a great way to unwind and connect with others.
That’s why earlier this year, the Auraria Library launched a game collection with more than 200 options, most of which can be checked out for two weeks. The new offering—supported by an Inclusive Excellence grant—is intended to help students connect with their peers and build community on campus.
Games come in many forms, from highly competitive or strategy-heavy to types that are all about creativity and silliness. Whether you want to pass some time between classes with your friends or host a game night at home, there’s something for everyone. To help you get started, we asked Kelly McCusker, collection development program lead librarian, about some of her favorite games in the Game Collection at Auraria Library. You can find a complete list of offerings here.
1. Love Letter
Best To: Pick Up and Play Quickly
In this strategy card game, you’re on a quest to earn the favor of a princess without being caught. Up to six players play cards one at a time to sneakily outmaneuver their opponents and deliver a letter professing their desire to marry the queen-to-be. Other fast-to-learn games in the collection include The Bears and the Bees, Apples to Apples, and Tacta.
2. Scattergories
Best To: Laugh
This fast-paced game tasks players with creating lists of terms for a given category in a short window of time. They must use words starting with a specific letter (determined by a 20-sided letter die). Creativity and alliteration are rewarded. Other games in the collection that are likely to get a laugh include Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza, Smug Owls, and Cards Against Humanity.
3. Oceans
Best To: Learn Something New
In this game, players play cards to build species and add traits. The game mimics the fascinating world of oceanic ecosystems, which enables you to expand what you know about marine biology while engaging your creative side. Several games in the Auraria Library Game Collection support learning. A few more examples are Periodic: A Game of the Elements, Cellulose: A Plant Cell Biology Game, and 13 Days: The Cuban Missile Crisis.
4. GURPS Basic Set: Campaigns
Best To: Role Play
GURPS stands for Generic Universal Role-Playing System—but there’s nothing generic about the experience. In this role-playing system, characters are created via a point system. Players roll six-sided dice to take turns engaging in combat, all overseen by a game master. Other role-playing games and supporting accessories available at the Auraria Library include Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set: Heroes of the Borderlands, Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual, polyhedral dice set, and a Call of Cthulhu Starter Set.
5. The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine
Best To: Work Together
This is a trick-taking card game, but players are actually working toward the same goal. The challenging part is that communication is limited, so learning to read your comrades is essential. If you like cooperative games, you can also check out Pandemic, Hanabi, and Sky Team: Prepare for Landing.
Students can also find classics like Checkers, Battleship, Catan, and others, plus decks of cards and sets to play Dominoes or Mahjong. The collection includes popular recent games like Codenames, Bananagrams, Dominion, Ticket to Ride, and many more.
Whatever style of game you prefer, what matters most is the people you play them with—new friends or old. “It’s a great way to create community with your family, with your friends, or on a campus that you might be new to,” McCusker said.