Advice for other real-time BGA games for a Challengers fan?

[kirkroberts]

I am looking for advice!

If you love Challengers what other short-ish BGA games do you love to play against strangers in real-time?

Challengers is the first game I've played repetitively with strangers online. I'm curious if there are other BGA games that I might enjoy as well.

I think the preferred ingredients are:

• real-time (NOT turn-based play)

• 30 minutes or less

• arena league? (maybe all BGA games have this)

• heavy dose of luck, but not too-low skill (can get better at it)

Also, the absurdity of the characters and combinations in Challengers is highly entertaining to me.

Oddly, Fliptoons did not land for me... and I'm not exactly sure why. It would seem to have all the ingredients. Maybe the implementation? Maybe it loses too much played online or solo?

I am curious to get guidance on what else is worth investigating.

Thanks!

[Andrewsmile]

I know a number of games with active real time arena playerbases that fit your criteria, I will sort them in order of how much luck I perceive them to have from most to least (though note that challengers has more luck than the rest of these).

Faraway (pick from 3 drafting game)
Castle Combo (very popular, another drafting game)
Tagteam (Deckbuilding autobattler, lots of luck but also high skill ceiling if you learn it)
toy battle (quick little area control 1v1)

[Emerson_Matt]

I'm enjoying Moonshine at the moment, which I think might fit the bill. The way you build your engine of cards has some similarities with Challengers, except it's embedded in the game rather than one separate half.

[Makeshift-Hero]

I’ve been enjoying Conspiracy as a quick time filler. Also Lost Cities is really quick - although I prefer games of just a single round (rather than the 3 round series in the rules as written. BGA can do either 1or 3 rounds for Lost Cities.

[Doctor Spork]

Jump Drive. It's another fast paced (actually even faster paced), engine-building card game of similar complexity. Although I'd say there's slightly more skill involved in Jump Drive.

[cigma]

I think the preferred ingredients are:

• real-time (NOT turn-based play)

• 30 minutes or less

• arena league? (maybe all BGA games have this)

• heavy dose of luck, but not too-low skill (can get better at it)

Also, the absurdity of the characters and combinations in Challengers is highly entertaining to me.

Oddly, Fliptoons did not land for me... and I'm not exactly sure why. It would seem to have all the ingredients. Maybe the implementation? Maybe it loses too much played online or solo?

Since you may play each game real-time and in arena (as far as I know), your preferences leave a lot of games to choose from! Maybe you could give us some more information, which type of game you are looking for?

But anyway, I try to give you some suggestions here above the ones already mentioned. I indeed think Fliptoons is a close one, but as you said, It's not clear why it didn't click for you. You already know 7 Wonders, Colt Express, Harmonies and a bunch of other games.

I'm not sure how important that action feeling is for you. So here are some more battle type suggestions: King of Tokyo, King of Tokyo Duel, Classified Information, Legions, Clash of Decks, Mr. Jack, Sunrise Sunset, Wizards Cup, Cardia, Throne and the Grail / District Noir.

And now some less confrontational games: 7 Wonders Architects, Spite and Malice, Potion Explosion, Stonespine Architects / Dungeon Designer, Mini Rogue, Luxor, Abyss, Dice Mission, Symbiose, Farm Club (with fun cards), CuBirds.

A bit more complex games (complexity similar to Dice Forge): Zenith, SpellBook, 7 Wonders Duel, Forest Shuffle, Forest Shuffle Dartmoor, Age of Civilization.

As you like Hanabi, you might also try the cooperative games Similo (with fun cards) and Sky Team.

[kirkroberts]

Thank you everyone! I will make a list and check these out! I plan to report back but it may take a while.

This is great fodder for my other game-related hobby: researching games (haha).

Thanks again

[kirkroberts]

I checked out some of the suggested games, and many of them do look fun!

After some reflection I think I need to take a break from BGA due to screen addiction/compulsion issues. And with Challengers, maybe a gambling issue. Thank goodness I never got into actual gambling or I would be in big trouble.

I have had a lot of fun times on BGA, especially playing Hanabi regularly over years with my far away dad and brother, and lately digging deep on Challengers and having some fun chats with people all around the world! Amazing! I even got the thrill/disbelief of being #1 in the current Challengers arena season, which lasted about one day before I played my way out of it! I had a very unexpected meteoric rise and equally sudden and abrupt fall. Went down swinging, haha.

Shine on, friends

[DnB_WobY]

Sea salt and paper 100%

[Andrei3009]

I am looking for advice!

If you love Challengers what other short-ish BGA games do you love to play against strangers in real-time?

Challengers is the first game I've played repetitively with strangers online. I'm curious if there are other BGA games that I might enjoy as well.

I think the preferred ingredients are:

• real-time (NOT turn-based play)

• 30 minutes or less

• arena league? (maybe all BGA games have this)

• heavy dose of luck, but not too-low skill (can get better at it)

Also, the absurdity of the characters and combinations in Challengers is highly entertaining to me.

Oddly, Fliptoons did not land for me... and I'm not exactly sure why. It would seem to have all the ingredients. Maybe the implementation? Maybe it loses too much played online or solo?

I am curious to get guidance on what else is worth investigating.

Thanks!

I think you should try faraway