Essen continued

The debate about too many games continues.

Here's a few more new games I found at Essen:

Zack & Pack (Kosmos) - As a kid, I used to love playing with those counting blocks designed to teach basic math skills. My first glimpse of Zack and Pack brought me back to those games. This game is built around the theme of movers trying to use every square inch on their moving trucks. Players get a random assortment of blocks and then has to guess which of a variety of trucks the blocks will fit into. You lose points for unused space or left-over blocks, so picking the right truck is key to victory. Gameplay is quick, usually lasting less than half an hour. This is one of those games where playing can be so fun that you forget about trying to win.

Chicago Express (Rio Grande Games) - Oh no, not another train game! What is it about gamers and trains? But I have to admit, this game works well. Players buy stock in various railroads and the railroads use that money to expand their lines and increase their profitability. This game plays remarkably quickly and the game system is easy to grasp. Unlike many train games that force you to use established lines, you can go all over the board in this game. I'm looking forward to playing this one again.

Coming up next: When games and entertainment collide.