Kid & Adult Friendly

The best games that play well with mixed age groups...

• Amazing Labyrinth
• Can't Stop
• Carabande/Pitchcar
• Diamant/Incan Gold
• Midnight Party

Just missed the cut:

• Gulo Gulo

Also nominated:

• Bohnanza
• Carcassonne
• Careers
• Cartagena
• Chicken Cha Cha Cha
• Dawn Under
• Enchanted Forest
• Giro Gallopo
• HamsterRolle
• Hare and Tortoise
• Heroscape
• Maus Nach Haus
• Pick Picknic
• Pig Pile
• Russelbande
• Take It Easy
• Tonga Bonga
• Walk the Dogs

For comparison, the top five games from 2002:

• Amazing Labyrinth
• Bohnanza
• Can't Stop
• Carabande
• Loopin' Louie

Young Children (6 & under)

The best games aimed at children age 6 and under...

• Chicken Cha Cha Cha
• Gulo Gulo
• Midnight Party
• Russelbande
• Viva Topo

Just missed the cut:

• Maus nach Haus

Also nominated:

• Giro Galoppo
• Hick Hack in Gackelwack/Pick Picknic
• Kids of Catan
• Monte Rolla
• Monza
• Schloss Schlotterstein
• Summ Herum/Buzzing Around
• Walk the Dogs

There are no comparison games, as this category did not appear in 2002.

Gateway

The best board & card games to introduce non-gamers to the hobby...

• Blokus
• Can't Stop
• Carcassonne
• Settlers of Catan
• Ticket To Ride

Also nominated:

• Around the World in 80 Days
• Bohnanza
• Ingenious
• Lost Cities
• Take It Easy
• TransAmerica

For comparison purposes, the top five games from 2002:

• Bohnanza
• Can't Stop
• Carcassonne
• Lost Cities
• Settlers of Catan

Party/Social

The best party/social games...

• Apples to Apples
• Balderdash/Beyond Balderdash
• Smarty Party
• Taboo
• Time's Up!
• Wits & Wagers

Just missed the cut:

• Scattegories

Also nominated:

• Barbarossa
• Catchphrase
• Cluzzle
• GiftTrap
• Guesstures
• Personal Preference
• Thingamajig
• Trivial Pursuit
• Werewolf

For comparison purposes, the top five games from 2002:

• Apples to Apples
• Balderdash/Beyond Balderdash
• Taboo
• Take It Easy
• Time's Up

Beautiful

The most beautiful card & board games...

• Big City
• Crokinole
• Lord of the Rings (Knizia)
• Settlers of Catan 3D
• Shadows Over Camelot
• Tikal

Just missed the cut:

• Cleopatra & the Society of Architects
• Gemblo
• Star Wars - The Queen's Gambit

Also nominated:

• Ave Caesar
• Big Boss
• Blokus
• El Grande
• Elfenland/Elfenroads
• Java
• Master Thieves
• Mystery of the Abbey
• Nacht der Magier
• Reef Encounter
• Serenissima
• Siesta
• Tsuro
• War of the Ring

For comparison, the top six games from 2002:

• Battle Cry
• Big City
• Lord of the Rings
• Mississippi Queen
• Star Wars - The Queen's Gambit
• Starfarers of Catan

Significant Other

The best board & card games to play with your spouse and/or S.O...

• Blokus
• Carcassonne (includes expansions & stand-alone games)
• Lost Cities
• Scrabble
• Ticket To Ride (all permutations)

Also nominated:

• Balloon Cup
• Bohnanza
• Can't Stop
• Elfenland
• FlowerPower
• Lord of the Rings (and expansions)
• Mystery Rummy (#1, #2, #3 & #4)
• Odin's Ravens
• Schotten-Totten
• Settlers Card Game
• Settlers of Catan (and expansions)
• Tichu

For comparison, the top five games from 2002:

• Carcassonne
• Flowerpower
• Lost Cities
• Scrabble
• Settlers of Catan

The Apple Pickers stated a number of preferences - but remember that these preferences are for playing with spouses/s.o.'s and not other gamers:

• Mystery Rummy #1 (Jack the Ripper) was the most popular, though #3 (Jekyll & Hyde) wasn't far behind. Interestingly, all 4 games were mentioned.
• The ONLY version of Ticket To Ride to receive votes was the original game.
• "Vanilla" Carcassonne was the popular choice, with the Inns & Cathedrals expansion and the stand-alone Castle game tied for second.
• The ONLY version of Settlers of Catan to receive votes was the original game.

Not surprising that the most stripped down versions of these games were chosen to play with non-gamer s.o.'s...

Fillers - 15 to 30 minutes

The best filler board or card games that play in 15 - 30 minutes...

• Blokus
• Can't Stop
• Crokinole
• Liar's Dice/Bluff
• San Juan

Just missed the cut:

• 6 Nimmt!/Category 5
• Exxtra
• Lost Cities

Also nominated:

• 10 Days in the (series)
• Ca$h'n'Gun$
• Cartagena
• Clans
• Coda
• Coloretto
• Diamant
• Fairy Tale
• Hick Hack in Gackelwack/Pick Picknic
• High Society
• Igloo Pop
• Klunker
• Mamma Mia/Sole Mio
• Money
• Quandary/Thor/Flinke Pinke/Loco
• Raj/Hols der Geier/Beat the Buzzard
• Roma
• Transamerica/Transeuropa
• Trendy/Crazy Derby
• Tutankhamen

For comparison, the top six games from 2002:

• Can't Stop
• High Society
• Liar's Dice/Bluff/Call My Bluff
• Schnäppchen Jagd
• Take 6/6 Nimmt
• Transamerica

Fillers - 15 minutes or less

The best filler board or card games that play in 15 minutes or less...

• Can't Stop
• Diamant
• For Sale (both versions)
• Geschenkt/No Thanks
• Hey! That's My Fish!
• Loco/Quandary/Thor/Flinke Plinke
• Loopin Louie

Just missed the cut:

• Coloretto

Also nominated:

• Circus Flohcati
• Coda
• High Society
• King's Breakfast
• Light Speed
• Money
• Raj/Beat the Buzzard
• Take It Easy
• Trendy
• Tsuro

For comparison purposes, the top five games from 2002:

• En Garde
• For Sale
• Loopin' Louie
• Take It Easy
• Zirkus Flohcati

It's important to note that this was a subjective category (meaning the Apple Pickers provided their own nominees) and that it is coupled with the list I'll publish tomorrow, which is fillers that take 15-30 minutes.

You must also remember that your group may play a particular game much faster or much slower than the "average" gaming group. In other words, your mileage may vary.