Opinionated Gamers have chosen some of their favorite recent games. As we all know, readers often skim the article to get to the ‘answer key’. To offer a bit more than a list, we have written haiku for each game. Some games are represented by more than one haiku. For an extra twist, we have included two famous haiku not written by us. Feel free to try to identify them in the comment section. For pedants, for today, the plural of haiku is haiku. You may debate the acceptability of haikus as a word in the comment section. We will repost these in a few days with the answer key.

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Adventures in strange new lands

Beautiful atlas

Cooperation

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Head to the war god

Plant and research with card play

heat and green brings life

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Scientific trees

Lead to exploration of

The final frontier.

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Unlike first two times,

We go back in time.  Facing

Spies, not viruses.

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Card order matters,

Everything is shared, and the

Crocodiles bring dough.

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Seek factions favor,

Battle for supremacy,

To control the Spice. 

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Draw card, tile to board

Knizia Legacy

Played twenty-four times

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An old silent pond

A frog jumps into the pond

Splash! Silence again.

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Clear the crocodiles.

Build cities in swampy land.

Pharaoh is happy.

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Good technology

Solves all the world’s problems

(And even off-world)

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Trees are not for shade,

But for ever-growing tech.

Colonize planets!

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Is this card red or

Is it blue, yellow, or green?

We will find out soon!

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Over the wintry

Forest, winds howl in rage

With no leaves to blow.

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Capitalism

Does not care of human costs.

Extract and sell death.

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Civilizations

At first barbarian then

Empire progresses

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Trapper keeper of

Monsters and strange lands that pass 

Slowly hand to hand

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Use nitrous oxide

Fisticuffs atop a car

Family saves the world

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Seeking treasure now

Narrowing options quickly

Aha, found them both

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Roll the dice and draft

Choose your passengers with care

Draw, avoid traffic

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A twisted classic

Ego versus Id in tricks

Powerful potions

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Beware: The following games are older – you have been warned

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Your inner viking

Hunting fishing and raiding

Let the banquet start

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Choose your favored map

Select your stations carefully

Decide to fuel wisely

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Welcome guests, come on in!

Oh, don’t mind that gravedigger.

Enjoy your stay, even if brief,

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An obscure word – three

What twisted mind thinks that makes sense?

A point for the other team