Osprey Games has been well-known for their tactical miniature war games and detailed books of scenarios, but they've recently begun expanding their offerings to include tabletop games that are well worth considering for your gaming programs and collections.

The King Is Dead. Designed by Peer Sylvester. 2-4 players. 30-50 min. playing time. Ages 12+. Game difficulty: Easy/medium.

Played over eight rounds, the game takes place right after King Arthur has died, and you are all playing as members of Arthur’s court, looking to take over territory and gain power as you fight for majority in each region of Britain. Each player starts with a hand of eight cards. Each round you can play one card and perform the special ability printed on the card and pass, or play a second card. However, playing a second card means you will not be able to play anything on a future round, since there are only eight rounds, and only eight cards per player. Whoever has the most power and influence at the end of the game is the winner. I describe this game to library patrons as an easy game to play, but a difficult game to master. The game design is very streamlined, elegant, and tight, but offers plenty of replayability with strategy and depth.

London (Second Edition). Designed by Martin Wallace. 2-4 players. 60-90 min. playing time. Ages 14+. Game difficulty: Easy/medium.

Set in the years following the Great Fire of London in 1666, this game focuses on rebuilding the city. Over a series of rounds players will want to build buildings (cards from their hand), buy bank loans, and juggle resources. Wallace’s games often have a strong economic component where gaining and using money can be quite difficult. The game simulates real-life situations, putting players in the position of making the same kinds of decisions one would have to make if one were tasked with rebuilding a city. A Board Game Geek Golden Geek Best Card Game Nominee in 2017, London Second Edition has excellent artwork, production, and gameplay.

The Lost Expedition. Designed by Peer Sylvester. 1-5 players. 30-50 min. playing time. Ages 14+. Game difficulty: Easy.

This is an excellent choice for either cooperative or solo gameplay. Players function as explorers who are searching for legendary explorer Peter Fawcett, who has gone missing in the Amazon. Fawcett was searching for El Dorado, and those on his trail must carefully manage their food, health, and resources while on his trail. One of the most difficult cooperative games on the market, The Lost Expedition requires players to make plenty of tough decisions along the way. Only one person needs to make it to the end of the game to win, but that does mean you may lose characters as the journey progresses. In addition to the game's high-quality production and beautiful artwork, The Lost Expedition has received high marks from reviewers for inclusiveness and diversity of character options.

Jenn Bartlett is a Reference Librarian at Manchester Public Library, CT, and American Library Association GamerRT President-elect. You may recognize her from her popular Instagram account, @boardgame.librarian, or Favorite Game Friday on YouTube.