2000 was the year I began adding my "Interesting Observations"... some of them, of course, more interesting than others. 36 gamers and two gaming groups sent in their five & dime lists for the year 2000.

Most Played Games - 2000

Score

% - 2000

% - 1999

Settlers of Catan

190

57.89%

37.93%

Lost Cities

135

42.11%

72.41%

Battle Cry (H/AH)

110

39.47%

new

Ra

100

39.47%

37.93%

Citadels/Ohne Furcht & Adel

85

36.84%

new

Schotten-Totten/Battleline

85

28.95%

3.45%

Can't Stop

80

34.21%

31.03%

Liar's Dice/Bluff

80

26.32%

31.03%

Web of Power

75

34.21%

new

Euphrat & Tigris

75

31.58%

24.14%

Guillotine

75

23.68%

24.14%

Zirkus Flohcati

70

26.32%

20.69%

Take It Easy

70

21.05%

20.69%

Princes of Florence

60

28.95%

new

Apples to Apples

55

23.68%

27.59%

Carolus Magnus

55

21.05%

new

Take 6

55

18.42%

10.34%

Taj Mahal

50

23.68%

new

Clash of the Lightsabers

50

15.79%

3.45%

Durch die Wuste

45

18.42%

17.24%

Lord of the Rings (Knizia)

45

18.42%

new

Bohnanza

45

15.79%

27.59%

Formula De

45

13.16%

13.79%

Metro/Iron Horse

40

18.42%

3.45%

Carcassonne

40

15.79%

new

Frank's Zoo

40

15.79%

3.45%

Showmanager

40

15.79%

10.34%

Interesting Observations:

Only 3 new games in the Top Ten... and despite those who fault the "five & dime" method of comparing games (because of it's obvious tendency to favor shorter games), 5 of the games clock in at 45 minutes +!

Played 10+ Times (2000)

Players

% - 2000

% - 1999

Settlers of Catan

16

42.11%

31.03%

Lost Cities

11

28.95%

58.62%

Battle Cry (H/AH)

7

18.42%

new

Guillotine

6

15.79%

6.90%

Liar's Dice/Bluff

6

15.79%

20.69%

Schotten-Totten/Battleline

6

15.79%

0.00%

Take It Easy

6

15.79%

10.34%

Ra

5

13.16%

13.79%

Clash of the Lightsabers

4

10.53%

0.00%

Formula De

4

10.53%

6.90%

Take 6

4

10.53%

3.45%

Zirkus Flochati

4

10.53%

13.79%

Interesting Observations:

Only ONE new game in the 10+ plays list... no surprise for me, though, as Battle Cry is a rather addictive 30 minute wargame. Despite the nay-sayers out there, Settlers continues to dominate, moving back up from it's lower position last year. (My theory - this game is slowly but surely proving it's classic status.) I'm still at a loss to explain the resurgence of popularity of Clash of the Lightsabers.

Played 5+ Times (2000)

Players

% - 2000

% - 1999

Citadels/Ohne Furcht & Adel

11

28.95%

new

Web of Power

11

28.95%

new

Can't Stop

10

26.32%

31.03%

Princes of Florence

10

26.32%

new

Ra

10

26.32%

24.14%

Euphrat & Tigris

9

23.68%

10.34%

Battle Cry (H/AH)

8

21.05%

new

Taj Mahal

8

21.05%

new

Apples to Apples

7

18.42%

24.14%

Metro/Iron Horse

6

15.79%

3.45%

Settlers of Catan

6

15.79%

6.90%

Zirkus Flohcati

6

15.79%

6.90%

Interesting Observations:

As usual, this list is primarily populated by old standby's (Can't Stop, Ra, E&T, Apples 2 Apples and Settlers) and new filler games.

Lo, How The Mighty Have Fallen (2000)

% Loss From 1999

Mamma Mia

-44.65%

Lost Cities

-30.31%

Samurai (Knizia)

-28.22%

Klunker

-27.40%

Ricochet Robot

-25.77%

Union Pacific

-22.14%

Money

-21.51%

Tikal

-21.32%

David & Goliath

-20.69%

Schnappchen Jagd

-20.51%

Loopin' Louie

-17.88%

Big City

-16.24%

Button Men

-15.43%

For Sale

-15.43%

Interesting Observations:

While it's a bit depressing to see some of my favorite games drop like a stone, it's important to note that they had to drop from a decent height to get there! While I'm not sure that Money or David & Goliath or Tikal will ever surface again, I believe that Klunker, Lost Cities, and UP will stabilize right where they are for next year.

Joining the "In" Crowd (2000)

% Loss From 1999

Schotten-Totten/Battleline

+25.50%

Settlers of Catan

+19.96%

Metro/Iron Horse

+14.97%

Clash of the Lightsabers

+12.34%

Rosenkonig/Texas

+12.34%

Frank's Zoo

+12.34%

RoboRally

+10.53%

Vinci

+10.53%

Hare & Tortoise

+10.53%

Great Dalmuti

+9.71%

Morisi/Isi

+9.71%

Take 6

+8.08%

Interesting Observations:

There are obvious reasons for most of these games to have leaped back into popularity: in the cases of Battleline, Metro, Rosenkonig, Hare & Tortoise, RoboRally, and Morisi, all were rereleases and/or upgrades of earlier games. The English versions of Settlers: Seafarers & Cities & Knights gave that game a definite boost... and both Frank's Zoo & Vinci (in English) were barely released in late 1999, not giving them proper time to appear on the 5 & 10 lists. All of which makes the resurgence of Clash of the Lightsabers and The Great Dalmuti all the more spectacular - as both of these games are OOP, I think! (Note: I didn't say unavailable - just no longer published by their manufacturers.)

As you can probably guess, the 'IN' CROWD did not include this year's releases.

Fresh Faces (2000)

Score

Percentage

Battle Cry (H/AH)

110

39.47%

Citadels/Ohne Furcht & Adel

85

36.84%

Web of Power

75

34.21%

Princes of Florence

60

28.95%

Carolus Magnus

55

21.05%

Taj Mahal

50

23.68%

Lord of the Rings

45

18.42%

Carcassonne

40

15.79%

Elchfest

30

13.16%

Dragon Delta

30

10.53%

Digging

25

7.89%

Hera & Zeus

25

7.89%

Vinci

20

10.53%

Quack Shot

20

7.89%

Blood Bowl

20

5.26%

Interesting Observations:

Last year, Lost Cities, Mamma Mia & Klunker all had better percentages of players than this year's Numero Uno Newbie, Battle Cry. I'm not sure if this is a function of more people submitting lists and/or the explosion of good new games.

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