Looking for recommendations to pass the heat wave and soak in the A/C? Here are some cool picks from our staff this month!

What would be your top pick this month?

Josh's Pick

Isle of the Sky - Auction/Bidding, Catch the Leader, Set Collection, Tile Placement, Strategy Game

Part of growing your clan is to gather enough money in order to do so. In each round, you are allowed to buy one landscape tile from one of the other players. The pricing of these tiles is secretly done beforehand. Setting a high price can yield a lot of money, but if nobody buys the tile, you have to pay the amount on your own! And it's not always clear which tiles a worth a lot and which not. This creates interesting choices and tense gameplay for all. Additionally, the goal of the game is to get the most victory points for your clan territory and not to be the richest (even though money is worth some victory points in the end). Planning ahead, strategy, and snatching an opportunity at the right moment are key to success.

Kyndra's Pick

Rococo - Area Majority/Influence, Deck, Bag, and Pool Building, Hand Management, Strategy Game

Jeff's Pick

Bandido - Cooperative, Route Building, Solo Option, Tile/Card Placement, Family Game

A light-security prisoner is trying to escape through tunnels starting underneath his cell. Will you be able to join forces and cards to stop him? Bandido is a cooperative game of strategy and observation for the entire family. -description from BoardGameGeek.com

Soby's Pick

Space Park - Action Queue, Rondel, Set Collection, Solo Option, Family Game

Ride a rocket to extraordinary destinations across our galaxy. During your travels you will gather exotic crystals that further our understanding of what’s out there. Use these crystals to complete exploration badges and turn them in at the mysterious Outpost 13 to prove yourself as the galaxy’s next great space explorer! -description from publisher

Aidan's Pick

RA - Auction/Bidding, Economic, Push Your Luck, Set Collection, Strategy Game

Ra is an auction and set-collection game with an Ancient Egyptian theme. Each turn players are able to purchase lots of tiles with their bidding tiles (suns). Once a player has used up his or her suns, the other players continue until they do likewise, which may set up a situation with a single uncontested player bidding on tiles before the end of the round occurs. Tension builds because the round may end before all players have had a chance to win their three lots for the epoch. The various tiles either give immediate points, prevent negative points for not having certain types at the end of the round (epoch), or give points after the final round. The game lasts for three "epochs" (rounds). The game offers a short learning curve, and experienced players find it both fast-moving and a quick play -description from BoardGameGeek.com

Wes' Pick

Barrage - Resource Management, Worker Placement, Push Your Luck, Contract Fulfillment, Strategy Game

In the dystopic 1930s, the industrial revolution pushed the exploitation of fossil-based resources to the limit, and now the only thing powerful enough to quench the thirst for power of the massive machines and of the unstoppable engineering progress is the unlimited hydroelectric energy provided by the rivers.

Barrage is a resource management strategic game in which players compete to build their majestic dams, raise them to increase their storing capacity, and deliver all the potential power through pressure tunnels connected to the energy turbines of their powerhouses.

Sophi's Pick

Metro X - Network & Route Building, Solo Option, Flip-and-Write, Family Game

In MetroX, players create subway networks by filling in the station spaces on their individual game sheets. Using the numbers revealed by the cards, all players fill up their subway map with ◯s in the station spaces. However, the number of times they can add stations to each line is limited, so they have to make tough choices. Players can score many points by getting their star bonuses in stations with many intersecting routes. Players also get bonuses by being the first to complete routes. Try to fill in all your stations to minimize the penalties and achieve a high score!

Brendan's Pick

Mystic Market - Fantasy, Hand Management, Set Collection, Take That, Economic, Family Game (BHG Staff affectionately call it "capitalism in a box")

Enter a mysterious world where enchanted commodities are bought and sold for profit.

Mystic Market is an exciting, fast-paced card game where players buy and sell magical Potion-making Ingredients. The unique Value Track ensures that the Ingredients’ values will be constantly shifting, so only the shrewdest of traders will prevail.

Will you profit from selling Phoenix Feathers? Craft Potions to meddle with your opponent’s plans? Corner the market on Kraken Tentacles?

Do you have what it takes to earn the largest fortune in the Enchanted World?

Jordan's Pick

Quest for El Dorado - Deck Building, Grid Movement, Hand Management, Open Drafting, Family Strategy Game

Will you dare to search for the golden city? Assemble your expedition and lead it through the jungles of South America in this deck-building board game. You need to have a good plan, expert explorers, and the right equipment. Will you choose the scout, the photographer, or the prop plane? It is up to you to find the best route through the wilderness with your team and to win the race to El Dorado! Every route is a new challenge. Every game needs a new strategy! -description from the publisher