Rummikub is an easier sell. People young, old, and in-between can play, no matter their first language. But the game’s universality doesn’t make it boring. It still scratches several gaming itches: It requires strategy, it challenges my brain, and perhaps most importantly, it takes me away from my phone and into the world where I can talk to real... See more

I love the thrill, the chugging brain power required, to orchestrate a cascade of changes just to get rid of a single tile, altering the entire tablescape in the process. This also means that even when it’s not your turn, you have reason to pay attention.