Board Games That Teach Financial Smarts: A Guide from Games Unlimited

From Philosophy to Games: A Career Pivot

• 🧠 Kylie Primus transitioned from a PhD in philosophy to owning Games Unlimited, inspired by his passion for board games and a desire to share them more widely.
• 💡 He found his vocation by combining his passion with the perceived need to introduce more people to tabletop gaming.
• 🤝 Mentorship played a key role, with the previous owner of Games Unlimited guiding Kylie into the business.

Economic Games That Teach Without Feeling Like School

• 🎲 At the Gates of Loyang: A farming game where managing money for victory points teaches the tension between short-term costs and long-term gains.
• 💸 QE: An auction game where players print their own money, illustrating the dangers of inflation and the importance of economic stability.
• 📈 Ponzi Scheme: A game that directly simulates a Ponzi scheme, teaching why they are unsustainable and the risks of hidden financial dealings.
• 🃏 Dominion: A deck-building game that metaphorically teaches about investing in tools (money/cards) versus investing in the end goal (victory points), highlighting the balance needed for growth.
• 🍔 Food Chain Magnate: A complex, long game simulating a fast-food franchise, emphasizing strategic hiring, marketing, pricing, and the unforgiving nature of business decisions.

Fun Games for Holiday Gatherings

• 🎭 Monikers: A party game that evolves through rounds of description, charades, and one-word clues, generating significant laughter and engagement.
• 🤝 The Crew (implied, but The Gang is mentioned): A cooperative poker game where players must deduce hand strengths without talking, fostering teamwork and strategic communication.
• 🐱 Boop: A charming two-player abstract strategy game where wooden cats 'boop' each other around a bed, with the goal of getting three in a row to advance to the next stage.
• 🗣️ Itto: A cooperative game where players place number cards in ascending order without speaking, using category-based clues to communicate their number's value.
• 🐾 Hot Streak: A highly engaging game about betting on mascot races, featuring vibrant components and unpredictable gameplay that encourages player interaction and strategic betting.
• 🏃 Magical Athlete: Another race game from the same publisher as Hot Streak, offering wacky and unpredictable fun for all ages.