When Ted told me he had a new German board game that was better than Settlers of Catan I got pretty excited. John Burke, Charlie, and I tried out this game, Tikal, at the January game day with Ted serving as teacher. The object of the game is to lead your expedition in excavating and exploring the ancient Mayan city of Tikal. Up to four expeditions compete to recover treasures and excavate temples.

Like Settlers of Catan, the game is different every time. But Tikal takes this a step further as the players take turns laying out the tiles of the playing board, and the four scoring rounds occur at unpredictable times. The rules are not complicated and the game can be enjoyed by children. In the hands of three veteran wargamers with a knowledge of strategy and tactics the game is a real challenge.

Tikal, produced by Rio Grande Games, has been called the game of the year. This is one case where the game lives up to the hype. Although it's not really a wargame it is the perfect choice when you're weary of riding to the sound of the guns.