My dear, beloved wife hates my games. My games are apparently full of elves, galactic empires, zombies, and all manner of untidy narrative elements.

The few games that she likes are abstract, cerebral, and cool. Bananagrams, Scrabble, Code Names…

My games are rich with story. There’s a reason the galactic empire teeters on the edge of collapse, and by sending an ambassador to an emergency summit, you might just prevent the downfall—or, more likely, seize the opportunity to profit from it.

Now I love a good Bananagrams scrum. But I really get into a game with story. I think of Dead of Winter:

The snow lies thick and heavy on the ground, but that hasn’t stopped the dead who prowl the town and clatter against the walls of your colony. You’re only safe behind the walls, but you need the supplies outside… and can you really trust your fellow survivors? Even if they’re not crazy, or trying to burn the colony to the ground, everyone has something they can’t live without.

Yes, please.

The tension is palpable. Yeah, we are “cooperating”. Sure, I’ll share whatever food and gasoline I’ve managed to scavenge while risking my life to the ravenous hordes. You bet.

But c’mon. How many times have I played Dead of Winter? How long does it take to just set up the game? And tear it down afterwards?