Great Western Trail

You herd cattle from Texas to Kansas City by moving your rancher along the trail. You hire cowboys and engineers to upgrade your deck of cattle cards and build train stations. Timing your deliveries is crucial to making money. We usually grab a few drinks before setting this one up. The rules are intuitive enough that you can explain them as you play the first round. It has a good balance of luck and skill, so new players still have a fair chance of winning. The interaction between players is frequent and keeps everyone talking. I appreciate that it does not overstay its welcome and usually wraps up in under two hours. You will probably end up thinking about your next move while others are taking their turns.