In "Power Grid," players compete by building power plants across either Germany or the USA. It's not a highly complex game - most of what you need to know is on a 2-by-3-inch card - but it forces players to constantly make difficult and risky decisions on managing their money, modernizing their power plants, buying scarce fuels and expanding their empires. Because of the mechanics of introducing new plants, games will rarely play out the same way twice.

For two to six players, 12 and older. $44.95 at www.riograndegames.com.

If your social group includes some bookish types or aspiring writers, the elegantly packaged "Liebrary" has the makings of a fun night.

The premise is simple. The emcee player gives the other players the title and plot synopsis of a novel. The choices include classics, mysteries, children's books, romances, science fiction and non-fiction. Everyone writes down a first line for the book while the emcee writes the actual first line. The emcee then mixes them up and reads them to the group and everyone votes on what they think the actual first line is. You get points for guessing correctly or having other players vote for your entry.

For three to six players, 12 and older. $48 at www.simplyfun.com.

This game is a variant on one of our long-time favorites, "Liar's Dice." The players all start with four dice, roll them secretly and take turns raising each other's bids or calling a bluff. For instance, say you start with four players. The bidding might start with one player bidding four 6's. The next player could raise that to six 6's or another higher bid entirely.

Aces are wild, and further complicating things, there's a house roll of three dice called the Flop, and another two dice that are rolled when a bluff is called. Keeping track of everything can get pretty tricky.

For two to six players, 10 and older. $48 at www.simplyfun.com.

The game box shows kids playing, but this is really an adult party game. Each player gets the name of a celebrity on a card mounted in an attractive headband set over their ears, so the other players can see who they are.

The character might be real or fictional, dead or alive. Some examples: Dumbo or Groucho Marx. Each player takes turns spinning for the chance to ask a yes or no question or get a hint about their identity. Get a "yes" answer, and you get the chance to spin again and, with luck, keep asking.

For two to four players. $24.95 at www.universitygames.com.

This is a fast-moving trivia game that's played in teams and has built-in player interaction, which gives it the social dimension sometimes missing from other trivia games.

Each question card has five questions, and each question has a dual answer. For instance, "If you 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game' you'll have to buy me these." Answer: Peanuts and Cracker Jack. The time limits are short and the non-playing team has a chance to answer any questions missed or skipped.

For four or more players, 10 and older. $30 at www.patchproducts.com.

In this clever word game, 14 letter dice are rolled and shown to the players, who then race to fashion as few words as they can from the revealed letters. You can add letters not shown to make your words, but you have to use all the shown letters in the correct order. The first person done announces how many words he or she has made. The other players then have one minute to try and under-bid them.

For two to eight players, 10 and older. $32 at www.simplyfun.com.

This rail empire-building game is a variant of our favorite game from last year "Ticket to Ride." The new game moves the action to Europe and freshens the pot with three new elements: tunnels, rail stations and ferries. This is still addictive fun that can be played in an hour to 90 minutes. I know one family that played for 13 straight hours.

For two to five players, 8 and older. $39.95 at www.daysofwonder.com.

A clever strategy/tile game for two players, "Fjords" has two distinct stages of play. In the first half, players turn over terrain tiles that reveal a landscape broken by mountains and inlets. They place their farms in areas that look open for future growth.

In the second half, they take turns laying fields adjacent to their farms or other fields, with the intent of cutting off the other player and maximizing the size of their own farms. Thanks to the tile mechanic, "Fjords" never plays the same way twice.

For two players, 10 and older. $19.95 at www.riograndegames.com.

All of the games are available online, either through the appropriate company or one of the various online game vendors. Specialty game stores in the Milwaukee area include The Game Store Barrister, 2235 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., and Fortress Games, N78 W14579 Appleton Ave.