These are games that Walker and Mark both very much enjoy. They do not recommend them necessarily, as recommendations are fraught at best, but these games are their favoritest.
“I don't recommend him; but I point him out. “ -Robert Bolt, A Man for All Seasons
51st State: Master Set
Expansions are great but optional.
A Feast for Odin
Expansion is great but optional.
Agricola
Any version.
Albedo
Expansions very much optional.
Ankh: Gods of Egypt
More is better, but the KS exclusives are really quite optional.
Antike II
Disclosure: Mark helped translate the game for Mac Gerdts.
Assault on Doomrock
Barrage
Battlelore (2nd Edition)
More is better.
Beyond the Sun
Disclosure: Dennis Chan and Mark met socially several times when Mark lived in Boston.
Capitol Lux 2
Claustrophobia
Either edition (base or 1643). Each have their charms.
Cockroach Poker
Or Royal.
Codenames
Cosmic Frog
The Crew: Mission Deep Sea
Superior to its excellent predecessor.
Cthulhu: Death May Die
More is better. Sadly some of the best missions are KS-exclusive. Base game is great, though.
Deception: Murder in Hong Kong
Ditch the events.
Dogs of War
Play by the designer's variant here: https://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/1470285/some-variants-i-didnt-playtest-yet
Don’t L.L.A.M.A. Dice
El Grande
Food Chain Magnate
For What Remains
More is better.
For Science!
Disclosure: R. Eric Reuss and Mark are personal friends.
Galaxy Trucker
Any edition, any amount of expansions.
Gloomhaven
The Great Wall
We strongly dislike the co-op version. Base game preferred.
Green Team Wins
The version that maxes out at 6 players is inferior but still worthy.
Guards of Atlantis II
More is better. Strictly superior to its exceptional predecessor.
Hallertau
Hansa Teutonica
HeroScape
More is better.
Hyperborea
Black and white cubes from the expansion are great, everything else can be jettisoned.
Imperial 2030
Disclosure: Mark helped and translate the game for Mac Gerdts.
Junk Art
Just One
Kemet
Blood & Sand is best, but original is fine (skip 1.6 version).
Keyflower
Expansions very much optional.
Knarr
Lords of Hellas
More is better, but stick to 4 players max.
Mage Knight
First expansion is great.
Meltwater
MicroMacro: Crime City
Any MicroMacro, really.
Mysterium
We strictly prefer the Tajemnicze Domostwo version, without the silly voting on your teammates’ guesses.
Oak
Pulsar 2849
Quantum
The Quest for El Dorado
Golden Temples is our preferred expansion, but they are all at least interesting.
Ra
Regicide
Root
Scout
Scythe
SEAL Team Flix
Note that there are errata and common rules misconceptions.
Senji
We like the variant where in fall, players play in descending VP order.
Shards of Infinity
More is better, but the co-op is not its best form.
Skull
Sniper Elite
Soldiers in Postmen’s Uniforms
Space Alert
Expansion has one of the best campaign systems.
Space Hulk
3rd or 4th editions preferred.
Stephenson’s Rocket
Street Masters
More is better.
Tigris & Euphrates
Tribune: Primus Inter Pares
New version is okay, but earlier one with expansion is better. We play by a house rule where you can't start with any leaders in hand (players redraw).
Trick Shot
Undaunted
Pick your favourite setting.
Whale Riders