We have Forbidden Island too, though we haven't played it yet.

Here is what I have in my Amazon cart--need to choose one of these (or another not in the cart yet!)

Mastermind
Frog Juice
Ratuki
Five Crowns
Zeus on the Loose
Castle Keep
The Big Fat Tomato Game

Frog Juice is wonderful, and quite entertaining for adults as well as kids. We also love Mastermind here...

DeeDee

Second frog juice. And also the expansion pack for forbidden island!

DeHe

If adults here like Frog Juice, I think I'm hitting buy! I wonder if it's a lot like Gubs, though? (But as I say, we love Gubs. DS played it almost nonstop for days.) I LOVE Gamewright.

Haven't tried Gubs! What's it like?

DeeDee

It's...hmmm...well, it's awesome. It's another Gamewright card game, very whimsical, with a LOT of rules, but not actually hard to play (you can easily consult the rule pamphlet if befuddled). You have these creatures called Gubs that you're trying to free or protect, and cataclysmic events happen. There's a lot of luck, but also strategy, although you can get nailed at the last minute a little too much for my tastes. We played the hell out of it for a few weeks and are now a bit fried on it, but really, it was out of control how much we played. DS picked it up with no trouble at all. I think it says 10 and up but that seems much too high--I think 7 and up is about right (for typical kids--I feel like bright first graders would get it, and definitely 2nd graders), but it could easily be enjoyed by up to about age 11 or 12, I think.

http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/11/gunbs/

That review mentions Magic the Gathering. I have no familiarity with that--thought it was more a collecting thing. Is it an actual game? Might DS be able to play? He reads very well and has no trouble with complex rules.

DeHe, who sells the expansion pack for Forbidden Island?! Sounds attractive.

Glad to know about Gubs too!

DeeDee

Good gracious--Geek Dad at Wired has a HUGE section of board game reviews. Freaking out! Need to buy 10 billion games! Aaaaaaahhhh!!! (You have to understand...DS wants to play games all.day.long.)

DeeDee
Oops sorry! Castle Panic is the game with the expansion pack - confusing my holiday gifts this year and last year! Castle panic is similar in that its a work together game - defend the castle from the invading monsters - expansion pack adds a wizard tower - super fun!

UM
Magic the gathering is relatively complex but not difficult in terms of reading - he might do better though starting with Pokemon - a great way to make friends with older kids. DS's cousins taught him in K and he loved it and played with 2nd and 3rd graders.

DeHe