Love boardgames!! I cannot agree with you on monopoly and risk. I mean monopoly purely cuz I suck a lot at it and just hate that game. But Risk is a good "enter into boardgame world" game. But once you enter there are so much more better and more dynamic world domination strategy games such as Game of Thrones, Chaos in the old world, Blood rage...
My Rising Sun is coming so I will tell you if that one is better as well :D