Thank you very much Drew. ☺️ I met Cole at Essen this year and was so happy that I could tell him in person that PP2 is my top game ever! ☺️ Fantastic game, thank you for it! :)
My group loves Pax Pamir. We play it all the time. It will never get old. Timeless game. Our next game, we need to get learn and get our head around is JC 2e. Pax Pamir is easy to learn, plays quickly and it just a total blast. So much fun
Thank you, thank you for countering the common view that expansions are "must have". So often, they dilute what made the game great in the first place.
It was really nice to meet you at Essen, I was the guy who tipped you on the shoulder at the Deal with the Devil area and wore a Splotter shirt. I can only support your idea of playing more Splotter. You might like Indonesia (especially since you are enamored with Brass). Thank you for the video!!!
Yes, I remember that! :) I would love to try Indonesia but I can't get hold of it! And it's ridiculously expensive on the BGG market. :) And obviously sold out anyway.
A very interesting list. Surprised to see In The Year Of The Dragon so high, I'll have to check it out. Also surprised to see Hansa Teutonica so low. Keen to see some more non-explanation content on the channel.
I discovered your channel through the amazing Horseless-Carriage-Tutorial, and now I must say, I'm deeply impressed with your Top 50. "The Great Zimbabwe" was my favorite game for quite some time, is now dethroned by a "life style game", that just eats up so much time, that I can not possibly say, I like TGZ more. But they are not really comparable, TBH. There is hardly a game I dislike in your list, and very impressive picks like "Hansa Teutonica", St. Petersburg or "In the Year of the Dragon", that I would have not expected on such a list nowadays, but are absolutely rightfully there. I concur with others, that Indonesia should be right up your alley. It is my second favorite Splotter after TGZ, and since you like 19xx and logistic games, there is no real reason to believe, you won't love this one. It is a longer one, in my groups harder to get to the table, but also a very elegant design. Have you played Churchill by any chance? How did you like it, if? It's my favorite striclty-three-player-game. I never played "The King is Dead" or "Brian Boru", though, and your video piqued my interest in these titles. Regarding expansions: I agree, that most of them offer just more convolution and fat. I still do like additional maps, in games like AoS, Power Grid, Hansa or Concordia. (It's certainly not necessary to collect all PG maps, though.) Also, "New Leaders & Wonders" for "Through the Ages" is a perfect example for me for a great expansion. And I was a bit surprised, you strictly avoid the expansion of St. Petersburg. Don't get me wrong, "The Banquet" shall burn, but "The New Society" actually gets away with some balancing issues like the notorious Mistress of Ceremonies and greatly improves the game, imho. I know, it was quite overpriced on release for a few cards, but I got the game second hand as a bundle, and was very glad, the expansion was included.
Thank you so much Markus! ☺️ I'm trying to get hold of Indonesia but no luck yet. :( I've played Churchill 6 times, and I loved it the first 3 games, actually I had as high as No. 8 on my list!! But then the next 3 games were more and more frustrating, and after the last one I never want to play it again. We've had always one player not having fun at all when losing all conferences and making no progress on the fronts. I know the players should balance the score in order to win the game, but constantly losing everything for 2-3 hours, and not being able to do anything about it (when it's 2v1 basically), is just not fun at all. And I also like expansions for AoS or PG, Concordia...(new maps? anytime! 🙂), and it's funny how my best gaming friend is the exact opposite - he wants to play all the games with all the available expansions, to have the "full game". 😄 He'll understand one day... 😄
Very nice list!!! Thank you for sharing! You absolutely, positively MUST find a copy of Indonesia (Splotter) and get it played. It's incredible. Seeing how much you enjoy economic games, and love other Splotter games, you will have this in your top 5 next year. I promise!
Fantastic list! I love almost all of these games and this could have been my top 50. Notable omissions: 1) Through the Ages, 2) Underwater Cities, 3) Kanban EV, 4) Orleans, 5) Feast for Odin, 6) Indonesia, 7) Tzolkin, 8) Russian Railroads
Thanks! :) I've finally got hold of Indonesia, so there's a chance it'll be on the list the next time. :) Those other games are great, just didn't make my top 50.
Nice reviews and you've put me on to a couple more - love your tutorials/reviews so totally value your opinion - many thanks - thanks also to your man there for the translation for us to English!
Nice list, you have good taste. Considering the style of game you like I’m surprised there were no Vital Lacerda games in the top 50. Also, don’t know if you’ve played Pax Transhumanity, but that has similar DNA to Pax Emancipation with a lower rules overhead.
Thank you. 🙂 As I replied to another comment(s), Vital's games are a little too complex for my taste. I prefer depth over complexity these days. More complex doesn't mean better, for me. So they're not in my TOP 50, but they would be in my TOP 100. :) And I haven't played Pax Transhumanity yet, need to try it soon!
I just realized how you really love mean games or rather interactive ones, which is actually right up my alley 😅. And man, you've enticed me to get Food Chain Magnate and Keyflower. So many interesting games as well in your list that I haven't heard of at all. Will look after those for sure. Thanks a lot not only for this referential top list being shared but thw continuous tutorials you put out for everyone. Wish and hope this channel grows more and get the upgraded and deserved recognition. ❤✌👍
Thank you so much for the kind words. :) Yes, I love interactive games, and yes, they can be mean! :) But I grew up with chess, and that's where I fell in love with this interaction in games, and that's what I still love the most!
No Great Western Trail in top 50, cant take this list seriously! :) great list although many different choices from what I would have. I think Great Western Trail and Gaia Project would be on my top 10 if I ever made a list, although I don't really like making such lists as I find it difficult to rate games.
I agree, it is difficult to make these lists. I don't necessarily rate my games, I simply rank them... somehow. :) GWT is just outside of my TOP50, I really enjoy it but for some reason I never fell in love with it. :) Even though I have one friend in our gaming group who had GWT as No 1 when he did his list the last time. I don't even know what it is, but it just doesn't click for me as much as other great games. And the same applies to Gaia Project (No 11 on my friend's list 🙂), together with Terra Mystica they're both in my TOP 100, but not in TOP 50. :)
Thanks for your detailed, splendid review as always. PP2e is my #1 too! Some questions: -What is your thaught about Vital's Vinhos and The gallerist ? Never heard you mention those, Are they way cleaner and elegant than Vital's modern ones? -Did you have some ops to play Pipeline and Dominant species:marine? Seem those should fits your style Thanks for the great vid. You got some great game taste, Subscribed!
Thank you very much! :) I've played Vinhos but haven't played The Gallerist yet, and I liked Vinhos and I think it is clean and elegant but... I don't mention Vital's games because I no longer enjoy them as much as I used to. The reason is that I generally prefer games with less rules and more depth. That doesn't mean I don't like Vital's games; I really do! But they're no longer in my TOP 100. And I've also played Pipeline and DS:M, I liked them both, and still have them i my collection. :) But again, there are just so many great games and there can only be 50 of them in the TOP 50. :)
Great list and your choices are very well motivated. Some games I rejected in the past, but will re-check them because of your enthusiasm. And games like Age o Steam, Caylus, St Petersburg or Puerto Rico, you don't see them on any list anymore, it's refreshing to see those games show up in your list !
This is a fantastic list of games :D Brass: Birmingham and Pax Pamir 2 are amazing games. I am also extremely intrigued by The Great Zimbabwe and I am excited for the new one from Splotter: Horseless Carriage. Hopefully, Come Together also manages to make it into next years list ;)
I'm also excited for Horseless Carriage! :) Come Together is great, so fun (those band names are hilarious! 😄), I need to play it more! We still have people in our gaming group who have not played it yet, so I'm looking forward to play it with all of them. :)
A little late watching this but great list, there's a lot of cross over with my list. I'd highly recommend the grand austria expansion, it took the game from a top 20 game to my third favourite game of all time. I was dubious it would be worth the effort but it's fantastic
Thank you! ☺️ I'm not a huge fan of expansions and we played GAH with it, and my two co-players loved it, but I did not. So we had a long discussion about it (I wish we have recorded that discussion!! 😄) because I prefer the clean original design and the deep focus on a very few things with extreme efficiency, and they prefer the variability and the added complexity and more options... 🙂
@@nithrania-gameinanutshell that’s too bad but I get why, before I played it I thought most of the added modules seemed like they wouldn’t work but as you said it expanded the decision space and I was surprised to find I enjoyed it more for that. At least the other players had a good time and thankfully you can always just play the base game and still have a fantastic time. Enjoying expansions might explain why age of steam is by far my favourite game, almost always play a new map haha
Well, tell me about Age of Steam expansions! 😄 Those are the rare types of expansions I like. And then there are 18xx games... 😂 (I own about 15 of them by now.)
Looking forward to this list every year! We share a lot of gaming tastes and there are always nice discoveries. I really need to get Merv to the table! It has been on my shelf for more than one year now. And now definitely need to try The Great Zimbabwe! Happy gaming and happy new year!!
Your list helped me a lot, Branislav. Thank you! I am amazed that you not only play a lot of games, but play one game many times. How are you able to do that?
great top 50.. Thank you so much for your work and a happy new year! I will love a how to play for Pax Rennaissance 2nd edition... I think will be gold for those who love this game.
I haven't! It's not easy to get hold of, and it's really expensive. I know the rules and would be eager to try it, however, it's really long and I'm not sure I would like it more than Food Chain. :)
Because they have a lot of depth, and that's the reason I have them in the list. :) For me personally, "the bigger and more complex" doesn't mean "better". :)
Well, we usually play it as a 3 or 4 player game. I don't even rememeber whether we played it as a 2p at any time. There are much better games specifically for 2 players. :)
Thank you, yes, I've played some of his games (but not all of them). I always say the more complex doesn't always mean the better. And that's my view of Vital's games - I like them, but I don't really enjoy them. I don't have fun, they feel like a lot of work to me. They are briliantly designed but too complex for my taste. I used to love these kind of games in the past, but now I prefer more depth than complexity.
After watching this for second time, I'm confident to suggest a few games that I think you'll enjoy, based on your top: 1. Bus 2. Dominante Species Marine 3. Tramways 4. Imperial 5. Ginkgopolis 6. Turncoats 7. Power and Weakness
Thanks! I have played DSM already and like it a lot! :) The same for Imperial - juuuuuuust outside of my TOP 50. :) I haven't played Bus yet but I am now trying to get hold of this game. And I haven't played the other games from the list, but they seem interesting, so thanks for the recommendations, I will check them out! 🙂
Excellent list! I rarely see PP2 as #1 on these kinds of lists. My group mostly play 4-5 players and I felt PP2 was too tactical and so much can happen in 1-2 turns you could be completely out of winning having achieved nothing 😂. I need to check out Year of the Dragon and perhaps finally get Red Cathedral 👌😀
Well, I VERY rarely play with any expansions! 😄 I only have the Venus, I like the new maps but I'm not a fan of that team play. So we only play the "standard" way of Concordia - all against all, no teams. :)
Games with a simple set of rules but a lot of depth and lots of interactions : that's my definition of a great game. By the way, you said #11 is your favorite worker placement game but have you tried Russian Railroads/Ultimate Railroads ? It probably deserves a try :)
Thanks! :) I've played Russian Railroads and it's a great game, but I don't like that point-saladness and the scores around 400+. And it's too abstract, so it didn't make my TOP 50, but I still like it a lot!
Great list Branislav. I'm so intrigued by TG Zimbawe! wow. got to give it a try. I'm a big fan of PP2ed but didn't got much love in my group. As I am pretty new to the hobby, didn't want to try both, Race FTG and Puerto Rico, so I heard that the game New Frontiers combined these two in one game, so I got that one, still haven't played it yet. Have you tried New Frontiers?
I have and it's a really good game! Maybe the best one from this "Race for the Galaxy" family to start with for the new players. Once you understand that system in New Frontiers (and in case you like it! ☺️) I would recommend to give a RftG a try, if you have a chance. And also try Puerto Rico, it's really fantastic (if you like this kind of games 🙂).
Great list; I do not know have you ever try Imperial 2030 or Navegador because these are my among my favorite games which Mac Gerdts designed game. Also, did you try Pax Transhumanity I heard it has simpler rule and also more different than other Pax games. I disagree with you on Le Havre :))) it actually works great on 4 player, it just needs more forward planning.
I love the original Imperial (slightly more than Imperial 2030 😄) and it just barely missed my TOP 50. In 2021 it was actually on 21st place! It dropped a little bit, but juuuuuust outside of TOP 50. 🙂 Haven't played Navegador yet but Crossing Oceans (fresh 2022 Essen release 🙂) seems to be very similar and it probably will make it into my TOP 50!
Well, that's a correct observation. I really don't like expansions, and I love games with low rules complexity but a lot of depth, and a lot of interaction. I literally dislike games with overwhelming rules (I no longer like Lacerda's games, or lately the games like Voidfall, etc.), and there are only a few games that take more than 1,5h-2h to play and I still like them. I used to love very heavy games a lot, but that time is over for me. :)
Since you like so much Merv, Have you played Fabio Lopiano's previous game: Calimala? Very interesting action selection mechanism and very clever scoring system (It's an area Majority, but not mean and doesn't have that tendency of 2v1 or 3v1, IMO). I liked it a lot. cheers from Ireland
So at least one Pax is on top :D...I am satisfied :D But where is John Company? Brass is on good spot as well...let´s say I agree (mostly) even though I didn´t play many of those games in the list. Still Pax Ren and Par Eman. are soooooo low for me, but in general nice list.
I like Endeavor a lot, but not as much as Hansa - you are correct. 🙂 But maybe my opinion of Endeavor has been affected by the expansions we used in our last games. And I am NOT the fan of expansions. 😄
Since you like Splotter games, and Age of Steam, I expect you will also enjoy Bus when you get a chance to play it. Have you played Antike II? It's from the same designer as Crossing Oceans, a really classic design in my opinion.
I've never played Bus! And it's almost impossible to find it now. :) Antike II is a nice game but it just didn't make my list. I like some area control games but for some reason these games are not my cup of tea. :)
If there is a common theme to your list, it will be the fact you like highly interactive Euros. I also really like games where it really matters what your opponent is doing; in my gaming journey I am beginning to despise multiplayer solitaires games. There are obviously exceptions, there are excellent mostly solitaire games, but I can see how going solitaire is a lazy way designers nowadays use to ensure the game is playable from solo to 4 players, it is way easier to balance to all player counts. I dont like mean games, but there must be interaction.
Absolutely agree! :) I love interactive games where it really matters what your opponent is doing! And I also tend to avoid multiplayer solitaires although I still like some of them. In addition, I also start to dislike games that are too complicated, with too many rules and too many mechanics (looking at Lacerda's games 😜) even though I really liked them few years ago.
@@nithrania-gameinanutshell This is exactly how I feel too. I sold all my Lacerdas. That medium to medium heavy is the sweet spot, that game you know you can bring back to the table at any time, spend 20 min scanning through the rules and you will remember it all.
There're different people out there. In my community we do enjoy not touching each other too much or at all if possible. Great that there are a lot of choice for different taste
Wow, too easy to achieve everything? How did you do that?? Maybe you played something wrong. :) For us it's always very tense and very often we use opponent's buildings, we have a very "ehm... interactive gaming!" :)
Troyes, I use to love it (and the art is still FANTASTIC) but I cannot pass through the fact that a player may looses a cube in the cathedral due to a random threat card, especially in a euro game. I do prefer Black Angel from the same team (the theme suits best for me) but wow the art style in Troyes is marginal (not a popular choice) but how amazing. Mr. Berec you can point me the things why you liked Troyes better than Black Angel I'm curious to have your input on this (and no need to wear white gloves please 😅)
Troyes is more lean, it's easier (for me) to focus on my strategy. In Black Angel I wasn't really a fan of that mini player board with tokens moving, and I also think the mission cards were a missed opportunity. I rarely had a chance to use the mission more than twice because the ship was always moving too fast. So it was difficult for me to get focus, and that's why I feel Troyes is more streamlined and that's the reason I like it more. :)
Wow.. where is Vital Lacerda games? Area control games? You realy need to try war chest! Also company of heroes! Dune imperium? Terra mystica? Tzolkin?
Well... - Vital's games - as I already replied to several other comments, I no longer prefer very heavy euro games like Vital's games. I still like them, but not as much as to put them into my TOP 50 games. - Area control games - again, I don't like them too much, maybe because usually other players go against me specifically just to make sure I don't win. 😄 Then I really hate that 2v1 or even 3v1 gaming which is quite natural to these games. - War Chest - I was told the same thing by few other people already, so believe it or not - JUST ordered it! 😄 - Company of Heroes - that's definitely not a game for me. :) - Dune Imperium - played it 3 times, sold it right away. I know nothing about Dune (I almost never watch movies 🙃 ), so it's a complete abstract game for me, and without a theme it's pretty average and boring, and long. - Terra Mystica - played it a lot long time ago, I like it but I don't really love it. - Tzolkin - same as Terra Mystica.
We have a lot of crossover ! But I am surprised that one game missing if you like highly interactives games, like barrage, brass, Merv … the name is seeders from sereis. Maybe you you don’t know it, you should try !
I totally agree that Pax Pamir second Edition is THE No1 of all time. What do you think about John Company Second Edition? In my book, it is a masterpiece.
I like Terra Mystica quite a lot, but not enough to have it in my top 50 list. TtA is a different story - it's a great game but with too much administration, and it's too long. I would never ever play it again live, only the electronic version. That's the reason it's not in top 50.
Well, I really like Lisboa but it didn't make it into my TOP 50. The reason is that I don't really enjoy those super heavy and complicated games as much as I used to. My best gaming-friend has Lisboa as No 8, and it used to be his No 1, so it has a lot of love in our group. :) I haven't played Vinhos yet, however! :)
I am also not a fan of expansions. To me if I love the game already it doesn't need an expansion and if a game needs one then I don't want it. I also love Grand Austria Hotel and think it is perfect the way it is.
Absolutely nothing! 😄 It's still No. 7 of all times! 😀 However, after having played several games on the table with new people I have to admit they are long, they really have a lot of rules and there are some small details that are very important for the game (e.g. max. 50% shares in the market, but max. as many as shareholders have in their hands - 1846), but completely missed by new players. So, for the "average" players it's very difficult to dive into these 18xx series of games, the target audience is very limited, unfortunately.
As I replied to another comment - I like his games but I don't love them. I no longer like the super heavy complex and complicated games as I used to. :)
Well, TtA is great on mobile phone (or tablet), but it takes ages to play physically, and it's a lot of counting and game administration. I never ever want to play it physically again. But then it's a computer game to me, not a board game. Therefore it didn't make my list. And Mage Knight is fantastic but again - I feel like I am not fighting with weapons but rather with math-calculators. :) And it has way too many rules and I'm not a huge fan of these kind of games anymore (with tooooooo many rules).
Pax pamir is one of hte worst games I've ever played. You have to constantly read the cards, the rules for when you can or can't place tokens is wonky. All of the other Pax games are so much better. Haha, our tastes are close but not on this one. When this hits the table, I'd rather go to work or plaster drywall. Those are far more fun than this game.
Thank you so much for your kind words about Pax Pamir! -Drew
Thank you very much Drew. ☺️ I met Cole at Essen this year and was so happy that I could tell him in person that PP2 is my top game ever! ☺️ Fantastic game, thank you for it! :)
My group loves Pax Pamir. We play it all the time. It will never get old. Timeless game. Our next game, we need to get learn and get our head around is JC 2e.
Pax Pamir is easy to learn, plays quickly and it just a total blast. So much fun
I want to try Pax Pamir but I'm so worried it will be too heavy. Brass is about the heaviest game I play.
Love your taste in games. I also love heavy euros that are highly interactive. And i also appreciate your view on the unnecessariness of expansions
Glad to hear about expansions! :) I was afraid I'm almost alone as my gaming group loves to play with almost ALL expansions. :D
Thank you, thank you for countering the common view that expansions are "must have". So often, they dilute what made the game great in the first place.
It was really nice to meet you at Essen, I was the guy who tipped you on the shoulder at the Deal with the Devil area and wore a Splotter shirt.
I can only support your idea of playing more Splotter. You might like Indonesia (especially since you are enamored with Brass). Thank you for the video!!!
Yes, I remember that! :)
I would love to try Indonesia but I can't get hold of it! And it's ridiculously expensive on the BGG market. :) And obviously sold out anyway.
A very interesting list. Surprised to see In The Year Of The Dragon so high, I'll have to check it out. Also surprised to see Hansa Teutonica so low.
Keen to see some more non-explanation content on the channel.
I discovered your channel through the amazing Horseless-Carriage-Tutorial, and now I must say, I'm deeply impressed with your Top 50. "The Great Zimbabwe" was my favorite game for quite some time, is now dethroned by a "life style game", that just eats up so much time, that I can not possibly say, I like TGZ more. But they are not really comparable, TBH. There is hardly a game I dislike in your list, and very impressive picks like "Hansa Teutonica", St. Petersburg or "In the Year of the Dragon", that I would have not expected on such a list nowadays, but are absolutely rightfully there.
I concur with others, that Indonesia should be right up your alley. It is my second favorite Splotter after TGZ, and since you like 19xx and logistic games, there is no real reason to believe, you won't love this one. It is a longer one, in my groups harder to get to the table, but also a very elegant design.
Have you played Churchill by any chance? How did you like it, if? It's my favorite striclty-three-player-game. I never played "The King is Dead" or "Brian Boru", though, and your video piqued my interest in these titles.
Regarding expansions: I agree, that most of them offer just more convolution and fat. I still do like additional maps, in games like AoS, Power Grid, Hansa or Concordia. (It's certainly not necessary to collect all PG maps, though.) Also, "New Leaders & Wonders" for "Through the Ages" is a perfect example for me for a great expansion. And I was a bit surprised, you strictly avoid the expansion of St. Petersburg. Don't get me wrong, "The Banquet" shall burn, but "The New Society" actually gets away with some balancing issues like the notorious Mistress of Ceremonies and greatly improves the game, imho. I know, it was quite overpriced on release for a few cards, but I got the game second hand as a bundle, and was very glad, the expansion was included.
Thank you so much Markus! ☺️
I'm trying to get hold of Indonesia but no luck yet. :(
I've played Churchill 6 times, and I loved it the first 3 games, actually I had as high as No. 8 on my list!! But then the next 3 games were more and more frustrating, and after the last one I never want to play it again. We've had always one player not having fun at all when losing all conferences and making no progress on the fronts. I know the players should balance the score in order to win the game, but constantly losing everything for 2-3 hours, and not being able to do anything about it (when it's 2v1 basically), is just not fun at all.
And I also like expansions for AoS or PG, Concordia...(new maps? anytime! 🙂), and it's funny how my best gaming friend is the exact opposite - he wants to play all the games with all the available expansions, to have the "full game". 😄 He'll understand one day... 😄
Very nice list!!! Thank you for sharing! You absolutely, positively MUST find a copy of Indonesia (Splotter) and get it played. It's incredible. Seeing how much you enjoy economic games, and love other Splotter games, you will have this in your top 5 next year. I promise!
I'll do my best to get it!! 🙂
A list would be useful!
Yeah love euro games with less chance elements that are interactive! Good job!:)
Thanks! :) The list is at the end of the video. :)
Fantastic list! I love almost all of these games and this could have been my top 50. Notable omissions: 1) Through the Ages, 2) Underwater Cities, 3) Kanban EV, 4) Orleans, 5) Feast for Odin, 6) Indonesia, 7) Tzolkin, 8) Russian Railroads
Thanks! :)
I've finally got hold of Indonesia, so there's a chance it'll be on the list the next time. :)
Those other games are great, just didn't make my top 50.
Nice list 😃 Heat is a great game truly surprised me how the hand management works.
Truly excellent list.
Very few top lists do I watch through without skipping forward.
Didn’t skip ahead even once watching this!
Thank you. ☺️
Nice reviews and you've put me on to a couple more - love your tutorials/reviews so totally value your opinion - many thanks - thanks also to your man there for the translation for us to English!
Great list. Definitely not the usual games most people put on their lists.
Nice list, you have good taste. Considering the style of game you like I’m surprised there were no Vital Lacerda games in the top 50. Also, don’t know if you’ve played Pax Transhumanity, but that has similar DNA to Pax Emancipation with a lower rules overhead.
Thank you. 🙂 As I replied to another comment(s), Vital's games are a little too complex for my taste. I prefer depth over complexity these days. More complex doesn't mean better, for me. So they're not in my TOP 50, but they would be in my TOP 100. :)
And I haven't played Pax Transhumanity yet, need to try it soon!
Clear, concise explanations as usual, Branislav. So glad to see some of my favorites rated highly. Keep up the good work!
Thank you David. ☺️
I just realized how you really love mean games or rather interactive ones, which is actually right up my alley 😅.
And man, you've enticed me to get Food Chain Magnate and Keyflower.
So many interesting games as well in your list that I haven't heard of at all. Will look after those for sure.
Thanks a lot not only for this referential top list being shared but thw continuous tutorials you put out for everyone. Wish and hope this channel grows more and get the upgraded and deserved recognition. ❤✌👍
Thank you so much for the kind words. :)
Yes, I love interactive games, and yes, they can be mean! :) But I grew up with chess, and that's where I fell in love with this interaction in games, and that's what I still love the most!
This is a must watch video for end of year top board game lists, I always appreciate your content.
No Great Western Trail in top 50, cant take this list seriously! :) great list although many different choices from what I would have. I think Great Western Trail and Gaia Project would be on my top 10 if I ever made a list, although I don't really like making such lists as I find it difficult to rate games.
I agree, it is difficult to make these lists. I don't necessarily rate my games, I simply rank them... somehow. :)
GWT is just outside of my TOP50, I really enjoy it but for some reason I never fell in love with it. :) Even though I have one friend in our gaming group who had GWT as No 1 when he did his list the last time. I don't even know what it is, but it just doesn't click for me as much as other great games. And the same applies to Gaia Project (No 11 on my friend's list 🙂), together with Terra Mystica they're both in my TOP 100, but not in TOP 50. :)
such a nice list and taste!
Thanks for your detailed, splendid review as always. PP2e is my #1 too!
Some questions:
-What is your thaught about Vital's Vinhos and The gallerist ? Never heard you mention those, Are they way cleaner and elegant than Vital's modern ones?
-Did you have some ops to play Pipeline and Dominant species:marine? Seem those should fits your style
Thanks for the great vid. You got some great game taste, Subscribed!
Thank you very much! :)
I've played Vinhos but haven't played The Gallerist yet, and I liked Vinhos and I think it is clean and elegant but... I don't mention Vital's games because I no longer enjoy them as much as I used to. The reason is that I generally prefer games with less rules and more depth. That doesn't mean I don't like Vital's games; I really do! But they're no longer in my TOP 100.
And I've also played Pipeline and DS:M, I liked them both, and still have them i my collection. :) But again, there are just so many great games and there can only be 50 of them in the TOP 50. :)
Great seeing a mix of new and old! Some of my older favorites, Agricola and Caylus, made the list!
Great list and your choices are very well motivated. Some games I rejected in the past, but will re-check them because of your enthusiasm. And games like Age o Steam, Caylus, St Petersburg or Puerto Rico, you don't see them on any list anymore, it's refreshing to see those games show up in your list !
Thanks! ☺️
This is a fantastic list of games :D
Brass: Birmingham and Pax Pamir 2 are amazing games. I am also extremely intrigued by The Great Zimbabwe and I am excited for the new one from Splotter: Horseless Carriage.
Hopefully, Come Together also manages to make it into next years list ;)
I'm also excited for Horseless Carriage! :)
Come Together is great, so fun (those band names are hilarious! 😄), I need to play it more! We still have people in our gaming group who have not played it yet, so I'm looking forward to play it with all of them. :)
What a great list of games! Really fun to see
A little late watching this but great list, there's a lot of cross over with my list. I'd highly recommend the grand austria expansion, it took the game from a top 20 game to my third favourite game of all time. I was dubious it would be worth the effort but it's fantastic
Thank you! ☺️
I'm not a huge fan of expansions and we played GAH with it, and my two co-players loved it, but I did not. So we had a long discussion about it (I wish we have recorded that discussion!! 😄) because I prefer the clean original design and the deep focus on a very few things with extreme efficiency, and they prefer the variability and the added complexity and more options... 🙂
@@nithrania-gameinanutshell that’s too bad but I get why, before I played it I thought most of the added modules seemed like they wouldn’t work but as you said it expanded the decision space and I was surprised to find I enjoyed it more for that. At least the other players had a good time and thankfully you can always just play the base game and still have a fantastic time.
Enjoying expansions might explain why age of steam is by far my favourite game, almost always play a new map haha
Well, tell me about Age of Steam expansions! 😄 Those are the rare types of expansions I like.
And then there are 18xx games... 😂 (I own about 15 of them by now.)
Looking forward to this list every year! We share a lot of gaming tastes and there are always nice discoveries. I really need to get Merv to the table! It has been on my shelf for more than one year now. And now definitely need to try The Great Zimbabwe! Happy gaming and happy new year!!
Thank you, Happy New Year to you as well! :)
Your list helped me a lot, Branislav. Thank you! I am amazed that you not only play a lot of games, but play one game many times. How are you able to do that?
I have a great group of players around me, and I don't have kids which usually makes a lot of difference! :)
Love you videos! Great presentation and very well thought out.
Thank you. ☺️
Totally agree with The Great Zimbabwe!! Magic game
great top 50.. Thank you so much for your work and a happy new year! I will love a how to play for Pax Rennaissance 2nd edition... I think will be gold for those who love this game.
Thank you! ☺️ I wrote a script for P.R. few years ago and there's a chance I might do it in the next few months. :)
Great list! Have you played the splotter "Indonesia"?, if you haven't you should, I reckon it would be right up your alley :)
I haven't! It's not easy to get hold of, and it's really expensive. I know the rules and would be eager to try it, however, it's really long and I'm not sure I would like it more than Food Chain. :)
Oh thank you so much this is exactly what I was looking for
Nice to see some love for Lewis and Clark. It's a game.
Pax Pamir 2e is my #1 as well. An amazing game, such a fun time every time with emergent stories.
Fantastic list!
Amazing list. Only adding little games like Hive and alike kind of disrupt it :D
Not really sure how you don't get "bored" of those after few plays :P
Because they have a lot of depth, and that's the reason I have them in the list. :)
For me personally, "the bigger and more complex" doesn't mean "better". :)
Hi, thanks for the great list! What player count do you like St Petersburg at? I tried it with 2 players and didn't really like it.
Well, we usually play it as a 3 or 4 player game. I don't even rememeber whether we played it as a 2p at any time. There are much better games specifically for 2 players. :)
Nice list. I didn't see any Vital Lacerda titles on your list. Have you had a chance to play them?
Thank you, yes, I've played some of his games (but not all of them). I always say the more complex doesn't always mean the better. And that's my view of Vital's games - I like them, but I don't really enjoy them. I don't have fun, they feel like a lot of work to me. They are briliantly designed but too complex for my taste. I used to love these kind of games in the past, but now I prefer more depth than complexity.
@@nithrania-gameinanutshell thanks for your response, makes sense. Merry Christmas to you.
Thanks, and to you! :)
I was NOT expecting to see In the year of the Dragon so high! That was a suprise. Also, not often you see one of the Bios games on a list!
To be honest B:O is the ONLY Bios game I really like. I'm not a huge fan of other Bioses. :)
After watching this for second time, I'm confident to suggest a few games that I think you'll enjoy, based on your top:
1. Bus
2. Dominante Species Marine
3. Tramways
4. Imperial
5. Ginkgopolis
6. Turncoats
7. Power and Weakness
Thanks!
I have played DSM already and like it a lot! :)
The same for Imperial - juuuuuuust outside of my TOP 50. :)
I haven't played Bus yet but I am now trying to get hold of this game. And I haven't played the other games from the list, but they seem interesting, so thanks for the recommendations, I will check them out! 🙂
Excellent list! I rarely see PP2 as #1 on these kinds of lists. My group mostly play 4-5 players and I felt PP2 was too tactical and so much can happen in 1-2 turns you could be completely out of winning having achieved nothing 😂. I need to check out Year of the Dragon and perhaps finally get Red Cathedral 👌😀
Thanks! ☺️
Thank you for your list and explanations. Very well done. So glad to see “ Year of the Dragon”. I hope St. Petersburg Is reprinted someday soon.
I would also hope for a St. Petersburg reprint!
What do you think of the Concordia expansions? Do you play it without them?
Well, I VERY rarely play with any expansions! 😄 I only have the Venus, I like the new maps but I'm not a fan of that team play. So we only play the "standard" way of Concordia - all against all, no teams. :)
Games with a simple set of rules but a lot of depth and lots of interactions : that's my definition of a great game.
By the way, you said #11 is your favorite worker placement game but have you tried Russian Railroads/Ultimate Railroads ? It probably deserves a try :)
Thanks! :)
I've played Russian Railroads and it's a great game, but I don't like that point-saladness and the scores around 400+. And it's too abstract, so it didn't make my TOP 50, but I still like it a lot!
Great list Branislav. I'm so intrigued by TG Zimbawe! wow. got to give it a try.
I'm a big fan of PP2ed but didn't got much love in my group. As I am pretty new to the hobby, didn't want to try both, Race FTG and Puerto Rico, so I heard that the game New Frontiers combined these two in one game, so I got that one, still haven't played it yet. Have you tried New Frontiers?
I have and it's a really good game! Maybe the best one from this "Race for the Galaxy" family to start with for the new players. Once you understand that system in New Frontiers (and in case you like it! ☺️) I would recommend to give a RftG a try, if you have a chance. And also try Puerto Rico, it's really fantastic (if you like this kind of games 🙂).
Love this channel!
Great list; I do not know have you ever try Imperial 2030 or Navegador because these are my among my favorite games which Mac Gerdts designed game. Also, did you try Pax Transhumanity I heard it has simpler rule and also more different than other Pax games. I disagree with you on Le Havre :))) it actually works great on 4 player, it just needs more forward planning.
I love the original Imperial (slightly more than Imperial 2030 😄) and it just barely missed my TOP 50. In 2021 it was actually on 21st place! It dropped a little bit, but juuuuuust outside of TOP 50. 🙂 Haven't played Navegador yet but Crossing Oceans (fresh 2022 Essen release 🙂) seems to be very similar and it probably will make it into my TOP 50!
@@nithrania-gameinanutshell I really like your content and also we have very similar teste :)). Keep up good work
Great List! Oh man, would love an english teach for Bio:Origins!
Well, maybe, maybe... :)
No Knizia games, that's a little surprising. Seems you like the low rules, no expansions, sub 1hr gameplays
Well, that's a correct observation. I really don't like expansions, and I love games with low rules complexity but a lot of depth, and a lot of interaction. I literally dislike games with overwhelming rules (I no longer like Lacerda's games, or lately the games like Voidfall, etc.), and there are only a few games that take more than 1,5h-2h to play and I still like them.
I used to love very heavy games a lot, but that time is over for me. :)
@@nithrania-gameinanutshell all of that describes knizia games. Which is why I'm surprised. Maybe give knizia more of a chance ;)
Hi! I love your videos :) When you talk about agricola u mean the new edition with less card or the old one?
Thank you! :) I only have the old one, there was no need for me to buy anything new. :)
Since you like so much Merv, Have you played Fabio Lopiano's previous game: Calimala? Very interesting action selection mechanism and very clever scoring system (It's an area Majority, but not mean and doesn't have that tendency of 2v1 or 3v1, IMO). I liked it a lot. cheers from Ireland
Thanks! ☺️
Haven't played Calimala, but I'd like to try it. :)
I definitely need to get The Great Zimbabwe and Heat now,
So at least one Pax is on top :D...I am satisfied :D But where is John Company? Brass is on good spot as well...let´s say I agree (mostly) even though I didn´t play many of those games in the list. Still Pax Ren and Par Eman. are soooooo low for me, but in general nice list.
John Company is another game where I have problems to get people to play that game. :)
Do you have plans to do BIOS: Origins tutorial?
Well, currently not, but never say never.
I'm wanting for Bios Origins tutorial in english! Good top50
Wonder what you think of Endeavor? Top 100? Is that because Hansa Teutonica is similar and you like it better?
I like Endeavor a lot, but not as much as Hansa - you are correct. 🙂
But maybe my opinion of Endeavor has been affected by the expansions we used in our last games. And I am NOT the fan of expansions. 😄
Since you like Splotter games, and Age of Steam, I expect you will also enjoy Bus when you get a chance to play it. Have you played Antike II? It's from the same designer as Crossing Oceans, a really classic design in my opinion.
I've never played Bus! And it's almost impossible to find it now. :)
Antike II is a nice game but it just didn't make my list. I like some area control games but for some reason these games are not my cup of tea. :)
If there is a common theme to your list, it will be the fact you like highly interactive Euros. I also really like games where it really matters what your opponent is doing; in my gaming journey I am beginning to despise multiplayer solitaires games. There are obviously exceptions, there are excellent mostly solitaire games, but I can see how going solitaire is a lazy way designers nowadays use to ensure the game is playable from solo to 4 players, it is way easier to balance to all player counts. I dont like mean games, but there must be interaction.
Absolutely agree! :) I love interactive games where it really matters what your opponent is doing! And I also tend to avoid multiplayer solitaires although I still like some of them. In addition, I also start to dislike games that are too complicated, with too many rules and too many mechanics (looking at Lacerda's games 😜) even though I really liked them few years ago.
@@nithrania-gameinanutshell This is exactly how I feel too. I sold all my Lacerdas. That medium to medium heavy is the sweet spot, that game you know you can bring back to the table at any time, spend 20 min scanning through the rules and you will remember it all.
There're different people out there. In my community we do enjoy not touching each other too much or at all if possible. Great that there are a lot of choice for different taste
wow. biggest surprise for me is Merv. we thought the game is too easy to achieve everything. played it twice and sold it.
Wow, too easy to achieve everything? How did you do that?? Maybe you played something wrong. :)
For us it's always very tense and very often we use opponent's buildings, we have a very "ehm... interactive gaming!" :)
Thanks for your top 50. Have you played Mind MGMT solo?
No, I rarely play anything solo (apart from Gloomhaven :) ).
It's great the solo with the app. I highly recommended.
I’m writing this list down to keep as a reference for buying new games
Troyes, I use to love it (and the art is still FANTASTIC) but I cannot pass through the fact that a player may looses a cube in the cathedral due to a random threat card, especially in a euro game. I do prefer Black Angel from the same team (the theme suits best for me) but wow the art style in Troyes is marginal (not a popular choice) but how amazing. Mr. Berec you can point me the things why you liked Troyes better than Black Angel I'm curious to have your input on this (and no need to wear white gloves please 😅)
Troyes is more lean, it's easier (for me) to focus on my strategy. In Black Angel I wasn't really a fan of that mini player board with tokens moving, and I also think the mission cards were a missed opportunity. I rarely had a chance to use the mission more than twice because the ship was always moving too fast. So it was difficult for me to get focus, and that's why I feel Troyes is more streamlined and that's the reason I like it more. :)
Wow.. where is Vital Lacerda games?
Area control games?
You realy need to try war chest!
Also company of heroes!
Dune imperium?
Terra mystica?
Tzolkin?
Well...
- Vital's games - as I already replied to several other comments, I no longer prefer very heavy euro games like Vital's games. I still like them, but not as much as to put them into my TOP 50 games.
- Area control games - again, I don't like them too much, maybe because usually other players go against me specifically just to make sure I don't win. 😄 Then I really hate that 2v1 or even 3v1 gaming which is quite natural to these games.
- War Chest - I was told the same thing by few other people already, so believe it or not - JUST ordered it! 😄
- Company of Heroes - that's definitely not a game for me. :)
- Dune Imperium - played it 3 times, sold it right away. I know nothing about Dune (I almost never watch movies 🙃 ), so it's a complete abstract game for me, and without a theme it's pretty average and boring, and long.
- Terra Mystica - played it a lot long time ago, I like it but I don't really love it.
- Tzolkin - same as Terra Mystica.
We have a lot of crossover ! But I am surprised that one game missing if you like highly interactives games, like barrage, brass, Merv … the name is seeders from sereis. Maybe you you don’t know it, you should try !
Never heard of it, to be honest! :) Will check it out, thanks!
I totally agree that Pax Pamir second Edition is THE No1 of all time. What do you think about John Company Second Edition? In my book, it is a masterpiece.
I have it sitting on the shelf waiting for the first play! :)
We brought over 45 games from Essen this year, still haven't played all of them. :)
There are two games that i'm very surprise don't find in your top 50. Terra Mistica and Throught the ages. You don't like them?
I like Terra Mystica quite a lot, but not enough to have it in my top 50 list.
TtA is a different story - it's a great game but with too much administration, and it's too long. I would never ever play it again live, only the electronic version. That's the reason it's not in top 50.
About game 40 : I think it takes 45 minutes to take the first lesson if you get crushed :D
😄 So true!
Saint Petersburg! _1st ed._ YES! :)
Good taste!
No Lacerda’s ? :(
Well, I really like Lisboa but it didn't make it into my TOP 50. The reason is that I don't really enjoy those super heavy and complicated games as much as I used to. My best gaming-friend has Lisboa as No 8, and it used to be his No 1, so it has a lot of love in our group. :) I haven't played Vinhos yet, however! :)
Do you have timestamps for this video?
Unfortunately not, but you can always see the game rank number in the bottom left corner of the video.
... And the sales numbers for Great Zimbabwe goes triple in 3...2...1...;-D
😄
I am also not a fan of expansions. To me if I love the game already it doesn't need an expansion and if a game needs one then I don't want it.
I also love Grand Austria Hotel and think it is perfect the way it is.
We've just played Waltz exp. today and I didn't like it, I strongly prefer the base game only. :)
What happened to 18XX?!
Absolutely nothing! 😄 It's still No. 7 of all times! 😀
However, after having played several games on the table with new people I have to admit they are long, they really have a lot of rules and there are some small details that are very important for the game (e.g. max. 50% shares in the market, but max. as many as shareholders have in their hands - 1846), but completely missed by new players. So, for the "average" players it's very difficult to dive into these 18xx series of games, the target audience is very limited, unfortunately.
Caylus 44 and hansa 43 ? Are you serious ?
What? Are they too high? Or too low? 😀
@@nithrania-gameinanutshell Caylus and hansa teutonica in top ten.
No Lacerda? That is new :)
Lacerda is overhyped. His games are not the best.
@@haruspex007 maybe for you, for me are one of the best
like Branislav said, there only few complex (heavy) games
As I replied to another comment - I like his games but I don't love them. I no longer like the super heavy complex and complicated games as I used to. :)
No timecodes?
Apologies, no timecodes, but you can see the rank number all the time. Hope it helps. And the summary at the end.
I would play gloomhaven with ya any time you like
No Vlaada
Well, TtA is great on mobile phone (or tablet), but it takes ages to play physically, and it's a lot of counting and game administration. I never ever want to play it physically again. But then it's a computer game to me, not a board game. Therefore it didn't make my list.
And Mage Knight is fantastic but again - I feel like I am not fighting with weapons but rather with math-calculators. :) And it has way too many rules and I'm not a huge fan of these kind of games anymore (with tooooooo many rules).
@@nithrania-gameinanutshell you probably didn't like Feudum too :)
Pax pamir is one of hte worst games I've ever played. You have to constantly read the cards, the rules for when you can or can't place tokens is wonky. All of the other Pax games are so much better. Haha, our tastes are close but not on this one. When this hits the table, I'd rather go to work or plaster drywall. Those are far more fun than this game.
Well, different strokes for different folkes. :)
Good list apart from the phil eklund games. Always too many right winged capitalist colonisational pride rules and essays for me. Leaves a sour taste.
Wrong brass my friend
😄 what do you mean wrong? I mentioned both, haven't I? 😄