As a fan of the series, but not in a collector way, I've been hesitating about buying Pax Emancipation, and decided not to. But you've put it at your best choice at solo... and I hate you for that, becouse now it's in my radar again. ¿Can you please explain a little why do you like it?
10 or 9: 6 Nimmt! 8: Advanced Civilization 7: Citadels 6: Dune 5: Legend of the Five Rings TCG 4: Britannia 3: Clank in Space 2: de Bellis Multitudinis 1: Gloomhaven
I really need to try redux and Automobile !! 1 - Oranienburger Kanal ( i have not played that many solo ) 2 - Battlecon 3 - Fields of Arle (with exp) 4 - Great Zimbabwe 5 - Age of Steam 6 - Dune 7 - Sidereal Confluence 8 - Captain Sonar 9 - 6 Nimmt! 10 - Telestrations (need party pack)
1. Oranienburger Kanal or Nusfjord 2. Patchwork or Lost Cities (Go is on my bucket list, Marabunta is dark horse) 3. Dominion 4. Tigris and Euphrates 5. El Grande 6: Medici 7: Zoo Vadis 8-9 don't have
1 - Mr. President 2 - Paths of Glory 3 - Churchill 4 - Through the Ages 5 - Die Macher 6 - Dominant Species 7 - Struggle of Empires 8-18 - Mega Civilization
Do love me some Through the Ages. Game is so long it rarely comes out, but they do have a good mobile app at least which speeds things up a massive amount
1 - Stilicho 2 - Res Arcana (but would love to play Nevsky) 3 - Brian Boru 4 - Root 5 - Pax Pamir (or John Company) 6 - Carolingi (to be expected in September) 7 - Paper Tales 8 - Cartographers (placeholder) 9 - Tempel des Schreckens (the only acceptable social deduction game to me)
A fun video thanks. For me 1) Spirit Island - main game I solo - love it up to 4 players 2) almost too hard to pick - I will give it to innovation but chess, dominion, Mottainai all come close 3) I would also probably give it to Three Kingdoms Redux although Maria, Triumph and Tragedy, Pax Ren and churchill all come close and the winner would depend on the day and the people 4) So many great games are optimised for this count. Tichu is my highest rated game at that count and I love it but on the right day, with the right people I think Fire in the Lake wins out. Wir Sind Das Volk! with the 2+2 expansion would be the pick with the widest range of people in the most widest range of situations. 5) Perhaps the hardest number because there are quite a lot of games that I really enjoy at this count....but I think Keyflower is the one I will pick - scales great 2-6 but 5 is perhaps the most perfect count. I want 5 player games to not take forever. Age of Steam and Carson City were also considerations 6 Quartermaster General - a sandboxy quick playing card game that works really well. Its basically a 6 player game but with fewer numbers some people can play extra sides, this works ok but 6 is certainly best. 7,8,9 - Sidereal Confluence - a brilliant trading and negotiating game with a good amount of asymmetry and euroey engine building. 10-1,000,000 Tournament Poker
1p Primal the Awakening 2p Kingdom Death Monster 3p Spirit Island 4p Sentinels of the Multiverse 5p 1817 6p-8p Sidereal Confluence 9p+ Blood on the Clocktower
1 - Onirim 2 - Yinsh* 3 - Ra 4 - Root 5 - El Grande 6 - Twilight Imperium 4E 7 - Sidereal Confluence 8+ - Monikers I wasn't sure about my 1 but I'm well over a thousand plays into Onirim. MtG should be 2, but I think it stands alone out of this comparison. Yinsh is my second. 8+ I'd almost always rather split the group into different games. If I'm forced at 8+, then make it as quick and fun as possible.
I can't think of anything for 8 or 9 players (except party games), so here is from 7 downwards: 7-player: Struggle of Empires - really epic, but maybe a bit too long 6-player: Dune (the classic game) - it's bet player count by far, makes it a really remarkable experience 5-player: John Company 2e - I find that adding a sixth player stretches the game too much, while at 5 players, you have just enough people to distribute among the company offices and make the game very interesting 4-player: Hegemony - I know, I am a fanboy of this one. Age of Steam is a great choice, but I didn't pick it only because it has so many different maps. Also, Age of Steam's core box maps are both better at 5 players, so the 4-player count is achievable only if you buy an expansion, so technically cheating a bit here :) 3-player: Three Kingdoms Redux - no argument here 2-player: Innovation - it is a personal preference, I love how this game packs a surprisingly big punch from a very small box 1-player: Mr President, no question about it
Not bad picks. I have not tried Struggle of Empires sadly. Innovation is a great one, I agree. At higher player counts I prefer Mare Nostrum Empires with expansion, Keyflower, Empires: Age of Discovery, at five I like Antike 2 and Mosaic for example. Root is perfect at four. At three maybe Le Havre or Anno 1800. At two I would chose Castles of Burgundy, Innovation or Through the Ages.
If I were to make a list (it's SO HARD with lower player counts): 1. The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game 2. War of the Ring: Second Edition 3. Pax Renaissance: 2nd Edition 4. Dominant Species 5. Automobile 6. Game of Thrones: The Board Game (2nd Edition) I don't play at higher player counts, those would be almost exclusively party games:
Solid list , Edward. I'm not really into solo gaming and unfortunately never got excited about 18XX or Age of Steam. I would gladly join you in any of your picks at 2,5,6,8 or 9. I'll be looking up Struggle of Empires right after this post. What surprised me was Through The Ages not being your pick at 3 but Three Kingdoms Redux does have it's selling points. Like I said, solid list.
1 - Voidfall 2 - Imperium: Horizons 3 - Underwater Cities 4 - Brass: Birmingham 5 - Roll for the Galaxy 6 - Rising Sun 7 - Scythe (love that 75-90 minute sweet spot) 8 - Sidereal Confluence 9 - I don't have anything I would play at 9
1 - Spirit Island 2 - BattleCON / Fields of Arle 3 - Maria 4 - The Great Zimbabwe / Tramways 5 - American Rails 6 - Game of Thrones: second edition 7 - Sidereal Confluence 8 - Deception: Murder in Hong Kong 9 - The Resistance: Avalon
For 10 to 20 players… Blood bowl. Yeah it is 2 player game, but i would newer play it pure two player. You need a series tournament! BB tournament where your team get upgrades etc is where this game shine!
1. Mage Knight ( I do want to try Mr. President ) 2. Ashes Reborn ( but I feel bad that War of the Ring isn't on the list ) 3. Triumph & Tragedy 4. Clash of Cultures ( War of the Ring could also have sat here. It is good at 4 ) 5. Pax Pamir 6. Star Trek Ascendancy ( although I haven't played it at six yet, shh... ) 7. Diplomacy ( old but gold ) 8. Sidereal Confluence 9. ? ( I do want to try Mega Civilization but haven't been able to make it to a game ) 10. Codenames
Seems like a good opportunity to record 9 videos (say for christmas) so they can be shown 1 day after each other. FWIW I only have 1 game on your list (actually not quite on your list), but I do agree 1862 is a surprisingly enjoyable solo game. A challenge to get to the table in multiplayer, but I do intend the railroad (oops) some people into playing it. Given my gaming is generally constrained into a 3.5 hour window, I'm very much more driven to games that play quick enough to fit into that window, so stuff like Architects of the west kingdom and footprints would get the nod at 5/6 player. 3/4 player so difficult, as there are so many I play at those player counts, and each can scratch a different itch. It's here where I become detached from the concept of top 10s, because it depends so much on the players and indeed my own mood, as to what's going to deliver great joy I virtually never game 2 player, but played This War of Mine at that player count tonight, and as my favourite game it would have to find a place somewhere. Punitive luck and a tough challenge, but for me it does something very special indeed in telling the story of civilians in an urban war, with no punches pulled. A superb counterpoint to the bloodless war games we may play, reminding us of the true horror of war. Not a fun game by any stretch, but a moving experience in a way I never expected board games could deliver. For 7+ it's invariably party games, and I guess Just One is played so often, it's got to be there.
OK, I've played a lot fewer games than y'all probably so I'm gonna try to add my own twist. I don't have a group that I can play heavy games with, so most of my heavy gaming is online. So with the exception of the solo choice, here's a list of great games you can play online. I really like evocative theming, area control, low (or no) point counts, and heavy player interaction. 1) Comancheria - I'm a sucker for historical storytelling and a game that makes me want to go to the library to find out more ticks my boxes. Plus, this is a designed-for-solo game with elegant systems and an excellent rule book. 2) Twilight Struggle (though you could convince me about Watergate). Seriously, TS deserved it's decade at the top of the BGG 100. It's evocative, elegant, deep, engaging, never stops being interesting to play. (Dedicated TS app.) 3) Pax Renaissance - Yes, this is woefully unbalanced and very swingy, but it's so thematically evocative and every turn presents a satisfying puzzle about how you can leverage the game state toward your ends. Great story generator. (BGA) 4) 1830 - There are a bunch of 18xx you could put here, but classics are classic for a reason. I also really and truly considered putting Duplicates Bridge here. I think there's enough strategic depth in the game that it would appeal to any heavy boardgamer. (18xx.games) 5) High Frontier (full game with all modules) - The most thematic board game of all time. Best story generator. Best heavy thinker. Best "oh damn I have this really awesome turned planned out and oh no my rocket exploded!" It plays best at 5. Is this really an online game? Well I have a physical copy of the 3rd edition, but I've only ever played it play-by-forum with Vassal, so yeah it counts. (PBF) 6+) I don't usually get to play games at these player counts :(
1. Mr President 2. 18OE 3. High Frontier 4 all mod. 0-2 4. 1862 5. On Mars 6. Food Chain Magnate 7. Evacuation 8. Twilight Imperium 9. Europa Universalis PoP 10. Gaia Project
Very interesting concept, love it. Just choosing the best game and not listing the “honorable mentions” is genius. Only you would do something this unique. Congrats!
![เปิดบ้าน พี่ตูน Bodyslam หลังใหม่คนแรก ที่ภูเก็ต l [Nickynachat]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/flFwcmyDQSk/mqdefault.jpg)
1 - Warfighter WWII (Note: haven't played Mr. President yet)
2 - Crusade & Revolution (or Paths of Glory)
3 - Triumph and Tragedy
4 - Forbidden Stars
5 - Hansa Teutonica (or Quartermaster General 1914)
6 - Sidereal Confluence
7 - 9 ???
1 - Pax Emancipation
2 - Android Netrunner
3 - StarCraft The Board Game
4 - Pax Pamir
5 - Tsukuyumi Full Moon Down
6 - Battlestar Gaactica
As a fan of the series, but not in a collector way, I've been hesitating about buying Pax Emancipation, and decided not to. But you've put it at your best choice at solo... and I hate you for that, becouse now it's in my radar again. ¿Can you please explain a little why do you like it?
What du you mean you don't have a 10-player game?
Megaciv does 5-18 !
Edward: Have you any interest in Europa Universalis The Price of power? Seems like it could be in your wheelhouse.
1 - Spirit Island
2 - Mindbug
3 - Carcassonne
4 - Arcs
5 - John Company 2e
6 - also John Company 2e
7 - Sheriff of Nottingham
8 - Phantom Ink
1. Spirit Island
2. Castles of Burgundy
3. Gingkopolis
4. Trickerion
5. Food Chain Magnate
6. John Company
7. Dungeons & Dragons
8. Captain Sonar
9. 3 copies of Gingkopolis
10 or 9: 6 Nimmt!
8: Advanced Civilization
7: Citadels
6: Dune
5: Legend of the Five Rings TCG
4: Britannia
3: Clank in Space
2: de Bellis Multitudinis
1: Gloomhaven
I really need to try redux and Automobile !!
1 - Oranienburger Kanal ( i have not played that many solo )
2 - Battlecon
3 - Fields of Arle (with exp)
4 - Great Zimbabwe
5 - Age of Steam
6 - Dune
7 - Sidereal Confluence
8 - Captain Sonar
9 - 6 Nimmt!
10 - Telestrations (need party pack)
1. Oranienburger Kanal or Nusfjord
2. Patchwork or Lost Cities (Go is on my bucket list, Marabunta is dark horse)
3. Dominion
4. Tigris and Euphrates
5. El Grande
6: Medici
7: Zoo Vadis
8-9 don't have
1 - Mr. President
2 - Paths of Glory
3 - Churchill
4 - Through the Ages
5 - Die Macher
6 - Dominant Species
7 - Struggle of Empires
8-18 - Mega Civilization
Do love me some Through the Ages. Game is so long it rarely comes out, but they do have a good mobile app at least which speeds things up a massive amount
All of these selections were good but 3KR is the most correct. Great list!
1 -
2 - Pax Ren / Guns of Gettysburg
3 - Three Kingdoms
4 - High Frontier / Kemet / Pax Porf
5 - Rolling Stock Stars
6 - Stationfall
7 - Zoo Vadis
< 8 Resistance
1 - Stilicho
2 - Res Arcana (but would love to play Nevsky)
3 - Brian Boru
4 - Root
5 - Pax Pamir (or John Company)
6 - Carolingi (to be expected in September)
7 - Paper Tales
8 - Cartographers (placeholder)
9 - Tempel des Schreckens (the only acceptable social deduction game to me)
A fun video thanks.
For me
1) Spirit Island - main game I solo - love it up to 4 players
2) almost too hard to pick - I will give it to innovation but chess, dominion, Mottainai all come close
3) I would also probably give it to Three Kingdoms Redux although Maria, Triumph and Tragedy, Pax Ren and churchill all come close and the winner would depend on the day and the people
4) So many great games are optimised for this count. Tichu is my highest rated game at that count and I love it but on the right day, with the right people I think Fire in the Lake wins out. Wir Sind Das Volk! with the 2+2 expansion would be the pick with the widest range of people in the most widest range of situations.
5) Perhaps the hardest number because there are quite a lot of games that I really enjoy at this count....but I think Keyflower is the one I will pick - scales great 2-6 but 5 is perhaps the most perfect count. I want 5 player games to not take forever. Age of Steam and Carson City were also considerations
6 Quartermaster General - a sandboxy quick playing card game that works really well. Its basically a 6 player game but with fewer numbers some people can play extra sides, this works ok but 6 is certainly best.
7,8,9 - Sidereal Confluence - a brilliant trading and negotiating game with a good amount of asymmetry and euroey engine building.
10-1,000,000 Tournament Poker
1 For Northwood
2 Imperium Legends
3 Bunny Kingdom
4 Root
5 El Grande
6 Decrypto
7 Stationfall
8 Siderial Confluence
Twister is pretty fun at 10
1p Primal the Awakening
2p Kingdom Death Monster
3p Spirit Island
4p Sentinels of the Multiverse
5p 1817
6p-8p Sidereal Confluence
9p+ Blood on the Clocktower
1 - Onirim
2 - Yinsh*
3 - Ra
4 - Root
5 - El Grande
6 - Twilight Imperium 4E
7 - Sidereal Confluence
8+ - Monikers
I wasn't sure about my 1 but I'm well over a thousand plays into Onirim.
MtG should be 2, but I think it stands alone out of this comparison. Yinsh is my second.
8+ I'd almost always rather split the group into different games. If I'm forced at 8+, then make it as quick and fun as possible.
I can't think of anything for 8 or 9 players (except party games), so here is from 7 downwards:
7-player: Struggle of Empires - really epic, but maybe a bit too long
6-player: Dune (the classic game) - it's bet player count by far, makes it a really remarkable experience
5-player: John Company 2e - I find that adding a sixth player stretches the game too much, while at 5 players, you have just enough people to distribute among the company offices and make the game very interesting
4-player: Hegemony - I know, I am a fanboy of this one. Age of Steam is a great choice, but I didn't pick it only because it has so many different maps. Also, Age of Steam's core box maps are both better at 5 players, so the 4-player count is achievable only if you buy an expansion, so technically cheating a bit here :)
3-player: Three Kingdoms Redux - no argument here
2-player: Innovation - it is a personal preference, I love how this game packs a surprisingly big punch from a very small box
1-player: Mr President, no question about it
Not bad picks. I have not tried Struggle of Empires sadly. Innovation is a great one, I agree. At higher player counts I prefer Mare Nostrum Empires with expansion, Keyflower, Empires: Age of Discovery, at five I like Antike 2 and Mosaic for example. Root is perfect at four. At three maybe Le Havre or Anno 1800. At two I would chose Castles of Burgundy, Innovation or Through the Ages.
What are the recommenden 4 player maps for Age of Steam?
@el_dani docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zrBKRb3I3SJX2EvinB2U5D_wt0LPWMYAMf1FYeeq9fY/edit#gid=0
How about Terraforming Mars 3p
1- Mage knight
2-Le havre
3-Troyes
4-Brass
5-Hansa teutonica
6-Power grid
All player counts - Age of steam
Hansa teutonica!
Yes to Automobile!!! Absolute blast at 5 players. 10/10 for me
If I were to make a list (it's SO HARD with lower player counts):
1. The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game
2. War of the Ring: Second Edition
3. Pax Renaissance: 2nd Edition
4. Dominant Species
5. Automobile
6. Game of Thrones: The Board Game (2nd Edition)
I don't play at higher player counts, those would be almost exclusively party games:
Solid list , Edward. I'm not really into solo gaming and unfortunately never got excited about 18XX or Age of Steam. I would gladly join you in any of your picks at 2,5,6,8 or 9. I'll be looking up Struggle of Empires right after this post. What surprised me was Through The Ages not being your pick at 3 but Three Kingdoms Redux does have it's selling points. Like I said, solid list.
I gave TtA thought but realized I haven’t actually played it in…6? 7 years?🤷♂️
I really dig that waiting music. Is it on TH-cam?
Ronald Jenkees. Definitely recommend checking him out. Licensed his music 11 years ago and it was one of the best decisions for the show!
1 - Ultimate Railroads
2 - Twilight Struggle
3 - Agricola
4 - Concordia
5 - Agricola
6 - Dominant Species
7 - Amul
1 - Voidfall
2 - Imperium: Horizons
3 - Underwater Cities
4 - Brass: Birmingham
5 - Roll for the Galaxy
6 - Rising Sun
7 - Scythe (love that 75-90 minute sweet spot)
8 - Sidereal Confluence
9 - I don't have anything I would play at 9
1 - Spirit Island
2 - BattleCON / Fields of Arle
3 - Maria
4 - The Great Zimbabwe / Tramways
5 - American Rails
6 - Game of Thrones: second edition
7 - Sidereal Confluence
8 - Deception: Murder in Hong Kong
9 - The Resistance: Avalon
1 Spirit Island
2 Pax Renaissance
3 Food Chain Magnate
4 Tigris & Euphartes
5 Container
6 Dominant Species
7-9 Sidereal Confluence
For 10 to 20 players…
Blood bowl. Yeah it is 2 player game, but i would newer play it pure two player. You need a series tournament!
BB tournament where your team get upgrades etc is where this game shine!
10 players: Guards of Atlantis II
Blood on the Clocktower for 10+
Would love to see a Struggle of Empires play-through.
Psssst July 20
Not Stationfall for 9 players?
Pax Ren at 2, No discussions!
1. Mage Knight ( I do want to try Mr. President )
2. Ashes Reborn ( but I feel bad that War of the Ring isn't on the list )
3. Triumph & Tragedy
4. Clash of Cultures ( War of the Ring could also have sat here. It is good at 4 )
5. Pax Pamir
6. Star Trek Ascendancy ( although I haven't played it at six yet, shh... )
7. Diplomacy ( old but gold )
8. Sidereal Confluence
9. ? ( I do want to try Mega Civilization but haven't been able to make it to a game )
10. Codenames
Seems like a good opportunity to record 9 videos (say for christmas) so they can be shown 1 day after each other.
FWIW I only have 1 game on your list (actually not quite on your list), but I do agree 1862 is a surprisingly enjoyable solo game. A challenge to get to the table in multiplayer, but I do intend the railroad (oops) some people into playing it.
Given my gaming is generally constrained into a 3.5 hour window, I'm very much more driven to games that play quick enough to fit into that window, so stuff like Architects of the west kingdom and footprints would get the nod at 5/6 player.
3/4 player so difficult, as there are so many I play at those player counts, and each can scratch a different itch. It's here where I become detached from the concept of top 10s, because it depends so much on the players and indeed my own mood, as to what's going to deliver great joy
I virtually never game 2 player, but played This War of Mine at that player count tonight, and as my favourite game it would have to find a place somewhere. Punitive luck and a tough challenge, but for me it does something very special indeed in telling the story of civilians in an urban war, with no punches pulled. A superb counterpoint to the bloodless war games we may play, reminding us of the true horror of war. Not a fun game by any stretch, but a moving experience in a way I never expected board games could deliver.
For 7+ it's invariably party games, and I guess Just One is played so often, it's got to be there.
Would love a Struggle of Empires stream
I’d block off July 20th on your calendar….
@@Heavycardboard, splendid news!
OK, I've played a lot fewer games than y'all probably so I'm gonna try to add my own twist. I don't have a group that I can play heavy games with, so most of my heavy gaming is online. So with the exception of the solo choice, here's a list of great games you can play online. I really like evocative theming, area control, low (or no) point counts, and heavy player interaction.
1) Comancheria - I'm a sucker for historical storytelling and a game that makes me want to go to the library to find out more ticks my boxes. Plus, this is a designed-for-solo game with elegant systems and an excellent rule book.
2) Twilight Struggle (though you could convince me about Watergate). Seriously, TS deserved it's decade at the top of the BGG 100. It's evocative, elegant, deep, engaging, never stops being interesting to play. (Dedicated TS app.)
3) Pax Renaissance - Yes, this is woefully unbalanced and very swingy, but it's so thematically evocative and every turn presents a satisfying puzzle about how you can leverage the game state toward your ends. Great story generator. (BGA)
4) 1830 - There are a bunch of 18xx you could put here, but classics are classic for a reason. I also really and truly considered putting Duplicates Bridge here. I think there's enough strategic depth in the game that it would appeal to any heavy boardgamer. (18xx.games)
5) High Frontier (full game with all modules) - The most thematic board game of all time. Best story generator. Best heavy thinker. Best "oh damn I have this really awesome turned planned out and oh no my rocket exploded!" It plays best at 5. Is this really an online game? Well I have a physical copy of the 3rd edition, but I've only ever played it play-by-forum with Vassal, so yeah it counts. (PBF)
6+) I don't usually get to play games at these player counts :(
John Company 2e at 5-6?
OeL is my 2nd favourite Uwe. I would argue that Ora et Labora is better at 3 players for one reason - I HATE the end-game condition with 2 players...
More Top 9 lists please.
Great picks - there are a few on here I haven't played that I will have to check out!
1. Mr President
2. 18OE
3. High Frontier 4 all mod. 0-2
4. 1862
5. On Mars
6. Food Chain Magnate
7. Evacuation
8. Twilight Imperium
9. Europa Universalis PoP
10. Gaia Project
You got the player counts wrong.
Fun list and interesting format change up.
4 player Clash of Cultures is fantastic!
Sidereal Confluence played to 9!
Favorite 6 player game : Rook
No Dominant Species? Someone is wrong….
Gave the reasoning in my video. And it’s one of my fave games too….
Saw it after my (completely justified) rage. I understand your point of view. Still wrong though 😂
Very interesting concept, love it. Just choosing the best game and not listing the “honorable mentions” is genius. Only you would do something this unique. Congrats!