My favourite new edition must be the Castles of Burgundy Special Edition. Note: this is NOT just a luxury edition. It includes some minor rebalancing (maps/monastery tiles) but most importantly also an amazing new expansion (vineyards) as well as a totally reworked solo mode (chateauma). Also, they increased the tile size by 30% which is essential as it removes the fiddlyness of prior editions. And the new graphic/artwork is just fantastic.
One of my favorite games in general (and for this list) is Dice Throne, specifically the original Season 1 versus Dice Throne Season 1 Rerolled. They overhauled the components and rebalanced the characters in a really satisfying way.
Big fan of The King is Dead. I love how fast it is to get to the table, with so much replayability. I'd add Ex Libris Revised Edition and Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island.
The King is Dead is one of my favorite games ever! I think I'd put it in my top 5! I absolutely love the art and overall aesthetic of the second edition too! The medieval tapestry look with some light touches of gold foil is beautiful!
As it was already mentioned and for about the same reasons, I would have added The Castles of Burgundy. And another 2nd Edition worthy of this list is Carnival Zombie: there is a huge difference in quality, playability and content between the two editions, and it’s simply a great game.
Feld's New York City which is a remake of Rilato. Medici, which is by far my favorite Knizia game and auction game. The new addition is a nice price point, $30 and it's beautiful. I really like the boat scoring tokens. Medici is so simple yet so deep. There is something about a game where what you are bidding is the same resource (money) that is the sole determiner of if you win the game. Highly recommend.
4:08 - #10 Mansions of Madness. 5:54 - #9 7 Wonders 7:15 - #8 Glen Moore II 8:59 #7 Camel Up 10:26 #6 The King is Dead 11:46 #5 Libertalia 14:40 #4 Downforce 16:14 #3 Dune Imperium: Uprising 18:07 #2 RA 20:19 #1 Santa’s Workshop.
1. Castles of Burgundy Special Edition by Awaken Realms. Honestly, this is reprint that actually improves the original by making the game simply more legible. Although it suffers from box bloat, it truly is the definitive version of the game. 2. Tikal reprint by Super Meeplye. The 1999 Spiel des Jahres winner about territory control that contained a host of interesting mechanics. The original version came in one of those Parker Brothers long boxes, but the reprint put it in a Kalax-friendly box and added 3D towers. Much improved. Oh, and there is an interesting new Tikal Legends that was just announced. Not only does it add a solo mode to the original game, but adds a supposedly entirely new game by new designers. There's something interesting to think about, Jamey: reprints that include new production touches like components and storage, but also include entirely new rule sets with the exact same component set and possibly by new designers. Its like the board game equivalent of a covers album. 😀
The printing of the rules for the monasteries on the back of the tiles is one of the godsends of the Awaken Realms edition of CoB. No more passing around the rulebook all the time to decipher what the image was saying it did. The box size doesn't help, but that still made it a far more easier game to teach and sped up play because now you just flip over the tile to see what it does instead of having to ask for the rule book and look it up.
A great list. The only one i have to add is Pax Pamir 2e. What Cole Wherle created is an absolute masterpiece. I get its not everyones cup of tea. It's obtuse, and can be extremely cut throat. However, it's a game every hobbyist should play to see the breadth of possible game design. and the production is astounding. Also has a great solo mode. I love downforce (though consider it more a betting game than a racing game), but i wonder if including restoration games is fair on this list given its just what they do. I suppose Unmatched, Dark Tower, etc all could have a place on this list
Sorry Jamie, Other than reputation, my group did not like Libertalia 2nd edition. But since we have a house rule on how to handle initiative with the original edition which needed fixing from the OG, we were fine with it. (we use Nidavalier’s Initiative and it works awesome!) Maybe it was just Nostalgia for us. We really loved the original Pirate art over your cutesy stuff. Regarding your list, Mansions of Madness absolutely needs the second edition app. What I liked, owning the first edition, they made the the tiles in the second edition different than the first edition stuff. They also incorporated the first edition tiles into the app so they can be used also, however NOT without 2nd edition stuff. So, you still have to buy the second edition but it doesn’t make first edition obsolete. Too cool! 7 Wonders - other than graphic design, I didn’t see a difference big enough to make that leap. But for the most part, a really good list. I will need to check out Santa’s Workshop.
Here's the full list of things we improved in Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest: --More characters: There are now 40 characters instead of 30. --Token abilities: Each loot token now has a double-sided tile associated with it that defines the benefit of the token. You can play with calm abilities (easy and friendly), stormy abilities (more complex and devious), or sail uncharted waters with a random mix of both. --Characters drawn and played: You will start with 6 characters in hand and only play 4 the first voyage, then you’ll gain 6 more characters and play 5 in the second voyage, and finally you’ll gain 6 more characters and play 6 in the third voyage. --Reputation: A simple reputation system replaces the previous tiebreaker rules. If you play the same character as an opponent, the player with higher reputation will place their character farther to the right on the board. Reputation also determines the number of doubloons you gain at the beginning of each voyage. --Open and hidden information: Loot tiles are now double-sided, making them easier to set up but impossible to conceal-they’re now open information at all times. Each player accounts for accumulated wealth on their score dial, which replaces the board in the original game (it’s still open information). --Discard pile (graveyard): Each player now has a single graveyard into which they discard characters during the voyage and at the end of the voyage. Certain character cards interact with your graveyard. --2-player mode: 2-player games now feel a bit more like 3-player games thanks to the --Midshipman tile, which adds an extra choice for one of the players (but no bot to run). --Solo mode: You can now play Libertalia as a single-player game using the Automa solo mode, which is detailed in a separate rulebook.
@@jameystegmaier Don’t get me wrong. Libertalia: Galecrest is a Solid game. You are right. In many ways it is better. In fact, if you hadn’t played the base game as much as we have, it’s an instant upgrade. But, it changed from a pirates theme to a cutesy anthromorphic animal pirates theme which just doesn’t work for our group. When you play the original, you cannot help but talk in pirate jargon. ARGGHHHHH!!!! And when the Brute kills someone, the group chanting “PLANK! PLANK! PLANK!” is just precious.
@@rikhavok i thought my group was the only one that did this sort of thing. We really get into the old school pirate nonsense when original Libertalia hits the table.
@@paulsalomon27 Nidavalier is a board game. This system that we use dumbs it down from nidavalier a little. The mechanic that they use is everyone has a rank token from 1-5 or based on number of players. If your play card (for Libertalia) or bid token (for Nidavalier) has the same value, you look to your rank token. Whoever has the higher rank breaks the tie.. HOWEVER.. you swap rank tokens. So the lower person, now has the higher rank for a future round. If three people tie, only top and bottom swap rank tokens and the middle player holds on to theirs. In the even of a 4 player tie, top and bottom swap and top mid and bottom mid swap (and yes, I have seen this happen.)
Shipwrights of the North Sea was my first thouth for a list like that. Village big box refined the game and art and expansions, I would add that to the list. Jovik by Feld would work too. The new version of Joraku also. Glen More II was a great choice.
Shipwrights is I think a little different because it's not a new edition, it's an entirely new game that shares some of the theme of the original. I'm not sure there are too many examples of that, at least not that I'm aware of.
@@martinlauzon the designer of the game, Shem Phillips, included this in the rulebook for Shipwrights Redux: "Shipwrights of the North Sea: Redux is an entirely new game. While it shares a lot of thematic elements and player goals from the original, the core gameplay has been completely rebuilt to create an experience much more in line with what fans of Garphill Games have come to expect."
Does Finca qualify as a new edition? I've been waiting a long time for a reprint. Not sure if there's any updates to gameplay or if it's just an overdue reprint.
Glen More II is a tricky one for me. I think it is well designed, but I ended up selling my copy and sticking with the original because there was just too much. The original Glen More came in a very small box and was much easier to table. I found myself playing “II” less because of all the extras and significantly larger box. I am happy when I hear older games are getting new editions, but when I hear they are adding a bunch more stuff I become less interested. I will almost always choose something more streamlined than something bloated.
@@jameystegmaier I think Mansions of Madness would count. Yes, there are added things, but it makes the design more manageable as a whole. London (Second Edition) comes to mind. They removed the whole city board, and the information needed is represented by cards. At first I had concerns, but I ended up getting rid of the first edition in favor of the second. It was also helped by tweaking a few rules which on average shortened the game by about 15-20 minutes for me.
"El Grande" new edition is geat IMHO it includes two mini expansions as well and the design style while divisive it really makes everthing more intuitive and clear when playing. "Tigris & Euphrates" I got the spanish redesign by Devir and it also includes two expansions and a double sided board Now here are games I would love to see get a new edition: *Shadows over Camelot *Lords of Waterdeep *Forbidden Stars
I'm curious to play the new edition of El Grande. I love Lords of Waterdeep so much as is--what would you update/change about it? I figure the most common complaints are the use of cubes instead of meeples, but they're available as aftermarket add-ons.
@@jameystegmaier Well, the main reason would be to be able to get the base game + expansion in one box and hopefully in Spanish😅 (as it will allow me to play it with more people). That said, I was always intrigued by the thought of changing the cubes, not into meeples, but dice and have a new layer of gameplay revolving dice rolls or dice manipulation. Even though it would bring randomness to an otherwise simple euro, it might be interesting and thematic (being based on D&D and all). I am not sure if it would work but I always thought there is room for a new layer of depth in the base game.
@@TheRASDEL83 Interesting! I really like the higher level of agency in the current system. If you're looking for dice in a similar game, though, have you played Champions of Midgard? Many people compare it to Lords of Waterdeep (but with dice).
@@jameystegmaier I have not played it yet, but I have seen playthroughs of it and that is what intrigued me to think how would Lord of Waterdeep look with some type of dice management 😅
Agree with most of these, especially Ra and Glenn More but very much disagree with Dune. This new edition ruined a great game for me. Maybe ruined is too harsh since I can still play the original (with expansions) but I really disliked this new version.
@@jameystegmaier I enjoyed some of the improved actions on the top (green actions, I think), I'd take them to Dune OG but the introduction of the Sandworms completely ruined the balance of the game. To me it became a one strategy pseudo war game. Very different from DI OG. Dune Imperium with the first two expansions is close to perfect.
Once again Jamey, I really appreciate you featuring Santa's Workshop on one of your lists, and your kind words. Thanks again!
Thanks for taking the time to make a great new edition!
I’d add John Company 2nd Edition to this list. It was a masterful reworking of the game.
My favourite new edition must be the Castles of Burgundy Special Edition. Note: this is NOT just a luxury edition. It includes some minor rebalancing (maps/monastery tiles) but most importantly also an amazing new expansion (vineyards) as well as a totally reworked solo mode (chateauma). Also, they increased the tile size by 30% which is essential as it removes the fiddlyness of prior editions. And the new graphic/artwork is just fantastic.
RA remake is sooooo amazing!!
One of my favorite games in general (and for this list) is Dice Throne, specifically the original Season 1 versus Dice Throne Season 1 Rerolled. They overhauled the components and rebalanced the characters in a really satisfying way.
@@unclesamb And even more so, IMHO, is how much cleaner the graphic design is on the boards and cards. So much friendlier for new players!
Big fan of The King is Dead. I love how fast it is to get to the table, with so much replayability.
I'd add Ex Libris Revised Edition and Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island.
The King is Dead is one of my favorite games ever! I think I'd put it in my top 5! I absolutely love the art and overall aesthetic of the second edition too! The medieval tapestry look with some light touches of gold foil is beautiful!
I love the look too!
As it was already mentioned and for about the same reasons, I would have added The Castles of Burgundy. And another 2nd Edition worthy of this list is Carnival Zombie: there is a huge difference in quality, playability and content between the two editions, and it’s simply a great game.
Feld's New York City which is a remake of Rilato. Medici, which is by far my favorite Knizia game and auction game. The new addition is a nice price point, $30 and it's beautiful. I really like the boat scoring tokens. Medici is so simple yet so deep. There is something about a game where what you are bidding is the same resource (money) that is the sole determiner of if you win the game. Highly recommend.
Was hoping to have the new edition of La Granja. It´s such a great package.
My favorite new edition is Empires of the Void 2. An amazing game.
4:08 - #10 Mansions of Madness.
5:54 - #9 7 Wonders
7:15 - #8 Glen Moore II
8:59 #7 Camel Up
10:26 #6 The King is Dead
11:46 #5 Libertalia
14:40 #4 Downforce
16:14 #3 Dune Imperium: Uprising
18:07 #2 RA
20:19 #1 Santa’s Workshop.
Thanks!
@@jameystegmaierpin it! 😮
I love the new deluxe edition of La Granja.This is also the definitive version of that game,just like Castles of Burgundy.s Special edition.
1. Castles of Burgundy Special Edition by Awaken Realms. Honestly, this is reprint that actually improves the original by making the game simply more legible. Although it suffers from box bloat, it truly is the definitive version of the game.
2. Tikal reprint by Super Meeplye. The 1999 Spiel des Jahres winner about territory control that contained a host of interesting mechanics. The original version came in one of those Parker Brothers long boxes, but the reprint put it in a Kalax-friendly box and added 3D towers. Much improved.
Oh, and there is an interesting new Tikal Legends that was just announced. Not only does it add a solo mode to the original game, but adds a supposedly entirely new game by new designers. There's something interesting to think about, Jamey: reprints that include new production touches like components and storage, but also include entirely new rule sets with the exact same component set and possibly by new designers. Its like the board game equivalent of a covers album. 😀
The printing of the rules for the monasteries on the back of the tiles is one of the godsends of the Awaken Realms edition of CoB. No more passing around the rulebook all the time to decipher what the image was saying it did. The box size doesn't help, but that still made it a far more easier game to teach and sped up play because now you just flip over the tile to see what it does instead of having to ask for the rule book and look it up.
That's a timely comment about Tikal Legends! It's interesting that they added a whole new game using the same components.
A great list. The only one i have to add is Pax Pamir 2e. What Cole Wherle created is an absolute masterpiece. I get its not everyones cup of tea. It's obtuse, and can be extremely cut throat. However, it's a game every hobbyist should play to see the breadth of possible game design. and the production is astounding. Also has a great solo mode.
I love downforce (though consider it more a betting game than a racing game), but i wonder if including restoration games is fair on this list given its just what they do. I suppose Unmatched, Dark Tower, etc all could have a place on this list
I love Downforce too! I've played Pax Pamir 2e once; here's my video about it: th-cam.com/video/VLmtpDqVwHU/w-d-xo.htmlsi=LSAi0ElzbGLu6H3i
My 7-year old LOVES the standard game for Santa’s Workshop. We’ve played probably 5 times in the last month.
That's wonderful! I really like the amount of positive player interaction on that side of the board.
Sorry Jamie, Other than reputation, my group did not like Libertalia 2nd edition. But since we have a house rule on how to handle initiative with the original edition which needed fixing from the OG, we were fine with it. (we use Nidavalier’s Initiative and it works awesome!) Maybe it was just Nostalgia for us. We really loved the original Pirate art over your cutesy stuff.
Regarding your list, Mansions of Madness absolutely needs the second edition app. What I liked, owning the first edition, they made the the tiles in the second edition different than the first edition stuff. They also incorporated the first edition tiles into the app so they can be used also, however NOT without 2nd edition stuff. So, you still have to buy the second edition but it doesn’t make first edition obsolete. Too cool!
7 Wonders - other than graphic design, I didn’t see a difference big enough to make that leap.
But for the most part, a really good list. I will need to check out Santa’s Workshop.
Here's the full list of things we improved in Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest:
--More characters: There are now 40 characters instead of 30.
--Token abilities: Each loot token now has a double-sided tile associated with it that defines the benefit of the token. You can play with calm abilities (easy and friendly), stormy abilities (more complex and devious), or sail uncharted waters with a random mix of both.
--Characters drawn and played: You will start with 6 characters in hand and only play 4 the first voyage, then you’ll gain 6 more characters and play 5 in the second voyage, and finally you’ll gain 6 more characters and play 6 in the third voyage.
--Reputation: A simple reputation system replaces the previous tiebreaker rules. If you play the same character as an opponent, the player with higher reputation will place their character farther to the right on the board. Reputation also determines the number of doubloons you gain at the beginning of each voyage.
--Open and hidden information: Loot tiles are now double-sided, making them easier to set up but impossible to conceal-they’re now open information at all times. Each player accounts for accumulated wealth on their score dial, which replaces the board in the original game (it’s still open information).
--Discard pile (graveyard): Each player now has a single graveyard into which they discard characters during the voyage and at the end of the voyage. Certain character cards interact with your graveyard.
--2-player mode: 2-player games now feel a bit more like 3-player games thanks to the --Midshipman tile, which adds an extra choice for one of the players (but no bot to run).
--Solo mode: You can now play Libertalia as a single-player game using the Automa solo mode, which is detailed in a separate rulebook.
@@jameystegmaier Don’t get me wrong. Libertalia: Galecrest is a Solid game. You are right. In many ways it is better. In fact, if you hadn’t played the base game as much as we have, it’s an instant upgrade. But, it changed from a pirates theme to a cutesy anthromorphic animal pirates theme which just doesn’t work for our group. When you play the original, you cannot help but talk in pirate jargon. ARGGHHHHH!!!! And when the Brute kills someone, the group chanting “PLANK! PLANK! PLANK!” is just precious.
What's the Nidavellir initiiative system?
@@rikhavok i thought my group was the only one that did this sort of thing.
We really get into the old school pirate nonsense when original Libertalia hits the table.
@@paulsalomon27 Nidavalier is a board game. This system that we use dumbs it down from nidavalier a little. The mechanic that they use is everyone has a rank token from 1-5 or based on number of players. If your play card (for Libertalia) or bid token (for Nidavalier) has the same value, you look to your rank token. Whoever has the higher rank breaks the tie.. HOWEVER.. you swap rank tokens. So the lower person, now has the higher rank for a future round. If three people tie, only top and bottom swap rank tokens and the middle player holds on to theirs. In the even of a 4 player tie, top and bottom swap and top mid and bottom mid swap (and yes, I have seen this happen.)
Shipwrights of the North Sea was my first thouth for a list like that.
Village big box refined the game and art and expansions, I would add that to the list.
Jovik by Feld would work too.
The new version of Joraku also.
Glen More II was a great choice.
Shipwrights is I think a little different because it's not a new edition, it's an entirely new game that shares some of the theme of the original. I'm not sure there are too many examples of that, at least not that I'm aware of.
@@unclesamb It's a new edition in the same way as Libertalia. New artworks, design adjustments, some new mechanisms, etc.
@@martinlauzon the designer of the game, Shem Phillips, included this in the rulebook for Shipwrights Redux:
"Shipwrights of the North Sea: Redux is an entirely new game. While it shares a lot of thematic elements and player goals from the original, the core gameplay has been completely rebuilt to create an experience much more in line with what fans of Garphill Games have come to expect."
Does Finca qualify as a new edition? I've been waiting a long time for a reprint. Not sure if there's any updates to gameplay or if it's just an overdue reprint.
The new version looks different than the previous version to me, so I think it counts.
Glen More II is a tricky one for me. I think it is well designed, but I ended up selling my copy and sticking with the original because there was just too much. The original Glen More came in a very small box and was much easier to table. I found myself playing “II” less because of all the extras and significantly larger box. I am happy when I hear older games are getting new editions, but when I hear they are adding a bunch more stuff I become less interested. I will almost always choose something more streamlined than something bloated.
Can you think of a new edition that was more streamlined than the original?
@@jameystegmaier I think Mansions of Madness would count. Yes, there are added things, but it makes the design more manageable as a whole. London (Second Edition) comes to mind. They removed the whole city board, and the information needed is represented by cards. At first I had concerns, but I ended up getting rid of the first edition in favor of the second. It was also helped by tweaking a few rules which on average shortened the game by about 15-20 minutes for me.
@@Naledgeizpwr Two great examples--thank you! It's awesome when a new edition can make the game a little shorter.
"El Grande" new edition is geat IMHO it includes two mini expansions as well and the design style while divisive it really makes everthing more intuitive and clear when playing.
"Tigris & Euphrates" I got the spanish redesign by Devir and it also includes two expansions and a double sided board
Now here are games I would love to see get a new edition:
*Shadows over Camelot
*Lords of Waterdeep
*Forbidden Stars
I'm curious to play the new edition of El Grande. I love Lords of Waterdeep so much as is--what would you update/change about it? I figure the most common complaints are the use of cubes instead of meeples, but they're available as aftermarket add-ons.
@@jameystegmaier Well, the main reason would be to be able to get the base game + expansion in one box and hopefully in Spanish😅 (as it will allow me to play it with more people). That said, I was always intrigued by the thought of changing the cubes, not into meeples, but dice and have a new layer of gameplay revolving dice rolls or dice manipulation. Even though it would bring randomness to an otherwise simple euro, it might be interesting and thematic (being based on D&D and all). I am not sure if it would work but I always thought there is room for a new layer of depth in the base game.
@@TheRASDEL83 Interesting! I really like the higher level of agency in the current system. If you're looking for dice in a similar game, though, have you played Champions of Midgard? Many people compare it to Lords of Waterdeep (but with dice).
@@jameystegmaier I have not played it yet, but I have seen playthroughs of it and that is what intrigued me to think how would Lord of Waterdeep look with some type of dice management 😅
What do you think of Waterfall Park as a reimplementation of Chinatown?
I actually didn't know it was a remake! Thanks for the heads up. I haven't played Waterfall Park.
Agree with most of these, especially Ra and Glenn More but very much disagree with Dune. This new edition ruined a great game for me. Maybe ruined is too harsh since I can still play the original (with expansions) but I really disliked this new version.
How so? And is there anything about Uprising that you enjoyed?
@@jameystegmaier I enjoyed some of the improved actions on the top (green actions, I think), I'd take them to Dune OG but the introduction of the Sandworms completely ruined the balance of the game. To me it became a one strategy pseudo war game. Very different from DI OG. Dune Imperium with the first two expansions is close to perfect.