Sam, you put Neuroshima Hex on lists despite playing primarily on the app. App versions of games that are functionally the same are still board games. Apps can also provide a cheap option to test games before purchase. I don't think you can disqualify something for that reason, and I feel like that would be impossible or to keep in check anyway. Ticket to Ride and Carcassonne have nice apps too - but there's no way you would know how someone plays it and even if it wasn't primarily in physical form they are still top games.
Right. The argument I could possibly get behind is the fact that most don't let you play with other players. That argument pretty much falls apart when you look at solo/solitaire games
I agree with this point, but I think the app would only be validated, according to Sam's 'rule', if the app is working precisely the same as the physical version of the game. For example, Battlelore Command is based on Battlelore 2nd Edition, but its rules are a bit different.
I would agree with calling Clank! a gateway deck builder game. My wife got it for me for christmas, after I had played it at a local gaming convention (Maricopacon) and had a blast with it. I had previously played 1 physical deckbuilder game (thunderstone advance, with a buddy who had every expansion for it) and a couple of virtual versions of deckbuilder games (star realms for example), and was playing with 2 other people who were experienced gamers as well; however, that experience isn't why I would label it "gateway." With that 1 time playing it as my only experience, I took it to my best friend's house and played it with him, his wife, and their 9yo daughter. None of them had ever heard of "deck building" as a game type or played one before, and they all loved it--they were immediately talking about it being a birthday or xmas gift in 2018 for the daughter. It is easy to teach, fairly quick to setup, has "easy" and "hard" sides to the board (and after that single playthrough, the wife and daughter took one look at the "hard" side and could pick out what made it harder and why), and enough depth of strategy that gamers of basically all experience levels can play and enjoy it. Plus, these days most people who do gaming are likely to have some kind of experience with a "fight the monsters" dungeon crawler of some kind--but fewer have done deckbuilder games, and this provides a bridge that is easily crossed. From what I have heard, Clank in space adds some new complexities that make it an overall better game for experienced gamers, but as a great intro to deckbuilders, base Clank! is hard to beat.
Sam looked bored and kinda grumpy ... I'm sure the People's Choice game list is a lot of work, but it's fun to see how games rise and fall with the general gaming public. Thanks for doing this!
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Terra Mystica really shines when you play it with hypercompetitive players who knows the game really well. I understand why you feel this one boring, but on the high-level play it's super intense and interactive. Another reason why it's so high on this list, is the app just came out (iOS, Android, Steam). Love that game :)
Concordia is probably that high because it got a reprint this year after being out of print for a while. All of that hype built up from SU&SD constantly raving about it, and people could finally get their hands on it to see what it was about. I think too, for most of those people, it lived up to their expectations, as even though it is quite dry and Euro-y, it's a very accessible game that plays quickly and smoothly.
In regards to the Star Wars conversation, it is called "same fan factor." Basically, when multiple games appeal to the same group, they end up hurting each other in rankings.
Patchwork has an interesting economy (managing time and buttons) that puts it way above the other lighter Tetris-style tile-laying games for me. Patchwork is my favorite 2-player only game (more so than Targi, 7 Wonders Duel, etc.) and my favorite Tetris-style game (over Barenpark, etc.).
Agreed. Play against some top players, there is a LOT you can do to manipulate your opponent draw and play. it's much deeper than they seem to believe.
I agree. I think they're just getting theses games on a faster cycle and may expect people to move on sooner. It's also a huge appeal to couples as a great gateway for most female partners in my opinion.
I also agree. What I don't understand is why seven wonders duel is much more liked than targi. I feel that duel feels very similar after a couple games, while targi is def a deeper game.
Sam, been loving the twilight imperium app. For my first few games of it, I played with a handicap so I could learn how the app worked, the CPU still whooped me. That game is amazingly fun and we still need to play an online game of it brother.
Did Tom add Sushi Go Party votes in with Sushi Go? I like both but I definitely like Party more and think it's a different enough game (maybe even more than the two versions of the Resistance)
Hi guys... love the top whatever lists - always entertaining!! A couple thoughts to share (I haven't read all the comments and apologize if I repeat something from someone else)... First, there were a couple games that sort of magically reappeared on the list and I'll leave it for smarter minds to ponder whether it's attributable to what I'd call the 'Wil Wheaton Effect'... is it coincidence or not that they happened to be games that were played on season 4 of Wil Wheaton's Tabletop?? Incidentally, that show and the Board Game Family videos were what got me and eventually my family hooked on the hobby... that was before we were fortunate enough to discover the Dice Tower... :) Secondly, and I can't tell you why because my family has a lot of the games in your top 100s as well as the people's, but my current favorite - #1 without a doubt for me - is Great Western Trail. I will play or teach that at the drop of a hat. I was a little surprised it wasn't in any of your top 100s but then again you have access to waaaaay mor games than most of us... And your lists reminded me of countless others that I haven't played yet but could see dethroning GWT... time will tell. Keep up the great videos!!
I'm pretty sure Champions of Midgard, Takenoko and Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game (and not the other Legendary games) are on the list because they were on Wil Wheaton's TableTop show. I also believe that TableTop is the main reason games like Love Letter and The Resistance stand out from all the other games of their genre and this is why Eldritch Horror is going to get a really big boost next year (it was on TableTop 2 months ago) .
Agricola did get revitalized with a new edition and new set this past year, so probably that helped. Though, it's more on Lookout on not supporting Caverna than anything. Which is weird, yeah.
Jaipur and Patchwork: by far are not the best 2 player games. But these are probably the two most approachable couple games ....(that I don't want to tougher my eyes out of boredom when I play with my partner)
I prefer Ticket to Ride Europe because it is far less mean than the regular USA version. The depots make a huge difference in gameplay as far as being able to complete tickets.
Champions of Midgard is that good WITHOUT the expansions, let alone with. Maybe the Tabletop episode is what brought it to more people's attention. For me, CoM is in my top 10 of all time and that was before I played the expansions.
Patchwork is popular because of the theme. What 2 player game is better and would appeal to the same people? Does it also have the same weight so it can be enjoyed without learning 500 icons? I doubt it, that is why Patchwork has an important place. If you are asking a patchwork fan to play 7 wonders duel because it is "better" you are not understanding how gaming in 2017 is a much more diverse thing.
Champions of midgard is so good for a similar reason to why tom said another game on the list was good. Its a solid worker placement game, all your standard worker placement features but it adds in awesome dice chucking and monster killing! obviously that adds a little luck which can turn people away but for me that adds a cool push your luck element, and you can also mitigate it by smart decisions. Plus the valhalla expansions mitigates bad rolls to an even greater degree
Because 2017 was such a poor year for good new games (my opinion), I decided at GenCon to pick up some oldies I've had my eye on for a while but never purchased. Stone Age was at the top of my shopping list. I was heartbroken to learn it was out of print and not at GenCon. At least I got Cyclades and Alien Frontiers to comfort me.
Champions of midgard is awesome. You guys need to keep on mind that most gamers are not playing games the moment they come out and don't have at much gaming time to explore games. That is why sometimes games move up over time.
I'd wager anyone willing to bury cats in a garden or build a Bear Park with bathrooms inside the polar bear inclosure would be happy to buy my quilts :D
Those cats are dead??! I thought they were just napping in the garden! I gotta watch review videos that are more zoomed in to tile pieces. Point taken though. :D
I am amazed Stone Age made this list, not that it is a bad game. I love it, but it is rarely available and I'm surprised people have been able to find a copy to play.
Chinese editions are easy to get for $35. All piecemeal don’t have words, just the rule book. You can download an English rule book for free and print it out.
I noticed this before but it is also present in this video, whenever Tom makes an argument he seems to be addressing Zee more than Sam. I wonder what is the reason behind it?
Patchwork is straight forward and highly strategic as you are managing buttons and time the whole time. Cottage Garden is cute, but too open for gamers while the weird 3-cube scoring ordeal will confuse newcomers. I look forward to trying Bärenpark, but not eager for Indian Summer. Maybe it's better than Cottage Garden, but I'm good with Patchworks and perhaps Bärenpark if it's as good as I hope
re: Patchwork I have several people I play with that I don't consider "gamers" (i.e. they have no idea who Uwë Rosenberg is) that LOVE (it's my girlfriend's favorite game) Patchwork, because it is simple, portable (it's a lunchtime game for me) and plays fast.
I don’t like forcing an app on people. An optional app is fine, but not including cards or other components and forcing an app on buyers is stupid to me.
Blimey that's a great trade...stone age goes for loads of money when you can get it...pity about gwt though..think people think it's a big confusing game but really is simple and very playable.
I'm confused, is Sam trying to insinuate that games with quality apps should we removed from consideration? Or is he saying that voters should pledge to ignore digital implementations?
I think the conversation: "What about apps?" is going to happen whether you start it or not, it already kinda' is. Many of the games released on steam play like board games and some are actually better than their cardboard counterparts (such as Space Hulk, or X-COM) due to the customizability and let's face it - *space.* Not as in outer but as in table or shelf. They also cost a *lot* less. You may as well start the conversation and be, I wouldn't say ahead of the game as much as current with technology. This was a great list! I'm happy to see Legendary is still getting picked up, I just lost a game of it and already want to play it again, the sign of a great one. Seeing Mansions of Madness so high *really* speaks to it's *game* quality since anyone who owns it knows how bad the miniatures are, not looking, I mean at staying in one piece instead of three. I'm also happy to see a challenging game like Eldritch still getting love. I love getting support for my "People are *not* stupid!!" argument. I really would like to see you joining the conversation about apps though since all of you admit to using ones that you like and depending on how the board gamers react to the technology, this is something that can really enhance the hobby as well as reduce churn amongst the hobbyists themselves. I'm disappointed that Neruoshima Hex isn't on here. It really is like Neo-Chess for me. I've never won, but I've never turned down a game either! It's so much fun and there are so many ways to play! *sigh* Yes, all of plays *have* been analog......geez. :)
Im personally not surprised about Concordia being this high simply because it is my favorite game of all time and several of my gaming friends agree. I got it back when it was nominated for the Kennerspiel and have been loving it ever since. Even though it has to have one of the worst covers ever. And Salsa is even worse...
Patchwork is more involved than I think you guys give it credit for. The buttons and timing combined mean the game is far more about manipulating your opponent than just filling out your own quilt. Try playing the app against some top dedicated players and watch what they do. Denying your opponent tiles, forcing them to jump ahead when they don't want to, etc. It's a lot deeper and thinkier than what you guys are saying.
I play most of the board games online. But they are still replicas of real board games. Yeah, i don't get the face to face interaction, but mechanically it is still the same game. Oh, but aside from one mobile app I always play against other players, not the AI.
I like Alien better than Marvel but in Legendary i like the Marvel one better because it has more diversity and the mechanisms from Alien Legendary only really the Aliens movie (the 2nd of the Alien movies), so playing the other scenarios doesn't feel anything like the movies.
I think Zee doesn't understand how high Concordia is on the list because he puts so much emphasis on theme and appearance. Concordia is a pitifully ugly game with a boring theme. But the gameplay itself is wonderful. It's not too long. It's got some resource management. It's got some deck building. It's got some worker placement (I know, not technically, but moving around and block other's movements and grabbing locations first). For me, theme is fine, but it's low on my list of reasons I like the game so I get why it's so high. It simply comes down to what you value.
I'm really enjoying the list and the commentary. But I couldn't believe it when Zee called Concordia a heavy euro. It's almost a gateway, definitely gateway+ or "next step." But yeah, it's excellent, one of only two games in this chunk of 40 that made my top 25.
I guess, but I think the "most people in existence" standard is a bad one for something as niche as boardgames. I mean, by the standard of "most people" everything past Carcassonne or Catan or whatever (by the way, I'm not criticizing these games, I think they're both pretty good) is a heavy game, which isn't how your audience would probably use the word. And back to Concordia specifically, it was nominated for the KdJ, which as far as I know is an award for next step games, and probably the most prominent and with an audience of at least most German people. But also, I do apologize if any of my comments did or do come off as dismissive of lighter games or people who don't like heavier games. I'm glad that there's so much variety that everyone can find games they love (and hey, I like some fairly light games, Gold West is an all time favorite), and I have no interest in judging anyone based on their taste in games. But if I talked about Stone Age by saying that it was a good game to teach preschoolers to get them started learning about games, most people would probably at least mention that that would be a crazy thing to say, and they'd be justified in doing so.
I don't think App use is the same. To me when you play the game on an app it ceases being a board game and social experience to a video game (even if you link with someone else). I really am not that interested in watching or hearing video game reviews, if I was I'd go to Twitch. Doesn't mean the apps aren't fun, they are just different.
Castles of Mad King Ludwig is my 83rd favorite game. Catan is not on my top 100, I burned out on it 3-4 years ago, but have played it a couple of times in the last year or so and beginning to tolerate it. Throw an expansion in and I like it more. Takenoko is my 55th favorite game but needs more plays. Through the Ages is on my "do not play" again list. I hated it, even though I beat the 2 players who taught me the game. Puerto Rico is a decent game, and is my 103rd favorite game. Sheriff of Nottingham is a huge family favorite, and once I get the expansion to play more players, it will get played even more, but for me it is only my 76th favorite game. Cosmic Encounter is a game I had no interest in, but when I played it, I loved it. It is my 8th favorite game of all time. But needs more plays. Terra Mystica is on my "do not play" again list. I agree with the Dice Tower folks, I quite disliked this game. Caverna is near the bottom of playable games. I would never request it, and would avoid it, but if given the choice of playing nothing or this, I would play it. Small World was one a of 2 or 3 games I bought when first entering the hobby disappointed me and sold it. I found I like the video version much more. This game is low on my playable games list. Mechs vs Minions needs more plays but is my 26th favorite game.
To address Patchwork. It is an example of what I see as a cultural shift in board gaming that is happening right now. From my understanding there are a large number of men who play board games, that have come back to the hobby from having played board games in their youths and then moved onto computer games but that are now seeking to involve their hobby with significant others, especially thanks to the rise in popularly of geek culture right now through comic movies, geek shows such as the big bang theory. Modern computer games are mostly about solitary play or online and far less about the living room and regardless are not as appealing to a couple or a young family. It is a big commitment to play computer games as a family and far less of a social event. A great number of geeky girls who are now in relations with geeky guys also like niche activities like crafting / sewing, so Patchwork hits this new modern board gamer market of 20 - 30 somethings.
I love social deduction games but i only play a few. But the thing is that you can always put one on the table to play a quick game. And they are replayable. Now the escape rooms in a box are things that i will play but i will never buy them. Its play and throw it away. And these kind of games are going to go on and on until its at that point that it will become tiresome. For me its already like omg everybody is on that bandwagon, but maybe i dont see it as much as a boardgame, more like a consumable adventure in a box that thinks its a boardgame, well i mean cardgame. Legacy games i havent played and next week i am going to play Pandemic Legacy season 2 so i am curious if i am going to like it. but if there is a way to have something that i can still play at the end of a game session then i love that concept better then having to throw it away at the end like the escape rooms in a box.Curious how other people see it.
Did Zee just pull the "there are a lot of better 2-player games" card on Patchwork? Scoff! I scoff at his knowledge of the 2-player genre which is on par with my own and his similar taste for Dunkin Donuts iced coffee. Patchwork is an absolute treasure! Scoff!
fixer10091994 For me I hate when a board game forces an app onto you. I was interested in First Martians, once I found out it is app driven I lost interest. I like physical components. It’s fine if the game comes with cards and there’s an app that handles card distribution, for people who want easier setup and put away. But for the game to force you to use an app, I hate that.
It does not matter if it is fair, right, etc. You cannot stop people from voting for the App of a Boardgame. Therr are quite a few where the App is the only way I can play it. So, either voter and aupport decline or accept that there is an uncontrollable disagreement.
Nao Shadowpaws that wouldn't be such a problem if the experience was more engaging, but it's just diminishing returns where the more times you have to go through the same scenario the worse it plays.
Sam, you put Neuroshima Hex on lists despite playing primarily on the app.
App versions of games that are functionally the same are still board games. Apps can also provide a cheap option to test games before purchase. I don't think you can disqualify something for that reason, and I feel like that would be impossible or to keep in check anyway. Ticket to Ride and Carcassonne have nice apps too - but there's no way you would know how someone plays it and even if it wasn't primarily in physical form they are still top games.
Well, audio and e-books still count as books right?
Right. The argument I could possibly get behind is the fact that most don't let you play with other players. That argument pretty much falls apart when you look at solo/solitaire games
I agree with this point, but I think the app would only be validated, according to Sam's 'rule', if the app is working precisely the same as the physical version of the game. For example, Battlelore Command is based on Battlelore 2nd Edition, but its rules are a bit different.
William Wilting right. All the ones he had that comment for seem to be exactly the same as the physical game.
I would agree with calling Clank! a gateway deck builder game. My wife got it for me for christmas, after I had played it at a local gaming convention (Maricopacon) and had a blast with it. I had previously played 1 physical deckbuilder game (thunderstone advance, with a buddy who had every expansion for it) and a couple of virtual versions of deckbuilder games (star realms for example), and was playing with 2 other people who were experienced gamers as well; however, that experience isn't why I would label it "gateway." With that 1 time playing it as my only experience, I took it to my best friend's house and played it with him, his wife, and their 9yo daughter. None of them had ever heard of "deck building" as a game type or played one before, and they all loved it--they were immediately talking about it being a birthday or xmas gift in 2018 for the daughter. It is easy to teach, fairly quick to setup, has "easy" and "hard" sides to the board (and after that single playthrough, the wife and daughter took one look at the "hard" side and could pick out what made it harder and why), and enough depth of strategy that gamers of basically all experience levels can play and enjoy it. Plus, these days most people who do gaming are likely to have some kind of experience with a "fight the monsters" dungeon crawler of some kind--but fewer have done deckbuilder games, and this provides a bridge that is easily crossed. From what I have heard, Clank in space adds some new complexities that make it an overall better game for experienced gamers, but as a great intro to deckbuilders, base Clank! is hard to beat.
Sam looked bored and kinda grumpy ... I'm sure the People's Choice game list is a lot of work, but it's fun to see how games rise and fall with the general gaming public. Thanks for doing this!
Terra Mystica really shines when you play it with hypercompetitive players who knows the game really well. I understand why you feel this one boring, but on the high-level play it's super intense and interactive.
Another reason why it's so high on this list, is the app just came out (iOS, Android, Steam).
Love that game :)
Concordia is probably that high because it got a reprint this year after being out of print for a while. All of that hype built up from SU&SD constantly raving about it, and people could finally get their hands on it to see what it was about. I think too, for most of those people, it lived up to their expectations, as even though it is quite dry and Euro-y, it's a very accessible game that plays quickly and smoothly.
Aaron because it's an excellent game even as ugly as it is
Your're right Nain!
Concordiaaaa! Wuhhhuuuh!
In regards to the Star Wars conversation, it is called "same fan factor." Basically, when multiple games appeal to the same group, they end up hurting each other in rankings.
Patchwork has an interesting economy (managing time and buttons) that puts it way above the other lighter Tetris-style tile-laying games for me. Patchwork is my favorite 2-player only game (more so than Targi, 7 Wonders Duel, etc.) and my favorite Tetris-style game (over Barenpark, etc.).
Agreed. Play against some top players, there is a LOT you can do to manipulate your opponent draw and play. it's much deeper than they seem to believe.
Totally agree. Very good game. Easy to explain to new players but very deep in tactical decisions. Underestimated by many players
I agree. I think they're just getting theses games on a faster cycle and may expect people to move on sooner. It's also a huge appeal to couples as a great gateway for most female partners in my opinion.
The fact that it has a really nice app helps as well.
I also agree. What I don't understand is why seven wonders duel is much more liked than targi. I feel that duel feels very similar after a couple games, while targi is def a deeper game.
Sam, been loving the twilight imperium app. For my first few games of it, I played with a handicap so I could learn how the app worked, the CPU still whooped me. That game is amazingly fun and we still need to play an online game of it brother.
Did Tom add Sushi Go Party votes in with Sushi Go?
I like both but I definitely like Party more and think it's a different enough game (maybe even more than the two versions of the Resistance)
Clank! in Space is available for sale now. It was released on Oct 25th.
"Boring is not my style" -Zee
Hi guys... love the top whatever lists - always entertaining!!
A couple thoughts to share (I haven't read all the comments and apologize if I repeat something from someone else)...
First, there were a couple games that sort of magically reappeared on the list and I'll leave it for smarter minds to ponder whether it's attributable to what I'd call the 'Wil Wheaton Effect'... is it coincidence or not that they happened to be games that were played on season 4 of Wil Wheaton's Tabletop?? Incidentally, that show and the Board Game Family videos were what got me and eventually my family hooked on the hobby... that was before we were fortunate enough to discover the Dice Tower... :)
Secondly, and I can't tell you why because my family has a lot of the games in your top 100s as well as the people's, but my current favorite - #1 without a doubt for me - is Great Western Trail. I will play or teach that at the drop of a hat. I was a little surprised it wasn't in any of your top 100s but then again you have access to waaaaay mor games than most of us... And your lists reminded me of countless others that I haven't played yet but could see dethroning GWT... time will tell.
Keep up the great videos!!
I'm pretty sure Champions of Midgard, Takenoko and Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game (and not the other Legendary games) are on the list because they were on Wil Wheaton's TableTop show. I also believe that TableTop is the main reason games like Love Letter and The Resistance stand out from all the other games of their genre and this is why Eldritch Horror is going to get a really big boost next year (it was on TableTop 2 months ago) .
I love that one positive guy in the middle!
Upper decks legendary artwork is embarrassing! If it wasn't for that I'd have bought firefly and big trouble.
Great western trail and Concordia in the 20s - the people have gone mad!!! 😝
I like Tom's math with Time Stories - Sam: it's not 3 years old is it? Tom: yeah it is, it came out at the tail end of 2015...
2015, 2016, 2017. That's how he gets 3 years.
Shawn Fleury But...thats not how it works...
I didn't say it was accurate. He just seems to be counting the years that the game was out, not counting the time since the game was released.
Agricola did get revitalized with a new edition and new set this past year, so probably that helped.
Though, it's more on Lookout on not supporting Caverna than anything. Which is weird, yeah.
Jaipur and Patchwork: by far are not the best 2 player games. But these are probably the two most approachable couple games ....(that I don't want to tougher my eyes out of boredom when I play with my partner)
RDxMaverick x targi
Zee on Terra Mystica - "Boring is not my style". LOL. Indeed.
I picked up sushi go in target for $10 on a holiday this year.... probably helped it gain popularity...also it's a great little game
I prefer Ticket to Ride Europe because it is far less mean than the regular USA version. The depots make a huge difference in gameplay as far as being able to complete tickets.
Champions of Midgard is that good WITHOUT the expansions, let alone with. Maybe the Tabletop episode is what brought it to more people's attention.
For me, CoM is in my top 10 of all time and that was before I played the expansions.
Patchwork is popular because of the theme. What 2 player game is better and would appeal to the same people? Does it also have the same weight so it can be enjoyed without learning 500 icons?
I doubt it, that is why Patchwork has an important place. If you are asking a patchwork fan to play 7 wonders duel because it is "better" you are not understanding how gaming in 2017 is a much more diverse thing.
Champions of midgard is so good for a similar reason to why tom said another game on the list was good. Its a solid worker placement game, all your standard worker placement features but it adds in awesome dice chucking and monster killing! obviously that adds a little luck which can turn people away but for me that adds a cool push your luck element, and you can also mitigate it by smart decisions. Plus the valhalla expansions mitigates bad rolls to an even greater degree
Concordia is this high because it's awesome! Easy to learn, not much rules, but complex gameplay.
Why wouldnt Zee don't like GWT? Its fantastic!
Because 2017 was such a poor year for good new games (my opinion), I decided at GenCon to pick up some oldies I've had my eye on for a while but never purchased.
Stone Age was at the top of my shopping list. I was heartbroken to learn it was out of print and not at GenCon.
At least I got Cyclades and Alien Frontiers to comfort me.
Yes, apps definitely count as board games. Both physical and digital qualify equally, I think.
Champions of midgard is awesome. You guys need to keep on mind that most gamers are not playing games the moment they come out and don't have at much gaming time to explore games. That is why sometimes games move up over time.
Patchwork is more streamlined than Barenpark and Cottage Garden. And it has more depth (thanks to the button economy) than Cottage Garden.
But no one would ever buy a quilt that looks like that! ;)
I'd wager anyone willing to bury cats in a garden or build a Bear Park with bathrooms inside the polar bear inclosure would be happy to buy my quilts :D
Those cats are dead??! I thought they were just napping in the garden! I gotta watch review videos that are more zoomed in to tile pieces. Point taken though. :D
so glad TMG brought Orleans to the US, it deserves to be on this list.
Subdivision is the sibling to Suburbia you were trying to think of. Love Suburbia. Subdivision is so-so.
I am amazed Stone Age made this list, not that it is a bad game. I love it, but it is rarely available and I'm surprised people have been able to find a copy to play.
NICK Van DAM it has an app afaik so that might have helped it
Chinese editions are easy to get for $35. All piecemeal don’t have words, just the rule book. You can download an English rule book for free and print it out.
Trevin Taylor are they knockoffs or legal editions?
NICK Van DAM they CLAIM to be the legal version, just a chinese edition. But who could tell? If it's a fake, it's a good fake.
I noticed this before but it is also present in this video, whenever Tom makes an argument he seems to be addressing Zee more than Sam. I wonder what is the reason behind it?
You guys' are great
Patchwork is straight forward and highly strategic as you are managing buttons and time the whole time. Cottage Garden is cute, but too open for gamers while the weird 3-cube scoring ordeal will confuse newcomers. I look forward to trying Bärenpark, but not eager for Indian Summer. Maybe it's better than Cottage Garden, but I'm good with Patchworks and perhaps Bärenpark if it's as good as I hope
mkitten13 barenpark is hard to find right now.
Where I live it's not hard to find - plus I already own it, I just haven't had the opportunity to play it yet. lol
mkitten13 where do you live? I'd like a copy but cant find one. How much is it there?
Norway, it's about 360 NOK, but shipping would be astronomical
re: Patchwork
I have several people I play with that I don't consider "gamers" (i.e. they have no idea who Uwë Rosenberg is) that LOVE (it's my girlfriend's favorite game) Patchwork, because it is simple, portable (it's a lunchtime game for me) and plays fast.
Takenoko is a good game and the expansion makes it great imo.
I don’t like forcing an app on people. An optional app is fine, but not including cards or other components and forcing an app on buyers is stupid to me.
I don't understand the choice of Ticket to Ride Europe. I played nearly every version and expansion, but it is the one i like the least.
Concordia also had a reprint release.
What's Zee's issue with Stone Age?
Blimey that's a great trade...stone age goes for loads of money when you can get it...pity about gwt though..think people think it's a big confusing game but really is simple and very playable.
maybe Gloomhaven will go higher. But at that prize it's such a huge barrier for entry.
Sam what happened? I stuck around to the end for a “catch you on the flip side” and all I got was a “see you there”. What’s going on?
I think Sam's burning out. He doesn't say that much these days, and he made that "they made me be here" comment in their top 100 videos.
I'm confused, is Sam trying to insinuate that games with quality apps should we removed from consideration? Or is he saying that voters should pledge to ignore digital implementations?
I think the conversation: "What about apps?" is going to happen whether you start it or not, it already kinda' is. Many of the games released on steam play like board games and some are actually better than their cardboard counterparts (such as Space Hulk, or X-COM) due to the customizability and let's face it - *space.* Not as in outer but as in table or shelf. They also cost a *lot* less. You may as well start the conversation and be, I wouldn't say ahead of the game as much as current with technology. This was a great list! I'm happy to see Legendary is still getting picked up, I just lost a game of it and already want to play it again, the sign of a great one. Seeing Mansions of Madness so high *really* speaks to it's *game* quality since anyone who owns it knows how bad the miniatures are, not looking, I mean at staying in one piece instead of three. I'm also happy to see a challenging game like Eldritch still getting love. I love getting support for my "People are *not* stupid!!" argument. I really would like to see you joining the conversation about apps though since all of you admit to using ones that you like and depending on how the board gamers react to the technology, this is something that can really enhance the hobby as well as reduce churn amongst the hobbyists themselves. I'm disappointed that Neruoshima Hex isn't on here. It really is like Neo-Chess for me. I've never won, but I've never turned down a game either! It's so much fun and there are so many ways to play! *sigh* Yes, all of plays *have* been analog......geez. :)
Im personally not surprised about Concordia being this high simply because it is my favorite game of all time and several of my gaming friends agree. I got it back when it was nominated for the Kennerspiel and have been loving it ever since. Even though it has to have one of the worst covers ever. And Salsa is even worse...
I just find Barenpark to be longer and not as compelling as Patchwork. Patchwork is cute, portable, and quick.
Surprised that Legendary is as low it is.
Concordia does deserve to be #21 because the people voted for it to be there! It's a fantastic game that you'll are clearly in the minority opinion :P
Patchwork is more involved than I think you guys give it credit for. The buttons and timing combined mean the game is far more about manipulating your opponent than just filling out your own quilt. Try playing the app against some top dedicated players and watch what they do. Denying your opponent tiles, forcing them to jump ahead when they don't want to, etc. It's a lot deeper and thinkier than what you guys are saying.
BCSBuck totally agree. The tactical challenges are highly underestimated by most players
I kickstarted the expansions for Champions of Midgard and I still did not recieve it.....
I play most of the board games online. But they are still replicas of real board games. Yeah, i don't get the face to face interaction, but mechanically it is still the same game. Oh, but aside from one mobile app I always play against other players, not the AI.
Stone Age received boost from the reprint.
I think it's fair to add a game in your list even if you only play it's app, as long as you mention that fact
Narnia lamppost confirmed :)
Stone Age baby!
I like Alien better than Marvel but in Legendary i like the Marvel one better because it has more diversity and the mechanisms from Alien Legendary only really the Aliens movie (the 2nd of the Alien movies), so playing the other scenarios doesn't feel anything like the movies.
I think Zee doesn't understand how high Concordia is on the list because he puts so much emphasis on theme and appearance. Concordia is a pitifully ugly game with a boring theme. But the gameplay itself is wonderful. It's not too long. It's got some resource management. It's got some deck building. It's got some worker placement (I know, not technically, but moving around and block other's movements and grabbing locations first). For me, theme is fine, but it's low on my list of reasons I like the game so I get why it's so high. It simply comes down to what you value.
I'm really enjoying the list and the commentary. But I couldn't believe it when Zee called Concordia a heavy euro. It's almost a gateway, definitely gateway+ or "next step." But yeah, it's excellent, one of only two games in this chunk of 40 that made my top 25.
aweso he’s a lighter player. It’s heavy for him and people like him.
And for MOST PEOPLE in existence. Remember, just because you consider something "easy" doesn't make it so.
I guess, but I think the "most people in existence" standard is a bad one for something as niche as boardgames. I mean, by the standard of "most people" everything past Carcassonne or Catan or whatever (by the way, I'm not criticizing these games, I think they're both pretty good) is a heavy game, which isn't how your audience would probably use the word. And back to Concordia specifically, it was nominated for the KdJ, which as far as I know is an award for next step games, and probably the most prominent and with an audience of at least most German people.
But also, I do apologize if any of my comments did or do come off as dismissive of lighter games or people who don't like heavier games. I'm glad that there's so much variety that everyone can find games they love (and hey, I like some fairly light games, Gold West is an all time favorite), and I have no interest in judging anyone based on their taste in games. But if I talked about Stone Age by saying that it was a good game to teach preschoolers to get them started learning about games, most people would probably at least mention that that would be a crazy thing to say, and they'd be justified in doing so.
Difficulty only exists in the mind. If I consider something easy for me, then it's easy. Wanannnanannananana..... :D
you lads have mysterium in ur top 100?
I don't think App use is the same. To me when you play the game on an app it ceases being a board game and social experience to a video game (even if you link with someone else). I really am not that interested in watching or hearing video game reviews, if I was I'd go to Twitch. Doesn't mean the apps aren't fun, they are just different.
Marco Polo ia getting an expansion, so it could climb higher next year.
Castles of Mad King Ludwig is my 83rd favorite game.
Catan is not on my top 100, I burned out on it 3-4 years ago, but have played it a couple of times in the last year or so and beginning to tolerate it. Throw an expansion in and I like it more.
Takenoko is my 55th favorite game but needs more plays.
Through the Ages is on my "do not play" again list. I hated it, even though I beat the 2 players who taught me the game.
Puerto Rico is a decent game, and is my 103rd favorite game.
Sheriff of Nottingham is a huge family favorite, and once I get the expansion to play more players, it will get played even more, but for me it is only my 76th favorite game.
Cosmic Encounter is a game I had no interest in, but when I played it, I loved it. It is my 8th favorite game of all time. But needs more plays.
Terra Mystica is on my "do not play" again list. I agree with the Dice Tower folks, I quite disliked this game.
Caverna is near the bottom of playable games. I would never request it, and would avoid it, but if given the choice of playing nothing or this, I would play it.
Small World was one a of 2 or 3 games I bought when first entering the hobby disappointed me and sold it. I found I like the video version much more. This game is low on my playable games list.
Mechs vs Minions needs more plays but is my 26th favorite game.
To address Patchwork. It is an example of what I see as a cultural shift in board gaming that is happening right now.
From my understanding there are a large number of men who play board games, that have come back to the hobby from having played board games in their youths and then moved onto computer games but that are now seeking to involve their hobby with significant others, especially thanks to the rise in popularly of geek culture right now through comic movies, geek shows such as the big bang theory.
Modern computer games are mostly about solitary play or online and far less about the living room and regardless are not as appealing to a couple or a young family. It is a big commitment to play computer games as a family and far less of a social event.
A great number of geeky girls who are now in relations with geeky guys also like niche activities like crafting / sewing, so Patchwork hits this new modern board gamer market of 20 - 30 somethings.
Plus it's a darn good game!!!
Love Great Western Trail...my game of the year...
Mic James Traded it for Stone Age and four other games. It never made it to the table with my group although I liked it a lot.
Does Sam just want to ban any game that has a digital implementation?
Hey does anyone know what that new small world expansion was they were talking about?
Bobby Michealson sky islands
Let me BGG that for you: Sky Islands
I love social deduction games but i only play a few. But the thing is that you can always put one on the table to play a quick game. And they are replayable. Now the escape rooms in a box are things that i will play but i will never buy them. Its play and throw it away. And these kind of games are going to go on and on until its at that point that it will become tiresome. For me its already like omg everybody is on that bandwagon, but maybe i dont see it as much as a boardgame, more like a consumable adventure in a box that thinks its a boardgame, well i mean cardgame. Legacy games i havent played and next week i am going to play Pandemic Legacy season 2 so i am curious if i am going to like it. but if there is a way to have something that i can still play at the end of a game session then i love that concept better then having to throw it away at the end like the escape rooms in a box.Curious how other people see it.
Did Zee just pull the "there are a lot of better 2-player games" card on Patchwork? Scoff! I scoff at his knowledge of the 2-player genre which is on par with my own and his similar taste for Dunkin Donuts iced coffee. Patchwork is an absolute treasure! Scoff!
Puerto Rico is the most balanced game ever made...
Right, and black is white, up is down, and short is long.
Legendary Encounter Fire Fly is a great game. The art is the worst, and turns me off from buying it myself.
'Get in. Get out. People understand that.'
T.V. 2017
I predict Terraforming Mars will be 1st pick from people
Hopefully spurring the inevitable rise in Tesla shares because Daddy needs a new boat. Preferably one with solar sails, not solar panels! :D
Doesnt matter if a boardgame comes in a physical or virtual form, it has the same rules and mostly the same playing experience
fixer10091994 For me I hate when a board game forces an app onto you. I was interested in First Martians, once I found out it is app driven I lost interest. I like physical components.
It’s fine if the game comes with cards and there’s an app that handles card distribution, for people who want easier setup and put away. But for the game to force you to use an app, I hate that.
It does not matter if it is fair, right, etc. You cannot stop people from voting for the App of a Boardgame.
Therr are quite a few where the App is the only way I can play it. So, either voter and aupport decline or accept that there is an uncontrollable disagreement.
Why are you rushing this? If you start talking about a game, please finish the conversation!
I wanted to like TIME Stories so badly, but I just couldn't stand it
Patrick Doss I wont get it because to me it seems like there is zero replay value. Why buy a board game to play once per expansion?
Nao Shadowpaws that wouldn't be such a problem if the experience was more engaging, but it's just diminishing returns where the more times you have to go through the same scenario the worse it plays.
Save youself like £40 and just get yourself a fighting fantasy book and just read it to your group and get them to pick the choices. Same thing
Good, cause star wars destiny sucks :)
Nah, a game on the phone is not a table top experience.
Roll is such a better game than Race, hands down.