Nevermind the Tabletop effect, I think that what Tom, Zee and Sam don't seem to understand is that the average gamer doesn't play as many different games as they do in a year. So, of course most of them will want to try as many popular games as possible so they can have all the references in the hobby. That has a huge effect on this list, I believe.
Yeah. I started cataloging my games on Board Game Geek, and I haven't played 100 different games once, let alone enough times to judge and rank them...
+Chris Hayashida Same here... I'm at 76 different games played so fare, and on that, I have 42 that I played only once or twice. It's hard to get a top 100 in these situations.
+Chris Hayashida I've only logged plays of 85 games on BGG, but between owned and previously owned games, I have played 131 games. (Unfortunately, this also includes expansions, variants, etc.) I *might* be able to make a "top 100" list, but it would also include games I've given a rating of 4 or less... so not exactly "top". Of games I've rated 8 or higher, I have 45 games... maybe I'll make a top 30 out of that list.
+jcb3393 I'm at 55 games rated 7 or higher (which is still quite okay in my opinion, especially since I can't give a 10 to a game). I could do a top 50, but I wouldn't really be satisfied with it, I think.
+Jonathan G. Totally agree with this. Also, some of us keep playing , and learn to master games we enjoy rather than dumping them as soon as they are two years old. I realize the Dice Tower guys have some old favorites on their personal lists, but there is a lot of turnover. Boardgamers have some mix of collecting and playing as an aspect of the hobby in varying ratios depending on who you ask. The people more into collecting and hoarding push the cult of the new. I like new things when they're good, but I like playing old games that are good more.
Dice Tower: I have no idea why this game shot up the list! Every viewer: Obviously it was due to TableTop. This happened a surprising amount of times this top 100.
+Jeff3210 I agree. For some of the games that they were puzzled by the popularity, was due to Table Top. And there is nothing wrong with that. If it had not been for Tabletop, then I would not have found a love for board games, and there-by wanting to see what else is out there. Which led me to The Dice Tower.
+Chris Schrader Yeah maybe if I'm bored I'll do an analysis of games that were featured on TableTop vs their change in rank from previous people's choice lists.
+Paul Stegmaier Yeah generally TT features good games, and they do a lot of good for the hobby. The impact they have on this list is pretty large though it seems.
To be fair, Tabletop picks a lot of games that are already popular or are very likely to be popular (sequels to mega-hits or new games by very popular designers). Dead of Winter was sold out for months previous to it showing up on Tabletop. Love letter has been on the people's choice for years and it only just appeared on Tabletop this season. Granted, Tabletop certainly helps push games further into the spotlight more than any other board game outlet could.
+Michael Czerniewski Yeah, I was joking in my comment. I don't REALLY think it's 100% the doing of the Wheatonites. There are games that were presented in TT and didn't make the list, and 7 games that weren't shown there and still got very high rankings (Splendor at #5, holy smokes)
I don't give Wheaton 100% credit, but certainly Wheaton helped with the popularity of those particular games. BTW, I'm a Wheaton fan, which brought me to the hobby and exposed me to a lot of other really interesting games. I've played 31 of the games on this top 100 list , own 8, and plan on adding 6.
Michael Czerniewski Huh! I was just telling a friend I don't think many Wheatonists would get to this channel because people tend to settle with what they see and don't investigate much further. This is very interesting to hear :)
I too, Am a TableTop fan. Tabletop was the channel that brought me to the hobby, but from that moment forward, I discovered Dice Tower, Watch it Played and many other channels related to board gaming. Tabletop is a good show to capture people, and Dice Tower it's a great show for those already "captured" ! Regards from Portugal people :D
+isaacalien Zee has mentioned before that Bauza is a great designer, but almost stealthy about it, as his style isn't as prevalent- you will like a game and THEN find out it's from him, which is probably why they didn't notice it as much. Vlaada seems to have a much more distinct style; not to mention, he gets a very visceral reaction from Zee (and Sam).
I think that "je-ne-sais-quoi" that makes Splendor so popular is the fact that it is such a barebones, easy-to-grasp engine builder. That's a fun concept for people to get a hang of, especially newbies- the idea that what you obtain now will help you obtain more good things later. I love seeing new gamers realize how many CHOICES they have each turn, though it's never overwhleming. It's simple, quick, has great components in those poker chips, and it's a great gateway to more complicated game systems. Glad to see it on the list, for sure :)
+salmonblox That moment when you "get" how to play Splendor is very rewarding. Unfortunately I don't find it has much replayability though. Two of my friends found a system whereby they shoot to the third tier cards very quickly and we found it stiffled the game.
+Jonathan McBee That is often a great strategy, but not always the best one. Which is why Splendor is so great - it's a very distilled mix of tactics and strategy. You can see where you want to be headed, but you have to constantly adapt.
+salmonblox But it's so forgettable, I got bored of it quickly. Once you've played two games of it, you've exhausted the main strategies (cheap cards or expensive cards). It looks nice, but that's hardly a difficult thing to achieve in modern games. To see it on the list, fair enough, but at #5, ugh. . . .
I'm proud of the people for keeping Dominion not only on the list, but wow, within the top 10!!! It's a great game and voted well above TI3. I have to say though, I'm the most pleased to see Pandemic at number 1!! Not only my favorite game that I own, but probably my favorite game of all time!
I feel like the popularity of splendor is simply the poker chip like tokens. honestly, people love poker chips. the game is fun, it reminds people of the most popular game today, poker, and it's ease of play.
+Errol Wilde The problem with Splendor is that there is no interaction whatsoever. The players could play the game without even having to talk and it wouldn't change much to the experience... I still like it a bit, though.
+Jonathan G. Oh there is definitely interaction, mainly with the golden chips and reserving cards, for the sake of messing peoples plan, that can be huge
The golden chips and card reserving is not a big thing in my group. I see to be the only one to do it (after about 6-7 plays). Don't get me wrong, it's a nice game!
yea its not too intuitive to reserve cards your first time playing, but from what ive seen from who i play with, its a big take that component. to give a perspective of who i play with, our favorite game to play is smash up lol
Speaking about the Wheaton's effect. This list is not a list of most selling games from Target or so. This is the list of people watching the Dice Tower and caring enough to go to the site, register and vote! And as games showcased on the Tabletop shoot very high on this list, it means that a lot of new people find out about Dice Tower and start watching and following it. Because i already new most of the Tabletop games and it could only affect me a little. And i think the regular DT crowd would be similar. So, Tabletop effect helps bring more new people not only to the hobby, but to this channel as well ;)
Thanks for doing this list. Curious as to your thoughts on the impact board games available as tablet apps have had on the list, as these are perhaps more readily available and get more play because of the convenience of the tablet. E.g. one of the board games I played most this year is Stone Age, even though I don't own the physical board game. Other games that may have rated highly due to good app versions include: Eclipse, Small World, Ghost Stories, Forbidden Isle, Puerto Rico, Le Havre, etc. Probably to a lesser extent Pandemic and Ticket to Ride and Catan.
I think a good majority of the Top 10 are in the spots they are largely due to their availability. You can find 7 Wonders, Ticket to Ride, Small World etc..at Chapters, B&N, Target etc...
I see Forbidden Desert now available on some every day store shelves - like Wal-Mart and Target. Maybe it's general availability is making it more popular!
Wow, I'm shocked that the Resistance was ranked higher than Avalon. Our play group was sick of the Resistance after only a few plays, but Avalon has been in the mix for a long time now. The player roles add so much to the game.
I think that's because of the role Resistance plays in a game collection. It's there to get non-gamers to play a game at a party. It is not there to be played more than once with the same people. Resistance Avalon is definitely a better game, especially for gamers, but really, if I'm hanging out with people who already play board games, I'd rather just play a board game like 7 Wonders or something. Base Resistance is easier to entice people at a party into.
Sam Krygsheld I dunno. I own both and I have never met anyone who preferred Avalon to The Resistance. I think it is the theme. The whole King Arthur thing is somewhat trite.
Oh I disagree. It's not the theme at all, it's the variation in how the game is played. The different characters give you different information every time you play, which keeps the game interesting. I think The Resistance deserves its spot in this list for the reason I gave earlier (it's easier to introduce to new players, which is what The Resistance is good at in the first place), but I absolutely think Avalon is the better game.
Wylliam Judd The character cards with special powers (Percival, Mordred, Oberon, and Morgana) are optional cards that came with the game. Similarly, the Resistance has optional plot cards that varies the game play.
Besides tabletop influences, there are chain reactions. 1.Tabletop picks games with a general appeal/games that are (usually) easy to get into. 2.There's obviously an increase in demand 3. (Which may or may not be related to TT) stores like target, barnes & noble etc. Increase stock and/or bring in games that weren't offered before. 4. This means people who don't go online to watch board game reviews (most gamers I know DON'T do this, they think that's crazy and boring) but just browse in stores are more likely to pick up a common, generally appealing game because that's all that's on the shelf. 5. People who buy on amazon usually get the "popular" mainstream games because the first few pages have those ones. People are going to pick games that aren't too expensive, not so complex in rules, so these games fit in this area.
Lords of Waterdeep is a very solid gateway game, basic worker placement and set collecting with a familiar theme to wrap around to even the newest players. I don't find the game to be easy to win, rather that the game has easily understandable rules and gameplay. Highly recommendable to any shelf especially someone that is just getting into collecting board games.
7 Wonders is #1 in my heart. I'm pretty happy with these rankings. Light, simple, fun games are always going to top the list...Personally, games like Tzolk'in and Auqasphere are in my top 5 and didn't make it anywhere close to those rankings. But I'm okay with that. Moreover, I support the fact that this list is totally different from the Tom's and Eric's and Zee's and Sam's and Jason's...I appreciate what they bring to the forefront with their extensive knowledge and individual personalities. The People's Choice is much more dispersed.
the reason many games have climbed so much, is the you tube tabe-top series by wil wheaton at geek and sandry network. they where all played at his show
I would also mention that if you love Star Realms you should absolutely check out the Facebook page "A Star Realms Fan Created Community Page". It is a GREAT group to talk about the game or just show off epic wins/losses, join tournaments, etc.
Am I the only one who has noticed that a lot of the games that they are surprised are so high are games which Wil Wheaton has featured on Table Top? Throughout this list almost every "surprisingly high" game has been on that show...
Love the end, hearing what games fell off the list. Please keep that around and take a little more time doing that. It's fun to hear why games dropped off and a great chance for your guys to do what you do best :). (making us smile by trashing games).
I loooove Splendor! It has completely replaced Lost Cities and almost every other "light" two player game for me. It is an excellent study for new board game players as it has elements from several genres and is quick to learn and easy to play. It takes a bit to master, and I feel experienced players have a rather big advantage, but it is so quick nobody seems to get bored.
Sam, Zee, basically in a popularity contest, all the light but good games are at the top. The longer or more in depth games that gather passionate fans (e.g. TI3, Eclipse, etc) will be lower since they hit with a smaller audience. So arguably the more difficult to learn and longer games are "better" games, an aggregate ranking will just put the most popular to the top. The ranking for the DT for entering top 25 is very different form BGG's 1-10 average scoring system for each game.
Yeah! Forbidden Desert cracking the Top 20! It's my favorite game, and I think it has the legs to remain popular. I like Forbidden Island a lot as well, but it *is* much simpler. Still thought it might make the Top 100, though. and Star Realms! The little deckbuilder that could! I gotta disagree with Sam here, I think this is totally Top Ten material. It is such a streamlined, easy-to-jump into game system that offers interesting choices and direct combat. I don't think I'll ever play Ascension again (or at least, I won't be the one to bring it out), Star Realms all the way
one of the reasons some of these are in top 20 is because they're cheap and readily available. and most people who voted probably own (or played) couple of games. in future, ask more questions in surveys to know age, how many games person played total etc.
Will Wheaton's Table Top is almost certainly responsible for a lot of these games (that's probably why Takenoko!, Forbidden Island, Love Letter and others are up there). I also think that gamers in general don't buy games every week like you guys do. I play games each week with the family and so when we buy a game, we play it a lot as we just don't have the money to endlessly buy a new game regulalrly. This is why I think there are a lot of what you guys consider 'old games'. Lords of Waterdeep is a firm favourite with us. It may be 'old' but when you only get to play one game a week, you come back to the games you own to ensure you get value for money as well as a good time.
11:31 - 5-player Dominion is a mistake, and I tell my friend this every time he suggests "we can add another player". I'm like "no. I know you love this game, but new players make the game take longer and 5 or 6 players for a 4-player game unbalances the game. Adding both is a big no-no." That said, our gaming group still plays Dominion VERY often. We've tried Splendor with our friends, we tried teaching Takenoko to my mother-in-law, my wife and I love Pandemic, and I love Small World as well..., but Dominion always gets multiple plays: any day, any group. The only other game that comes close to reaching this many people (and remains popular and requested on subsequent days) are 7 Wonders, Bang: the Dice Game, TtR, and Heckmeck.
A lot of the more popular games on this list are more easily accessible in that you can find them at Barnes & Nobles & Target which is more mainstream than going to a game store. Also, Tabletop is a thing that is drawing in more gamers because of the way they cross promote with other TH-cam channels.
Watching this list and Tom's top 100 kinda made me question how much more time I want to invest in the Dice Tower. Not that I think they need to like popular games, but Sam and Zee in particular have such specific tastes in games that these lists just make them seem really out of touch. Tom, as the self proclaimed omni gamer, can at least give a game props even if he doesn't particularly like it himself. Idk, maybe the sidekicks need a vacation or something.
+TheGreatHamEl Zee is a bit open to different game times, but Sam is a mopey, my-way-or-the-highway elitist. Can't stand him, quite honestly. Half the games on this list aren't really my type of thing, but I don't diss them just because I don't agree with all the people who voted them.
I agree that they need to learn to say something positive and insightful even they dislike a game. Tom does this very well. It makes for much better viewing than "dual vomiting".
Jonathan McBee I don't think Sam is elitist per se. I just think his taste isn't very diversified, and it makes his commentary a bit painful when he has to discuss something that isn't King of Tokyo, BSG, TI3, etc.
Oh yes, Takenoko in the Top 20! Love it! And yes, Power Grid is slowly slipping............fall my pretty, fall down the list (Takenoko > Power Grid!) :P
Man, Thunderstone Advance kicked from the Top 100, but Star Realms makes the top 10? I love Star Realms, but I think that Thunderstone Advance is one of the best deck-builders out there. Unfortunately, it's not as accessible due to it being out of print, a higher price, and takes longer to set-up. I'm also glad to see 7 Wonders on the list, but it makes me sad when I realize how little i play it.
Sounds like I should try Power Grid. :) Twilight Struggle too. I still don't get the hype for Love Letter. Otherwise, lots of "grail" games that I didn't vote for except TTR. You can't take my trains from me.
I missed voting. And of course, my #1 is Dominant Species. now it fell off the list. I feel somewhat at fault there. 1 Vote and all. Star Realms is massively popular. It has an app, and an affordable card game price. It is the real deal. See if Epic makes a splash next year.
I'm always amazed when I see these lists of 100 games and Talisman does not appear on it anywhere. Apparently I'm one of the only people who really love this game.
+Joseph Mullin Talisman seems to have as many people who hate it, as those who love it. Still, though, Tom has said that this is the list that gives polarizing games a chance to shine, so I would think it would show up in the 90s or so, at least
my guesses for games released to make next years top 100 Obvious choices: Pandemic Legacy Blood Rage 7 Wonders Duel Codenames Spyfall Fury of Dracula Mysterium (less certain about this one, I'm betting that it's fiddly nature won't win over the dixit crowd and the deduction game players may go elsewhere) Stretches: 7th Continent (won't release until Q2 '16) New York 1901
+TheGreatHamEl Don't underestimate the power of "The Dice Tower Effect". It seems that when the Dice Tower really talks up a game it rises in the Top 100.
+Chris Schrader Tom seems only moderately interested, so I don't think it's going to get the bump you suggest. If it's amazingly good, it might, but obvious editions don't leave me with much optimism there. I suspect it will be a fairly niche within a niche title.
+TheGreatHamEl You may be right, but since Tom, Sam, Zee, Jason and Nick Meenachan have all gone on record using language like "The best hidden movement, deduction game ever..." and "totally kills Letter's from Whitechapel" I'm thinking it will be an obvious add. Now if Plaid Hat gives some expansion love to Specter Ops, it may be a real horse race here. I don't think the hidden movement, deduction game space is big enough to allow for multiple entries on it like "co-op with a traitor" is (e.g. Dead of Winter AND Shadows over Camelot both being top 20). The fact that Shadows Over Camelot (SOC) has been rising is, in my mind, proof of the Dice Tower Effect in full swing. Don't get me wrong, I think that SOC is a great game, but just as I think it's benefiting from Dice Tower attention. In the end we'll have to wait a year to know for sure. I'm just rubbing my crystal ball (figuratively speaking) to guess at what's going to be popular a year from now.
+Chris Schrader Tom is the one who isn't all that thrilled with it though, so unless the new edition really blows his mind, it won't matter what Nick or Sam thinks. They aren't industry persuasive like that. I already know Zee doesn't care; it's more than 30 minutes so he's out.
Lol, how could you guys forget to mention #3? #1 is a complete enigma to me; the other choices I can understand. Great to see Dead of Winter this high. Plaid Hat Games really deserve the recognition.
If plays are the only thing that matter. I play Dominion way more then you play TI3, Sam. Also Zee, Avalon is better. You can play regular resistance with the Avalon cards. You just have more options with Avalon.
+Kelly Stoller I agree. I didn't hear them once mention Tabletop's affect on this list, yet they kept claiming they didn't know how many of these games were so high on the list. Say it folks- WIL WHEATON. I happen to love TT and how it's created a board game renascence.
It still baffles me how people can think Dead Of Winter is better than BSG. There's so much more things you can do in BSG. The traitor component is WAY better especially beacuse of all the things you can do.
TheGreatHamEl I get that but DoW is so predictable. You can just math your way through it most of the time.There's hardly a situation where the best solution isn't obvious after a little thinking.
I still play and love to play Dominion, despite being of the cult of the new. I used to bet Small World would drop off sooner than Dominion. The more I think about it, I feel like "newer" board gamers that I have met often see Small World as their Catan. If you think back to the late 90's/early 2000's, most new modern board gamers, including myself sited Catan as the game that did it. I find a lot of people who got into the hobby over the last few years, did so playing Small World. Maybe it is my unique experience, but I tried to get my non-board gaming friends into board games, and then along came Wil Wheaton with that episode 1 of Small World and they all wanted it. I am not saying that Small World is another Catan, and will have that staying power, I think the variety in the States is too high, compared to the 90's. But I do think that the TableTop effect + the hobby growth during Small World's height make for a higher than deserved appreciation for the game.
The best part of this video is when it cuts to #3 I get a reprieve from my jealously looking at 7 Wonders Duel over Zee's right shoulder the rest of the time.....
Dead of Winter is #2, heck yeah!!! As this is my favorite game, (at least up until this point in my board gaming hobby life) I'm very pleased. Damn it Pandemic, if not for you my fave would have beaten out all of these guy's faves :P
Love Letter's power is in it's ability to be taught to and enjoyed by everyone. I can go grab 3 random humans, teach them Love Letter and everyone will walk away with a small on their face. The games accessibility is ridiculous. It is a tasty appetizer.
I think what gets forgotten when discussing some of the more surprising games making these lists, or games that linger etc. is the growing number of new gamers. Therefore they may not have played as many game, a lot of these games are the games more seasoned player would have introduced these new people with, even the more complex stuff. Some are easier to get, some are cheap. Therefore, thats what brings so many to the front to vote, as even the new gamers are all out there looking for advice on games and the same stuff comes up over and over again. Throw in the "mainstream" amount of advice, that then only covers some of the games that are showing up, and all in all the list becomes a little more... surprising to more... seasoned gamers... but still. For one reason or another I watch a lot of gaming channels at the moment, and some aspects of the hobby and so choices by players get massively overlooked when discussing the industry and hobby in general, I would say the same for a lot of the discussion here. That may be down to being hobbyists rather than running publishers and so often aspects get over looked... Anyway, fun video as always, just my two pence thrown in on some of the discussion.
+Lachlan Blackmore Strongly disagree. I was on the DT Awards committee last year (I write for MeepleTown.com) and strongly argued for it to be GotY (obviously unsuccessfully). Yet it still won Best Small Publisher AND Best Two Player, and it won Four Golden Geeks.The game is insanely good. Fast / simple doesn't mean it isn't absolute top-tier.
Hahaha, "i like it because it is green." xD who could argue with such a clear and profound recommondation for a game. no wonder it is in the top 20 of all times. go Zee!!
Thunderstoooone! Noooo! Apparently my lonely number 1 vote didn't help and now they won't reprint it for sure... I'm sad for Hive also, but i haven't played it for years. Well, i still own (and occasionally play) 6 games from the top10. I'm good :)
Well the top 20 was a mixed bag for me. Glad to see Star Realms, Pandemic, king of tokyo and Carcassonne holding it down, some of my favorite games. Glad that Puerto Rico is gone, now dominion just needs to die.
I'll never understand the Love Letter fanaticism. I played it half a dozen times and was done with it. This many people are still putting it in their top 20 games of all time?
i also love it whenever Zee does his Chewie "Rrrrrr".
Dearrrrrrr Luke...
+beemex01 Sam would secretly play and.. love this version, but would never admit :D
Nevermind the Tabletop effect, I think that what Tom, Zee and Sam don't seem to understand is that the average gamer doesn't play as many different games as they do in a year. So, of course most of them will want to try as many popular games as possible so they can have all the references in the hobby. That has a huge effect on this list, I believe.
Yeah. I started cataloging my games on Board Game Geek, and I haven't played 100 different games once, let alone enough times to judge and rank them...
+Chris Hayashida Same here... I'm at 76 different games played so fare, and on that, I have 42 that I played only once or twice. It's hard to get a top 100 in these situations.
+Chris Hayashida I've only logged plays of 85 games on BGG, but between owned and previously owned games, I have played 131 games. (Unfortunately, this also includes expansions, variants, etc.) I *might* be able to make a "top 100" list, but it would also include games I've given a rating of 4 or less... so not exactly "top".
Of games I've rated 8 or higher, I have 45 games... maybe I'll make a top 30 out of that list.
+jcb3393 I'm at 55 games rated 7 or higher (which is still quite okay in my opinion, especially since I can't give a 10 to a game). I could do a top 50, but I wouldn't really be satisfied with it, I think.
+Jonathan G. Totally agree with this. Also, some of us keep playing , and learn to master games we enjoy rather than dumping them as soon as they are two years old. I realize the Dice Tower guys have some old favorites on their personal lists, but there is a lot of turnover. Boardgamers have some mix of collecting and playing as an aspect of the hobby in varying ratios depending on who you ask. The people more into collecting and hoarding push the cult of the new. I like new things when they're good, but I like playing old games that are good more.
Dice Tower: I have no idea why this game shot up the list! Every viewer: Obviously it was due to TableTop. This happened a surprising amount of times this top 100.
+Jeff3210 That is to say, a different version of all these games with modified rules has shot up the list? ;)
+Jeff3210 I agree. For some of the games that they were puzzled by the popularity, was due to Table Top. And there is nothing wrong with that. If it had not been for Tabletop, then I would not have found a love for board games, and there-by wanting to see what else is out there. Which led me to The Dice Tower.
+Jeff3210 I think you have the right of it - If we could get a list of TableTop season 4 games we could forecast the top 100 much more quickly
+Chris Schrader Yeah maybe if I'm bored I'll do an analysis of games that were featured on TableTop vs their change in rank from previous people's choice lists.
+Paul Stegmaier Yeah generally TT features good games, and they do a lot of good for the hobby. The impact they have on this list is pretty large though it seems.
13 of the top 20 (including all of the top 4) are Wheaton TableTop games, and 29 of the total 100 were played by Mr. Wheaton and friends.
To be fair, Tabletop picks a lot of games that are already popular or are very likely to be popular (sequels to mega-hits or new games by very popular designers). Dead of Winter was sold out for months previous to it showing up on Tabletop. Love letter has been on the people's choice for years and it only just appeared on Tabletop this season. Granted, Tabletop certainly helps push games further into the spotlight more than any other board game outlet could.
+Michael Czerniewski Yeah, I was joking in my comment. I don't REALLY think it's 100% the doing of the Wheatonites. There are games that were presented in TT and didn't make the list, and 7 games that weren't shown there and still got very high rankings (Splendor at #5, holy smokes)
I don't give Wheaton 100% credit, but certainly Wheaton helped with the popularity of those particular games. BTW, I'm a Wheaton fan, which brought me to the hobby and exposed me to a lot of other really interesting games. I've played 31 of the games on this top 100 list , own 8, and plan on adding 6.
I was thinking the same thing as I watched this video
Michael Czerniewski
Huh! I was just telling a friend I don't think many Wheatonists would get to this channel because people tend to settle with what they see and don't investigate much further. This is very interesting to hear :)
I too, Am a TableTop fan. Tabletop was the channel that brought me to the hobby, but from that moment forward, I discovered Dice Tower, Watch it Played and many other channels related to board gaming.
Tabletop is a good show to capture people, and Dice Tower it's a great show for those already "captured" !
Regards from Portugal people :D
Considering the remarks about Vlaada's games populating the list, this was a good showing for Antoine Bauza.
+isaacalien I've noticed this too. And i was surprised to see how many games he has designed.
+isaacalien Zee has mentioned before that Bauza is a great designer, but almost stealthy about it, as his style isn't as prevalent- you will like a game and THEN find out it's from him, which is probably why they didn't notice it as much. Vlaada seems to have a much more distinct style; not to mention, he gets a very visceral reaction from Zee (and Sam).
+isaacalien Bauza deserves all the love he gets.
I think that "je-ne-sais-quoi" that makes Splendor so popular is the fact that it is such a barebones, easy-to-grasp engine builder. That's a fun concept for people to get a hang of, especially newbies- the idea that what you obtain now will help you obtain more good things later. I love seeing new gamers realize how many CHOICES they have each turn, though it's never overwhleming.
It's simple, quick, has great components in those poker chips, and it's a great gateway to more complicated game systems. Glad to see it on the list, for sure :)
You read my mind. Best youtube comment ever. Have some geekgold...err...
+Derek Thompson *reaches out hand for geekgold* hey, tha- ohh...
+salmonblox That moment when you "get" how to play Splendor is very rewarding. Unfortunately I don't find it has much replayability though. Two of my friends found a system whereby they shoot to the third tier cards very quickly and we found it stiffled the game.
+Jonathan McBee That is often a great strategy, but not always the best one. Which is why Splendor is so great - it's a very distilled mix of tactics and strategy. You can see where you want to be headed, but you have to constantly adapt.
+salmonblox But it's so forgettable, I got bored of it quickly. Once you've played two games of it, you've exhausted the main strategies (cheap cards or expensive cards). It looks nice, but that's hardly a difficult thing to achieve in modern games. To see it on the list, fair enough, but at #5, ugh. . . .
I'm proud of the people for keeping Dominion not only on the list, but wow, within the top 10!!! It's a great game and voted well above TI3. I have to say though, I'm the most pleased to see Pandemic at number 1!! Not only my favorite game that I own, but probably my favorite game of all time!
I think, as the people, we've done really well. You should reward us with our own 'proper' song.
Again, I am convinced that Wheaton's TableTop boosted lots of games
sam, you've never made me laugh this hard! this was probably my favorite video in this series, great work guys!
I feel like the popularity of splendor is simply the poker chip like tokens. honestly, people love poker chips. the game is fun, it reminds people of the most popular game today, poker, and it's ease of play.
+Errol Wilde The problem with Splendor is that there is no interaction whatsoever. The players could play the game without even having to talk and it wouldn't change much to the experience... I still like it a bit, though.
+Jonathan G. Oh there is definitely interaction, mainly with the golden chips and reserving cards, for the sake of messing peoples plan, that can be huge
The golden chips and card reserving is not a big thing in my group. I see to be the only one to do it (after about 6-7 plays). Don't get me wrong, it's a nice game!
yea its not too intuitive to reserve cards your first time playing, but from what ive seen from who i play with, its a big take that component. to give a perspective of who i play with, our favorite game to play is smash up lol
+Jonathan G. LOL. Really? God that's 80% of the strategy of the game.
Sam - I see Washington's War in your collection. Any chance of getting a review of that up?
Speaking about the Wheaton's effect. This list is not a list of most selling games from Target or so. This is the list of people watching the Dice Tower and caring enough to go to the site, register and vote! And as games showcased on the Tabletop shoot very high on this list, it means that a lot of new people find out about Dice Tower and start watching and following it. Because i already new most of the Tabletop games and it could only affect me a little. And i think the regular DT crowd would be similar. So, Tabletop effect helps bring more new people not only to the hobby, but to this channel as well ;)
El Grande may return with the upcoming reprint. I've read about the game and I'm waiting to try it.
+CDNChaoZ I'm debating both The Fury of Dracula and A Study in Emerald reprints...tempting stuff!
The end with all the knocked off games had my in stitches! :D
Thanks for doing this list. Curious as to your thoughts on the impact board games available as tablet apps have had on the list, as these are perhaps more readily available and get more play because of the convenience of the tablet. E.g. one of the board games I played most this year is Stone Age, even though I don't own the physical board game.
Other games that may have rated highly due to good app versions include: Eclipse, Small World, Ghost Stories, Forbidden Isle, Puerto Rico, Le Havre, etc.
Probably to a lesser extent Pandemic and Ticket to Ride and Catan.
I think a good majority of the Top 10 are in the spots they are largely due to their availability. You can find 7 Wonders, Ticket to Ride, Small World etc..at Chapters, B&N, Target etc...
Where would TTR have been if you'd have collated the votes for the various versions of it?
I see Forbidden Desert now available on some every day store shelves - like Wal-Mart and Target. Maybe it's general availability is making it more popular!
Wow, I'm shocked that the Resistance was ranked higher than Avalon. Our play group was sick of the Resistance after only a few plays, but Avalon has been in the mix for a long time now. The player roles add so much to the game.
I think that's because of the role Resistance plays in a game collection. It's there to get non-gamers to play a game at a party. It is not there to be played more than once with the same people. Resistance Avalon is definitely a better game, especially for gamers, but really, if I'm hanging out with people who already play board games, I'd rather just play a board game like 7 Wonders or something. Base Resistance is easier to entice people at a party into.
Makes sense!
Sam Krygsheld I dunno. I own both and I have never met anyone who preferred Avalon to The Resistance. I think it is the theme. The whole King Arthur thing is somewhat trite.
Oh I disagree. It's not the theme at all, it's the variation in how the game is played. The different characters give you different information every time you play, which keeps the game interesting. I think The Resistance deserves its spot in this list for the reason I gave earlier (it's easier to introduce to new players, which is what The Resistance is good at in the first place), but I absolutely think Avalon is the better game.
Wylliam Judd The character cards with special powers (Percival, Mordred, Oberon, and Morgana) are optional cards that came with the game. Similarly, the Resistance has optional plot cards that varies the game play.
Can someone clarify what this tabletop effect is I keep seeing in these comments?
my theory is most are on the list due to price. cheaper generally means more people have it and more plays.
not to mention boardgame arena
Mysterium will be on the list next year too. My game group loooved it last night and we had a lot of on lookers selling out the LGS
Besides tabletop influences, there are chain reactions.
1.Tabletop picks games with a general appeal/games that are (usually) easy to get into.
2.There's obviously an increase in demand
3. (Which may or may not be related to TT) stores like target, barnes & noble etc. Increase stock and/or bring in games that weren't offered before.
4. This means people who don't go online to watch board game reviews (most gamers I know DON'T do this, they think that's crazy and boring) but just browse in stores are more likely to pick up a common, generally appealing game because that's all that's on the shelf.
5. People who buy on amazon usually get the "popular" mainstream games because the first few pages have those ones. People are going to pick games that aren't too expensive, not so complex in rules, so these games fit in this area.
Lords of Waterdeep is a very solid gateway game, basic worker placement and set collecting with a familiar theme to wrap around to even the newest players. I don't find the game to be easy to win, rather that the game has easily understandable rules and gameplay. Highly recommendable to any shelf especially someone that is just getting into collecting board games.
7 Wonders is #1 in my heart. I'm pretty happy with these rankings. Light, simple, fun games are always going to top the list...Personally, games like Tzolk'in and Auqasphere are in my top 5 and didn't make it anywhere close to those rankings. But I'm okay with that.
Moreover, I support the fact that this list is totally different from the Tom's and Eric's and Zee's and Sam's and Jason's...I appreciate what they bring to the forefront with their extensive knowledge and individual personalities. The People's Choice is much more dispersed.
the reason many games have climbed so much, is the you tube tabe-top series by wil wheaton at geek and sandry network. they where all played at his show
I think some of the games they couldn't believe were high on the list were featured on Wil Wheaton's Tabletop so they got a lot of extra attention.
it seems a lot of the ones that are 'rocketing' up are because of the Tabletop effect
I would also mention that if you love Star Realms you should absolutely check out the Facebook page "A Star Realms Fan Created Community Page". It is a GREAT group to talk about the game or just show off epic wins/losses, join tournaments, etc.
Am I the only one who has noticed that a lot of the games that they are surprised are so high are games which Wil Wheaton has featured on Table Top? Throughout this list almost every "surprisingly high" game has been on that show...
I just played Dominion (with Prosperity mixed in) this morning before this video was posted...so yeah, it is still being played.
Wow! Splendor is at the Five spot! Kudos to you people for picking it!
Love the end, hearing what games fell off the list. Please keep that around and take a little more time doing that. It's fun to hear why games dropped off and a great chance for your guys to do what you do best :). (making us smile by trashing games).
I loooove Splendor! It has completely replaced Lost Cities and almost every other "light" two player game for me. It is an excellent study for new board game players as it has elements from several genres and is quick to learn and easy to play. It takes a bit to master, and I feel experienced players have a rather big advantage, but it is so quick nobody seems to get bored.
Did I miss Heroscape somewhere on the list or did Tom just not rattle it off for games that are off the list?
Thunderstone Advance didn't make it? Too bad that. Hopefully it and El Grande will see a resurgence next year.
Sam, Zee, basically in a popularity contest, all the light but good games are at the top. The longer or more in depth games that gather passionate fans (e.g. TI3, Eclipse, etc) will be lower since they hit with a smaller audience. So arguably the more difficult to learn and longer games are "better" games, an aggregate ranking will just put the most popular to the top.
The ranking for the DT for entering top 25 is very different form BGG's 1-10 average scoring system for each game.
For me the best game is Seasons..... Really quick to set up, draft mechanic, dices so it involve a bit a chance, and a lot of strategy.
Yeah! Forbidden Desert cracking the Top 20! It's my favorite game, and I think it has the legs to remain popular. I like Forbidden Island a lot as well, but it *is* much simpler. Still thought it might make the Top 100, though.
and Star Realms! The little deckbuilder that could! I gotta disagree with Sam here, I think this is totally Top Ten material. It is such a streamlined, easy-to-jump into game system that offers interesting choices and direct combat. I don't think I'll ever play Ascension again (or at least, I won't be the one to bring it out), Star Realms all the way
Hey guys, can't catch what's your prediction for next "season" can you write Garcia's down?
He mentions Pandemic Legacy, Blood Rage and 7 Wonders Duel. I would add Codenames to that list.
one of the reasons some of these are in top 20 is because they're cheap and readily available. and most people who voted probably own (or played) couple of games.
in future, ask more questions in surveys to know age, how many games person played total etc.
Will Wheaton's Table Top is almost certainly responsible for a lot of these games (that's probably why Takenoko!, Forbidden Island, Love Letter and others are up there). I also think that gamers in general don't buy games every week like you guys do. I play games each week with the family and so when we buy a game, we play it a lot as we just don't have the money to endlessly buy a new game regulalrly. This is why I think there are a lot of what you guys consider 'old games'. Lords of Waterdeep is a firm favourite with us. It may be 'old' but when you only get to play one game a week, you come back to the games you own to ensure you get value for money as well as a good time.
Pandemic's a great game ---but the low price point really must help
Same with Forbidden Desert (and Island) they're about a third the price of an average game.
+Critical Hit I believe it's been in Target too? That certainly isn't hurting it.
+Jeff3210 and have been on TableTop.
11:31 - 5-player Dominion is a mistake, and I tell my friend this every time he suggests "we can add another player". I'm like "no. I know you love this game, but new players make the game take longer and 5 or 6 players for a 4-player game unbalances the game. Adding both is a big no-no."
That said, our gaming group still plays Dominion VERY often. We've tried Splendor with our friends, we tried teaching Takenoko to my mother-in-law, my wife and I love Pandemic, and I love Small World as well..., but Dominion always gets multiple plays: any day, any group.
The only other game that comes close to reaching this many people (and remains popular and requested on subsequent days) are 7 Wonders, Bang: the Dice Game, TtR, and Heckmeck.
I love Power Grid, Ticket to ride, Splendor, Lords Of Waterdep, and I would love to have pathfinder make the list.
17 forbidden desert was played on will weatons table top recently
Great job guys. Next year, maybe include a text box for voters to enter their comments about why they chose "blah blah game" as their top game.
+Dave Chua That would be really interesting, but think how many of those Tom would have to read....
+Dave Chua and do what with that information?
+Lachlan Blackmore did you not notice the numerous times these guys wondered, "hmm, why did so many people vote for this game?"
I would like to see the list: Games that held appeal the longest on the BGG list/ and personal opinions.
I think Code Names will make the top 100 next year at least based on what I see people playing
+Gut Shot Games Yeah good call
+Gut Shot Games Codenames was already on the list
I'd love to see you guys playing five tribes!
A lot of the more popular games on this list are more easily accessible in that you can find them at Barnes & Nobles & Target which is more mainstream than going to a game store. Also, Tabletop is a thing that is drawing in more gamers because of the way they cross promote with other TH-cam channels.
Watching this list and Tom's top 100 kinda made me question how much more time I want to invest in the Dice Tower. Not that I think they need to like popular games, but Sam and Zee in particular have such specific tastes in games that these lists just make them seem really out of touch. Tom, as the self proclaimed omni gamer, can at least give a game props even if he doesn't particularly like it himself. Idk, maybe the sidekicks need a vacation or something.
So..you want 3 guys all thinking the same and with the same tastes? How is that useful?
TheMrE I am not even going to dignify that with a response.
+TheGreatHamEl Zee is a bit open to different game times, but Sam is a mopey, my-way-or-the-highway elitist. Can't stand him, quite honestly. Half the games on this list aren't really my type of thing, but I don't diss them just because I don't agree with all the people who voted them.
I agree that they need to learn to say something positive and insightful even they dislike a game. Tom does this very well. It makes for much better viewing than "dual vomiting".
Jonathan McBee I don't think Sam is elitist per se. I just think his taste isn't very diversified, and it makes his commentary a bit painful when he has to discuss something that isn't King of Tokyo, BSG, TI3, etc.
Pathfinder is still our #1 game, loving each expansion.
Oh yes, Takenoko in the Top 20! Love it! And yes, Power Grid is slowly slipping............fall my pretty, fall down the list (Takenoko > Power Grid!) :P
Man, Thunderstone Advance kicked from the Top 100, but Star Realms makes the top 10? I love Star Realms, but I think that Thunderstone Advance is one of the best deck-builders out there. Unfortunately, it's not as accessible due to it being out of print, a higher price, and takes longer to set-up.
I'm also glad to see 7 Wonders on the list, but it makes me sad when I realize how little i play it.
Did I miss Dice Masters?
Sounds like I should try Power Grid. :) Twilight Struggle too. I still don't get the hype for Love Letter. Otherwise, lots of "grail" games that I didn't vote for except TTR. You can't take my trains from me.
I missed voting. And of course, my #1 is Dominant Species. now it fell off the list. I feel somewhat at fault there. 1 Vote and all.
Star Realms is massively popular. It has an app, and an affordable card game price. It is the real deal. See if Epic makes a splash next year.
Even though it droped off the list, Pathfinder still is a great game. I wonder if Tom considered the votes for the different base sets as one.
I'm always amazed when I see these lists of 100 games and Talisman does not appear on it anywhere. Apparently I'm one of the only people who really love this game.
+Joseph Mullin Talisman seems to have as many people who hate it, as those who love it. Still, though, Tom has said that this is the list that gives polarizing games a chance to shine, so I would think it would show up in the 90s or so, at least
Why wouldn't Resistance and Resistance Avalon be considered the same game? Didn't Tom even say that?
+xobxela I'm not sure, but I believe there's even an expansion to the Resistance which bring a "merlin" and an "assassin" like roles
+Pablo Espinosa there's 2 actually. I have them both.
my guesses for games released to make next years top 100
Obvious choices:
Pandemic Legacy
Blood Rage
7 Wonders Duel
Codenames
Spyfall
Fury of Dracula
Mysterium (less certain about this one, I'm betting that it's fiddly nature won't win over the dixit crowd and the deduction game players may go elsewhere)
Stretches:
7th Continent (won't release until Q2 '16)
New York 1901
Fury of Dracula won't make it, even with the new edition.
+TheGreatHamEl Don't underestimate the power of "The Dice Tower Effect". It seems that when the Dice Tower really talks up a game it rises in the Top 100.
+Chris Schrader Tom seems only moderately interested, so I don't think it's going to get the bump you suggest. If it's amazingly good, it might, but obvious editions don't leave me with much optimism there. I suspect it will be a fairly niche within a niche title.
+TheGreatHamEl You may be right, but since Tom, Sam, Zee, Jason and Nick Meenachan have all gone on record using language like "The best hidden movement, deduction game ever..." and "totally kills Letter's from Whitechapel" I'm thinking it will be an obvious add. Now if Plaid Hat gives some expansion love to Specter Ops, it may be a real horse race here. I don't think the hidden movement, deduction game space is big enough to allow for multiple entries on it like "co-op with a traitor" is (e.g. Dead of Winter AND Shadows over Camelot both being top 20). The fact that Shadows Over Camelot (SOC) has been rising is, in my mind, proof of the Dice Tower Effect in full swing. Don't get me wrong, I think that SOC is a great game, but just as I think it's benefiting from Dice Tower attention.
In the end we'll have to wait a year to know for sure. I'm just rubbing my crystal ball (figuratively speaking) to guess at what's going to be popular a year from now.
+Chris Schrader Tom is the one who isn't all that thrilled with it though, so unless the new edition really blows his mind, it won't matter what Nick or Sam thinks. They aren't industry persuasive like that. I already know Zee doesn't care; it's more than 30 minutes so he's out.
At least in this episode we got to see Sam truly cheering (for Dead of Winder) :) He didn't even realize that it is so many places higher that TI3 :D
the reason for some of the games popularity is Tabletop, duh
I found it interesting how Power Grid is not my style of game either (like Sam I don't like economical games) and yet I somehow love it.
Lol, how could you guys forget to mention #3?
#1 is a complete enigma to me; the other choices I can understand. Great to see Dead of Winter this high. Plaid Hat Games really deserve the recognition.
If plays are the only thing that matter. I play Dominion way more then you play TI3, Sam.
Also Zee, Avalon is better. You can play regular resistance with the Avalon cards. You just have more options with Avalon.
+Josh Wood I believe he enjoys the plot cards, which are not in Avalon. I like them too, though I don't play with them every time.
They really need to acknowledge the Tabletop effect on the industry.
+Kelly Stoller I agree. I didn't hear them once mention Tabletop's affect on this list, yet they kept claiming they didn't know how many of these games were so high on the list. Say it folks- WIL WHEATON. I happen to love TT and how it's created a board game renascence.
It still baffles me how people can think Dead Of Winter is better than BSG. There's so much more things you can do in BSG. The traitor component is WAY better especially beacuse of all the things you can do.
People don't want to play 3-4 hour games, not too hard to figure out the reason for the preference.
TheGreatHamEl I get that but DoW is so predictable. You can just math your way through it most of the time.There's hardly a situation where the best solution isn't obvious after a little thinking.
+Hitchslapped Not saying DoW is spectacular. I think it's grossly overrated, actually. I'm just saying it got the game length right.
+Hitchslapped No way its predictable with the crossroads systems. A single card can absolutely ruin a game that is about to win.
kreamowheat I've yet to see them be that detrimental.
What's Lord of Waterdep?
The love letter bit was pretty funny
I still play and love to play Dominion, despite being of the cult of the new. I used to bet Small World would drop off sooner than Dominion. The more I think about it, I feel like "newer" board gamers that I have met often see Small World as their Catan. If you think back to the late 90's/early 2000's, most new modern board gamers, including myself sited Catan as the game that did it. I find a lot of people who got into the hobby over the last few years, did so playing Small World. Maybe it is my unique experience, but I tried to get my non-board gaming friends into board games, and then along came Wil Wheaton with that episode 1 of Small World and they all wanted it. I am not saying that Small World is another Catan, and will have that staying power, I think the variety in the States is too high, compared to the 90's. But I do think that the TableTop effect + the hobby growth during Small World's height make for a higher than deserved appreciation for the game.
The best part of this video is when it cuts to #3 I get a reprieve from my jealously looking at 7 Wonders Duel over Zee's right shoulder the rest of the time.....
You guys should write down 10 games you think will be top 20 and see how many you get. I love when Tom guessed at Jason's top 10.
Dead of Winter is #2, heck yeah!!! As this is my favorite game, (at least up until this point in my board gaming hobby life) I'm very pleased.
Damn it Pandemic, if not for you my fave would have beaten out all of these guy's faves :P
Coming next year: cosmic love letter encounter, twilight imperium love letter, 51st love letter, and pandemic love letter
Waterdeep that high?
Yay :D
Wait...Battlelore 2.0 wasnt in the list at all?. Or did i just hear bad?
+Redfoxe You heard well...
9:36-9:50 Star Wars Love Letter. I laughed out loud at Zee's limprov on Chewie.
Love Letter's power is in it's ability to be taught to and enjoyed by everyone. I can go grab 3 random humans, teach them Love Letter and everyone will walk away with a small on their face. The games accessibility is ridiculous. It is a tasty appetizer.
I think what gets forgotten when discussing some of the more surprising games making these lists, or games that linger etc. is the growing number of new gamers. Therefore they may not have played as many game, a lot of these games are the games more seasoned player would have introduced these new people with, even the more complex stuff. Some are easier to get, some are cheap. Therefore, thats what brings so many to the front to vote, as even the new gamers are all out there looking for advice on games and the same stuff comes up over and over again.
Throw in the "mainstream" amount of advice, that then only covers some of the games that are showing up, and all in all the list becomes a little more... surprising to more... seasoned gamers... but still.
For one reason or another I watch a lot of gaming channels at the moment, and some aspects of the hobby and so choices by players get massively overlooked when discussing the industry and hobby in general, I would say the same for a lot of the discussion here. That may be down to being hobbyists rather than running publishers and so often aspects get over looked...
Anyway, fun video as always, just my two pence thrown in on some of the discussion.
El Grande will be back next year, thank you big box.
Huzzah, Star Realms and Splendor!
+Derek Thompson Star Realms is fun and all, but that was crazy high.
+Lachlan Blackmore Strongly disagree. I was on the DT Awards committee last year (I write for MeepleTown.com) and strongly argued for it to be GotY (obviously unsuccessfully). Yet it still won Best Small Publisher AND Best Two Player, and it won Four Golden Geeks.The game is insanely good. Fast / simple doesn't mean it isn't absolute top-tier.
Lord of Waterdep? I think whoever did the editing/titles, needs to run a spellchecker. :P
Takenoko was also on table top. :)
Hahaha, "i like it because it is green." xD
who could argue with such a clear and profound recommondation for a game. no wonder it is in the top 20 of all times. go Zee!!
+beemex01 LOL...But all of Friedemann Freise's games are green!
Thunderstoooone! Noooo! Apparently my lonely number 1 vote didn't help and now they won't reprint it for sure...
I'm sad for Hive also, but i haven't played it for years. Well, i still own (and occasionally play) 6 games from the top10. I'm good :)
Yey Dead of Winter, well deserved.
+Jeff3210 Bought it at Essen two days ago and played it 3 times since then. Awesome game!
+Geographus666 I think I am going to wait till the next crossroads game. i have too many zombie games. I want the space themed crossroads game.
top 10 is pretty good. Solid choices.
Mysterium, Code names will both make it next year.
Code names will be top 10. That's my bold prediction!
This should be renamed to the Top 100 Most Popular Games Of The Year.
Forbidden desert was also on table top.
yup...although I think they played it incorrectly on Tabletop.
+Michael Penafiel Slander, they don't play anything incorrectly on TableTop!
And if they do, it's the producer's fault!
Well the top 20 was a mixed bag for me. Glad to see Star Realms, Pandemic, king of tokyo and Carcassonne holding it down, some of my favorite games. Glad that Puerto Rico is gone, now dominion just needs to die.
Codenames will be on the Top 100 next year and probably the highest entry
+Joshua Johnson Codenames was already #77 this year, which means it can't debut next year.
thank you very much
Disappointed that Xia didn't make the top 100, but don't think it had a lot of people play it.
whers catan
I'll never understand the Love Letter fanaticism. I played it half a dozen times and was done with it. This many people are still putting it in their top 20 games of all time?
wow :( where is TtA :(