My Top 10 Favorite Games (as of September 2019)

Every 6 months I update my top 10 favorite tabletop games list. Creating today’s list was the toughest task yet, both because of the sheer number of different games I’ve played at this point (650+ and counting) and because I find my eagerness to play certain games dependent on how easily I can actually get them to the table and share them with other people. Teachability, learnability, and setup all now play a roll in my gaming preferences.

So there are many great games from other publishers that won’t make the list. Stonemaier Games products aren’t eligible, and because the list focuses on games that I’m always excited to play, I don’t consider single-play/campaign games either (no TIME Stories this time).

Also, for the first time I used the Pubmeeple web app to create this list. It creates matchups of various games, and after many of these matchups, it reveals your favorites. I mostly kept the order they proposed.

The previous list is here. As for the new list, I revealed my selections and honorable mentions in a video earlier today (see embed at the bottom of this post), so I’ll keep the written descriptions succinct.

10. The Mind: technically 1-4 players, though I’ve played it with more; cooperative; try to read other players with pretty much no communication

9. Magic the Gathering: 6-8 player draft followed by 2-player round-robin duels; drafting; combos; constructing decks of cards

8. Tzolk’in: 1-4 players (5 with expansion); heavy Euro game; uses time as a resource via gears on the board

7. Ra: 2-5 players: auction game; push your luck

6. Scotland Yard: 2-6 players, one-versus many, hidden movement

5. Fantasy Realms: 2-6 players, hand management, combos

4. Just One: 3-7 players, cooperative, party game

3. Downforce: 2-6 players, racing game, positive player interaction

2. Hanamikoji: 2 players, I-cut-you-choose

1. Castles of Mad King Ludwig: 1-4 players, I-price-you choose, rewarding play, castle building

Have you tried to use the Pubmeeple system to determine your current top 10? Feel free to share your results in the comments!

6 thoughts on “My Top 10 Favorite Games (as of September 2019)”

  1. I haven’t played enough to compile what I would call a Top Ten, but this past month Vindication jumped everything and landed at 1!

    Reply
  2. I have not tried the PubMeeple App to give me a top 10, but I am thinking I will. Might have to update my BGG info to give an accurate result.

    Love The Mind. Bought it in April and have played it over 50 times, with over 20 people. 30 seconds to explain and 10 minutes to play, it’s the perfect lunch time game, and a great way to introduce non gamers. I thought I would have to play the face down version by now to keep it interesting, but not yet. Have you played it face down yet?

    I have also looked up the rules for The Game, and we use the same deck for that to mix things up.

    Shane

    Reply
  3. Absolutely love Tzolk’in! My girlfriend, Ping, and I played three games over four days this past weekend. I’m looking forward to trying the PubMeeple site.

    Reply

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