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 (730+ 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 even though I’m fond of them; rather, the list focuses on the games I’m most excited to play now (and I see that trend continuing in the future). Also Stonemaier Games products aren’t eligible due to extreme bias on my part.
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.
Honorable mentions: Lords of Waterdeep, Skull, Bunny Kingdom, poker, Ra, Blokus, Scotland Yard, 7 Wonders Duel, Terra Mystica, Isle of Skye, Orleans, Azul Summer Pavilion, QE, Incan Gold, Cartographers, Hanamikoji, Sushi Roll, Downforce
10. Dice Throne: 2 player asymmetric dice-rolling dueling game
9. The Quacks of Quedlinburg: 2-4 player bag-building, push-your-luck game about alchemy
8. Roll Player: 1-4 player puzzle/dice game about building a fantasy character
7. Fantasy Realms: 2-6 player quick hand management game about building combos
6. Watergate: 2 player tug-of-war historical game
5. Tzolk’in: 2-4 players (5 with expansion); heavy Euro game; uses time as a resource via gears on the board, various elements of progression
4. Castles of Mad King Ludwig: 1-4 players, I-price-you choose castle building game with abundant rewards
3. TIME Stories Revolution: 2-4 player cooperative adventure game
2. Magic the Gathering: 6-8 player draft followed by 2-player round-robin duels; drafting; combos; constructing decks of cards
1. Clank: 2-4 player competitive deckbuilding game, now includes legacy version
What are a few of your favorite games?
Great list. My 8 year old agrees with your number 1 game. What I love about Clank is how gamers over different age groups can together play it well and enjoy it. Very few games can do that this well. Now to play the unplayed ones on your list.
I love how fluid your top 10 games are and that you rate it every 6 months. A great deal of the honorary mentions from last time made it on to the list this time! and vice versa
Love all the content you put out.
My current top 10
10. Magic: The Gathering
9. Castles of Mad King Ludwig
8. Terra Mystica
7. Grand Austria Hotel
6. Castles of Burgundy
5. Everdell
4. Yokohama
3. Wingspan
2. Hanamikoji (I was pleasantly surprised to see this on your previous top 10 lists)
1. Caverna