Almost to the end of the list now! These games are ones that I would play anytime, anywhere. These would always get a resounding “YES” from me, if ever asked to play
20 – Crokinole
My favourite thing about Crokinole:
It’s one of the most satisfying dexterity games I’ve ever played. There’s a high skill ceiling, but also great potential for laugh out loud funny moments. From bouncing off two of your opponents disks to land in the centre, to fully missing the most basic of shots.
19 – Sagrada
Previous Rank: 13 | Full Review
My favourite thing about Sagrada:
The translucent colourful dice are simply beautiful, and when beautiful components are paired with a simple yet satisfying puzzle, you get a perfect introductory game. I cannot tell you how many people I’ve convinced to start playing board games regularly when I see them doing a Sudoku, and I give them a nudge into the hobby with Sagrada.
18 – Brass: Birmingham
My favourite thing about Brass: Birmingham:
The positive player interaction. One player builds a coal or iron mine, another player consumes it to build something else, both players benefit. That on top of some really interesting dynamics make Brass: Birmingham a top tier game.
17 – Orleans
My favourite thing about Orleans:
The quintessential bag-building game for me. I love the engine that you get to build, and pulling the characters you need out of a bag is exciting!
16 – Scythe
Previous Rank: 9 | Full Review
My favourite thing about Scythe:
Oh man, it’s a shorter list to say what I don’t love about Scythe. To pick one thing that really draws me into this game, I love that it’s a ‘cold-war’ game. The threat of combat is so much more present than the actual combat. I’ve had games where I was the loser of the only combat encounter of the whole game, but I ended up as the overall winner. It sounds counterintuitive, I know, but it’s endlessly satisfying.
15 – The Castles of Burgundy
Previous Rank: 15 | Full Review
My favourite thing about The Castles of Burgundy:
My favourite Stefan Feld game by far. I love how simple each turn is, just use your two dice, but how efficently you use your actions determines how well you do in the game. There’s a push to fill your small provinces early to get the bonus points for doing so, but those large provinces offer huge rewards, if you can complete them. One day, I want to complete the whole board. I don’t know if it’s possible, but it’s what I want to do.
14 – Calico
Previous Rank: 86 | Full Review
My favourite thing about Calico:
Oh gosh, Calico is a puzzle game with teeth, and I love it for it. Every hex you place feels impactful, and deciding to put a purple dots tile in one spot means you’re choosing to not pursue three other objectives with that spot. I have my head in my hands the entire time I’m playing Calico, which doesn’t sound like a good thing, but I love the burn this game gives my brain
13 – Burgle Bros.
Previous Rank: 11 | Full Review
My favourite thing about Burgle Bros.
The thematic gameplay, of course! Burgle Bros is the only game where I demand a soundtrack from a heist movie is playing during the game.
12 – Istanbul
Previous Rank: 5 | Full Review
My favourite thing about Istanbul
Leaving a trail of workers behind and then doubling back to pick them up again is a genius mechanic. You want to be efficient with your actions, and spending time going back to a space you don’t need is painful, but running out of workers means you can’t do anything. I also love how fast Istanbul is to play, with most games taking around ~25 actions, you can fly through games, assuming no one is stalling at the market for too long.
11 – Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King
Previous Rank: 4 | Full Review | Expansion Review
My favourite thing about Isle of Skye:
The auction/bidding mechanic that makes money flow around the table, and the game constantly pouring more and more money into the economy letting the bids grow bigger and more ludicrous makes for exciting rounds. I love pricing one tile just a bit too high and watching my opponents agonize over spending that much cash on a single tile. I don’t even care if I win, I just want my friends to be uncomfortable for a bit!
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