***Hey all,
this is Aaron. Taking over the blog for
this post is my wife, Em. Enjoy her top
15 games and her writing as it is 100% better than mine!***
So this year I
decided to write a Top 15 list instead of a Top 10 partly because I played a
lot more games this year and partly because I didn’t feel like whittling down
my list to 10 games. It was stressing me out, so tah dah - my top 15!
#15 - Bohnanza
This little
game is one of my favorite go-to small games. The only reason it’s ranked this
low on my list is because we can’t play it well with 2 players. I love the
trading aspects, the social tension and the weird competitive streak it
cultivates while you’re growing beans of all things…”to bean or not to bean”!
#14 - Dice Forge
This might be
the only game on my list that Aaron and I don’t actually own (yet). Our friend
Josh picked it up and I was immediately hooked. I’m a dice junkie so it really
appealed to me from the get-go, not to mention I hadn’t played any game that
allowed you to customize your dice before. Lots of fun, and I look forward to
many more plays of this dice crafting game in 2018.
#13 - Kanagawa
I win this game
a lot. But I swear I’m not including it on the list solely based on my love of
winning. It’s a beautiful game, I love the artwork and the mechanics of
building a painting. The multiple ways to build your pallet and create your own
work of art make it fun to replay regularly.
#12 - Unfair
This might be
my brother-in-law’s new favorite game, but aside from that, a card-based game
where you build your own amusement park? Sweet. On top of that, the themes are
ridiculous in a good way - you could end up with a Robot Ninja Gangster themed
park or maybe a Vampire Jungle Pirate theme is what you’re going for. You can
play it super mean and sabotage the crap out of each other’s parks or take the
mellow route and just enjoy a good build.
#11 - Dungeon Petz
This is a game
I wish we had gotten to the table more this year and it’s definitely on deck
for more plays in 2018. The artwork alone sells it for me, but I love the
worker placement mechanic in this context. It’s fun to try to build up an
engine to get the most lucrative deal for your mutant weirdo of a pet while
trying to keep your goblin workers alive, what more do you need?
Love love LOVE
this game. Dice rolling, battling, magic, all the good stuff is there. Plus new
decks and expansions are rolling out more regularly now so I plan on playing it
even more in 2018. Personally, Rin Northfell might be my favorite deck with
Victoria Glassfire as a close second. We’ll see how the new decks stack up!
#9 - Roll For The Galaxy
This might be
my favorite dice-based game. I love that there’s literally no downtime while
players make their decisions, the tableau building is a lot of fun and you get
to roll a freaking TON of dice in your own little cup. #win
#8 - Cottage Garden
This might be
the mellowest game on my list, even more mellow than Tokaido where you’re just
competing to have the best vacation... it has Patchwork-esque qualities (of
course) but I like the point system and the freedom of this tile laying game a
little better. Plus it’s pretty and makes me want to just have tea in a garden
somewhere.
#7 - Broom Service
Kiki’s Delivery
Service in board game form anyone? Witches delivering potions all over the map,
trying to beat out your competitors and guess which witches and druids they’re
using so you don’t end up with a dud of a turn...all good time to me. Plus this
pickup and deliver-style game has really fun artwork!
#6 - Near And Far
Storytelling
games are one of my favorites and this one only seems to improve upon the
concept of Above & Below, which I also enjoy. I like the choose your own
adventure feel to the game, the way you can customize a character depending on
your choices and meet your own goals throughout the game.
#5 - Tokaido
Will I ever not
love Tokaido? Unlikely. We have the deluxe edition and can enjoy the mellow
tinkling spa-sounding music while we play and compete to have the best
vacation. I love the replayability of this game and that it’s fun with 2 or
more players. There are so many variables and ways to win, I don’t anticipate
it dropping off my list anytime soon.
#4 - 7 Wonders Duel
My favorite
2-player card game by a HUGE margin. I love 7 Wonders, the original, and the
adaptation to a 2-player version is fantastic. We added the Pantheon expansion
this year and it almost makes it seem like a new game each time we play.
#3 - Seasons
This was one of
the first modern board games Aaron introduced me to several years ago and I
still love it, if for nothing more than the awesomely chunky dice! Seriously
though, the game is excellent, the card-drafting + dice-rolling is a winning
combo for me about 99% of the time with board games and with the expansions,
Seasons is a game we play over and over.
#2 - Ticket To Ride
Don’t even care
that it’s a “gateway” game...it’s awesome. I love all the maps (except India
which is one I’VE NEVER WON...damn mandalas…) and can’t wait to get my hands on
Rails & Sails and France/Old West to round out our options when we bring
this game to the table.
#1 - Pandemic Legacy
Pandemic Legacy Season 1 was high on my list last year and we just started playing Season 2...there really isn’t anything about this game I don’t like. I love the whole
legacy concept and the Pandemic Legacy series is so much fun to play. It’s
tense, ridiculous, full of strategic options, and again, that fantastic “choose
your own adventure” mechanic I love in a storytelling game. Looking forward to
many MANY more plays of this game and already anticipating Season 3!
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