New 12 months’s Eve is simply across the nook and as we get able to say goodbye to 2024, it’s time for our annual prime 10 checklist. As is custom right here at BGQ, I’ll be teaming up with fellow reviewer Brandon to checklist off our Prime 10 Board Video games of 2024. We all the time pair up for these lists to assist present a bit extra selection in our standout video games of the yr. Whereas I are usually extra of a thematic, dice-chucking, minis-loving gamer, Brandon leans extra towards the crunchy euros.
Like yearly, there are additionally some video games that we didn’t embody on this checklist as a result of they both simply missed the minimize or we didn’t have an opportunity to play them but. For Tony, it was The Mandalorian Adventures, River Valley Glass Works, Shifting Wild, Flip 7, Bomb Busters, Citadel Combo, and Invincible: The Hero-Constructing Recreation. Brandon, was content material together with his selections and didn’t have any extras.
10. Harmonies
Brandon: The lightest sport on my checklist has risen the 2024 BGG ranks because it nears the highest 100. It’s already within the prime 20 household video games. And from my expertise, it deserves the reward it’s receiving. Utilizing an Azul-like choice system, Harmonies finds gamers constructing habitats for animals and attempting their greatest to effectively construct to maximise scoring. Each alternative issues, as a choice of three panorama tokens might assist safe a touchdown place for one in every of your animals, or it could trigger you to fill area that you just desperately want for one more. This performs rapidly, options two sides to participant boards for selection, and each habitat seems nice upon completion. Tactile and rewarding.
1-4 Gamers • Ages 10+ • 30-45 minutes • $50
10. Crossbows & Catapults: Fortress Struggle
Tony: A little bit of nostalgia creeps into my prime 10 for the yr as Restoration Video games delivered the brand new version of Crossbows and Catapults. It’s a silly-fun dexterity sport the place you and your opponent construct castles after which try to knock them down with spring-loaded siege weapons. Their remaster of this sport is nice, and my son has been actually having fun with taking part in this with me. It makes use of a little bit of card play to assist spice issues up, and once you pull off a trick shot from throughout the desk, it’s laborious to not cheer.
2 Gamers • Ages 6+ • 20-Half-hour • $100
9. Harrow County: The Recreation of Gothic Battle
Brandon: Off the Web page Video games with one other hit! Harrow County options wonderful manufacturing that lends to its graphic novel supply materials and options a number of factions to play as. This can be a head-to-head space management system, which may also be performed with a “hidden” third participant to disrupt everybody’s progress. Harrow County options distinctive skills and targets, a brilliant cool dice tower built-into the sport field, and a enjoyable motion choice design. Whereas technique is obtainable, it’s primarily a tactical expertise as gamers react to one another on their approach towards destroying the village’s homes or rescuing its residents. This sport appears to have slipped underneath the radar this yr and I hope extra gamers have an opportunity to expertise it. It was nice having it round for the spooky season in 2024.
1-3 Gamers • Ages 12+ • 45-90 minutes • $59
9. River of Gold
Tony: Sure, a euro sport sneaks into my prime 10 for the yr. What’s the world coming to? Set within the Legend of the 5 Rings world of Rokugon, it offers gamers a special view of this world that’s most frequently used within the RPG or Residing Card Recreation. In River of Gold, you’ll tackle the position of a river service provider vying to use the river to earn wealth and glory. I like that there’s a lot of the way to method your technique on this sport whether or not its constructing places on the riverbanks or finishing missions for residents. Along with that, the manufacturing values are improbable with a metallic gold river dominating the sport board!
2-4 Gamers • Ages 10+ • 60-90 minutes • $50
8. Burning Banners
Brandon: A light-weight wargaming expertise that’s all about models on the map and cube rolling! Burning Banners is approachable and doesn’t get in its approach too typically to supply scenario-based head-to-head battles. The spotlight is the detailed illustration (a number of the greatest this yr) of every of the 4 maps and the distinctive factions vying for management over the lands. I used to be impressed by the simple fight and the thematic marketing campaign designs, although I did must recover from some fiddly guidelines through a tough rulebook. Regardless, this has been enjoyable to be taught, and I hear there may be an growth on the horizon! Extra time within the lands of Kalar is one thing to smile about.
2-6 Gamers • Ages 14+ • 60 minutes • $99
8. Seaside
Tony: This set assortment sport has been successful at my desk (and elsewhere!) ever because it arrived. Seaside is each easy to play and in addition extremely moveable. In your flip, you draw a tile from the bag and determine which aspect to make use of–some tokens go within the communal sea to be claimed later, whereas others are performed in entrance of you that can assist you declare these tokens. The sport has a improbable tactile feeling with picket tokens and a canvas bag in lieu of a field. Seaside is even weather-resistant, so you may play it on the seaside!
1-5 Gamers • Ages 8+ • 20 minutes • $29
7. Sankore: The Pleasure of Mansa Musa
Brandon: Launched within the early days of 2024, Sankore stays on my checklist of high quality performs this yr. Designed by Fabio Lopiano and Mandela Fernandez-Grandon, this heavy Euro sees gamers navigating the halls of the College of Sakore in fourteenth-century Timbuktu. Enrolling college students, enhancing research via 4 disciplines, and main them towards commencement, is the aim right here. The whole lot revolves across the disciplines gamers select, as they collect information through e book tokens that result in how scoring is managed on the finish of the sport. This can be a stunning manufacturing and options a number of central-board interactivity that begins to sing with gamers who perceive the way it all comes collectively.
1-4 Gamers • Ages 14+ • 150-180 minutes • $64
7. 6 Siege
Tony: The final sport launched by former writer Mythic Video games got here most likely just a bit too late to save lots of their firm. Whereas nobody can argue that they bungled the discharge (and Kickstarter) of this sport, as soon as it truly received to our desk, I assumed it was fairly improbable. Based mostly on the online game of the identical identify, 6 Siege duties one participant with defending a location, whereas the opposite one assaults it. The gameplay is straightforward to wrap your head round and has a fast tempo with a lot of motion. Very similar to in a online game, your troops will die in a hail of gunfire and explosions very often, making this a tense, action-filled battle.
2-4 Gamers • Ages 14+ • 60 minutes
6. A Gest of Robin Hood
Brandon: A comparatively new entry to my end-of-year checklist comes from GMT video games, recognized for his or her advanced COIN techniques and historic simulations. Gest is nearly an entry-level model of their video games, conserving itself rooted to 2 gamers with a straightforward grouping of actions out there to them. That is additional enhanced by a nuanced initiative choice system that features selections that may be antagonizing. Whether or not taking part in because the hidden Merry Males or the antagonizing Sherrif, all of Nottingham correct is in chaos as parishes really feel the results of those factions and their encounters. In the long run, this tug-of-war is each streamlined and fast taking part in, making for a superb technique to expertise some guerilla techniques.
2 Gamers • Ages 12+ • 45-90 minutes • $75
6. The Gang
Tony: I had a number of mates inform me about The Gang after Gen Con this yr and the way a lot enjoyable it was. I initially didn’t take note of it as a result of I’m not a really massive poker fan. But after a lot buzz, I needed to give it a strive. I’m glad I did although as a result of it’s a ton of enjoyable. The Gang takes the mechanics from poker, extra particularly Texas Maintain Em’ and turns it right into a corporative sport. It has the same vibe to The Crew the place you could have restricted communication and actually must work collectively in case you hope to succeed.
3-6 Gamers • Ages 12+ • 20 minutes • $15
5. Imperium: Horizons
Brandon: Horizons takes the Imperium system from designers Nigel Buckle and David Turczi into a brand new realm of refinement. Not solely are there double the civilizations to discover (sufficient to make this the beneficial first-buy within the catalog), however there may be an official shorter variant and commerce modules to discover. Imperium is all the time greatest as a solo expertise with its wonderful flowchart choice area for the opponent. However the commerce growth supplies extra incentive to play this as a two-player battle between civs. Mixing all units collectively supplies lots to discover. It’s even impressed followers to create themed widespread decks for added selection.
1-4 Gamers • Ages 14+ • 40-160 minutes • $59
5. Harakiri: Blades of Honor
Tony: Whereas I strive to not overload myself with marketing campaign video games (as a result of I hardly ever end them), I used to be drawn to Harakiri due to its cool theme and nice artwork. Thus far we’ve performed via an honest quantity of the marketing campaign and I’m actually having fun with it. A sport is cut up into two elements, the primary is an overland journey part the place you might be transferring across the map, engaged on goals and private quests. Then the sport transitions to a extra tactical dungeon crawler the place you might be utilizing your expertise and weapons to take down monsters and save villagers. I’m nonetheless torn on if I like the journey part or the fight part higher, as each might be a sport in their very own proper.
1-4 Gamers • Ages 10+ • 60-150 minutes • $149
4. Pagan: Destiny of Roanoke
Brandon: Pagan launched upon the US retail area through Capstone’s Gen Con sales space. Previous to this, it wasn’t broadly out there, and that’s an actual disgrace. This two-player dueling card and deduction system is excellent. Gamers are both the village witch, or the witch hunter, and take turns utilizing their actions in a sport of cover and search. Each gamers make the most of an expansion of village playing cards to reinforce actions and affect people towards their trigger. The hunter is continually attempting to be taught the id of the witch, whereas the witch is secretly working towards a ritual. The system contains allies, charms, familiars, investigations, and all kinds of thematic goodness to maintain gamers invested in every alternative they make. This sport of cat and mouse is very beneficial and can proceed to see play as new deck-building choices launched sooner or later.
2 Gamers • Ages 12+ • 30-60 minutes • $39
4. Leviathan Wilds
Tony: This cooperative sport has gamers attempting to cease large monsters from rampaging internationally. But you aren’t combating them, however climbing round their backs attempting to take away crystals which can be inflicting them to go wild. It’s a little bit of a singular spin on the enormous monster battling theme and I adore it. The sport additionally has a number of replay worth as you get to decide on a singular character and mix their deck with a talent deck of your alternative. There’s a ton of selection right here and a few streamlined gameplay that makes this one seem on the desk very often.
1-4 Gamers • Ages 10+ • 45-60 minutes • $69
3. Slay the Spire
Brandon: I nonetheless haven’t performed the digital model of Slay the Spire. And sure, the board sport model is many instances the price of funding compared. But, there’s one thing in regards to the bodily tactility of a sport on the desk, shuffling playing cards, and approaching the system in a approach that’s not out there (but) within the Slay the Spire world: multiplayer! Nothing beats taking up the spire with a good friend or two. And this model not solely permits for this, nevertheless it’s designed in a approach that makes it approachable, thrilling, and addicting. It’s offered a lot leisure this yr that I’m now trying ahead to the second installment of the digital collection. This time, it’s going to definitely enter my assortment as nicely. Till then, it’s going to discover a technique to my desk many instances within the close to future.
1-4 Gamers • Ages 12+ • 30-150 minutes • $114
3. Star Trek: Captains Chair
Tony: This late addition to my prime 10 video games of 2024 shot up the checklist in a short time. I solely received it a couple of weeks in the past, however I’ve performed it a ton. Considerably primarily based on the mechanics from Imperium (see Brandon’s #5 above), Star Trek: Captain’s Chair permits you to command one in every of 6 distinctive captains in your quest for victory factors. This isn’t a lightweight sport by any stretch, but when you learn to play, the system flows easily and affords a ton of depth. Every captain performs to their very own strengths, so whereas Picard could also be all about diplomacy, Sela goes to make use of her fleet to regulate a lot of planets. The decks are all extremely thematic to the Star Trek universe and I’ve already performed each captain (greater than as soon as) and may look ahead to a future growth to present me extra (The place’s the love for Kirk!).
1-2 Gamers • Ages 14+ • 60-120 minutes • $59
2. Arkham Horror LCG: The Feast of Hemlock Vale
Brandon: One other yr, one other marketing campaign launch for the Arkham LCG system. 2024 introduced us a brand new lead design crew and one of many higher campaigns to grace the Arkham mythos. In Hemlock Vale, gamers discover a small island crammed with unusual mysteries, interactive villagers with lots to reveal, and branching story paths that may culminate in a number of completely different endings. Not solely does the Feast re-energize the marketing campaign system for this LCG, nevertheless it additionally supplies nice stand-alone eventualities, participant playing cards, and a very good finale, which has been sorely lacking from current releases.
1-4 Gamers • Ages 14+ • 90 minutes • $36
2. Hellbringer
Tony: I selected Hellbringer as my most anticipated sport of 2024 again in January and I’m glad it didn’t disappoint. This card-based dungeon crawler attracts within the essence of the loot piñata online game style and flows it into a extremely enjoyable tabletop sport. It performs nice each solo and cooperativly and throws a continuous deluge of things at you to customise your character as you play. There may be simply a lot selection right here that I’ve been coming again to it very often. I feel with a bit extra polish (and a a lot higher rulebook) it may have taken the highest spot. Nevertheless it’s already bought out of the primary printing, so be looking out for its reprint marketing campaign coming subsequent yr.
1-4 Gamers • Ages 14+ • 45-180 minutes
1. Arcs
Brandon: No sport captured my consideration greater than Arcs from Leder Video games. A pseudo trick-taking motion choice area 4x system, with improbable artwork from Kyle Ferrin, and that includes loads of emergent narrative moments, even within the base sport. It will get higher as you add the Leaders and Lore mini growth, offering gamers with uneven powers. The bottom sport alone, with its novel method to participant interplay, deserves a prime spot right here. However add within the Blighted Attain marketing campaign growth and it turns a confined system right into a sprawling epic that spans three eras with a style of Oath’s natural development and historic archiving.
2-4 Gamers • Ages 14+ • 60-120 minutes • $70
1. Slay the Spire
Tony: A sport I didn’t anticipate to be right here firstly of 2024 manages to assert the highest spot. I completely love the Slay the Spire online game, having clocked in over 88 hours on the app. So I used to be suspicious if a board sport may recreate this online game with out being overly fiddly, however writer Competition Video games completely nailed the gameplay. It’s not merely a clone of the online game, but it managed to completely nail the texture of the fight and deck constructing. And whereas it performs nicely solo, multiplayer is the place this one actually shines. With the ability to synergize your powers with the opposite gamers makes for some actually attention-grabbing gameplay.
1-4 Gamers • Ages 12+ • 30-150 minutes • $114
