Ok, here is my attempt at my “Top 10 of 2017” list. You’ll immediately see the problem - I didn’t play enough 2017 releases, and when I include games that I played that weren’t released in 2017, the list looks very different. Oh well, that can’t be helped. I also kept digital board games off the list; Through the Ages easily would have made the list had I actually played a cardboard copy. There is a good chance I missed something as I don’t log my plays, and this list sadly leaves out a few games that I think are brilliant, but don’t think I managed to get to the table last year. So, without further ado:
-
Welcome to the Dungeon - I brought this game (and the expansion) on a family reunion trip to Hawaii over the summer. Of the 2 weeks that we were there, we played multiple games a night. Everyone that played enjoyed it and the game was good for quite a few laughs.
-
Lords of Xidit - I don’t know that I’ve played a programming game before and found Xidit to be a fun experience. The game looks amazing and programming led to some amusing situations, especially as I had a head cold and kept messing up, much to everyone’s entertainment.
-
7 Wonders Duel - This game relies a bit too much on iconography for my (and more importantly, my wife’s) taste, but it hit the table a number of times when my wife and I wanted to play something after the kids were down. But it was replaced as our go-to two-player game by:
-
Sagrada - This game looks great, plays great, and appeals to a pretty wide group of gamers. There is nothing over-complicated, but the game squeezes a drafting mechanic into an interesting spacial puzzle. It had tough competition for the next spots on the list, but I really like Sagrada and it may well be my top gateway or filler game.
-
Clank! - I liked Dominion well enough when it first came out and I do enjoy the idea of deck builders, though they sometimes become more work than I find worth it (looking at you, Legendary system). I loved Clank! because it took the mechanic and put it into a push-your-luck dungeon run. What a great idea! I don’t know that this will stick around as one of my favorites, but it was a refreshing game this year for me.
-
Fury of Dracula - What an amazing, atmospheric, thematic onve-vs.-all hidden movement game! The only knock I have against the game is its length. If this game could in any way be condensed into a 90 minute experience without changing the game, it would skyrocket near the top of my all-time favorites list. It is just too long to get to the table frequently, and the player count isn’t always helpful. But if there are 5 of us with 3+ hours to kill, look out Drac…
-
Terra Mystica - I bought this game after playing the app a number of times. I often vacillate between Euro and Ameritrash games, but this has become my go-to Euro. It is easy to play once you know how to read it, but the strategy always has my brain working overtime.
-
Scythe - I love “hybrid” games that give you a little Euro, a little Ameritrash, all in one game. Scythe is beautiful, easy to learn, and gives me a great hybrid that tends towards a Euro game. Scythe is a great worker-placement/resource management/action selection game with variable and upgradable player boards and just a touch of fairly basic combat.
-
Blood Rage - Blood Rage is my favorite of the “hybrids” as it tends a little more towards the Ameritrash end of the spectrum, but without going full bore into the dudes on a map tropes. Vikings, monsters, the end of the world; this game’s pretty exciting. At the same time there is a good deal of bluffing and even “losing” on purpose. Very fun.
-
Cosmic Encounter - This is just about my perfect game with the group I normally game with. Yes, there is some strategy, but more importantly, there are hundreds of variable player powers and some of the funniest negotiating and combat I have ever had the joy of playing. Not one game of CE goes by without a ton or smooth talking, back stabbing, bluffing, intense card reveals, and laughing. Oh, the laughing. We just have so much fun with this one and it is easily in my top 5 favorite games.
