See our newest top 10 board game's video here: https://youtu.be/LLBhPB3zg2o
Want to own these? Here are links for all the games mentioned:
#1 Scythe
Zone control, expensive, medium/heavy complexity, high replayability. Good for 2-5 players, but best is with more. Still a great 2p game though. Expansion allows up to 7.
Canada: https://amzn.to/3wl4uqR
#2 Dominion
Deck builder, medium complexity, great gateway game. Best at 2-4 players. Possibly one of the better 2p games on this list.
Canada: https://amzn.to/3AdcX0v
#3 Terra Mystica
Zone control, heavy complexity, incredible strategical depth, high replayability. Best at 3-4 players. 5 does get a bit crowded, but is still fun.
Canada: https://amzn.to/3K93ImC
#4 Mystic Vale
Deck Builder, medium complexity, great gateway game. Best at 2-4 players. Conclave Expansion allows up to 6 players.
Canada: https://amzn.to/3ACurF1
#5 Galaxy Trucker
Tile builder with mission aspect. Land on planets, collect resources, try to survive mission and return home to sell for money. Amazing fun and wow moments. Great gateway game. Best at 2-4 players.
Canada: https://amzn.to/3Cmtodt
#6 Root
Zone control, asymmetrical game. Great depth, heavy complexity. Long rules explanation. Great replayability. Best at 3-4 players.
Canada: https://amzn.to/3dQQ5N2
#7 Aeon's End
Deckbuilder, Co-operative, Survive boss and minions as you build your deck to beat them. Many different playable characters with different strengths. Every game is different, high replayability. Best at 2-4 players.
Canada: https://amzn.to/3KdcP5C
#8 Above and Below
Worker placement storybuilder choose your own adventure style. Great for kids, but also great for adults. Story exploration part of game requires people to "get into the game" and enjoy that kind of thing. Best at 3-4 players.
Canada: https://amzn.to/3CmtzFF
#9 Everdell
Worker placement and absolutely stunning game. Buy critters and buildings to form your town. Work through 4 seasons and score as many points as possible before winter. Best at 2-4 players, but also has a solo mode (which is just average).
Canada: https://amzn.to/3PK0Fm2
#10 El Dorado
Deckbuilder game that then uses the cards to explore/race through an Amazonian map towards the finish line (the lost city of El Dorado). Base game has decent replayability, but expansions add more cards to the store for more variability between games. Maps are highly customizable for a different game each time. Great gateway game. Best at 3-4 players. More players means more people getting in the way, which leads to funny moments.
Canada: https://amzn.to/3whK7uY
Honorable Mentions
Honestly any of these games could have made it into top 10 easily, and they are all fantastic.
i) Tiny Towns
Puzzle game where each person in turn chooses a material to gain, which ALL players then gain. These must go on the board, and buildings are made with them. This leads to funny moments where you can force people to take bricks, even though you know they don't need any more damn bricks! (this is a common phrase heard playing this game). Super fun this could have easily been in top 10). Best with 4, but still good with fewer players.
Canada: https://amzn.to/3dQQ9fK
ii) Wingspan
Build a bird sanctuary. Beautiful game, very easy to learn. Great gateway game. Players play their own board, and rarely impact others, so this is a great option for groups who don't like attacking games.
Canada: https://amzn.to/3c8F1dE
iii) Terraforming Mars Ares Expedition
Tableau builder. Terraform mars and build your empire based on what you buy. Fun to build synergies. Best with 4 but still great with 2-3 players. Medium complexity. Takes all the fluff out of the board game and distills it down into a simpler but equally deep game.
Canada: https://amzn.to/3AaeBjz
iv) Isle of Skye
Tile builder with a unique twist where you SELL your tiles to others, and if you price them just right you may get good money back (used to buy their tiles) or get one of yours cheaply. Price them poorly and you are forced to buy your expensive tile. I wish this made the top 10 because this is a super interesting take on tile builders like Carcasonne. Good for with 2-4, but best with more players.
Canada: https://amzn.to/3CmKXdG
v) Splendor
Engine builder. Great gateway game. Simple on the surface and quick to teach, this one has surprising strategical depth for those looking for it, but at the same time, newer players have a blast. I also wish this one made the top 10, because of all the honorable mentions, this one has the most playtime at our table. Fantastic game. If you are new to board games (beyond monopoly), this is actually where I think you should start.
Canada: https://amzn.to/3Aa8snn
Thanks for reading and watching the videos. I hope you all enjoy these and find some great times with your loved ones at the kitchen table, away from the screen, and form some memorable moments with everyone cry-laughing at what just happened in the games!
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