I'm always super-hyped for this video. It's so different every year. I sometimes wonder if there's a multiverse where each list is actually the same "for all time."
I always find it really interesting that, especially in this list, their top 10 don’t even show up anywhere on the 100 list of each other’s. It really goes to show there may be games out there that you’ll love other people really don’t like!
Fantastic lists and always such a great fun to listen to all the fun banter between these three. Will rewatch these list videos several times this year for sure. Thanks for all the fun and the inspiration to try new games.
I’ve been watching you guys for many years now and have to say, Mike was such a great addition to the team. The 3 of you have such great chemistry. I don’t get through many hour+ RUclips videos, but I will always watch this top 10. I love that y’all have such unique picks as well. So many other videos in the board game space talk about the same games over and over.
I was all ready to type out how Zee pulled a Jamaica with Abyss and then it was TWO! NICE. I love this game to BITS. Definitely in my top 10 as well. Top 5.
"Terraforming Mars" is just a very good game with a very cool theme. And you know the cards after you have played it 3 times or so, Mike. And each card has symbols and text on it which explain it clearly.
10. Heat: Pedal to the Metal 9. Tzolk’in: the Mayan Calendar 8. Sky Team 7. The Castles of Burgundy 6. Argent: the Consortium 5. Cthulhu: Death May Die 4. So Clover! 3. Hansa Teutonica 2. A Feast for Odin 1. Thunder Road: Vendetta
1:07:20 - this is a great pick Zee. Not my no. 1 anymore, but still an amazing game. Easy to table, OG coop, smooth gameplay, strategy, theme, newbie friendly. The base game plus On the Brink is scalable and super replayable.
Tom isn’t the only one who loves Overpower. Surprised you guys don’t know a company just launched a Kickstarter to remake the game without the comic book skin.
It's just odd to me that there really isn't any game like it. I will probably still play cosmic encounter in 30 years. There's endless variety and it (mostly) just works.
@@TheOldMan-75 Yeah i feel the same. It's just so unique, simple but can also get a little hectic with all the cards being played. Amazing game. This game really will be played in 30 years and still be amazing.
40:40 If out souvenir shopping, most people will go to a souvenir shop and get a keychain or magnet. Mike will be the one who goes to a boutique art shop and buy original artwork.
Terraforming Mars shipped the Prelude 2 expansion in 2024. If there wasn't already enough replayability, the randomized Milestones and Awards has sent replayability through the roof. That's why it's back up to #3.
Wish you three would do a Top 100 Longevity List later in your content calendar as a follow-up to this list. It would be so interesting to see what games stand the test of time and are Evergreen by the scoring data. Reveal the Top 100 Longevity/Evergreen games based on your scoring since the first year all three of you did a Top 100. Weigh each game by where it landed within a Top 100 each year. Also include the Peoples Choice. Part of the debate within the video would be what constitutes the best games, longevity vs. current rating.
Mike, Tom, Zee not counting the Dice Tower library. What percentage of your top 100 games do you actually own in your at home personal collection? Loved all the top 100 videos so many laughs and entertaining to watch.
Caper: Europe is indeed fantastic. My wife and I played a *ton* of it last year. Cthulhu DMD continues to be a surprise hit for me. Ditto Ark Nova... I was truly shocked how well I got on with that game (as a person who intensely dislikes Terraforming Mars).
It's that time of the year again! Time to compare everybody's list to my current Top 250 Games list. Total crossovers with The People: 44 (down from 49 last year) Total crossovers with Mike: 24 (down from 28 last year) Total crossovers with Zee: 19 (down from 20 last year) Total crossovers with Tom: 30 (down from 33 last year)
Great Show, great lists. Thanks a lot as always. My Top 10: 10. Taluva 9. Innovation 8. Great Western Trail (&all Iterations) 7. Maglev Metro 6. Libertalia 5. Darwins Journey 4. Ark Nova 3. Clank!In!Space! 2. 51st State Master Set 1. Paladins of the West Kingdom
Ohh! I got a perfect crossover with Tom! Lots of great games in the top 10, and I really want to try Andromeda's Edge. 10. World Wonders 9. Thunder Road: Vendetta 8. Sushi Go Party 7. Rajas of the Ganges 6. Space Base 5. Critter Kitchen 4. Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest 3. Cascadia 2. Quacks of Quedlinburg 1. Distilled
1. Ticket to Ride: 10th Anniversary 2. Weimar: The Fight for Democracy 3. A Most Fearful Sacrifice: The Three Days of Gettysburg 4. Dune: War for Arrakis 5. Empire of the Sun: The Pacific War 1941-1945 6. The U.S. Civil War 7. Bayonets & Tomahawks 8. The Next War: Modern Conflict in Europe 9. SPQR (Deluxe Edition) 10. Unlock! Kids: Detective Stories
It’s only for people with a special invite. Best way to get one is to join every livestream and spam “Alaska cruise 2025” and they will eventually get you in
My top 10: 10. Comic Encounter 9. Earth Reborn 8. Kingdom Rush: Rift in Time 7. Gloomhaven 6. Fallout Shelter: The Board Game 5. Above and Below 4. Marvel United 3. Root 2. Wildlands 1. Arcadia Quest
Mike! I backed ICE 2nd Edition a few months ago and am eagerly awaiting fulfillment! Have you played any of the expansions? Are they important to your #4 rating??
Trick takers are self contained. CCG is gambling for underage children. You can spend hundred and rarely make money back because cards are usually worth nothing.
@TabletopFamily It was a joke. CTTG stands for Collectable Trick Taking Game. It was a reference to the original comment about Mike collecting every trick taking game in existence.
My list: 10: Cubitos 9: Res Arcana 8: Tapestry 7: Scholars of the South Tigris 6: Ginkgopolis 5: The Castles of Burgundy 4: Lost Ruins of Arnak 3: Root 2: Wayfarers of the South Tigris 1: Expeditions
always fun to see the lists... I may have missed it, but I don't think I saw Cloudspire (or burncycle) on Mike's top 100.... he's given CTG (outside of 20 Strong) some love in the past... there's no chance Tom or Zee would...
Yeah that was odd…I didn’t expect the People to list any CTG because even though some folks like them the price is a barrier to entry so you’re not going to win any polls.
1. Ark Nova 2. Clank! Catacombs 3. Great Western Trail NZ 4. The Castles of Burgundy SE 5. Mage Knight 6. Brass Birmingham 7. Obsession 8. Concordia Venus 9. Le Havre 10. Wingspan
Top 10 #1: Gaia Project #2: Spirit Island -------- (then the rest of the best ones) #3: Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization #4: Age of Innovation #5: Brass: Birmingham #6: Dune: Imperium #7: 51st State: Ultimate Edition #8: Terra Mystica #9: Great Western Trail: Second Edition #10: Clans of Caledonia
44:33 Can someone explain to me what is special about Everdell? I have played it a couple times, and it is just such a dry, vanilla worker placement/tableau builder. I feel like I am missing something.
For me it’s the ability to lengthen out your turns, getting every bit of the juice as it were. There are mini combos that get you more stuff to discount the stuff you want to play. Small “contracts” once you have x, y, z claim this thing. Mechanically yes it’s pretty simple, but the feedback I get is why I’ve got the complete collection big box.
Uhm... I think Pandemic Rising Tide is one of the best Pandemics. Not only because of i'm Dutch and knows all the places and the water works. The rise of the water and flow is just great and feels real to me. For me it is even good as the original Pandemic.
Often in our games there will be miscommunication in the game because we have difficulty pronouncing the names and reading the font. But I really enjoy the flooding, damming, and draining mechanics; You can’t just copy and paste your strategy from base Pandemic.
@Poiuytrew.Q Indeed. The strategy for pandemic rising tide is different than Pandemic but also great! That's why it's so good. Also that you can change the goals and play with people which makes it more difficult than it al ready is.
46:05 Side note - The thing that makes a game be easier teach children is only very partially the weight/complexity of a game. That's why you get parents who are gamers saying stuff of that nature, because it's not about yhe weight. It's about: A. The experience the kid had with previous games. B. The patience of a parent and their motivation (which is high for parents who are board gamers and anxious, sometimes too anxious, to play the games they like with their kids. C. most of all - if the game has no to very little hidden parts making it much easier for a parent to mitigate the game through those first plays or how many needed, depnding on patience of child and parent, until they get it. For example, Le Havre, is an INCREDIBELY mitigatable game... I would also say some parents mark their kids as 'understanding a game' even if the parents are still doing some substantial percentage of mitigation...
The Others sound exactly like Descent first Edition. But because one plahad to play rhe monsters people said they didn't like it. But I really liked playing the monsters against the other players.
1:13:38 For me, Terraforming Mars is a far superior game to Ark Nova. It feels more intuitive, streamlined, and smoother, with less overhead in terms of rules. The shared board adds a layer of interaction that makes the experience more engaging and, in my opinion, simply better. While I do enjoy Ark Nova’s theme, I find Terraforming Mars’ theme even more appealing. As a result, I ended up giving away Ark Nova, but I still play Terraforming Mars to this day - it remains my favorite game. I also tried Earth, playing it once before giving it away almost immediately. It felt like a mix between Terraforming Mars and Wingspan, both of which I love, but Earth was just incredibly dull and tedious for me. So, that’s my take on Tom’s surprise regarding Terraforming Mars’ enduring popularity.
The same Imperius that has an average rating of 6.5 on BGG, compared to the 7.7s 7 Wonders and Caper: Europe have? Not sure it's quite the king of the drafting games you think it is...
Marvel United is overrated. Poor variety between the heroes and repetitive after few plays. I would easily switch it with Marvel Champions in 1st place.
42:51 Tom says he doesn’t know if Star Wars Unlimited will stick around haha. Old Destiny players will agree with him, “oh just wait, FFG will drop this like they got got during order 66”. I wasn’t one of those players so I don’t have any scars. But literally on Jan 29/30 2025 on Fantasy Flight’s YT page, video “Star Wars: Unlimited - updates to the game” the lead game designer talked about rotation and “once set 7 comes out”, the game is doing just fine (until it isn’t).
If it wasn’t the marvel license it would’ve been abandoned in 6 months. The mechanics aren’t memorable or all that special at all. It survives based solely on the cool factor of the marvel minis.
I agree that the Marvel theme and presentation helps a lot, but I have found it to be one of the best light cooperative games in terms of replay value because of how you can plug and play all the different heroes, villains, and locations. It certainly is simple, but there is something to be said for being so easy to get to the table (and actually get to try out all that variety) and appealing to such a broad range of people. And at 70+ plays, I have been pleasantly surprised at how often the game has delivered memorable moments or close finishes. -Ryan
It's not bad. It's a good gateway coop game. I like playing it with my kids from time to time. But I have trouble understanding how this can make any experienced gamer's top 25. But good for anyone who loves it! 🙂
Hearing them say all the things about andromeda's edge that's better then dwellings makes me sad 😅 I love the dwellings theme 1000% more and that's the only reason why I'll keep it and not get andromeda
I just don’t like Pandemic. I like pandemic style games, but I hate Pandemic. I don’t like the way you use cards to move and also to build sets. I don’t like the trading rules combined with the aforementioned rule. I like the cascading failure system and the cure/eradicate system. The tension is great. But the movement and trade rules kill it for me. I like Flashpoint: Fire and Rescue as my favorite pandemic style game.
My prediction next year: Dune Uprising will supplant Dune Inperium and Lost Ruins of Arnak. It's annoying that Dire Wolf keeps trying to appease Imperium fans with their "frankenstein" options with the Uprising line. Make a clean cut. Imperium was getting bloated already. When Uprising came out, I got rid of Imperium. When bloodline came out, I got rid of Ix.
Not trying to be contentious, but the discussion about Wing/Wyrm/Finspan kickback reminds me of watching some DT discussion when Wyrmspan was first announced. Lots of blowback from the staff at the announcement/prelaunch stage. You guys have moved past it, but some people have not. Never bothered me personally. Seems like a Zombicide equivalent to me. Variations on a theme. Many companies have done this sort of thing. It just seems like a continuation of the hate for Wingspan that seemingly stemmed from its explosive popularity.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
Thank you, guys, always love the annual top 100. It was great to see Tom return to an old favorite!
I'm always super-hyped for this video. It's so different every year. I sometimes wonder if there's a multiverse where each list is actually the same "for all time."
Watched all 10 videos. You three are The Dice Tower! always look forward to your lists.
I always find it really interesting that, especially in this list, their top 10 don’t even show up anywhere on the 100 list of each other’s. It really goes to show there may be games out there that you’ll love other people really don’t like!
Didn't Ra come up?
And I know marvel united did
@ yeah United is def a favorite. I’m saying overall not a lot of overlap 👍
Fantastic lists and always such a great fun to listen to all the fun banter between these three. Will rewatch these list videos several times this year for sure. Thanks for all the fun and the inspiration to try new games.
Best way to spend a Saturday morning. Thanks guys!
Thanks guys enjoy this every year.
It's really nice to see Abyss get the attention it so rightly deserves.
56:22 nobody walked down the isle to the Rocky song but my wife and I did walk out of the church to it! Haha
Glad to see Le Havre in top ten. Game is just so smooth and easy to play.
Woooow, ICE hit #4 place! 🤯🤩
Thanks master Mike! 🙏🏻☺️
I’ve been watching you guys for many years now and have to say, Mike was such a great addition to the team. The 3 of you have such great chemistry. I don’t get through many hour+ RUclips videos, but I will always watch this top 10. I love that y’all have such unique picks as well. So many other videos in the board game space talk about the same games over and over.
Especially the jokes they throw at each other
Yeah, Mike is great and the dynamic between Tom, Zee and Mike is like none other. So good to see him back on this.
always super-hyped for this video
Cosmic Encounter back on the top where it belongs. Go Tom! See you at DTW, my very first Con.
LOVE cooperative games ❤😊
My List:
#1 Puerto Rico
#2 Viticulture/Tuscany
#3 BattleTech/CityTech
#4 Dinogenics/Chaos
#5 Terraforming Mars
#6 Honey Buzz
#7 Spirit Island
#8 Robinson Crusoe
#9 Tiwanaku
#10 Flamecraft
Spirit Island ♥
I was all ready to type out how Zee pulled a Jamaica with Abyss and then it was TWO! NICE. I love this game to BITS. Definitely in my top 10 as well. Top 5.
"Terraforming Mars" is just a very good game with a very cool theme.
And you know the cards after you have played it 3 times or so, Mike.
And each card has symbols and text on it which explain it clearly.
10. Heat: Pedal to the Metal
9. Tzolk’in: the Mayan Calendar
8. Sky Team
7. The Castles of Burgundy
6. Argent: the Consortium
5. Cthulhu: Death May Die
4. So Clover!
3. Hansa Teutonica
2. A Feast for Odin
1. Thunder Road: Vendetta
Great stuff. You three are the GOAT
Thanks guys,, you're all really appreciated.
1:07:20 - this is a great pick Zee. Not my no. 1 anymore, but still an amazing game. Easy to table, OG coop, smooth gameplay, strategy, theme, newbie friendly. The base game plus On the Brink is scalable and super replayable.
Finally, the list.
Huge fan of Stonemaier. And the Dice Tower! Love the top of the top.
Tom isn’t the only one who loves Overpower. Surprised you guys don’t know a company just launched a Kickstarter to remake the game without the comic book skin.
Cosmic Encounter dethrones it all. Finally back to number one. Yeah baby!
It's just odd to me that there really isn't any game like it. I will probably still play cosmic encounter in 30 years. There's endless variety and it (mostly) just works.
Devastating that RUclips showed this comment halfway through the video 😢
Moonrakers is a bit like it with more in it
@@TheOldMan-75 Yeah i feel the same. It's just so unique, simple but can also get a little hectic with all the cards being played. Amazing game. This game really will be played in 30 years and still be amazing.
@@1979kubala Never tried that one hmm, thanks for the suggestion.
"Altered is definitely the Endless Winter of that trio" 😂😂😂 dying!!
40:40 If out souvenir shopping, most people will go to a souvenir shop and get a keychain or magnet. Mike will be the one who goes to a boutique art shop and buy original artwork.
Terraforming Mars shipped the Prelude 2 expansion in 2024.
If there wasn't already enough replayability, the randomized Milestones and Awards has sent replayability through the roof. That's why it's back up to #3.
And also the release of the Automa.
It's such a good game.
I played an early verison of the game with the creator by chance, and later bought a signed copy from him on release.
This, but also being released on BGA. So many plays there
@@fenogallBGA release was big for me. Being able to play a 2 player game in 45 minutes is incredible.
Wish you three would do a Top 100 Longevity List later in your content calendar as a follow-up to this list. It would be so interesting to see what games stand the test of time and are Evergreen by the scoring data. Reveal the Top 100 Longevity/Evergreen games based on your scoring since the first year all three of you did a Top 100. Weigh each game by where it landed within a Top 100 each year. Also include the Peoples Choice. Part of the debate within the video would be what constitutes the best games, longevity vs. current rating.
Mike, Tom, Zee not counting the Dice Tower library. What percentage of your top 100 games do you actually own in your at home personal collection? Loved all the top 100 videos so many laughs and entertaining to watch.
Mike on fire, love it!
Caper: Europe is indeed fantastic. My wife and I played a *ton* of it last year. Cthulhu DMD continues to be a surprise hit for me. Ditto Ark Nova... I was truly shocked how well I got on with that game (as a person who intensely dislikes Terraforming Mars).
It's that time of the year again! Time to compare everybody's list to my current Top 250 Games list.
Total crossovers with The People: 44 (down from 49 last year)
Total crossovers with Mike: 24 (down from 28 last year)
Total crossovers with Zee: 19 (down from 20 last year)
Total crossovers with Tom: 30 (down from 33 last year)
Great Show, great lists. Thanks a lot as always. My Top 10:
10. Taluva
9. Innovation
8. Great Western Trail (&all Iterations)
7. Maglev Metro
6. Libertalia
5. Darwins Journey
4. Ark Nova
3. Clank!In!Space!
2. 51st State Master Set
1. Paladins of the West Kingdom
“Lousy with Flounder” new band name I call it
Cosmic Encounter is the Ric Flair of board gaming..Woo!
Ohh! I got a perfect crossover with Tom!
Lots of great games in the top 10, and I really want to try Andromeda's Edge.
10. World Wonders
9. Thunder Road: Vendetta
8. Sushi Go Party
7. Rajas of the Ganges
6. Space Base
5. Critter Kitchen
4. Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest
3. Cascadia
2. Quacks of Quedlinburg
1. Distilled
Thank you!
Finally no Root in top 10, thank goodness, and shout out to Abyss being so high!
1. Netrunner
2. Imperius
3. Arctic Scavengers
4. Dune Imperium
5. Dune
6. Inis
7. Neom
8. Radlands
9. Twilight Imperium
10. Dice Throne
I really like the personality you guys all showed in this video. Its a fun watch.
1. Ticket to Ride: 10th Anniversary
2. Weimar: The Fight for Democracy
3. A Most Fearful Sacrifice: The Three Days of Gettysburg
4. Dune: War for Arrakis
5. Empire of the Sun: The Pacific War 1941-1945
6. The U.S. Civil War
7. Bayonets & Tomahawks
8. The Next War: Modern Conflict in Europe
9. SPQR (Deluxe Edition)
10. Unlock! Kids: Detective Stories
Great list, but man a long shot from dice tower mainstream
@ haha I play war games and euro games. It’s more reflective of dice tower mainstays lower in the list
Interesting picks! It’s endearing to see TTR tops the list.
Where can I get tickets to the Dice Tower Alaskan Cruise?
It’s only for people with a special invite. Best way to get one is to join every livestream and spam “Alaska cruise 2025” and they will eventually get you in
Nice to see Le Havre still getting some love
My top 10:
10. Comic Encounter
9. Earth Reborn
8. Kingdom Rush: Rift in Time
7. Gloomhaven
6. Fallout Shelter: The Board Game
5. Above and Below
4. Marvel United
3. Root
2. Wildlands
1. Arcadia Quest
So good to see Tom's #1 back where it belongs! :) I really wish Fantasy Flight didn't cancel the next expansion.
Mike! I backed ICE 2nd Edition a few months ago and am eagerly awaiting fulfillment! Have you played any of the expansions? Are they important to your #4 rating??
Mike’s hate for CCGs as he continues to buy every trick taker that’s hot for 2 weeks 🤣
Trick takers are self contained. CCG is gambling for underage children. You can spend hundred and rarely make money back because cards are usually worth nothing.
He is more of a CTTG person.
@joeking1956 what's that?
@TabletopFamily It was a joke. CTTG stands for Collectable Trick Taking Game. It was a reference to the original comment about Mike collecting every trick taking game in existence.
@TabletopFamilyaren't all children underage?
favorite family game: Isle of Skye
Cosmic encounter is back!! Finally peace is restored in the galaxy
My list:
10: Cubitos
9: Res Arcana
8: Tapestry
7: Scholars of the South Tigris
6: Ginkgopolis
5: The Castles of Burgundy
4: Lost Ruins of Arnak
3: Root
2: Wayfarers of the South Tigris
1: Expeditions
I'd definitely be more likely to do an Alaska cruise.
We…LOVE…Merchants Cove!!! Also in my Top 10!!✨
Missed a golden opportunity at 22:33 - Tom was floundering, obviously.
I am so happy ever time Spirit Island gets the love it deserves! So frustrating…and so very satisfying!
always fun to see the lists... I may have missed it, but I don't think I saw Cloudspire (or burncycle) on Mike's top 100.... he's given CTG (outside of 20 Strong) some love in the past... there's no chance Tom or Zee would...
Yeah that was odd…I didn’t expect the People to list any CTG because even though some folks like them the price is a barrier to entry so you’re not going to win any polls.
Appreciate Tom's fact check, no way is Blade a zombie.
1. Ark Nova
2. Clank! Catacombs
3. Great Western Trail NZ
4. The Castles of Burgundy SE
5. Mage Knight
6. Brass Birmingham
7. Obsession
8. Concordia Venus
9. Le Havre
10. Wingspan
nice.
No dune imperium? 😢
Would you say that Andromeda’s Edge or Ostia is best at 2 players? Both are really interesting but at that price only one is realistic to get.
Where can I see the list for people's choice all from 100 to 1? If available.
Top 10
#1: Gaia Project
#2: Spirit Island
-------- (then the rest of the best ones)
#3: Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization
#4: Age of Innovation
#5: Brass: Birmingham
#6: Dune: Imperium
#7: 51st State: Ultimate Edition
#8: Terra Mystica
#9: Great Western Trail: Second Edition
#10: Clans of Caledonia
44:33 Can someone explain to me what is special about Everdell? I have played it a couple times, and it is just such a dry, vanilla worker placement/tableau builder. I feel like I am missing something.
For me it’s the ability to lengthen out your turns, getting every bit of the juice as it were. There are mini combos that get you more stuff to discount the stuff you want to play. Small “contracts” once you have x, y, z claim this thing. Mechanically yes it’s pretty simple, but the feedback I get is why I’ve got the complete collection big box.
It's cute?
CCGs are lifestyle games in my experience. I somewhat agree with Mike
at 36:48, what the comment tom reads? "looks like our copy of got your vice"? I didnt see the stream.
Wow, did spirit island drop off Mike's list?
He explains it in the retrospective video around 18min. Apparently he hasn't been playing it
Happy for ark Nova, its a masterpiece specially at 2!
Has Zee played the Clone Wars version of Pandemic? What’s the hype for the LoTR Pandemic system game coming out?
In 2024 TM Prelude 2 stuff arrived, so new maps, new solo mode, new cards. Probably why it moved back up.
Anyone else playing the Mike Dilisio says “you know what I mean” drinking game? If so stop, please, you’re going to KILL your liver.
TM went back up because of the availability of the new boards and the new expansion.
Will Ostia ever get a US printing? 😭 It sounds like a must-have
America has Ostia-perosis.
@@JonathonVdifferential includes ostia-tis
Favorite Pandemics...The Cure and Rising Tide. Don't let Zee dissuade you from trying Rising Tide.
Uhm... I think Pandemic Rising Tide is one of the best Pandemics. Not only because of i'm Dutch and knows all the places and the water works. The rise of the water and flow is just great and feels real to me. For me it is even good as the original Pandemic.
Often in our games there will be miscommunication in the game because we have difficulty pronouncing the names and reading the font. But I really enjoy the flooding, damming, and draining mechanics; You can’t just copy and paste your strategy from base Pandemic.
@Poiuytrew.Q Indeed. The strategy for pandemic rising tide is different than Pandemic but also great! That's why it's so good. Also that you can change the goals and play with people which makes it more difficult than it al ready is.
46:05 Side note - The thing that makes a game be easier teach children is only very partially the weight/complexity of a game. That's why you get parents who are gamers saying stuff of that nature, because it's not about yhe weight.
It's about:
A. The experience the kid had with previous games.
B. The patience of a parent and their motivation (which is high for parents who are board gamers and anxious, sometimes too anxious, to play the games they like with their kids.
C. most of all - if the game has no to very little hidden parts making it much easier for a parent to mitigate the game through those first plays or how many needed, depnding on patience of child and parent, until they get it.
For example, Le Havre, is an INCREDIBELY mitigatable game...
I would also say some parents mark their kids as 'understanding a game' even if the parents are still doing some substantial percentage of mitigation...
My wife would join, if their was an Alaskin cruise.
The Others sound exactly like Descent first Edition.
But because one plahad to play rhe monsters people said they didn't like it.
But I really liked playing the monsters against the other players.
Le Havre: a game of abundance. Top 10 idea?
1:13:38 For me, Terraforming Mars is a far superior game to Ark Nova. It feels more intuitive, streamlined, and smoother, with less overhead in terms of rules. The shared board adds a layer of interaction that makes the experience more engaging and, in my opinion, simply better. While I do enjoy Ark Nova’s theme, I find Terraforming Mars’ theme even more appealing.
As a result, I ended up giving away Ark Nova, but I still play Terraforming Mars to this day - it remains my favorite game.
I also tried Earth, playing it once before giving it away almost immediately. It felt like a mix between Terraforming Mars and Wingspan, both of which I love, but Earth was just incredibly dull and tedious for me.
So, that’s my take on Tom’s surprise regarding Terraforming Mars’ enduring popularity.
I sure wish someone at the Dice Tower would wake up to Imperius. It destroys Caper Europe and 7 Wonders.
I was in on the original Kickstarter for this (unless there’s another Imperius)…is it still available? Love it.
The same Imperius that has an average rating of 6.5 on BGG, compared to the 7.7s 7 Wonders and Caper: Europe have? Not sure it's quite the king of the drafting games you think it is...
Lorcana is HUGE still. It’s selling out thousand plus player tournaments!
wingspan < deus
Marvel United is overrated. Poor variety between the heroes and repetitive after few plays.
I would easily switch it with Marvel Champions in 1st place.
42:51 Tom says he doesn’t know if Star Wars Unlimited will stick around haha. Old Destiny players will agree with him, “oh just wait, FFG will drop this like they got got during order 66”. I wasn’t one of those players so I don’t have any scars. But literally on Jan 29/30 2025 on Fantasy Flight’s YT page, video “Star Wars: Unlimited - updates to the game” the lead game designer talked about rotation and “once set 7 comes out”, the game is doing just fine (until it isn’t).
I want to play Le Havre, only because of Tom.
Dune Imperium is getting all the digital support. So probably not getting phased out anytime soon
I’m with Mike, I love Merchant’s Cove!!!
9:22 you should have stuck to your initial impression Mike 😅
The popularity of this game is beyond incomprehensible.
If it wasn’t the marvel license it would’ve been abandoned in 6 months. The mechanics aren’t memorable or all that special at all. It survives based solely on the cool factor of the marvel minis.
With you on this. The game is just so blaaah
I agree that the Marvel theme and presentation helps a lot, but I have found it to be one of the best light cooperative games in terms of replay value because of how you can plug and play all the different heroes, villains, and locations. It certainly is simple, but there is something to be said for being so easy to get to the table (and actually get to try out all that variety) and appealing to such a broad range of people. And at 70+ plays, I have been pleasantly surprised at how often the game has delivered memorable moments or close finishes. -Ryan
It's not bad. It's a good gateway coop game. I like playing it with my kids from time to time. But I have trouble understanding how this can make any experienced gamer's top 25. But good for anyone who loves it! 🙂
Abyss is simple yet amazing game, especially with both expansions. Definetely one of my top 10s as well. :)
Hearing them say all the things about andromeda's edge that's better then dwellings makes me sad 😅
I love the dwellings theme 1000% more and that's the only reason why I'll keep it and not get andromeda
How is Viticulture still in the top 10 people? It had so many flaws when released then still flaws at the rerelease so they rerereleased it... Sheesh
If top games change from time to time how can they be top games of ALL time?
is marvel zombies stand alone? or do you need the base zombicide?
Mike, please release a Sinatra covers album. Thanks
I want more discussion about vomit
I agree with Mike , I hate to vomit! I would rather be sick in any other way.
I just don’t like Pandemic. I like pandemic style games, but I hate Pandemic. I don’t like the way you use cards to move and also to build sets. I don’t like the trading rules combined with the aforementioned rule. I like the cascading failure system and the cure/eradicate system. The tension is great. But the movement and trade rules kill it for me. I like Flashpoint: Fire and Rescue as my favorite pandemic style game.
Tom isn't familiar with Daejeon, the fourth largest city in Korea?
I am indeed! I've been there many times. Did I say differently?
@@thedicetower My bad, then! 😲It sounded like you recognized it as a Korean place but were seeing it for the first time.
My prediction next year: Dune Uprising will supplant Dune Inperium and Lost Ruins of Arnak. It's annoying that Dire Wolf keeps trying to appease Imperium fans with their "frankenstein" options with the Uprising line. Make a clean cut. Imperium was getting bloated already. When Uprising came out, I got rid of Imperium. When bloodline came out, I got rid of Ix.
Imperium is digital though and Uprising is not AFAIK
Not trying to be contentious, but the discussion about Wing/Wyrm/Finspan kickback reminds me of watching some DT discussion when Wyrmspan was first announced. Lots of blowback from the staff at the announcement/prelaunch stage. You guys have moved past it, but some people have not. Never bothered me personally. Seems like a Zombicide equivalent to me. Variations on a theme. Many companies have done this sort of thing. It just seems like a continuation of the hate for Wingspan that seemingly stemmed from its explosive popularity.