Top 66 Board Games of all Time

Inspired by Tom Vassel’s annual “Top 100 Games of All Time” list, I’ve decided to make my “Top Games of All Time” list. I’ve played literally hundreds of board and card games, and I’m going to share some of my favorites. I’ve picked my top 66 using Tom’s method described in the link below. I’ll be posting 5 at a time from now until the new year, except for this post which has a bonus game. I hope you enjoy the list and find some games you like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJyN3qj_aMs

66. Ticket to Ride by Alan Moon – This is not a game I’d usually choose to play, but I include it on the list because it’s very good for introducing people to modern board games. The game is very simple – I like to think of it as rummy with a goal. Players collect sets of matching cards, and then play them to claim a train route on a map of the US. Points are awarded for longer routes, and each player has a secret goal (i.e. connect Boston to Dallas, etc.) which can earn them bonus points if they accomplish it. Special note: you can play this game on X-Box Live Arcade or on iOS. Check out these reviews for more info:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A90q3salKeI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3_avLzZT1E

65.Coloretto by Michael Schacht – This is another ‘family friendly’ game, that is simple to teach and learn, but strategic enough to remain interesting. Coloretto is played with cards, and like Ticket to Ride the goal is to collect sets. The twist in this game is – only 3 sets count as positive points, any other sets are negative points. It made the list because it is very portable, easy to teach, and quick to play (under 30 minutes). You can play this game for free online at the board game arena. (here’s the link http://en.boardgamearena.com?s=2624731) Check these videos for more on Coloretto:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvw9Eu8O2l0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbLchil9iZY

64. Lost Cities by Reiner Knizia – Another card game, also with set collection, and also available on X-Box Live. Lost Cities is a 2 player game where players earn points by playing numbered cards in suits to the table. There is some pretty interesting strategy, especially when it comes to deciding what to discard, because your opponent can pick up cards that you discard. This is a fun little game to play while you are waiting for another game to start or finish. For more info check out these videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgA4GAWoQ3U&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdukIcG4Tko

63. The Golden City by Michael Schacht – In The Golden City, players are trying to build the most profitable business network. The game has a pretty cool auction mechanic, some nice area control elements and interesting choices to be made. The game plays 3-4 players and is simple enough for a novice to understand, but deep enough for a gamer to enjoy. For a not so good video review (but the only one I could find):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HMj-iH6sYA

62. Ricochet Robots by Alex Randolph - This game is a special puzzle solving game. A great feature of this game is that any number of players may play, and players can “jump in” or “jump out” – making it a great filler. The players are trying to move robots, who follow very specific moving rules, to a goal in the least number of moves. Once someone has a solution, they shout a number of moves and a timer starts while others try to find a quicker route before time runs out. It’s a very fun and challenging game. You can learn more about it here:

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/577769/the-ultimate-game-for-parties
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/465028/easy-accessible-non-gamer-fil...

61.Arkadia by Rudiger Dorn - Arkadia, a 2007 game of the year nominee, is a highly strategic game where you build “tetris piece” shaped buildings, and score points for surrounding them with workers or other buildings. It has a couple of notable mechanisms including the timing of scoring and the variable values of pieces. These two mechanisms come together for some interesting strategic choices. Learn more about Arkadia here:

http://vimeo.com/1084739
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/298561/arkadia-a-lighthearted-review...