Intro Part 2: Top 10 Board Games

In which we get to know the author by way of a Top 10 list.

Introduction and disclaimer

Here’s my Top 10 Highest Rated Board Games as of February 2023.

It’s worth noting, however, what this list is not:

• This is not a list of board games I’d necessarily recommend to others. That would be a different list.

• This is not a list of the best games of all time. I’m not sure I’m qualified to make such a list, and instead defer to The Dice Tower or So Very Wrong About Games.

• This list is not fixed and permanent. As I mentioned in Intro Part 1, I’m constantly tweaking and adjusting my ratings.

I love these games. Sometimes it’s sentimental value, great personal experiences playing them, or the mechanisms, or the theme. For all these reasons, these are the ones that ended up on the Top 10 list.

Top 10 Highest Rated Board Games

#10: Root

Designed by Cole Wehrle

Don’t let the absolutely adorable Kyle Ferrin art deceive you. Root is a vicious multiplayer wargame. I had played asymmetric / variable player power games before this one, but never to this extent. Every faction has it’s own set of rules. Makes for a tough teach, but an awesome game that never gets old. There’s also a really wonderful digital implementation that’s worth trying if you can’t play in person. (8.3/10)

#9: Massive Darkness 2: Hellscape

Designed by Alex Olteanu and Marco Portugal

Each Massive Darkness 2 class (e.g. Monk, Paladin, etc.) has it’s own rules and even components. The Rogue has a bag-building mechanism while the Ranger has a deck of cards with some push-your-luck. There’s no deep euro-strategy here, just dice rolling fun and fighting monsters. It’s dungeon crawling, loot, and combat distilled to it’s purest form… with giant, epic minis. Plays fast, and no need for campaigns. (8.5/10)

#8: Pax Pamir: Second Edition

Designed by Cole Wehrle

Cole Wehrle is probably better known for Root, but I think Pax Pamir is more representative of his style. You are exerting power and influence over the game state and shifting alliances between the British, Russian, and Afghan factions. Pamir has replaced Pax Renaissance for me because it’s more streamlined, shorter, easier to teach and yet still has the mind-bending “you don’t actually control a single faction” of the genre. Also, the production is gorgeous. (8.6/10)

#7: Forbidden Stars

Designed by Samuel Bailey, James Kniffen, and Corey Konieczka

Forbidden Stars is here partly for nostalgia. The epic scale of this game, the asymmetric faction powers, and awesome combat system really shocked me the first time I played it. Also, this was before Kickstarter mini/deluxification bloat, so the minis were amazing for the time. I’m not super into Warhammer 40K, but this is a tight wargame best at four players that I love. (8.9/10)

#6: Time of Legends: Joan of Arc

Designed by Pascal Bernard

I have a love-hate relationship with Joan of Arc. The rules are a mess. The setup and takedown are absurd. The minis are tiny and fiddly. And yet, this game is almost otherwise perfect. With both historical and mythic scenarios, each game only has a few turns. It has a fascinating unit activation system and fantastic table presence. For a two player wargame, this is my favorite by far. (9.0/10)

#5: Sakura Arms

Designed by BakaFire

Backed the Level 99 version of Sakura Arms after hearing So Very Wrong About Games express their love for it, and I’m so glad I did. Head-to-head card battling for two players that lasts maybe 20 - 40 minutes. There’s so many deck combinations, everything feels unique and fresh, and when you get those sweet, sweet combos to fire… perfection! (9.2/10)

#4: Rising Sun

Designed by Eric M. Lang

Yes, I like big box games with tons of minis. Rising Sun is that, as an area control game with just a touch of negotiation (i.e. tea phase). The bidding system for combat makes this one stand out, as well as intentionally losing battles to win later ones. Looks great on the table. (9.3/10)

#3: Ankh: Gods of Egypt

Designed by Eric M. Lang

Another big box, mini-heavy area control game from Eric Lang. Ankh is mechanically the best of his trilogy. At two players it has an almost chess-like quality that’s extremely satisfying, and at higher player counts it uses a unique “merge” system toward the endgame vs. player knock out. There’s a Reiner Knizia elegance to the game that leads to endless replayability. It also has the best minis of any board game I own. (9.4/10)

#2: Blood Rage

Designed by Eric M. Lang

The third Eric Lang area control game on my list. Blood Rage is not as strategic as Rising Sun, and it’s not as elegant as Ankh, but no other game I’ve played routinely gets people banging on the table shouting “BLOOD RAGE! BLOOD RAGE!” as they try to goad others into a battle for Yggdrasil. The card drafting (and hate-drafting) is great, the “Loki strategy” is fun, and the game never overstays its welcome. This is my go-to for introducing new players to modern board games. Did I mention the minis? (9.5/10)

#1: Android: Netrunner

Designed by Richard Garfield and Lukas Litzsinger

My number one is a game I rarely play these days. Android: Netrunner is a discontinued LCG From Fantasy Flight Games. To me, it’s the perfect two player head-to-head asymmetric card game. The hacker vs. the corp — no other game makes me sweat like this one. I love the theme. I love reading cards and building decks as much as playing the game. The downside is you need to find players at the same level as you, otherwise this could be a bad experience for new players. (9.5/10)

Honorable Mentions

Just because a game didn’t make my Top 10 doesn’t mean it’s not awesome.

A few games that just barely missed the cut this year include: Hansa Teutonica: Big Box, Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy, The Great Wall, Troyes, and Underwater Cities. Every one of them is a game I’d love to play more.

What’s on your Top 10 list?

Any of the games on your Top 10 also show up here? Any replacement or alternative games I should try? Post a comment and let me know!

And that ends our introduction! Hopefully you have a better idea of my background and bias when discussing games! Now onto some actual tabletop game mechanisms and maybe a little Python code.

See you next week!

— E.P. 💀