Top 5 Games as voted by local Board Games Club
I asked a group of friends from a local board game group what they're top 5 games of all time were. Here are their most popular answers:
Ticket to Ride
You were expecting this one, right?
What was one of the first games you ever played when you joined the hobby?
A high percentage of people will tell you it was one of the Ticket to Ride games (myself included!). Despite the first title being released almost 20 years ago, its simple mechanics is a fantastic game to introduce the next generation of board gamers. Ticket to Ride has stood the test of time and continues to be a firm favourite even today, especially with the recent release of Ticket to Ride: Legends of the West.
Lost Ruins of Arnak
As recent as 2020 Lost Ruins of Arnak is considered a great game for its combination of deck building and worker placement mechanics. Every choice feels important while pursuing the multiple paths to victory if its optimising their decks or acquiring key resources, players can easily become immersed exploring this world for ancient ruins and long lost artefacts. Fans of the game are eagerly awaiting the latest expansion Lost Ruins of Arnak: The Missing Expedition. This new content will be adding new leaders as well as a solo mode, co-operative mode and a campaign!
The Castles of Burgundy
Originally released back in 2011 The Castles of Burgundy had a solid foundation in terms of game-play, however, from a personal point of view, looked terribly dull and uninspiring. Fast forward to 2023, making a brief stop in 2019, new releases have brought this classic back to the table in our local area, very frequently. Whether you prefer the new acrylic tiles or the 3-D models this reinvented classic is never far from the table.
In the Footsteps of Darwin
One of the more recent entries to the list is In the Footsteps of Darwin. Our local society has an open day every year where members take part in multiple aspects that the premises has to offer, so that members are more engaging. This game in particular has rocketed in popularity locally for being able to entice new players to board games that didn't even know that they enjoyed board games! A big part of this is due to being able to play a simple and visually appealing game in under 45 minutes.
Star Wars: Outer Rim
Most Star Wars fans will have played games where the players take on the roles of either the Rebels or the Empire, Star Wars Rebellion, for example - but what about the scoundrels and rogues in between?
Star Wars Outer Rim, released at UKGE 2019 lets you to take on those roles. If you prefer to capture bounties with Boba Fett or complete the Kessel Run with Han Solo, this game offers a great thematic experience of recreating events in a Galaxy Far Far Away. Alternatively to turn the game upside down, nothing is stopping Lando Calrissian from becoming a bounty hunter or IG-88 transporting cargo to Naboo.
Honourable mentions:
Fancy a co-operative game? Or games that include apps? Or both! Mansions of Madness is a popular game for those who enjoy interactive experiences while searching for clues in a story driven environment - before their characters go insane of course!
Worthy of note from my own favourites list would Ark Nova. The way the large number of unique cards are used to build a zoo and complete conservation projects are great fun. I, personally am looking forward to the Ark Nova: Marine Worlds expansion which is imminently due for release. Terraforming Mars also scratches a similar itch, using hundreds of unique cards to build lakes, cities and oxygen generating forests, while increasing the temperature to comfortable levels for its inhabitants to live in, its popularity has also led to several spin off such as Ares Expedition & Terraforming Mars: The Dice Game.
What games make your all time top 5? Let us know in the comments!