Is your shelf of shame ever growing? With thousands of new board games being released every year, it’s harder than ever to figure out which games to buy, which to play, and which to avoid. There’s simply too many games! Overwhelmed with choices, many of you may have turned to popular board game reviewers such as No Pun Included and their comedic stylings or Tom Vasel and his motley crew at The Dice Tower. But reviews have limitations and only help so much with the decision process. They don’t rank games, compare them to other potential candidates, or account for bias à la cult of the new. It’s no wonder that “top board game lists” have risen in popularity over the years among reviewers and content creators. They are helpful and simultaneously entertaining.
Although I love a top game list as much as the next gamer, I understand that they only represent an individual’s personal game tastes. I wanted to see what they may look like in aggregate. So, I compiled the lists from 39 of my favorite board game reviewers and updated things for 2020—greatly improving the methodology, fixing some data issues, and combining them to see which games topped the charts.
- For comparison, see 2019’s list of best board games of all time.
- Also see our data-driven list of the top two player games.
Which games do reviewers think are the best? Let’s explore the board game rankings…
Note: The following buttons allow you to filter the list by favorite board game reviewers, media networks, player counts, complexity, and game length.
Top 100 Board Games
100. Lords of Waterdeep
No products found.
Description
“Waterdeep, the City of Splendors—the most resplendent jewel in the Forgotten Realms, and a den of political intrigue and shady back-alley dealings. In this game, the players are powerful lords vying for control of this great city. Its treasures and resources are ripe for the taking, and that which cannot be gained through trickery and negotiation must be taken by force!
Lords of Waterdeep is a strategy board game for 2-5 players. You take on the role of one of the masked Lords of Waterdeep, secret rulers of the city. Through your agents, you recruit adventurers to go on quests on your behalf, earning rewards and increasing your influence over the city.
Expand the city by purchasing new buildings that open up new actions on the board, and hinder—or help—the other lords by playing Intrigue cards to enact your carefully laid plans”
| Designer ? | Peter Lee, Rodney Thompson |
| Playing Time (Minutes) ⌛ | 60-120 |
| Number of Players 👥 | 2-5 |
| Minimum Age ? | 12 |
| Category/Theme/Mechanic ? | Card Drafting, Contracts, Hidden Roles, Increase Value of Unchosen Resources, Ownership, Set Collection, Take That, Turn Order: Claim Action, Worker Placement |
| Complexity/Weight ? | Light (Near Medium) |
| Board Game Rating (BGG) ⭐ | 7.8 |
Reviewer(s):
-
Tom Vasel (The Dice Tower) #79
-
Jarrod Carmichael (3 Minute Board Games) #73
-
Richard Ham (Rahdo Runs Through) #84
-
Mandi Hutchinson (The Dice Tower) #32
-
Steve Spang (The Secret Cabal) #18
-
Steph Elizondo (Settler of the Boards) #25
-
Melody Vasel (Dice Tower) #73
99. The Quest for El Dorado
No products found.
Description
“A deck-building game of perilous paths and rewarding riches. Will you dare to search for the golden city? Assemble your expedition and lead it through the jungles of South America in this deck-building board game*. You need to have a good plan, expert explorers, and the right equipment. Will you choose the scout, the photographer, or the prop plane? It is up to you to find the best route through the wilderness with your team and to win the race to El Dorado! Every route is a new challenge. Every game needs a new strategy!“
| Designer ? | Reiner Knizia |
| Playing Time (Minutes) ⌛ | 30-60 |
| Number of Players ? | 2-4 |
| Minimum Age ? | 10 |
| Category/Theme/Mechanic ? | Card Drafting, Deck, Bag, and Pool Building, Grid Movement, Hand Management, Modular Board, Race |
| Complexity/Weight ? | Light |
| Board Game Rating (BGG) ⭐ | 7.6 |
Reviewer(s):
-
Zee Garcia (The Dice Tower) #56
-
Neilan Naicker (Board Game Barrage) #29
-
Steph Elizondo (Settler of the Boards) #30
-
Nick (The Brothers Murph) #43
-
Mike (The Brothers Murph) #19
98. Architects of the West Kingdom
No products found.
Description
“Architects of the West Kingdom is set at the end of the Carolingian Empire, circa 850 AD. As royal architects, players compete to impress their King and maintain their noble status by constructing various landmarks throughout his newly appointed domain. Players will need to collect raw materials, hire apprentices and keep a watchful eye on their workforce. These are treacherous times. Rival architects will stop at nothing to slow your progress. Will you remain virtuous, or be found in the company of thieves and black marketeers?
The aim of Architects of the West Kingdom is to be the player with the most Victory Points (VP) at the game’s end. Points are gained by constructing various Buildings and advancing work on the Archbishop’s Cathedral. Throughout the game, players will need to make a lot of moral decisions. However, only at the game’s end will their virtue be judged. A few underhanded deals here and there might not seem like much, but fall too far and you will be punished. The game ends once a set number of constructions have been completed.”
| Designer ? | Shem Phillips, S J Macdonald |
| Playing Time (Minutes) ⌛ | 60-80 |
| Number of Players ? | 1-5 |
| Minimum Age ? | 12 |
| Category/Theme/Mechanic ? | Drafting, Variable Player Powers, Worker Placement |
| Complexity/Weight ? | Medium (Lighter) |
| Board Game Rating (BGG) ⭐ | 7.9 |
Reviewer(s):
-
Tom Vasel (The Dice Tower) #74
-
Sam Healey (The Dice Tower) #13
-
Mike Dilisio (The Dice Tower) #24
-
Luke Hector (The Broken Meeple) #21
-
Jarrod Carmichael (3 Minute Board Games) #43