Top Ten Games of 2023
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- čas přidán 19. 06. 2024
- Top Ten Board Games of 2023
Time to let you know what were my Top Ten Favourite Games of 2023!!
Please lend your thumbs to the review on Board Game Geek!
boardgamegeek.com/video/47207...
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Who Am I?
One single batchelor from the UK talking about his passion for board games and the people who play them! I support small content creators, board game cafes and go against the status quo when it comes to the board game industry. I give my honest opinions without bias towards any publishers or designers and will not hold back if I don't like a game.
The Broken Meeple is a variety channel that hosts all kinds of board game content from reviews to Top 10 lists to playthroughs to live stream collaborations with special guests (predominantly small channels who deserve more exposure).
I look forward to engaging with you, the community on my live streams or in the comments on my videos!
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Timestamps:
00:00 - Opening and KIENDA Promo
01:06 - Introduction
03:04 - #10
05:43 - #9
07:57 - #8
11:47 - #7
15:48 - #6
19:25 - #5
22:35 - #4
27:10 - #3
31:27 - #2
35:56 - #1
43:16 - Honorable Mentions
52:23 - Closing Thoughts
#brokenmeeple #topten #top10 #2023 #boardgames #boardgame #lukehector #supportsmallcreators #tabletop #tabletopgames #bgg #boardgamer #boardgamereview
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Full credit to BoardGameGeek and its members for any images used that aren't my own or part of the publisher press kit. - Hry
We have slightly different tastes but you are becoming my go to review channel because its no bs straight down the middle and no bias. Keep on trucking man.
Thank you so much! That's how I like to roll!
Really happy to see Hegemony as your #1. I'm not surprised based on your review and mentions of the game throughout the year but I think it is very deserving of the praise and very high ranking. I'm not coming after you for your critiques of Voidfall but for me it is definitely right at the top of the list with Hegemony. Have a good Christmas and lots of fun in the coming year!
You too, thanks!
One of the worst years I can remember for new games. We got only 3 new games: Leaf, ‘lands of galzyr’ and Texas chainsaw massacre slaughterhouse, which was an amazing surprise and almost unknown. Also got ‘Darwin’s journey’ which is 3 years old so does not really count. I had a big list a few months ago and I can’t believe how fast I trashed every one of them. White castle, nucleum, forest shuffle, evacuation, kutna hora, pirates of maricaibo, last light, hegemony, Earthborn rangers. All were passes due to mediocre reviews or not working with two. A couple were real stinkers: Amalfi renaissance and ‘the hunt’. Thanks for recommending leaf and galzyr!
Darwins Journey felt like every other Euro and was pretty dull - no interest in that one.
Hegemony and Nucleum are my number 1. and 2. of the year followed by Revive, Voidfall was the one I was most excited about but it was just too much to handle sadly😕. Great list Luke, thank you.
Interesting list. I'm going to check out Redwood based on your review here. I love light and different. Mindbug is currently occupying that spot. I got a chuckle that Hegemony got top spot since it's basically a balance sheet in board game form. I really wish somebody would come out with a full-on accounting board game. Paladins came close but I mean like an actual accounting game. Appreciate the honorable mentions as well. Keep up the good work, thanks for the content.
Thank you!!
Thank you for the list! Grabbing a couple of games to my wishlist, especially after some of the games from your lists worked for me perfectly. I wish you inspiration for the future to do your video, I love to watch your content.
Thank you for watching! Happy holidays!
Hi Luke,
Personally, I think this has been a stellar year for games, one of the greatest (and I've been around for pretty much all of them). Obviously there is a lot of subjectivity here, but from an objective point of view, the great variety on many youtuber's top ten lists suggests the strength of the year. It would be interesting to put together a combined list of reviewers' favourites, it would be a long one! Last year was all about Ark Nova, and, for me, while it is a good game, it benefitted greatly from a lack of competition. So, objectively, like you say,. a good year.
But, and this is where the subjectivity comes in, I only regard a good year to be a great year if there is one game that just blows me away, in terms of ambition, freshness and how long it stays in the memory. This year, for my tastes, there have been three! I can't remember a year when I have had three games of this sort, and all very different (although none of them short!). Hegemony, Voidfall and, leading the way, John Company Second Edition. None are flawless (if there is such a thing), none are for everybody, but all are stunning!
Have a great Christmas!
John company is not from this year
Drat! Well, I got it this year!@@thomascocks9136
There is a meta list on bgg
I'll have a look. Thank you. Is it easy to find?
@@billeaton6495 it’s called ‘Reviewer's "Best of 2023" meta-Compilation’
Hegemony is my favorite out of all the games on this list. I played it once and thought they did a great job with the thematic mechanics, and the player aids were super helpful too. I got to try Leaf once, too, at the release party here in Portland, OR with a friend who backed the game, and it felt pretty unique and clever with the leaf tip touching mechanic. I've tried Earth a few times on BGA and can see why people like it so much, but I already have Wingspan, and Earth does more than Wingspan, but I guess not enough for me to pursue it.
And thanks for sharing your list. I don't have my own Top X list for 2023, but now that I've been seeing a bunch on CZcams, maybe I'll put one together for myself.
All sounds good!
Hello, as always great video, great top of the year! Did you try Darwin's journey ? Maybe i have missed one of your video where you speak about it... It's not even an honorables mentions....?
I have and if I reviewed it, it would be getting barely a 4-5, I found it boring, the same as every other Euro by this designer, some of the actions were just nothing but moving on a track and you are basically forced to do loads on those islands. The theme has also been vomited up so much in games lately.
Happy that you enjoyed Hegemony as much as me and my gaming group does. It was one of the best surprises of 2023 and I am so happy to have backed it.
Another great episode! I love Hegemony!! I totally agree. I’m finding that my tastes are more aligned with you than other reviewers. Keep up the great work! Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year!
Thank you, you too!!
Great list! I'm debating on trying to pull out Hegemony next week and try it solo. It's been on my shelf waiting to be played since it arrived because of the complexity. I knew it would have to remain set up for several days to figure it out. I've been enjoying your content since discovering you this year and we have a lot of taste similarities. I did really like Raising Robots, so we'll see how much our tastes compare when your review comes out on that one.
Many are telling me good things about Robots - I must get to that one promptly in January.
Hegemony solo is not that good. maybe as a learning game before teaching it can work.
Great content as usual. Had to be satisfying putting a heavy euro #1 for those cynics. Question about hegemony, I sad I wouldn’t be able to play with 3 most often. My wife and I play mostly together. What are your thoughts on hegemony mostly 2 player? Keep putting out great content and happy holidays.
I have done a lot with Hegemony the last few months. My thought on 2 players vs. 4 is that it is still a great experience, but instead of a balancing act where players are trying to build election alliances and convince others to come to their side, it is a straight head to head battle. Other aspects play out similarly at different player levels, but the elections are a little less exciting with two. That being said, I think it is still awesome at 2 and a big PLUS at 2 is that the long playtime(which in my opinion is the biggest drawback of the game) is dramatically shortened with 2 players.
2 Player is fine, but I wouldn't buy Hegemony JUST for that.
Thanks for the great video and for talking about Earth! Glad you like it that much and thanks for teaching it multiple times ;) Happy holidays to you!
Have a good xmas too! You can end the year on a high note now! :D
Really enjoyed this video. The quick, snappy game overviews and what you liked about it worked well and I think I’d enjoy this format for individual games too. A brief review to gauge is it a game that would be right for me, and then your usual longer video to find out more? I think the short format suits your deliver and style. I also like that your list is very different to many out there. Some games I’ve heard little or nothing about are now on my list to buy/play.
I don't think it will work for individual games but certainly for the Top 100 lower values it's working nicely.
12:56 I was like WTF 😂
I was waiting for your list, one of the few channels who gives honest opinions.
Hence I keep going! 😉 Someone has to speak out!
Earthborne rangers was easily my number 1 this year. Finished two campaigns in two weeks. Exactly what I was looking for
Two weeks, that must have been non stop.
@@TheBrokenMeeple It plays fairly fast solo. I didn’t do everything in either campaign. But played to the end of the main story in both. First took 16 in game days and the second took 15. At about an avg hour a day, so about 30 hours of play over two weeks. Although probably less than that because some in game days are really quick depending on what you’re doing. So probably closer to 10-12 hours a week.
That was one hell of a box fart on Scholars.
Thanks for the end of year list, Luke! Have a great holiday!
Also, I fully expected Sweet Mess to be in the top 10.
20-11 easily, but not Top 10 material. It was more of a surprise hit than a mega hit.
🤣
Out of your top ten I own 2 (Hegemony and Scholars), I played 4 (Earth and Isle of Trains), sold Earth, you convinced me to try two (Leaf and Redwood) and Art Society is on my immediate to buy list. Earth is a good game but it blows my mind how many number 1s it gets considering the great games released this year. And Hegemony is a masterpiece.
Cult of the new much eh?
hmm well we are talking 2023 games, no..?
@@nirszi lol just joking around.
I'm more blown away by the love for Last Light but there's probably a reason why. I do look forward to seeing it on retail though so I can give it the honest beans.
@@TheBrokenMeeple I'm sure it's a solid game but playing a 4x in one hour is not a good enough reason for me to dive into 4Xs.
Interesting list. Fair few there I’m keen to try soon.
Love your list, especially #1. Poland Games has an amazing Uv print insert for Hegemony. $$$ but wow
Yeah too expensive. I think E-Raptor has similar. They do look great, but honestly the cheaper versions are fine.
I enjoyed you video, thanks!
Bought 'Isle of Trains' at Essen. Still have to play, but I loved seeing it on your list. I also like the small box with so much gameplay in it. (metal coins were sold out, but planning on getting those next year.. they look so cute)
I'm also still interested in Redwood. Hope to see it next year at Essen too.
Happy Holidays!
happy holidays!
Thanks for all your good work - happy X-mas and Happy New Year to you too! And better health than in the past. As always looking forward for your new content.
Thank you, you too!
"A little something for everybody" sums up new games in 2023 pretty nicely I think! Thanks for another great year of content, enjoy your break.
Will do, thank you and you too!
Hi Luke! Thanks for reviews. You do a good job, when you give your personal opinion. It really helps to understand games better, and see different perspectives. So well done, and will be waiting for more reviews.
Thank you so much! :-)
Earth is a great choice, my only qualm is the card tableau being 16 instead of 12 takes up some space on the table, otherwise it's a very great game
Great list and video Luke! Earthborne Rangers and Sky Team are definitely my current favourites from the year, though i do have Sleeping Gods Distant skies to play in January and hoping for Art Society for Christmas!
Sky Team I've not seen in the UK yet. I'd like to try Ancient Knowledge that Zee really liked on their video. It sounds cool.
Im surprised sweet mess didnt get in there, you really liked that one. Enjoy your christmas and new year! Looking forward to your top 100
I do like that one, hence the honorable mention. But it was a better year overall.
Thanks for doing a top list very close to the end of the year! I honestly can't stand top 10 lists from youtubers who put them out in November.
I know right, I mean I need all the time I can get due to time constraints and UK delivery nonsense!
Excited to see Scholars on a list! Loved playing that one and hope to play more games in 2024.
Thanks for the list. Forest Shuffle should make your modern light but excellent title list. Happy New Year! Enjoy Xmas and boxing day!
Thanks, you too!
A unique top 10 for the year...and nothing less then what I expect from you, Luke! Thanks for your thoughts and insights. Happy New Year! (p.s. The Broken Meeple hoodie has become a favorite. It's very comfortable).
Happy new year!
Thanks, Luke, for the video. I thought Oak would have been in the top ten.
Top Ten lists are great for seeing other games that you may not have played. Lists also show how much this hobby can be for everyone.
Take care
Haven't even tried Oak. Plus that was a 2022 game.
Well, that explains why it wouldn't be on your list.
Baaaaaahahahaha
Take care
A few game nights ago i played a 3 player competitive game of voidfall. It was the first play for everyone and we still finished before the 3 people playin hegemony on the table next to us. The complaint about setup are valid but the games are not super long and the (admittedly many) icons make sense and you can guess what they mean easily after a bit of time
We played a 3 player game with 2 new people in 3,5 hours including set up and tear down. Of course like Luke said (different strokes for different people), but he makes it up to be way bigger than it actually is imo.
Luckily everyone can just enjoy the games that they like. I enjoy Luke as a reviewer and agree on a lot of stuff. Just not on Voidfall.
Hegemony can take a while longer if the players are all new to the game. First game problems. But I've had 4 player games end in 3 hours no problem when people know the rules up front. But Voidfall is a nightmare to get those rules down and then you have the setup/takedown on top, each taking 20 min a pop. Certainly it's up there with the super long games alongside Hegemony for sure, but the latter gives me so much more fun factor to make it worth it. Voidfall only works for me in solo/co-op and I can play shorter games in solo.
Thanks for another great year of content, have a great Christmas and New Year.
Same to you!
nice list, luke! Scholars is SO good. I agree, I wasn't very into Paladins, but Viscounts and both South Tigris have been amazing. I still need to try Architects
Fair enough!
I heartily agree with Hegemony as your top choice. :). I definitely agree that it took some time to get a handle on because of the asymmetry, but once it clicks…. So smooth. The solo is solid, though I much prefer to play it with other people.
Agreed!
Great video, thanks!
In France Hegemony was ousted from an "expert" award nomination because it wasn't considered euro enough. For some people if it involves talking it's not a euro apparently.
Appart from your number one there's not a single game on your list I've played (well, there's Earth but I find the game unmanageable unless played on BGA). Always interesting watching your channel!
Thanks and also that is bull crap about hegemony. Not a euro game?? 🤬🤬
nice to see Hegemony. Damn now I want to play it again.
Props just for featuring Dark Crystal!
Underrated classic! The Netflix series prequel was fantastic.
Voidfall is great, but I agree it should be played co-op.
Luke, our tastes are very different - I'm a light-to-medium gamer (typical weight 1.5 to 2.0) - so on your list, Isle of Trains (I haven't played) looks interesting and the best in common. I like Forest Shuffle, Dragonkeepers and Nimalia from 2023 (and Vaalbara from 2022, so ineligible for this year).
I am intrigued by Hegemony - I certainly love the theme, but can't see myself playing such a heavy game for 3 hrs, let alone trying to find other people to play with.
Best wishes for 2024 !
You too and yeah you should try Isle of Trains. Forest Shuffle was nice but the unbalanced nature of it (no pun intended) and insane scoring phase put me off.
The "I beg to differ, sir." was definitely for me. Lol Earth is a great game, but I think Ares Expedition is also a great game, and the Sci fi theme works well for me. No one needs to own both, but I do, and I'm ok with it.
Love Isle of Trains, bought on a wim at Essen, it has been an unexpected hit with others who have gone out and bought. While we have some differences Hegemony is my game of the year as well.
You are missing one of the big releases this year, with one of the best productions:
Thunder Road Vendetta.
It's just a crazy, non-serious, fun game.
I've seen it being played, it looks OK but it did seem to drag on a bit and have some downtime present. Production wise it's ok, a few cool model cars and a helicopter but otherwise it's cardboard tokens. I'll try it happily but I'm not seeing its greatness yet.
If you can get the official wooden insert from the Kickstarter for earth do not hesitate to go with that. These are the best. Great list! I’m going to grab Isle of trains when I get back from Christmas in Pennsylvania. I already grabbed art society based on your review and the review from all the games with Steph. Amazing game! Oh yeah one quick question why is five players a bad player account? I played a five player game last July and it was amazing and everyone fell in love with the game. Turns zipped along because of the simultaneous actions While also getting more done by the time it became my turn my options opened up as to what action I was actually going to select. Just curious.
All the best,
Corey
The Folded Space insert is perfect for it, no need to spend too much on a wooden insert.
@@TheBrokenMeeple The main reason I like it is because you can just open the lid (smell the wood)… and pull out two component holders and place them on either side of the table and your done. Also, I didn’t have to spend eighty dollars to replace the trees, soil, and leaf markers lol! But I did. A few games I have really splurged on that’s for sure. I really love this game.
Out of all the top tens this is the one I look for every year because your opinions are the closest to my own (meaning i have the same pitch fork villagers at my door). I didnt care too much for voidfall at any player count neither did my group. After 5 plays we were exhausted and we kept the game setup for the entire 2 weeks of these game plays. For us the theme just wasn't there. We are suppose to be eliminating corruption but the game never felt like we were doing anything thematic but getting points. We joked that every game we played the COrruption and void is the true winner as there were times there were more at the beginning than at the start.
Last Light I got a chance to play a few years ago in an eary prototype and i wasn't so interested after 2 plays. It felt more like a race to 20 light than an actual interactive 4x game. There were better Race games .
My top ten this year somewhat mirrors yours. Hedgomy , Earth, Scholars, are all in my top 5. I loved REvive for its reverse deck building mechanic. I agree the theme is meh but I thought reverse deck building was so clever as i'm a bit exhausted from deck builders.
Agree with you on a lot of that. I have to admit, the more I read up on Last Light, the less it sounds like a great game. I honestly think people are giving it a lot of extra love because of Roy's name on it. Not to say it isn't possibly a good game, but top of their lists? I'm not seeing it. But I look forward to finding out for myself and relaying my honest thoughts.
Thank you for this! I heard that Art Society's teardown was a bit of a pain, re-sorting all the tiles back into their spots? I guess not as bad as others have said?
Not really, turn the tiles over and match the numbers.
The only game on your list that I have played is Earth, and it is now one of my top five games. The original Terraforming Mars, with prelude and certain upgraded pieces, is also up there, but I agree that earth is a far better card game than Ares expedition. New to me this year were Ark Nova and Phantom Ink, also now favorites. Along with the Earth, the other game of 2023 that I love is forest shuffle. Also a big pile of cards making a nature tableau.
Nice to hear Ark and Earth did well for you!
That Top Gear clip on Redwood was comedy gold 🤣
Worked great as the intro to that review 😂
Evenfall, Art Society and especially Isle of Trains (haven’t seen many mention that one) I’ll def wanna try
Earth tho wasn’t for me. Idea, mechanics and art on my checklist but the game created too much AP in a 4 player game for me to think about playing again
Voidfall is definitely a big game, i love it. its my #1 of the year and according to pubmeeple #2 all time. ive played it a bunch. i think the game is better solo/coop because of the crisis board. i think it actually adds to the game in a good way. doesnt feel like the same game to me without it. i can totally see why some wouldnt want to bother though. like hegemony, another of my favs of the year, takes effort to get into. Setup in Voidfall is probably the #1 deterrent to playing it. it really is brutal. i usually leave it on the table for 3 or 4 games before putting it away.
The Warp is a lot of fun. i feel the same about it as you do Sweet Mess.
Scarface 1920 is excellent. some of things some feel are swingy are actually cleverly disguised catch up mechanics
City of the Great Machine, which youve covered, is a fantastic solo puzzle imo. so much replayability and value in that box.
every year there are games people love that miss me, and others i love that dont seem to gain traction. just the nature of the big beast our hobby is. i may check out Cyberion. solo game with lots of buzz gets my attention
Not had much interest in trying Scarface, I'm bored with that whole setting, we've explored all we can with that theme. Great Machine was OK but just couldn't hook me in enough especially in multiplayer. Voidfall was OK if playing solo/co-op but that setup and take down and rules learning etc is just too much to be of practical use.
Great Top 10!
interesting list ❤ thank you. I noted down Evenfall.
I really tried to slow down my purchases this year so I have only a couple 2023 games in my collection, some unplayed lol. But honestly I feel like there was less this year I wanted to buy then last year.
It was 2021 or 2022 where I struggled to a get a Top 10 list.
Nice list! As a sidenote, I'm more surprised about how distribution works. I imagined the UK was an early market for US publishers, but it seems we get some games way before you, even in the distant reaches of the EU (Last Light, World Wonders). On the other hand, no Earthborne Rangers. And we will probably never get releases such as LOTR adventure book game 😢
BREXIT killed any kind of import benefits we had of being in the EU. Ever since that dark day, getting anything sooner than anyone else is a pipe dream.
Nice to see Leaf getting some love, it’s such a unique and charming game. Hegemony is an incredible game, demanding but great. I even enjoy it solo, I’m just dreading teaching it. It scares me😅
Yeah it's a hard teach 😜
Moja topka roku 2023' gdy chodzi polskie wydania gier planszowych to:
1. Wiedźmin: Stary Świat + dodatki
2. Frostpunk
3. dodatki do ETHERFIELDS
4. dodatek NIEŚMIERTELNOŚĆ do Diuny: Imperium
5. Northgard: Niezbadane Ziemie
6. Uśpieni bogowie
7. Władcy Ziemi 8*.Władcy Oceanów
8. City of Great Machine
9. Turbo
10. Wsiąść do pociągu Legacy
😉
Awesome list 🤘
Thanks! 😁
Dune Imperium Uprising and Great Western Trail New Zealand are excellent additions to their series. I only own Scholars on your list. I can appreciate Hegemony, but not a game for my group. I already decided against Voidfall and Nucleum.
I admit I did enjoy GWT NZ when I tried. I mean it's basically the same game but it is more open and sheep > cows so it gets some brownie points. Uprising is literally the same game except now combat is the sole focus of the game which actually makes it worse.
Yes Luke, "The top ten adequate games of the year" now there's a video title that will get folks watching your channel 😉😀 Nice to see Isle of Trains get some love, it's a good game. My Hidden Gem of the year is Mech a Dream, a fun family worker placement game.
I think some designers would come at me for that list! :P
Top # Board Game adaptations of Video Games sounds like a great video.
If I can think of ten I will certainly go for that list.
When do the cows come home? Nice list!
'The cleverness of Earth cannot be understated'. I agree with those sentiments, although I don't really think you meant what you said.
Your top 10 lists are interesting and much different from most other lists on CZcams.
Glad to hear thanks! New episode tonight!
This list will definitely make it to my top 10 weirdest top 10 list of all times! But why not …
You think 2023 was just average ? I think it was a rather strong year. Here’s one for you for during the release lull at the beginning of next year: how about a top 10 board game vintages (I.e. ranking the best release years) ? That could be quite interesting…
I think I said 2023 was fine overall, but certianly it's not an amazing year, just a half decent one.
Thanks very much for the top ten! I have added some to my wishlist. Do you need the "Extended Edition" of Hegemony to get the solo mode? That seems much harder to find. By the way, I just learned that "hegemony" is pronounced differently in the US vs UK. In the US, it is pronounced with a soft g (hu-jem-munee). In the UK, it is pronounced with a hard g as in the word "get" (hee-gem-munee).
If you get the retail version of Hegemony, you would need to “Crisis and Control” expansion as well to get the automa cards and other additional game modes.
What they said! ;-)
Hegemony was the one game I couldn't stand from 2023. Earth and Scholars are the only two on your list that were on mine.
1. Voidfall
2. Nucleum
3. GWT: New Zealand
4. Revive
5. Evacuation
6. Darwin's Journey
7. La Granja Deluxe Master Set
8. Scholars of the South Tigris
9. Earth
10. Distilled
Has Luke done a review on Distilled? 🤷🏻♂️
I really enjoy it. Not sure if he would like it or not. I like to refer to it as Liquor-Span. It's kinda better Wingspan with liquor. 🤓🥃🍶🍸
No I've commented on it on Instagram but never had my own copy to do a full review on it. I wasn't sold on it personally.
@@TheBrokenMeeple there is just too much randomness that you can't mitigate for me to rank it too highly. Fun but can be very swingy.
I did enjoy GWT NZ surprisingly given that it's just GWT with a few tweaks but I think its openness was a positive change.
I like the two Garphill games I have but I find they are just too rules-heavy to play often with my parents.
Lol, I refuse to teach anything new to my parents now, at 70+ they are far too old to take in rules.
Lastlight - I'd wait! I believe they are going to do a reprint and expansion so maybe worth getting the deluxe version. Played Raising Robots the other week - did not know much about it - mechanics kind of like Wingspan - perfer the theme - Voidfall not played but looks a game that I'd never get to the table, Frosthaven - did not like Jaws of the Lion - so I'd most likely not like. Classics has been my year games I've enjoyed Snowdonia, Moonrakers, Castles of Burgundy. New games Hegemony, Mosaic with Expansion. Got Vindication Fully Loaded sitting on the table ready to punch out.
I'm not paying extortionate levels for Last Light even on a reprint. It may look nice on the table, but the more I read up on it, the less it sounds like a stellar amazing game that deserves all the Top of the List constant buzz. Maybe it's solid, but I can't shake the idea that the designer's name is going to have some influence on this.
So far I count 8 Frosthaven/Voidfall fans! :P
What is the sound at 12:57?? Very haunting!
A box fart by the Scholars game - which isn't evident because i chose a bad time to put a picture up! :P
Hegemony is so good, it is unique and my only real issue is getting enough people willing to play the game.
Yes. Same number one here. Excellent, excellent game.
Earth is one i dont get the love for. its fine, its solid, plays quick sure. but as you described the effects of the cards, its not doing anything groundbreaking, or imo special. ive played this 2 or 3 times and now it sits on my shelf waiting to be part of a trade bundle. its one of those where i feel like im the one not seeing it, cuz im not seeing it.
Well you can't have 10 abilities triggering that all feel epic. :P
What poker chips are those for Hegemony?
The clay chips from Roxley Games.
Your number 1: Has 1st April come around already? 😅
Which player counts do you like for Hegemony?
I agree with @chadvader, it's really refreshing to see you tear into a game, sometimes I feel the game survives the ravage because you're being harsh about something others would see as a positive, but I always like your approach.
Hegemony wants 3-4 ideally.
With my videos as long as people can make their own minds up about a game based on the points I've raised, then I know I've done a good job. I'll speak my own mind honestly good or bad one way or another.
@@TheBrokenMeeple More power to you, then! Thanks.
Luke... Have you done a review of Distilled?
I thought that was a pretty big game this year. 🤷🏻♂️🤓🥃🍶🍸🏅🏅🏅
No I've commented on it on Instagram but never had my own copy to do a full review on it. I wasn't sold on it personally.
I only own Hegemony. Also played Earth, but none of the others.
And Kutna Hora mention, nice! Btw, they now have an app to manage the setup and the economy.
Yeah I noticed that, certainly will be a good help. Hell I think in my review I said "CGE should make a companion app"...... Where's my royalties? 😁
"Shove it". Brilliant.
You gotta be assertive with these trolls 😁😁
Great year for boardgaming 🎉
I'm in the same boat as you with Hegemony, I have virtual zero interest in politics, but I bought it because the thematic robustness intrigued me so much.
Hegemony and Earth certainly at the top end of my list. GWT: New Zealand, ICE and Darwin's Journey would round out the top five. (Yes, Darwin's Journey! It's a great game! With lots of theme!)
NZ did surprise me in that I enjoyed it. Being more open than GWT helps even if it is essentially the same game. Darwin's Journey I found so boring.
I was expecting Lands of Galzyr over Earthbound. I know it is a casual and peaceful affair, but it seemed (from your reviews at least) to have fewer negatives and was better produced.
It would be in my 20-11 and I forgot to mention it. It certainly is a more casual affair though so I can respect it for the simplicity and good design, but it will have its limits.
Raising Robots was probably the biggest surprise game of the year. Hope you enjoy it.
I've heard very little about it, but Nauvoo do some interesting games from time to time so when they offered to send me a copy I was intrigued.
I backed Rising Robots and to be honest I only backed it because I like robot themes - I did not pay much attention to the campaign about from a casual look at the gameplay. Played it as a two player last week and was very surprised. Mechanics much like Wingspan, gain resources, get enough to invent new Robots, which then you activate if you do that action, I like the action mechanism, scales well at all player counts. Robot pets look fun - not played yet.
I think there's a good chance you will love Septima....but know it's really Anachrony level (base not Fractures, etc) once you have the normal rules. Ignore the beginner rules - or come back to them for completion sake.
My favorite was Voidfall....but strictly as a solo game. But that was enough for Frostpunk and this just is that game for me. I played a bunch at once so I could get fluid with the setup and remember the rules.
Hegemony was nice - wish I could have the right group to play it more than once.
Last Light is overrated - but that for us who hardly touch area control (which it's really more about than 4x).
Earth is near the bottom of mine, beat as worse only by Expeditions. The game just felt monotonous. Yes, decisions but too much rinse and repeat this all seems the same.
Other tops for me: Marvel Zombies, Witcher Old World (you'd hate it, way too long), Tiwanaku, and Djinn (you should try these last two).
Last Light is definitely sounding like a potential over-rated title, but I got to give it the honest beans. Expeditions I didn't like much either outside of solo and even then only average. I'd definitely bring out Frostpunk over Voidfall any day.
I''ve already reviewed and played Tiwanaku and that was a 2022 game anyway.
DRG is an awesome game, but we've tabled it a few times now and... it's just too easy! anyone with some decent house-rules to make it even more interesting?
Increase the hazard level to 4-5.
I really want to play Hegemony. But I am almost an exclusive two player board gamer (with wife).
Yeah it's not for 2 player only.
I think the only con for Hegemony is that the game really shines with 4 players
I still enjoy it with 3 just fine, but yes it's not as great at two. I like playing a couple solo AIs
@@TheBrokenMeeple what did you think of the State after the expansion? I think it made the role much better
@@thelinuxlich I'll always use the IMF varied cards if that's what you mean.
@@TheBrokenMeeple I think the expansion also has new incidents, or it was a card that you give to other players, which gives you a boost and for them a small reward
I almost backed Leaf deluxe but decided to pass on it. A lot of reviewers say it’s too simplistic but a lot of times, those are the good games!
Yeah it's simple, it's a gateway game. Those reviewers are just so into heavy games only that anything less than a 3 hour Euro is a kids game and shouldn't be appreciated.
It would be good if you mention how many players the games are for
In the individual reviews I do, but top tens are an overview of why I like them, not full reviews of each.
In the individual reviews I do, but top tens are an overview of why I like them, not full reviews of each.
80% of these games were not even on my radar.
100% are still not on my radar.
80% have been for me
WOW! I actually agreed with you on some games…….Evenfall made my top 10.
I have played 1 game from your list but we played it together and it is #1 on both of our lists :D
the rest of the list is obviously wrong 😜
:P Nope it's all correct! But if we're going to agree on one.......... :P
5 player counts are important for families who have 3 children who game ... meaning 5 in the family all playing together.
What children are playing half of the giant Euro games that ask for 5 players though?
@@TheBrokenMeeple well, my 3 children are currently 11 to 13 ... been playing games with them for years. Current favorites include Earth, Vailed Fate, Everdale,
Terraforming Mars,
Vindication ... I expect to play Last Light as a family after the new year. Part of this is the ability of my children, part of this is we started with Moonrakers when it came out, along with Villagers and DC Deckbuilder around that same time.
I am not saying that half of the giant euro games are what is needed ... what I am saying is that game that are through of as great at 4 can be skipped over by families who game with 3 children.
This was prompted by one of the comments in the videos about 5 player games.
12:55 ...what was that 😂
Box fart. :P
@@TheBrokenMeeplesuuuure :P
I have not played that many games that came out this year. Of your list I have only played Earth. We do enjoy it a lot and it is one of our favorite games. I unfortunately have more disappointments of 2023 games then I have successes.