Definitely fewer favorites from 2020. In my collection, some good ones you may not have played are; 1) "Hansa Teutonica: Big Box", a highly competitive euro route building building race that ends just when you think you're finally building your momentum. This one has a lot of player interaction as you intentionally get in the other players' way because you get to bring back more units on the board when they kick you out. 2) "Beyond the Sun" which doesn't look like much on the table, but combines worker placement and area control with a race to develop tech in order to control which worker placement actions will appear. 3) "Furnace" a smaller stripped down engine builder with a fun auction mechanic (where the loser still gets something). 4) "Pan-Am" a fun, lighter route building game with an, admittedly thin, retro/historical theme where you're a small airline trying to build up commercial routes before being gobbled up by the industry giant, Pan-Am. I should also mention "Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy" which has many elements I like (exploration, economic engine building, growth at a cost), but the randomness of dice rolling for combat when the rest of the game feels so strategic really needs a better way to mitigate bad die rolls beyond upgrading ship components. It's a good game, but I feel it could be better if combat was less random.
I can only find six games released in 2020 that I have played. This is how I would rank them; 1. 7 Wonders 2nd Edition (I never played the 1st Edition so I counted this). 2. Gloomhaven - Jaws of the Lion 3. Unmatched - Cobble & Fog 4. Back to the Future - Back in Time 5. Marvel United 6. Unmatched - InGen Vs. Raptors
Dune Imperium. Pandemic S0 - My favourite Pandemic by far. Lost Ruins of Arnak. Oceans. And Gloomhaven JotL should be in there somewhere, but almost all of my experience with that was with digital version. I think the Oceans App is free to play, so anyone can try the basic game vs AI.
10. Furnace 9. Here To Slay 8. Viscounts of the West Kingdom 7. Warp's Edge 6. Mysterium Park 5. Pandemic Legacy: Season 0 4. Fallout Shelter 3. Tranquility 2. Dune: Imperium 1. Under Falling Skies
My top 10... One exact crossover! One normal crossover. 10. New York Zoo 9. Tranquility 8. Project L 7. Beyond the Sun 6. 15 Days 5. Paper Dungeons: A Dungeon Scrawler Game 4. Sagani 3. Marvel United 2. 7 Wonders Second Editions 1. Lost Ruins of Arnak This month I played Dwellings of Eldervale for the first time. Too bad I didn't give it a rating yet. Otherwise, it could maybe have taken a place somewhere here. I want to honourably mention: "Merv Heart of the Silk Road". Maybe it's something to try out (for JT), because he mentioned heavier games like Kanban EV and Dwellings. I'm not sure, but maybe this is also a hybrid game? I mean, it feels like a bunch of boardgame mechanics, and you can choose on which one you want to focus as a player. There is route connecting in the desert, going up on a mosque track, area control in sultan palace,... I couldn't win this game, if I didn't focus on something specific. Not sure if this is what JT means with hybrid game.
As usual, JT's selection hits it outta the Park(I dunno what's up with Sam's; COVID induced fever follies, I guess) For example, JT's #10 N.Y. Zoo (& apparently #5 according to that Expert Editing by...well...yeah) and #7 Under Falling Skies are two that I have in my vast 32 game Collection...I really need more games. And #2 Kanban EV is on my "Must Have when Lottery is Won" List. And AGREE, LRoA (own) is overrated or just not "My Stein of Beer" as they say....maybe after I get Lost Expedition expansion, that may change. So, JT...WTG...our tastes align again. Just goes to show ya, "Geniuses of Same 'Verse, All Others are Perverse"
I do not agree that this is a down year as far as the top games. Mine are: 5 Praga Caput Regni, 4 Furnace, 3 Dune: Imperium, 2 Dwellings of Eldervale and 1 Forgotten Waters. Maybe not as deep a year but exceptionally good games at the top.
I'm curious if you guys have tried My Island? I have it on my shelf but not sure if I should keep it. My game group loved My City. If you have played it, is it any good?
I’m sorry! I am not above making mistakes, but often cutting and pasting these lower thirds, for some reason, encourages the program to keep the original texts during rendering no matter how many times I be checked that it’s right.
Definitely fewer favorites from 2020. In my collection, some good ones you may not have played are; 1) "Hansa Teutonica: Big Box", a highly competitive euro route building building race that ends just when you think you're finally building your momentum. This one has a lot of player interaction as you intentionally get in the other players' way because you get to bring back more units on the board when they kick you out. 2) "Beyond the Sun" which doesn't look like much on the table, but combines worker placement and area control with a race to develop tech in order to control which worker placement actions will appear. 3) "Furnace" a smaller stripped down engine builder with a fun auction mechanic (where the loser still gets something). 4) "Pan-Am" a fun, lighter route building game with an, admittedly thin, retro/historical theme where you're a small airline trying to build up commercial routes before being gobbled up by the industry giant, Pan-Am. I should also mention "Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy" which has many elements I like (exploration, economic engine building, growth at a cost), but the randomness of dice rolling for combat when the rest of the game feels so strategic really needs a better way to mitigate bad die rolls beyond upgrading ship components. It's a good game, but I feel it could be better if combat was less random.
Great mentions, David! Thanks!
I have not played any of these. I do own Furnace
fully agree on Nidavellir!
Love both the game & the artwork
I can only find six games released in 2020 that I have played. This is how I would rank them;
1. 7 Wonders 2nd Edition (I never played the 1st Edition so I counted this).
2. Gloomhaven - Jaws of the Lion
3. Unmatched - Cobble & Fog
4. Back to the Future - Back in Time
5. Marvel United
6. Unmatched - InGen Vs. Raptors
Great list there! Thanks for being here!
Dune Imperium.
Pandemic S0 - My favourite Pandemic by far.
Lost Ruins of Arnak.
Oceans.
And Gloomhaven JotL should be in there somewhere, but almost all of my experience with that was with digital version.
I think the Oceans App is free to play, so anyone can try the basic game vs AI.
Thanks for being here!
10. Furnace
9. Here To Slay
8. Viscounts of the West Kingdom
7. Warp's Edge
6. Mysterium Park
5. Pandemic Legacy: Season 0
4. Fallout Shelter
3. Tranquility
2. Dune: Imperium
1. Under Falling Skies
Just borrowed Under Falling Skies from JT to do a play through…looking forward to it!
@@SamHealey6 Yeah, that's a good one! Especially when you start getting into the different modules.
Well, there may be Hope for Sam, yet. Under Falling Skies is a GREAT game; it was one of my first games when I was Reborn into the Hobby.
My top five would be lost ruins of arnak, dune imperium, birdie the disc golf board game, the few and Cursed and Marvel United.
Thanks for watching!
@@SamHealey6 Lost Ruins is better than Dune Imperium because I don’t need an 80 dollar usually out of print upgrade pack to make the game look good 😄
Prefer the wooden cubes😄
My top 10... One exact crossover! One normal crossover.
10. New York Zoo
9. Tranquility
8. Project L
7. Beyond the Sun
6. 15 Days
5. Paper Dungeons: A Dungeon Scrawler Game
4. Sagani
3. Marvel United
2. 7 Wonders Second Editions
1. Lost Ruins of Arnak
This month I played Dwellings of Eldervale for the first time. Too bad I didn't give it a rating yet. Otherwise, it could maybe have taken a place somewhere here.
I want to honourably mention: "Merv Heart of the Silk Road". Maybe it's something to try out (for JT), because he mentioned heavier games like Kanban EV and Dwellings. I'm not sure, but maybe this is also a hybrid game? I mean, it feels like a bunch of boardgame mechanics, and you can choose on which one you want to focus as a player. There is route connecting in the desert, going up on a mosque track, area control in sultan palace,... I couldn't win this game, if I didn't focus on something specific.
Not sure if this is what JT means with hybrid game.
Thank you for the video.
JT, Nidavellir has a poker chip expansion (not metal) however a much better experience vs the cardboard coins & tray
As usual, JT's selection hits it outta the Park(I dunno what's up with Sam's; COVID induced fever follies, I guess)
For example, JT's #10 N.Y. Zoo (& apparently #5 according to that Expert Editing by...well...yeah) and #7 Under Falling Skies are two that I have in my vast 32 game Collection...I really need more games.
And #2 Kanban EV is on my "Must Have when Lottery is Won" List.
And AGREE, LRoA (own) is overrated or just not "My Stein of Beer" as they say....maybe after I get Lost Expedition expansion, that may change.
So, JT...WTG...our tastes align again. Just goes to show ya, "Geniuses of Same 'Verse, All Others are Perverse"
You said it boss. I am forced to agree!! JT
Thanks, Eric…(gives a thumbs up that’s barely visible from under this huge bus…)
@@SamHealey6😂
The graphic says JT's number 5 is New York Zoo
I do not agree that this is a down year as far as the top games. Mine are: 5 Praga Caput Regni, 4 Furnace, 3 Dune: Imperium, 2 Dwellings of Eldervale and 1 Forgotten Waters. Maybe not as deep a year but exceptionally good games at the top.
100% agree. Excellent games came out this year. Quantity was lacking
Yeah, I get that there were definitely some good games, hence the lists that we made. But the pool of exceptional games was definitely limited.
But I'd rather have 12 great games than 40 pretty good ones. 😊
@rexology_bg Sooo True!
I'm curious if you guys have tried My Island? I have it on my shelf but not sure if I should keep it. My game group loved My City.
If you have played it, is it any good?
I haven’t played it, yet. I was trying to finish My City before moving on to My Island. Might have to break that oath and tear into it.
But the Oath of Knizia hasn't been broken in decades! What will be the consequences on the spacetime continuum?!
I'm not buying it until I finish my city
& YEA....what happened to Praga Caput Regni from the Lists?.....
Haven't played. Didn't draw me in
Def haven’t played.
I liked the video!
Thank you!!
JT's #5 says, "New York Zoo" in the text overlay. lol Oops.
Crossover with myself! JT
I’m sorry! I am not above making mistakes, but often cutting and pasting these lower thirds, for some reason, encourages the program to keep the original texts during rendering no matter how many times I be checked that it’s right.
@@SamHealey6 I wouldn't stress it... things happen. :-)