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Gameplay: Pandemic's balance of risk and reward keeps it at the top spot as one of the best board games overall. Is it better to keep disease levels down so that they don't spread from city to city in the short term, or should you play the long game and go all-in on developing cures? There's no right answer. There are a couple of answers to this question, and the one you get depends on your criteria. If we're talking about the #1 board game in terms of sales, it would have to be chess. This old-timer shifts roughly 3 million units each and every year, eclipsing almost everything else on shelves. From Gone Girl gaffer to Oscar winner: In conversation with David Fincher's cinematographer Erik Messerschmidt
You want something with a little more depth: Even though it's still accessible, Betrayal has more meat on the bone in terms of strategy and narrative. It feels like a step up over classic family board games, and not just due to its more mature theme. Oops, I've turned Baldur's Gate 3 into a soap opera RPG because I can't stop flirting with everyone Wordscapes is the word hunt game that over 10 million people just can't stop playing! It's a great fit for fans of crossword, word connect and word anagram games, combining word find games and crossword puzzles. Not to mention all the gorgeous landscapes you can visit to relax yourself!
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Gameplay: First things first - be aware that there is a learning curve here. While our review called it "the most accessible complex wargame," Root is still a complicated beast that requires some investment. That effort is worthwhile, though. Persevere and you'll discover one of the best strategy board games out there; it's a poster-child for everything this hobby is capable of. You're expecting something for families or kids: Despite being based on the iconic, family-friendly movies of our childhoods, Villainous is actually a competitive strategy game with oodles of depth. It's not a good fit for children as a result, and won't jive with family-members who are expecting something casual either. You love deep strategy games: Root may look cute and cuddly, but it's ruthless. The tactics on display here are some of the industry's best, and because each faction has its own rules and objectives, there's plenty to get your teeth into. You want a game for very young kids: Most will be able to get a grip on Sushi Go without much fuss, but younger children may struggle to think ahead enough. It relies on a basic understanding of math as well, so keep that in mind before buying for very small members of the family.
You don't like randomness: This game relies on randomly-drawn board tiles and cards that'll dictate what happens next. If this kind of unpredictability doesn't appeal, Betrayal probably isn't for you. If you're shopping for children, board games that are easy to understand but endlessly replayable are king. We've yet to find one that does it better than Sushi Go, and it's always one we recommend when asked.You don't like pressure: Tensions run high in Pandemic (you are saving the world, after all), so anyone that doesn't like pressure in games won't enjoy this one. It's a gripping but intense experience. The game's rapid-fire nature makes it a winner with little ones that don't have much patience, too. Matches don't take long and are easy to set up, so you can happily run an encore without much trouble. You're looking for a game you can learn and play together long-term: Because each character comes with their own unique strategy, strengths, and weaknesses, this is the sort of game that benefits from repeat playing over a long period of time. That way you can really get to grips with your chosen villain, and how best to use them. However, if by 'popular' you mean "something we think is really awesome", our vote goes to Frosthaven. This Gloomhaven follow-up takes everything that was great about the RPG and improves it, leaving us with a strong game of the year contender that the community has been very excited about. You can read more in our Frosthaven first impressions guide. What is the most interesting board game? You don't like lots of talking: There are no two ways about it - Cosmic Encounter is a 'talky' game. If the idea of having to negotiate each round is a turn-off for you, best steer clear.
Monopoly isn't far behind, though. Over the course of its lifetime (some 80-odd years), it's managed to sell well over 200 million copies. That's impressive by any standard. Sure, its theme hits closer to home nowadays. But there's something cathartic about giving a pandemic the boot… even if it's only in this tabletop world of tokens and cards. This retro classic has been around for years, and that's no surprise; its blend of negotiation and rule-breaking is still just as gripping now as it was in the '70s. If you'd prefer to work with rather than against each other, this co-op classic comes highly recommended thanks to an emphasis on teamwork and nail-biting gameplay. It's challenging enough that winning is extremely satisfying. It's also worth persevering with. Honestly, there's nothing quite like the combat of this series. Trying to figure out the best combination of actions to use at any one time is a compelling mini-game in itself, and juggling your limited resources (you'll lose cards as you progress) makes for a challenging puzzle. Seeing as you'll have to balance helping your allies with hunting loot that can improve your hero, there's also a sizzling unease to keep you on the edge of your seat. Can your friends be trusted in a pinch, or are they more interested in helping themselves?
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It's not overly aggressive, either. Unlike so many entries on this list, there's less emphasis on screwing each other over. Although it's frustrating when a rival claims a route you were going for, there's usually an alternative with which you can salvage all that time and effort. As such, this is an option we're more than happy to break out if things can get heated on game night. Like our review mentions, it's "the perfect option for newcomers and tabletop veterans alike." Your kids hate math: Because you have to understand basic math to work through Sushi Go, it won't be a good fit for very young children or those who are practically allergic to sums. Not that this is only for kids, of course. It'll be a hit with all ages, and is a great warm-up game before moving on to something with more depth. Some of these cards are worth a lot right away, others provide multipliers, and yet more require you to collect a set for bigger payouts.This means that there are multiple approaches you can take on your path to victory. (Just don't forgot about Puddings, which are only scored at the end of the game and may tip your score over the edge.) Our dedicated writers and freelancers have tried every game on this list, so the team only features recommendations that it really believes in. This is the result of multiple playtests with a variety of players, not to mention extensive hands-on time with the product in general - if we haven't played it half to death and don't love it, it's not getting in.
You're expecting it to be as deep as standard Gloomhaven: The original Gloomhaven (not to mention its sequel, Frosthaven) defines 'sprawling fantasy epic.' Indeed, it'll take you months to finish. Even though Jaws of the Lion has plenty of depth, it's nowhere near as big. If you're expecting it to be on par with its predecessor, you'll be disappointed.
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Alan Wake 2's minimum specs have disqualified my gaming laptop, and now I question the financial viability of PC gaming
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