The 6 best board games of the year so far
The first part of the year is always slow for tabletop releases. The deluge begins in the summer, once convention season begins, and then continues through the holidays. Despite the transition period we are currently in, a small collection of exciting new games have emerged. These six titles contain innovative ideas, creative adjustments or clever twists on existing systems.
This list is not ranked. Instead, titles are presented in alphabetical order.
Image: CMON
Publisher CMON Games is best known for its huge, sprawling miniature games. Dune: War for Arrakis is no different, offering an epic two-hour battle for control of Arrakis. One player takes on the role of the Harkonnens, while the other wields the power of the Atreides. You gather herbs with harvesters, maneuver troops like the Fremen and Sardaukar, and try to fulfill age-old premonitions.
This game is very asymmetrical and plays in the same way as the previous board game by designers Marco Maggi and Francesco Nepitello, War of the Ring. Just like that Lord of the Rings epic, Dune: War for Arrakis is a rich and evocative experience that portrays dramatic moments that could have appeared in the book. While this is primarily a two-player game, it does support up to four players in a team format. This game has arrived at a perfect time, being released alongside the fantastic new movie, and sitting upright on the table like a Fremen on top of Shai-Hulud.
“Gloomhaven meets Honey, I shrunk the kids‘ is quite an example. In Gloomhaven: Buttons and Bugs, a single player controls a shrunken hero in search of a solution to his plight. The magic spell can only be removed by Hail, the hermit of Aesther known for her exploits in the original Gloomhaven storyline. Along the way, you’ll battle insects and obstacles, ultimately either finding success and lifting the curse or suffering defeat before you have a chance to establish your heroic legacy.
This Gloomhaven spin-off was originally a fan-made print ‘n’ play called gloom. It has been further developed and reworked into this new product, officially released by Cephalofair Games. It is cheap, compact and easy to play as it is a dedicated solitaire experience. The fact that it is able to broadly capture some of the Gloomhaven spirit is remarkable, and it’s quite a nice piece.
Cooperative adventure game Mythwind is unusual because it is very relaxed and chill. Players work together to build a new city in the magical Mythwind Valley. Magical creatures, strange characters and captivating story encounters lie scattered throughout the area, waiting to be discovered. The aim is to explore the surrounding countryside and build the city at the same time. The player characters develop over time and become more skilled in their specific professions.
The central conceit of Mythwind is that it doesn’t end well. In the absence of a fixed final, players can continue playing the game indefinitely. Eventually the content may be exhausted, but there is no hard limit or forced end time. The story elements interact with player discovery and the evolving city. Seasons and characters change over time, bringing new quirks and moving moments. This is a game without the typical pressure restrictions, but one that allows you to wander around at your leisure.
In Spark Riders 3000, up to four players become the crew of the Spark, an advanced spacecraft with advanced AI. Your job is to traverse dangerous sectors and deliver cargo to the various corners of the galaxy. During your journey you will encounter aliens, pirates and various phenomena. You will overcome these challenges through teamwork, conflict and puzzle solving.
Spark Riders 3000 is a cooperative adventure that combines tower defense with story and mystery. A large part of the game is app-driven, because various encounters unexpectedly come your way. At certain points in the game you’ll need to make skill checks or make important decisions, each of which affects the progression of the story and the outcome of the challenge. This is a streamlined and efficient design that is easy to learn and internalize, but it provides a creative environment with a seductive underlying tension as the application keeps you engaged and focused. It is a very modern and exciting experience.
Photo: Charlie Hall/Polygon
Star Wars: Unlimited is known. Rather than pushing for innovation, it combines concepts from several other collectible card games, applies the Star Wars license and produces a very lively head-to-head for both competitive and casual play. The surprising thing about this new CCG is that it’s so damn good.
Make no mistake: this is not an overly deep or rich design. But for a 20-minute experience with virtually no wasted mechanics or effort, it allows for creative deckbuilding and subtle combinations. Even the ready-made starter decks can withstand many plays. This is an extremely cheerful card game that rose in popularity and stole a lot from it during its initial release Disney Lorcana‘S Thunder. While it may be difficult to find boosters right now, more product is coming and we fully expect it to continue its steep rise.
Wyrmspan
It’s no surprise that the sequel is a huge success Wingspan is such a thoughtful and purposeful product. Wyrmspan trades birds for dragons, forcing players to clear cave systems to house their mythical shrines. The game plays much the same as its predecessor, retaining the core system of drawing and playing cards on your personal board. Your creatures still lay eggs, provide special abilities when placed, and sometimes provide end-game scores.
This new approach benefits players from top to bottom, and it all has to do with the sincerity given to the setting. It would be unfair to simply call it a reskin, as different systems have been tweaked in different ways to add slight touches of story and environment. Clearing caves through exploration, heeding the whims of the dragon guild, and raising small fry all help weave a larger story. The box even includes a separate reference manual detailing each of the fictional dragon species in the game. It’s completely committed, and that attitude is reflected in the various aspects of the gameplay.
You can read our full review of it Wyrmspan here.
