The best board games of 2022, selected by The American Tabletop Awards

The American Tabletop Awards, an annual celebration of the very best new board games, returns Tuesday for the fifth consecutive year. The United States’ alternative to Germany’s Spiel des Jahres, the event sorts entries into several new categories that are judged by an independent panel of industry experts. Together, these 20 titles represent some of the best works of art and design around. The winners are extraordinary examples of their kind and would make an excellent addition to anyone’s collection.

This year’s categories are the same as last year and include titles best for early gamers, an assortment of casual games, more traditional strategy games, and complex games for veteran players.

We’ve listed the recommended winning and runner-up titles for each category below. Most are available for purchase online – or at your friendly local game store.

Boo

Boo is the grand prize winner in the Early Gamers category, narrowly beating kites And praying mantis. Designed by Scott Brady with illustrations by Curt Covert, it really captivated us even as a prototype at last year’s Gen Con. The final product, published by Smirk and Dagger, is now widely available. In the surprisingly strategic little 3-in-a-row game, you herd cats and kittens together on a small, soft bedspread. Most rounds play in just 20-30 minutes, making it the perfect warm-up for a long evening around the table with friends.

Boo

Prices taken at time of publication.

• 2 players, from 10 years old

• Running time: 20-30 minutes

• Similar games: Shobu

Turing machine

Turing machine (pictured above) wins this year in the Casual Games category, by a margin Next station: London And Cat in the box. Designed by Fabien Gridel and Yoann Levet, with art by Sébastien Bizos, the game is literally an analog computer made of cardboard – similar to the original calculator invented in 1936 by mathematician turned cryptanalyst Alan Turing.

The computer itself is the focus of a competitive deduction game, where players ask a proto-computer for clues. The game offers over seven million problems to solve, all facilitated by a handy online app.

Turing machine

Prices taken at time of publication.

• 1-4 players, age 14+

• Running time: 20 minutes

• Similar games: decode

Planet unknown

Ryan Lambert and Adam Rehberg Planet unknown is the surprise winner in the Strategy Games category. Featuring a rotating game board with art by Yoma, Planet unknown is a space game about the exploitation of habitable worlds beyond our solar system. Players take turns developing their own personal exoplanet and dodging the star phenomenon while building their engine to support future settlers. Runners-up are the highly regarded Return to the dark tower And The Guild of Merchant Explorers.

Planet unknown is currently out of stock, but you can sign up to see when more may be available using a Google form.

Carnegie

Xavier Georges’ Carnegie, featuring art by Ian O’Toole, wins this year’s coveted Complex Games grand prize. The historical economic simulation asks players to “recruit and manage employees, expand your business, invest in real estate, produce and sell goods, and create transportation chains across the United States.” It also sprinkles in some historical figures that the corrupt monopolist-turned-philanthropist Andrew Carnegie would likely have encountered on his way to becoming the richest man in the Gilded Age. Players can also spend their wealth to gain favor – just like the infamous robber barons of old.

Runners-up in this hotly contested category include Frost harbor And My father’s job.

Carnegie

Prices taken at time of publication.

• 1-4 players, from 12 years old

• Running time: 90-120 minutes

• Similar games: Brass: Birmingham