2023 Golden Elephant Award Winner announcement & Round table discussion!

[@samhugo5870]

On your website the winners of 2020, 2021 and 2022 are still missing! Also on the BGG about the golden Elephant Award.

[@hisnard]

I’d gladly watch a video about past winners, revisited.

[@odditie]

Would be really cool to have a 10 year retrospective as part of the golden elephant each year.

[@phlogiston6718]

My apologies. What game does Shrey mention at 10:48 that Derek repeats at 11:05? Thank you.

[@Heavycardboard]

boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/389102/bier-pioniere

[@alyssagambone5544]

Bier Pioniere - boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/389102/bier-pioniere

[@kbvt]

I believe it's Bier Pioniere

[@phlogiston6718]

Danke!

[@matthews1507]

This short list is fascinating, because it's clear that the primary bias of the HC jury's taste is toward maximum player interactivity, but then there is also a solo-only game. Of these nominees, I've played Hegemony (one of my biggest backed-KS disappointments) and Horseless Carrriage, neither of which I have any great desire to return to. I would try Evacuation and Age of Innovation (although I don't like TM and think GP is good-but-not-great); Mr. President holds no appeal. On the other hand, both Voidfall and Nucleum are in my top 10 games period, never mind 2023.

[@spike2439]

I havent played any of these but i have really enjoyed watching you all play them and talk about them

[@cactusjam5702]

Great discussion and a great list of games. I picked up Hegemony for our game group after watching you guys play. We like it a lot and it will prolly hit the table again next weekend.

[@RedEyedGhost1]

Hegemony is a very deserving winner, but I agree that it's daunting to teach/get to the table. Mostly it is the best game of 2023, mostly because while it's listed as a 2023 game it didn't actually deliver until late January of 2024 - 1822PNW is by far my favorite game that is on the list of 2023 games (but yeah, it should be a 2024 game). Arborea is probably my second favorite of the year - the boosting for more actions with spirit, the timing of removing your workers from their tracks, the ecosystem building and creature scoring.... yeah most of this has been done before, but it just blends extremely well for me, as I love games that you pull off crazy combo turns (Darwin's Journey allows for this as well and is another top five of the year for me). The White Castle and Nucleum would round out my top five, with 18 India getting honorable mention (such a weird 18xx game, feels more like a race to be the first to pay with a phase IV train than it does a true 18xx, but still very fun). Kutna Hora is right there for me too. I love Voidfall too, but it's another one that's tough to get to the table, as I have zero desire to actually teach it. Evacuation is quite good, but didn't grab me that much. Age of Innovation is amazing, but I think I agree with JT that Gaia Project is still my favorite Terra Mystica game - if I'd never played TM or GP it would probably be my #1. Horseless Carriage fell so flat for me, felt like an inferior combination of Antiquity and Food Chain Magnate, with even more fiddliness. Mr. President and Weimar just aren't my kind of games. 2024 is going to be a hell of a tough year to rank for me: Unconscious Mind, Inferno, Sankore, Terminus, Shackleton Base, Inventions, Rise & Fall, Daitoshi, 18SJ... In the top 500 of 2024 there's at least fifteen other games that could make it into my top five when I finally get the chance to play them.

[@RaduStanculescu]

2024 feels like a crackimg year, yes.

[@andyleighton3616]

Most of the HC crew are American (and US based). Do you think that Mr President works as well for those of us elsewhere who have less familiarity and less identification with the US Presidential elections? Obviously mechanically it will be just as sound, but for a lot of games the thematic paint does make a difference as to how desirable the game is to play.

[@Vadimaster]

Hegemony was my game of the year. No doubt.

[@dr3putt62]

I have played World Order….it’s pretty good!

[@dr3putt62]

Played 5 of 6 not too shabby

[@ilqrd.6608]

Evacuation has an amazing premise and concept but man I hated the upgrades on the player boards and the structures you build with smileys etc. felt completely underdeveloped

[@dr3putt62]

For me: Hegemony Mr. President Weimar Horseless Carriage Age of Innovation

[@mussoliniheadkick]

I'm glad Mr President won. Interesting theme and mechanics, a unique and memorable experience every time. Surprised Hegemony was so high on so many of the Elephant crews lists. I thought it had a novel theme but was mechanically average, and only becomes interesting at full player count (but then takes too long for what it is). I don't think it will have the longevity of Mr President.

[@mattiasbjorklund5398]

A sologame? For me I don´t rally care how good the mechanics of the game is. The whole point of playing boardgames is lost in a 1-player game so couldn´t never be considered game of the year. The theme doesn´t help either, unless you are american at which point it might be a bonus.

[@jurds216]

Solo gaming is an entire sub culture of board gaming. People play solo for a multitude of reasons and there are tons of games that are made just for 1 player. It may be that your reason for gaming is purely social, but others play games for different reasons ie challenging your mind, learning a game to teach, being socially isolated or not having people to play with at the present moment. In summary, don’t yuck someone’s yum.

[@Heavycardboard]

When 1822 won the GEA, it had sold 120 copies. The best game is the best game, even if it doesn’t appeal to everyone. That said, I appreciate you taking the time to write up your opinion and for watching. Cheers!

[@mattiasbjorklund5398]

@@jurds216 If you want to challenge your mind I would sugest variant soduku, there is a brilliant youtube channel for that #crackingthecryptic. I realise some people like to play solo and these days almost all games have a solo mode, som eare better then others and I usually play them to get a feel for the game and the mechanics before I teach others. I don´t think however, that a game that is solo mode ONLY could be considered the best game of the year.