My Top 10 Favorite Games With Pivotal Tipping Points

[@brentjohnson7968]

Oldie but goodie… Puerto Rico. It actually has two tipping points. Early game you need to focus on a money making engine. Then spend money to build up a point engine. Then at the end just forget about engines and focus on points. Still one of my all-time favorite games due to these mechanisms.

[@tbahr123]

Dominion is so good at this and such a perfect example of the video idea that it actually made me disappointed by almost everything that followed on the list. That you can never quite tell when the right time is to start buying victory points really makes every game interesting

[@nicholasschneider6655]

I think Dominion is so much the epitome of this, that it was odd to see it so low. Space Base is also a great example. I really don't see anywhere as near a shift in Architects or Century. And I don't think Seven Wonders qualifies at all. Yes, there is a shift from engine to scoring cards, but it's no a strategic choice, it's just inherent in the Age III cards.

[@JulioR23]

Clank! There comes a point where you stop deck building and start running out the dungeon. Usually as soon as one player starts running out, the others follow.

[@jameystegmaier]

Absolutely! I love that decision in Clank.

[@Tablenauts]

First in Flight is brand new to my collection, and I look forward to learning it! This "you choose where you completely change your game" moment is felt uniquely in Final Girl, where that tipping point typically occurs after both the bad guy has leveled up a bit, and you have gathered a weapon or two and saved some civilians to boost yourself, and it becomes time to exchange blows until one is KO'd.

[@jameystegmaier]

That sounds like a great tipping point in Final Girl!

[@Kufunninapuh]

My favourite tipping point is in Inis. The first few turns of the game people are joking and talking about their day or fun movie they saw. Then all of a sudden everyone around the table realize that everyone else is a good turn from winning the game and the table goes dead silent with absolute laser focus as everyone collects pretender tokens and oh it's just such a good feeling.

[@jameystegmaier]

That's awesome. :)

[@DJDan07]

Just played Forrest Shufle on Saturday at our game day. The not knowing of when the winter cards come up is such a tension builder. Agreed with what you said.

[@brennansmith8085]

This is such a clever list idea and was a great watch A lot of my favorites are on your list and I want to add First Rat to the mix. Similarly to Ticket to ride with the end condition, you switch to thinking about points and getting your cubes out half way through the game

[@jameystegmaier]

First Rat! I totally didn't think of that, but you're absolutely right.

[@Mimi-ca]

For me, Apiary is one of those games. We have played it 4 times in the last few days and every time I play it, I love it more! From getting the resources to then making sure I have enough end game points to win, it’s just a great game and I can’t wait for the expansion.

[@jameystegmaier]

I'm glad to hear that about Apiary!

[@TheStevenPHill]

The City! When did you change your focus from paying for cards that increase your card draw to playing cards that generate points. With typically 9 turns in an average game, shifting too early or too late can make or break a victory. A classic tipping point to me.

[@gravecac9522]

Concordia is one that comes to mind. When do you start using your Senate card to hoover up as many cards as possible to gather victory point multipliers.

[@jameystegmaier]

I like that!

[@miistercrayon]

Without wanting to abstract the concept too far you can include something like Deception Murder in Hong Kong. You have one shot to J’accuse so you need to decide when the resource known as “vibe” is large enough to pull the trigger. There is however this collective safety net in that game however knowing one or two people can get it wrong.

[@linkypete]

For me, Dune: Imperium - Uprising is my favorite one that meets these criteria. Right around the last level 2 combat and first level 3 combat, players need to make a pivotal shift from deckbuilding and gaining influence, and instead start committing to combats. If someone with worms wins any of the last few combats, they're almost guaranteed a win. Anyone without sandworms has to make sure they have the troops or intrigue cards to stop that from happening, securing some victory points in the process.

[@jameystegmaier]

That's great! I thought about Dune Imperium/Uprising for the list, though my plays of them have felt like a race to get points from the very beginning.

[@davidnicolau3927]

I think a simple filler game that exemplifies this concept very well is Knarr, surprised it didn't show up on any list, maybe it's too recent? it's all about building and tearing down your tableau (crew cards), and I think it's very good. Another game I love that maybe fits the theme is Space Station Phoenix, where you have ship cards in the beginning that are your actions, but you must discard them to get the precious metal to build the space station which gets you the most points, so as the game progresses you must decide to let go of your powerful actions at the right time - do it too soon, and you'll be scrambling to do anything in the end-game, do it too late and the game will end before you can build enough to win.

[@jameystegmaier]

I can definitely see that with Knarr! I haven't played Space Station Phoenix.

[@grantfraser5430]

That's a great choice, Space Station Phoenix. Couple of points, actually. The diplomacy action, are the bonuses sufficient or do I need more? Partially driven by the bonuses others are seeking makes for some great tension. But I love the dismantling mechanic. It almost seems like the game is working in reverse, instead of building up more options (worker placement spaces). But it's really resource management, do you have enough materials to race for the end of the game. But at the same time, it's a race to get the best station pieces along the way, creating more tension. What can I say, all around great game.

[@stevevids1]

I also love this element of First in Flight. But recently, as someone else mentioned, I have been enamored with Knarr and the ongoing decision whether to continue building your resource-gathering crew, or to lose all or some of them for the sake of some bigger points.

[@andysiegel725]

Valley of the Kings is one of the best examples I can think of. It’s a deckbuilding game in which the cards you add to the deck all help improve your abilities in the game, but to actually score points, you need to entomb those cards (losing them for rest of game). Therefore, there is a wonderful tension of building a great engine, then having to decide when to pivot and start making your powerful cards score points. Super fun!

[@jameystegmaier]

I've heard great things about the tipping point in that game!

[@andysiegel725]

@@jameystegmaieryeah, I think you’d find it very satisfying! Unlike Dominion where it feels bad to draw the points card into your hand, VoK gives you the positive feeling of gaining cool cards into your engine then making the choice when to start deconstructing that engine for points.

[@christopherleary7934]

I completely agree with you on VotK. That pivot point of what/when to entomb is so crucial.

[@codymortensen8691]

I just kept thinking of suburbia deciding when to switch from focusing on income to focusing on population/ vp

[@markespiridion5314]

I recently got First In Flight. After hearing your thoughts on the game, I got more excited to try it out the soonest possible. Hopefully, I can attend a game night soon.

[@jameystegmaier]

I hope you enjoy it!

[@grantfraser5430]

I think one of my favorite games to bring out for a relaxing interactive game is Guildhall. I say relaxing but there's a fair amount of attacking that goes on. You're collecting sets of characters to be turned in for most of the points you will earn in the race to 20. But if you're one short of a complete set, remove one instead because the actions you take are stronger with more of that character in play but you can only use that strong activation by adding to the set. 😅The weaver/farmer combo is a great example. How long do you keep something like that going? No worries, if you have a strong set going someone will be happy to attack it down to a mediocre size. It's kind of s small tipping point but it's prominent throughout the game, not just the final stages.

[@jameystegmaier]

Thanks for reminding me of this one--it's been quite a while since I played it.

[@reversereverse7349]

Valley of the Kings would’ve been my nomination.

[@levenzaha]

Res Arcana - when to go for place of power vs keep building up engine Downforce - when do you spend that big 8 movement

[@jameystegmaier]

Great examples!

[@redstachegames]

I haven't played First in Flight but it's been at the top of my want list for a while. Splendor falls a little short in this category for me because from the times I've played the winning strategy is to go straight for the level 2 cards and you don't "waste time" on the level 1 cards. If you play that strategy there really is no switch because you just go after level 2 the whole time. Dominion for me is the go to game for having a hard switch of building cards to buying VP.

[@jameystegmaier]

That's interesting about Splendor--I've never played that way (though I also hardly ever win :) ).

[@simonmcg23]

Yep I love this in games. I have called it ‘cadence’ to myself. Two that I love that were not mentioned.. Orleans. That tipping point when you no longer need your scholars and start retiring them off with other characters to the beneficial deeds board. Such a great pivot Luxor. That pivot when you sense someone is going to get to the tomb and every turn is suddenly just about getting your explorers as far along the tomb as possible.

[@jameystegmaier]

Two great examples! I like the word "cadence" for it.

[@knupug]

It's been a while since I played it, but I'm surprised you didn't include Viticulture in your SMG list. I find that I usually don't do well in the game because I don't find the right moment to slow down the building up of my winery and ramp up the making and selling of wines.

[@jameystegmaier]

Perhaps it's the way I play Viticulture--I typically try to start making grapes early and often, and I gain points from wine in the middle of the game and at the end of the game.

[@knupug]

@@jameystegmaier Maybe that's why I don't do well. 🤣

[@joshestes6427]

Well i think this list has the most matches with games in my collection as I have 9 of 10 (11/14). I guess i really like the games witha tipping point haha

[@jameystegmaier]

Nice! :)

[@darrensmith8487]

Yunnan has a neat mechanism where at the end of the round you generate points, but you decide how much you take as points and how much you take as money, which you will use in the next round's bidding. When you shift from mostly money to points and an interesting part of the game, as it can also push one of the endgame triggers. (If I remember that all correctly. It's been a while.)

[@jameystegmaier]

That's neat! I'm not familiar wit that one, so I appreciate you sharing.

[@darrensmith8487]

@@jameystegmaier coincidentally, the dice tower just reviewed the reprint...

[@StevenStJohn-kj9eb]

I'd nominate Terraforming Mars. There are many cards in the deck that are engine-building, but at some point you have to discipline yourself to stop building your engine and start focusing on ways to earn points, such as spending your money building cities or taking cards that terraform.

[@jameystegmaier]

Absolutely! That's a great pick (and one I haven't played in far too long).

[@devnull1377]

Lost Cities is basically Tipping Point, the Card Game. Theres almost nothing to the game BUT tipping point decisions.

[@ColonelKurtz]

Bunny Kingdom, I suppose, has tipping points in the way you decide when you will play a building. Once you place the building, you cannot move it, which makes it harder to decide. In any case, the scenario that primarily comes to mind is: Do you play buildings (castles, resources) in the first or second round to start scoring a few points early, even though there is a possibility you may not be able to improve that fief later; Or, do you hold off a round, with there being the possibility of a bigger scoring opportunity developing elsewhere? Not sure if that fits your definition of "tipping point"...

[@jameystegmaier]

I think that's certainly related to this topic (though I generally think about games in this category in terms of a shift from engine building [e.g., not points] to victory point accumulation).

[@ColonelKurtz]

@@jameystegmaier right. You're not really building an engine, in that none of your "income" can be spent on anything other than points. If the game had you collect resource income for each type at the end of each round, and then allowed you to spend those resources on something other than points, sure.

[@guilhermeduarte4137]

Jamey, could you make a video about Witcher Old World? I found it fantastic and the cards with choices reminded me of Scythe.

[@jameystegmaier]

Already done! Please search my channel for "Witcher" and you'll see it. :)

[@phaedrus3299]

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