Rahdo Runs Through►►► Top 30 Games of 2023 (preliminary edition)

Help Rahdo Run: / rahdo ❤️ Code of conduct: conduct.rahdo.com 🙂 And now...
A video listing the best games of the 2023 according to Rahdo
The R&R&R Show #80 (Top 16 games according to everyone on the channel): • Top 16 Board Games of ...
The 2023 reviewer compliation meta geeklist: boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/32...
0:00 Intro
1:27 2023 Games Yet to be Played (planta nubo, daybreak, earthborne rangers, mythwind, ancient knowledge, guild academies of valeria, globetrotters, arborea, delta, darwin's journey)
4:07 The R&R&R Show ep 80
5:00 No reimplementation rule reminder
5:47 30. Oranienburger Kanal • Rahdo Runsthrough►►► O...
boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3...
6:52 29. Rats of Wistar • Rahdo Runsthrough►►► R...
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8:31 28. Forest Shuffle • Forest Shuffle - why d...
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10:29 27. Kutna Hora • Kutna Hora | Rahdo Run...
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13:28 26. Aldebaran Duel • Rahdo Runs Through►►► ...
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14:44 25. The ART Project • November '23 Recluse -...
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16:35 24. Books of Time • Books of Time | A Rahd...
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17:49 23. Printing Press • Printing Press - one s...
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19:03 22. How Dare You? • 24 New Games in 79 min...
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20:18 21. World Wonders • World Wonders | A Rahd...
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22:01 20. House of Cats • 22 New Games in 88 min...
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23:08 19. Ahau: Rulers of Yucatan • Rahdo Previews►►► Ahau...
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24:22 18. Forbidden Jungle • Rahdo Runs Through►►► ...
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25:17 17. Apiary • Rahdo Runs Through►►► ...
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26:55 16. Sky Team • Rahdo Runs Through►►► ...
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27:51 15. Humanity • Rahdo Runs Through►►► ...
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28:55 14. Faraway • Faraway - a rare ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐...
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30:18 13. Point City • Rahdo Previews►►► Poin...
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31:03 12. Rauha • Rauha - one of this ye...
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32:07 11. Wild Tiled West • Rahdo Runs Through►►► ...
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33:03 10. Nimalia • Nimalia - one of the b...
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34:20 9. Barcelona • Rahdo Runs Through►►► ...
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35:23 8. Rebuilding Seattle • Rebuilding Seattle - b...
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37:07 7. Archeos Society • Archeos Society - ther...
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38:31 6. Evacuation • Evacuation | Rahdo Run...
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39:40 5. The White Castle • Rahdo Runs Through►►► ...
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41:38 4. Sagrada Artisans • Rahdo Previews►►► Sagr...
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43:10 3. Galileo Project • Galileo Project | A Ra...
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45:27 2. Evenfall • Rahdo Runs Through►►► ...
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46:55 1. Earth • Earth | A Rahdo Runthr...
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49:04 Outro

[@waynec7740]

I like the presentation style of the video. Having you in the corner to read your facial expressions and the stats of the game (especially the player count) helps me quickly know if I should investigate the games further.

[@chrisgesell8752]

Yes, I like this presentation. Though I thought my phone screen was messed up and first and tried to fix it!

[@rossparker01]

I prefer when he shows one of his runthroughs in the background while talking about it. That way I can see what it looks like, and get reminded of what the board and components look like while he describes how the game plays. I'd rather see visuals than just stats and a cover.

[@FrancoisLandryCorbin]

Merry Christmas, Richard. As for the presentation, I really like the addition of the BGG header to get more quick infos about the games.

[@rahdo]

i don't know why this didnj't occur to me years ago!!! :)

[@terry3733H]

coz you’re a people person not a data person 🤣🎉🤗 travel +walking videos’re healthier! I have a standing desk

[@MrSuperHappyPants]

I absolutely love having the bgg stats displayed, as I'd be checking those regardless. What would be better, though, is to ALSO get a quick glance at the basic layout of the game on a table, just to get a feel for the relative quantities of components, how much room it takes up, and the basic feel for the artwork. In any case, love your channel, and as always I got a few recommendations here of 2023 games I hadn't even heard of. Thanks Rahdo, and happiest of New Year's to you.

[@george_castle]

Hi Rahdo, I actually do appreciate this format with additional info (stats, designers, etc.). Thanks for the video, have fun!

[@c.w.2000]

Merry Christmas Rahdo and Jen! Rahdo, I enjoyed taking a stroll with you around the town, and I amazed at how much you can talk about games with basically no notes. Wishing you safe and relaxing travels.

[@RickKoeppen]

So happy to see some Barcelona love! It's my favorite game of the year, and I haven't been seeing it too often on other lists.

[@LeScorpionmasque]

Really honoured to be part of this selection! ✈

[@hogar8792]

Merry Christmas! Love the presentation, often times I watch these lists on my phone and have to pause and check bgg for length, weight etc so this is perfect.

[@stowcreek1999]

Thanks for this! And I like your format here as well. … even the small interruptions and your concerns for noise etc (which didn’t bother me at all)

[@waldemarcordero5932]

Rahdo, Feliz Navidad from Puerto Rico and a happy new year 2024!!! I respect and appreciate your hard work. This format was genious, I love it. Thanks for this compilation of best games of 2023.

[@NordOwl7]

Love the format, easy to get a good feel of the game between your descriptions and having all the bgg info

[@desertgamers6065]

Enjoyed the list. Thank you. To answer your question on the format. I like seeing you and the BGG page but missed seeing what the game boards and pieces looked like.

[@JJ_TheGreat]

25:36 I like the presentation style. I can look and see all the information about the game. The only other thing which would be nice (but not required) is a/some image(s) of the game itself!

[@shantelalbert7151]

Format is great, love it and thank you for sharing all these wonderful games and your thoughts 💕

[@lohengrindrd]

I really enjoyed the walkaround format. And great list - I just picked up Galileo Moon recently on the recommendation of you and Shea.

[@fernandodiaz9242]

Thanks as always Rahdo, I liked this presentation a lot !!! Happy new year for you and your loved ones

[@2bearnest]

Finally bought Earth based solely upon being your #1. Thanks!

[@Luke_L]

Merry xmas! Hope you and Jen are having a great trip! I haven’t played a lot of 2023 games, but several from your list are on my shelf of opportunity :) I do appreciate the variety of opinions on games out there. I backed Earth and played it a couple times before passing it on, so I guess I’m with Amy and Maggie on that one. It’s a good game, and I can appreciate why people like it. But my game group was sort of let down by it perhaps due to high expectations. Highest on my list to try are probably Evacuation, Evenfall, Apiary, White Castle, and Earthborne Rangers. Hopefully I’ll find the time to try those in 2024 :D See ya for the next list!

[@tantrumhousegames]

thanks for the list! haven't been able to play Evacuation yet. Merry Christmas!

[@SparkyHelper]

Thanks for the Geeklist link!

[@MrSomesayso]

Love the Videos Rahdo...you seriously add so much richness to a hobby that I hold near and dear to my heart. Thank you, sir!

[@SteveAMcPherson]

Nice listing, wishing you both a Merry Christmas! 🎁❤

[@maxpower8973]

Big fan of the format. Keeps me from having to open up BGG on my phone to look it up myself 👍🏿

[@joshuaolsen7317]

Love the bbg stats in the video. And didn’t mind the jerk on the motorcycle or the dogs, and liked that I could enjoy your vacation with you lol.

[@danwc]

Great list! I think the optimal presentation format would be: show the BGG page for 15-30 seconds while you introduce the game, and then show a brief snippet of gameplay from your runthrough to remind watchers of the board, artwork, etc.

[@rahdo]

i agree that would be idea, but omg so much more work. this video already took me hours to put together, and with only my tiny little weak laptop on the road, i litearlly don't think i could render out a more complex video like that!

[@rodregorego]

Hi Rahdo, so glad to see How Dare You on the list among so many amazing games, even though it's a small party game! Thanks for your love for our tiny trivia game! 😊

[@johnsparegrave5996]

Forest Shuffle is super balanced, many ways lead to victory. Love it. Favourite of the year for me.

[@chuckm1961]

Super balanced? So the many, many, many, many comments about imbalance on BGG are incorrect?

[@rahdo]

It's most likely that yes, they are incorrect :)

[@briancline4173]

Amen to the "hubris of gamers" rant during the White Castle entry! Without naming names we all know who these reviewers are (cough, cough). Some are just plain contrarian, almost to the point of parady, in order to get more views and clicks and I especially hate when they throw around terms like "trash" in describing aspects of the game they do not like. It is so disrespectful to these genius or near-genius level intellect designers who are drawing upon many years of experience and hundreds of hours of playtesting their own designs. Most of these games need to be played at least 3-4 times before you begin to develop winning strategies and it is not the game's fault that they struggled with low scores after only a play or two.

[@LizGamerGirl]

Feliz Navidad Rahdo! Hope you are having a great day and get to enjoy some time with your loved ones!

[@chrislizzt5156]

I like the presentation, Merry Christmas

[@atonaltensor]

Hi Rahdo! I don’t know how you walk around in public while also thinking about what to say, and also while centering the camera on your head and showing the beautiful scenery! Amazing multitasking

[@GKEK]

I love seeing the stats on screen while you talk to it. :)

[@ianwilz1979]

We are currently playing through Ticket to Ride Legacy (our first and possibly only legacy game). I know some of the things that happen during the game will not be usable again but a lot of it will still be in play. We have 2 games remaining and I can see a lot of added parts that will be in play for true games, plus you have a unique game board that you can still play.

[@LaraBlancoSantos]

definitely like the new picture in picture view. Thanks Rahdo

[@stowcreek1999]

And I agree… These “Backseat Game Designers” who think that found something broken within a game or two, drive me nuts… and have a 98% chance of being wrong.

[@kathryneastman4221]

The dog poop bush is known by that name because of the woody fruit it produces that look like dog poop :) Enjoy your travels and travel safe. Merry Christmas!

[@rahdo]

we did actually sniff the leaves of the bush and detected no odor! :)

[@machineFa8]

HI Rahdo, nice new fresh approach is always good.

[@ianw0ng]

merry xmas, rahdo! wish u a bigger success in the new year.

[@rahdo]

thank you, and you too! :)

[@jacobschmidt8422]

Love the presentation style.

[@aManoftheMeeple]

Awesome list. Earth is also my #1 game of the year this year.

[@enriqueromero506]

Merry Xmas Rahdo. Enjoy the beauty of baja. If you stop by Loreto I highly recommend you to visit Coronado Island.

[@rahdo]

on the list it goes!

[@ricke1732]

Merry Christmas, Rahdo!

[@rahdo]

Filiz navidad! Prospero ano y felicidad!

[@ricke1732]

Thanks! And by the way, I love seeing the BGG stats on screen while you discuss them. Please keep doing this

[@voltaire66]

Love the bgg stats!

[@undersci]

As you talked about your love for Stan Kordonskiy's games, I wondered if you've played Nova Roma, his latest design, which gives Trajan vibes for its theme and minigames. The action selection grid in Nova Roma is amazing/excruciating and I suspect you'd love it.

[@rahdo]

omg i didnj't know it was a stan deisgn. it's on my wishlist because i saw it on some other folks' top 10 (was it board gaming ramblings?) but now i'm going to have to bump it up to the next level!

[@MichelC2000]

Thanks for this thorough world tour of 2023 board games 🙂 Really appreciated! Also thank you for the list of lists master list 😅 Very interesting. Now the question. After looking at these best of the best of lists and wondering, even after just a year, what remains in play, I am realizing that all these “amazing” games could just be a flash in the pan 🎉 So, in your estimation, which ones of these top 30 would you bet will still be talked about in 12 months? Thank you 🙏

[@rahdo]

tbh i have no idea what people talk about so that would be a tough call. i've never understood that metric. i know tom vasel talks about a lot, but my feeling is who cares if no one is talking about a game you love. many of the games in my top100 aren't talked about by anyone, but that doesn't lessen my enjoyment of them. :)

[@jadam42]

I like seeing the BGG stats, but I like more seeing images of the game to give what you’re talking about more context.

[@stephenerdel5441]

Great list! If Shipyard were a new game, where would it land on your list?

[@rahdo]

probably #14 or 15 :)

[@Mussar523]

Thank you for your content! I haven't heard anyone speaking about Planta Nubo from Uri Rosenberg. I find it to be a very interesting game. Why isn't anyone mentioning it? Have you played it?

[@rahdo]

amy & maggie did a great runthrough of it on the channel: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5TKlXerhtxroLc :)

[@MaruMaruMaruMaruMaruMaru]

I like the stats but also add pictures of the game setup to get a sense of it

[@sidneyleejohnson]

Cripes, I don't own a single one of these and my collection is huge by most standards. I think it goes without saying that we just can't keep up with all the great games being published. Which is where your public library needs to step into the fray and expand their collections departments to cover board games (and not with a handful of "token" games) so we can "check them out" and not have to devote all our disposable income to keep up.

[@rbruba]

Great video! Regarding your comment on Galileo Project and how you should leave your audience wanting more: have you done a video on games that do in fact end too quickly?

[@rahdo]

i have not, and that would be a tough topic for me because i tend to welcome a game that leaves me hanging :)

[@harril3131]

I think having the stats of the game visible is good, but what I'm missing is visuals of the games. It makes a big difference to me how a game looks and also makes it easier to understand your description when I can see the board and components and things. So I'd prefer the old style.

[@thomasdaning5317]

I like the presentation just fine, especially learning a bit about the place you are visiting. However, after the intro, I would prefer you find a stationary location. The walkabout makes me a bit dizzy. Other than that, nice job. Thanks for the list!

[@kimberlycelaya1895]

Welcome💙 🤩

[@windyhillbomber]

Love this format Richard…but a truck load of extra work for you in post

[@rahdo]

yes it is! normally i just set up a bunch of tabs in chrome and switch between them as i talk about the games, but my tiny weak laptop isn't up for that now that i'm on the road, so i'm having to do a lot more editing! :)

[@FestaNoYoutubiu]

Hansa Teutonica deserves the credit for "worker bumping", not Stonemeier.

[@nithrania]

Hey Rahdo, great list, thank you. One fun fact - Vladimír Suchý who designed Aldeberan Duel is NOT the same Vladimír Suchý who designed the Evacuation. They're two different people with the same name, and they're both the game designers. :) EDIT - apologies, it IS the same guy, the "other" Vladimír Suchý designed another game from the same publisher (Dino Toys). My bad!

[@rahdo]

WHAT!?!! that is not true, is it?

[@nithrania]

Oh apologies... my bad. Aldeberan Duel WAS designed by the same Vladimír Suchý. But there's "another Vladimír Suchý" who designed the game called "The Base" for the same publisher (Dino Toys). He said his dream was to have his name on the most famous board games in the world and his dream actually came true... although not the way he imagined. :) That's why he changed his name on the box cover to Peter Czerny, which translates as Peter Black (Peter Schwarzer) - that's a reference to the famous old card game. :)

[@rahdo]

just saw your edit to the first post. i was freaking out!!! :)

[@rossparker01]

I replied to one of the top comments, but felt like making a separate comment as well. I prefer when you show one of your runthroughs in the background while talking about it. That way I can see what it looks like, and get reminded of what the board and components look like, and how much space it takes up on the table while you describe the game play and mechanisms. I'd rather see visuals than just stats and a cover.

[@vitasmor]

Surprised not to see ancient knowledge on the list, that totally looks like a game you would like

[@rahdo]

it was in the "still need to play this" section :)

[@Awol991]

A couple of good things from BGG. The community report of best # of players. Also, the playing time and weight, are not from the box but from the community so nominally 'better' values than self reported by the game developer.

[@rahdo]

Oh I thought play time was taken from the box usually!

[@JJ_TheGreat]

Dog poop bush, lol 😆

[@Domi_Asmo]

I agree on the White Castle, but that's also what really frustrated me with the game: I felt like it ended when the engine was JUST going. In general I like it when a game gives me that feeling of "I want to go on" at the end, but here it was almost too much of not enough. :(

[@rahdo]

well you'll definitely feel that way about galileo project then :)

[@mariuszkania9947]

Hi. Rahdo. Instead of BGG stats I would rather see a photo or two of a game itself (main board) so that I can recall the game and follow your opinion.

[@JJ_TheGreat]

41:19 But the playing time on BGG says 80 minutes!

[@rahdo]

sometimes bgg lies! :)

[@AndrewWatsonChangingWay]

I prefer the How Dare You? box art to that of Concordia. I'm glad to own Concordia Venus...

[@rahdo]

concordia box wasn't too bad (i've met the lady it's modeled on in real life, she's very nice). but concordia salsa... not that was an ugly box! :)

[@megashub]

Re: Darwin's Journey -- were you referring to the Fireland expansion?

[@rahdo]

honeslty i'm not sure. i just dimmly remember reading somewhere (or seeing someone mention in a video) that one of the expansions (that i never saw when i played the prototype) SIGNIFICANTLY improves the gameplay. but i don't know which one. OMG, i just looked at boardgamegeek, i had no idea there were some many expansions and mini-expansions available!!!

[@megashub]

Yeah! Don't feel bad though. I own it and I didn't realize it either! 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@JJ_TheGreat]

32:33 And every time I hear Wild Tiled West, I think of Sierra West, for some reason!…

[@rahdo]

i think of the will smith song :)

[@JJ_TheGreat]

@@rahdo Oh yeah! Wild Wild West! Now I will think of that, too!

[@GlorifiedGutsyGaming]

Globetrotting I admittedly had numerous production issues with, but it’s straight luck and set up and tear down are too long for what it is.

[@rahdo]

i haen't tried the final version, but my prototype globes came apart and snapped together super easily! but things change i suppose. tbh, if the setup is too long, i'm sure i'll just leave the globes out on the shelf all the time becuase i remember the game being potential top10 candidate (when played at the highest complexity level)

[@dominicseibert3048]

I just don't get the Earth love. I mean, to each their own, but I just find it so sleepy. Lots of tableau/engine-builders pack so much more excitement for me, yet this is getting near-universal praise. Maybe it's the theme, I don't know. Then again, I'm the guy who thought Seinfeld was a lame show, so... I don't think of myself as a contrarian, but here we are, I guess.

[@rahdo]

i did love seinfeld too :)

[@dominicseibert3048]

Ha!

[@dennisgreen3757]

Looks like you went from living on a foreign island to living in an RV in the US is it that much cheaper?

[@rahdo]

living in an rv can be crazily expensive. we're spending as much time as possibel camping on public land to keep costs down, which creates all sorts of challenges. if we wantd our lives to be easier, we'd be staying a full campgrounds, but then our costs would skyrocket! :)

[@dennisgreen3757]

hopefully you don't have medical expenses I am sure it was cheaper in the island you lived on for medical treatement @@rahdo

[@Fahdingding]

Earth 🌏

[@JJ_TheGreat]

40:18 …Or those that don’t like sliders!… :-

[@johns6177]

Noticed none of your top 30 are best at 5. Any reccs from 2023 for that player count ?

[@rahdo]

the only 2 games i've played with 5 are Earth and ART Project, and i can confirm they both work great at high player counts with no significant slowdown. i suspect all of the games on the list that support 5 would work well with five, but i can't personally confirm!

[@lostinsim]

No Scholars of the South Tigris? 😮

[@rahdo]

nope, wasn't happy with that one

[@lostinsim]

@@rahdo What’s your favorite of their medieval trilogies? Viscounts? Wayfarers?

[@rahdo]

i think viscounts is probably the best because i have the fewest problems with it :)

[@deanmccrossen2766]

No Kinfire? 🤔

[@rahdo]

it was high on kimberly's list i know! kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5uWaodjbtSpebssi=c0YMl17NkZPH4IKw :)

[@fyrnice25]

Wow. Earth really fell flat for us given the hype. Good game if played on board game arena. Table management and scoring drags it down in the physical version. I wouldn’t suggest an hour play time… unless online.

[@rahdo]

i've played it with 5, where 2 people not having played, and it took around an hour. sorry it didn't work for you though :(

[@JJ_TheGreat]

Isn't it called "Globetrotting", not "Globetrotters"?!

[@rahdo]

yes, it is! i am a child of the 70s so hard to get the basketball team out of my head!

[@cgrice1971]

No Ticket To Ride Legacy?

[@rahdo]

we've only played the first 4 sessions, so i couldn't comment. but tbh based on what we've seen so far, there's no way this would rank in my top 30... :(

[@sylwesteradam759]

I am writing here on the subject of pronouncing the name Suchy - and other non-English names. It should not be pronounced like "sushi" or "sutchy" - the first one means "sushi", the second, in Slavic languages, means "bitchy". Here is the guide: pronounce "SU" like in "SOU-venir" and "CHY" like in "HI-dden". Sorry to be so forward, but we live in the 21st century, and each of us has a phone in our pocket, and thus has access to all the knowledge of this world, including the pronunciation of words. Our ancestors dreamed of such possibilities, so it is a shame not to take advantage of it. Besides, disregarding the pronunciation of foreign names only adds to the stereotype of the lazy American who can only speak English - well, unless he is the child of immigrants. Just a few words for your consideration...

[@EltWilder]

Foooooooooooooooo chooooooooooooooo.