The 18 Most Popular and Influential Games - An Intro to the Board Game Renaissance

[@Sreehammer]

Great video. I think since Everdell released the quality, quanity, and artistry of the board game have really increased. The hobby has grown more in the last 5 years than ever before

[@alwayswannarun]

I kind of feel like scythe and kickstarter is what really began escalating component quality.

[@theperfectboardgame]

Oh, 100%. There are no right answers and I could have used Scythe, especially since I think Stonemaier games (and designer Jamey Stegmaier), who also produces Wingspan, is way more influential than Starling games, who kinda keeps their focus on Everdell. The more I think about it, the more I see your point. However, at the time, I chose Everdell for two reasons: (1) my statement about how it impressed me is true and it was the first time I had seen a component that wasn’t even necessary except for aesthetics: the tree. (2) family games is my niche so I think I have a bias in general to feature family games (even unintentionally, as this is not a family games video)

[@theperfectboardgame]

Originally, I had three segments in this video that I cut for time: one about Brass, one on 18XX games, and one on Kickstarter. I decided to cut the segment on Kickstarter because I see it as the present influence in games and I thought it prudent to save my conclusions until I can look back on its influence through hindsight.

[@Sreehammer]

I think the fact that Everdell and Wingspan are family games is significant as it brought new people into the hobby (including adults who weren't into the typical euro/battling/space themes)

[@bethezebra]

Do 👏 more 👏 stuff 👏 like 👏 this 👏 🎉 💯 Also, thanks for your contributions to the hobby. Really love your rating system - very practical.

[@theperfectboardgame]

Your comment, with all its celebratory emojis, made me smile. It definitely got the point across. 👍🏻 💯

[@bethezebra]

​@@theperfectboardgame awesome. you're killing it. 🔥

[@Flip5ide]

Man more of this, your channel has really carved out it's own identity, proper breath of fresh air! Happy new year by the way.

[@theperfectboardgame]

I am very grateful for you. Thank you for being such a huge supporter all this time and even watching the videos and encouraging me while the channel was still emerging.

[@davidgarza9731]

This was cool. I wonder if we could eventually get more board gaming 101 type videos

[@theperfectboardgame]

I have an idea for another one. Your reaction (as well as many of the other encouraging comments) are definitely making me prioritizing that one next ;or very soon).

[@nourishthenewyou3251]

I found this very informative. I stumbled across you channel and watched a few of your videos as I have began to get my board games out again and want to explore further. Thank you from NZ

[@theperfectboardgame]

I’m happy to hear that! Thank you from an American living in Japan!

[@jxthenetwork8894]

Man citizen Kane is still a banger. Everyone that says it’s boring hasn’t watched it and is just regurgitating what they heard tv character say about it.

[@theperfectboardgame]

I haven’t seen it in years, but I remember truly enjoying it.

[@florjangjolaj4436]

Excellent work, stellar script and visuals!!! Loving these videos, excited for when you get the recognition you deserve on youtube.

[@theperfectboardgame]

Thanks for noticing the effort that goes into the visuals. Behind the scenes, it’s pretty interesting what’s going on. I’m trying to learn something new about my toolset with every new video. For this one, it was the first time I built a 3-D model for my transitions: the colored meeples. Anyway, I’m glad it doesn’t go unnoticed; thanks for your encouraging comment.

[@OwentheSamoan1]

Thank you for the details! Very well thought out and delivered. Much appreciated.

[@theperfectboardgame]

Thank you for the feedback! A video like this is a lot of work, I’m really happy to hear you liked it.

[@biyukun]

That was really interesting! As a huge fan of Mage Knight and someone who's played Gloomhaven, I didn't actually expect you to say Mage Knight was a precursor to Gloomhaven. I guess they are very similar, but they feel so different to me because their game arcs are so different--mainly because you don't really level up or get new cards during a game session. But yeah it's that marriage of euro and dungeon crawler, for sure. Also, I'm realizing how much of an amazing year for me that 2011 was. I LOVE so many games that came out that year.

[@theperfectboardgame]

A lot of this is my personal perspective on the game hobby. Mage Knight blew my mind, and it came out much earlier, however, I have no evidence to suggest it influenced the designers of Gloomhaven. I just think Chvatil has contributed more to the hobby than just Codenames and I wanted to bring attention to that.

[@fuzzmaster4157]

Congrats on almost 9k subs. Great content as always. I tried adding a game rating to perfectboardgame but it wasnt in the database. Monster baby rescue by vladmir suchy

[@theperfectboardgame]

Thank you so much! I’m getting excited. I think this video has some potential to hit a wider audience. I added Monster Baby Rescue, but have never played it so it isn’t rated yet. When I get home from my travels, I will see if I can find your email address and give you editor access to TPB so you can add your own games.

[@blazing_KC]

Cool video! Indeed board games just keep getting better.

[@theperfectboardgame]

I love this hobby. Have you ever attended a convention? What a fantastic time that is, seeing all the new games as they come out. Highly recommend.

[@gabechase9912]

You make great videos! For the sake of friendly discussion (and for bragging rights if I call it) I think the next big thing for board game are dexterity or physical skill games (like Tokyo Highway). What do you all think?

[@theperfectboardgame]

I’ll bite. I think dexterity games have grown increasingly innovative and have attracted more attention, but I think they deviate from the core nature of the part of the hobby that I define as a “board game”. For example, I would not consider ping pong, foosball, or air hockey to be “board games” even though they are played on a table. By comparison, asymmetric game play, cooperative play, simultaneous play, all of these are elements that keep within the confines of a “strategy board game.” In short, while I would agree that you are right that dexterity games are becoming more common, I would argue they are a sub-genre of the hobby, rather than a contribution to it.

[@rothanarae]

I just love your hoodie and that I can spot an Isle of Cats tile, a camel meeple, the birdfeeder from Wingspan. Very cool. This was a nicely thought out video, very interesting, and I really enjoyed it. I'd be delighted to watch more board game history videos about designers, types of games, types of mechanics, etc, and all with examples of games that do those things really well. One food for thought I'd like to leave you with though is that I personally find that you are too close to the camera resulting in me feeling like my personal space is being infringed on (obviously not literally) and also a little motion sick because it really exaggerates any movements.

[@theperfectboardgame]

Thank you very much for your feedback, both the warm and the cool feedback. I appreciate what you are saying about being too close to the camera. I will try to do a little better but if you watch a future video and you don’t notice a big difference, it is because I am working in a very small space.

[@TARAdactyl56]

I loved seeing the progression of how board games evolved. Very cool!

[@davidgreene6607]

Axis and Allies in the 80s was a game changer for me coming from Risk. Then Twilight Imperium took it up another level. The original TI only had cardboard chits and not plastic miniatures.

[@theperfectboardgame]

I should have done more research into TI 1st edition. Thank you for the correction. Personally, I was late to the game. I began playing Risk in 1997. But at that time, I was only 12. We were playing Risk because it was the coolest game any of us owned. I didn’t know about TI, but we would have lost our minds for a chance to play it had we known what we were missing.

[@ekurisona663]

i love your categorical analysis rubric!!! ty!!

[@theperfectboardgame]

Thank you. It has gone through a few iterations. I’m happy to hear positive feedback.

[@bleble6666]

Excellent video, I would gladly watch more videos on board game history.

[@theperfectboardgame]

I have a few more ideas I’m developing. I appreciate the affirmation… I will keep chugging away at it!

[@mirankramar3111]

Brilliant video, good job!

[@theperfectboardgame]

Thank you very much!

[@Lcsmu]

This is a whole class!!! Awesome

[@theperfectboardgame]

I’m glad you liked it!

[@hiho8084]

Thank you for this. I enjoyed this informational video.

[@MistyCozyGaming]

Great breakdown!

[@theperfectboardgame]

Thanks! This was a super fun video to make.

[@MistyCozyGaming]

@theperfectboardgame you definitely did some research & put in some effort on it. I love your channel and it feels like a hidden gem. I'm excited to see the domino effect of what you're doing & how your channel grows over the next few years.

[@kelliealanis9485]

How about dueling type of games like Dice Throne, Unmatched and Summoner Wars???

[@theperfectboardgame]

That would have been a worthy mention!

[@kelliealanis9485]

@@theperfectboardgame boardgame is not all about euros and all the weird stuffs.. it can also be 1v1 competitive fun games

[@theperfectboardgame]

That is objectively true, however, on this channel, that is what boardgames are about. I hardly play any 1 v 1 games and the only games I get very excited about would be classified as euros.

[@Mestrespanhol]

Thanks.

[@theperfectboardgame]

You’re welcome!

[@tonimills1055]

Do you have a direct contact please as i wish to ask you some advice regarding understanding the type of board games my daughter likes so i can get similar ones. Thank you.

[@theperfectboardgame]

It’s on the about page for my channel, also on my web app.

[@mikerasnick3988]

You spelled Catan with a K. Oops!

[@nipzie]

Great choices, but Ocarina of Time is still a great game. That's like the Castles of Burgundy of video games. It can look ugly but it's fun as hell

[@theperfectboardgame]

I did not mean to imply that it wasn’t. I’m actually playing through it now with my kids.

[@nipzie]

@@theperfectboardgame no offence taken!