The 30 Best Board Games in my Collection (2023 Edition)

In this video I'm presenting the 20 best solo board games of all time as of 2023 (in my opinion). Note that I'm only including games I have actually played. I plan to revisit this list annually - next year, this list could include other board games in my top list.
00:00 Introduction
01:02 Honorable Mentions
01:14 #30
01:40 #29
02:00 #28
02:20 #27
02:41 #26
03:04 #25
03:25 #24
03:41 #23
04:02 #22
04:20 #21
04:42 #20
05:01 #19
05:18 #18
05:36 #17
05:57 #16
06:15 #15
06:39 #14
07:00 #13
07:22 #12
07:41 #11
08:01 #10
08:26 #9
08:48 #8
09:11 #7
09:35 #6
09:59 #5
10:22 #4
10:38 #3
10:59 #2
11:16 #1
11:39 What are YOUR most favorite board games?
12:48 A Huge Thanks to all my Patreon Supporters!
13:03 Special Message
-----
Support me on Patreon: / sirthecos
Support me on Linktree: linktr.ee/sirthecos
Join my Discord Server here: / discord
Get in touch with me on Twitter: / sirthecos
Get in touch with me on Instagram: / sirthecos
Mail Contact/Business Inquiries: [e-mail]
Check out my collection on BoardGameGeek: boardgamegeek.com/user/Sir_Th...
If you enjoy this content, like the video and subscribe to my channel! 😎
Intro and Outro Music: www.bensound.com

[@gogolaura]

Thank you for this video. You have listed many of my favorites, and many that I want to try now.

[@SirThecos]

I'm so glad to hear that! ☺️

[@Lattentreffer]

Awesome list with a lot of games I have to take a closer look for sure. Thanks!

[@SirThecos]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video! 🙃

[@Gothbrooks420]

great list! had a lot of games that other content creators never mention as well as the hotness (of course) thanks for putting this together.

[@SirThecos]

I'm glad to hear that! ☺️

[@KBrandes]

Great list! Many of my favourites. Subscribed!

[@SirThecos]

Awesome, welcome aboard! ☺️

[@jasonc2784]

Great list! Varied too!

[@SirThecos]

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it! 😁

[@Slw1111]

Great list! Love your channel!

[@SirThecos]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@daem0nfaust]

Lost Ruins of Arnak has been my favorite since I first fell in love with it on BGA. Not only does it contain two of my favorite mechanisms: deck building and exploration; but it also has the right amount of weight, as in the cognitive load.

[@SirThecos]

It's a really good one! Have you played the expansions?

[@sebafius]

Great Video! Looking forward to play Lands of Galzyr in the future.

[@SirThecos]

I'll bring it next time we meet up! 😁

[@bugscheese]

Thanks for the fun video. I never tire of viewing top boardgame lists. Artemis Project is a game I badly want to try. I know it would be an instant favourite.

[@SirThecos]

It's a mean game but a really good one! 😁

[@chalts]

An excellent list! I recently scored a copy of Mechs vs. Minions. Really excited to dive in. Some of my favorite games from the last year or so that you didnt have are Thunder Road: Vendetta, just a really fun chaotic dice chucker. Also Planet Unknown, a great polyomino drafting game that plays so smooth with simultaneous drafting thanks to the lazy susan component.

[@SirThecos]

Thunder Road: Vendetta is a game I'd really like to play some time! 👀

[@scootletawny3886]

Wonderful collection

[@SirThecos]

Thank you! 🙃

[@Kra04]

Hi Sir Thecos! Thank you for recommending Floriferous! I was so curious after watching your video, I had to purchase it! Haven´t tried it yet but very much looking forward to. It looks so beautiful! I love board games with a solo variant, especially relaxing games :) Cheers!

[@wendyisgrowinginwisdom6350]

I really enjoy Floriferous - lovely relaxing game, solo or small group. Beautiful artwork!

[@SirThecos]

It truly is a great game! 🙂

[@MrJurents]

What a great list 👍

[@SirThecos]

Thanks! 🙃

[@scyldscefing3913]

Great games, every one. Thanks for sharing.

[@SirThecos]

Thank you for the support! ☺️

[@pellepan88]

I love your videos!

[@SirThecos]

That's amazing! ☺️

[@wendyisgrowinginwisdom6350]

I like your favourite list criteria: multiple plays, ideally at various player counts should be declared when reviewing games. Thanks for the inspiration - adding Bloc by Bloc to my wish list. I enjoy Floriferous (solo or with a partner), and Fabled Fruit - a great evolving set collection game. I am looking forward to playing Mystic Paths (better than Codenames Duet IMO), We Care (better than Pandemic IMO), Ecosfera, Flock Together, Near and Far Amber Mines coop expansion, Aftermath (mice surviving apocolypse), and Meadow. Too many games, not enough players - I'm joining a local boardgame group!

[@SirThecos]

Thank you! 🙃 Fabled Fruit is really cool - a great concept! Mystic Paths, We Care and Flock Together I need to check out - I don't know those. 🧐

[@BobbyJuno]

You have great taste! I own 9 of these and a few are on my wishlist.

[@SirThecos]

Awesome, thank you! 🙃

[@ChrisLowResDream]

thank you so much ❤

[@SirThecos]

No worries! ☺️

[@danieltaylor3755]

Amazing game collection there!

[@SirThecos]

Thanks! 😁

[@BetterHalfReviews]

Great list of games! I really enjoy Roam, Everdell, Artemis Project, Keep The Heroes Out, and Castles of Burgundy. There’s several other games you mentioned that I’ve heard great things about but have never played, like Roll Player and Dale of Merchants.

[@SirThecos]

We do live in great times for board gaming fans. 😊

[@maxtardif4959]

Thanks for talking about Earth and I'm glad you like it!

[@SirThecos]

I really do! 😊

[@polischristodoulou4357]

Thanx for the video mate,made me want to grab games that never got my attention before or even worse i never wanted to play before

[@SirThecos]

Glad to be of help! 😁

[@Kamion991]

Great video! My favorite games atm are Ark Nova, Terraforming Mars, On Mars, The Gallerist, Eldritch Horror, Root, Dune Imperium, Cascadia, War of the Ring and Spirit Island.

[@SirThecos]

Great selection! Do you have a number one game?

[@Kamion991]

@@SirThecos that's a hard one, because every game has it's own thing which I really like. Maybe Ark Nova or On Mars 😅

[@SirThecos]

😁💯

[@johnricker7064]

Great List and I would have to say my are 1. Barrage 2. Rallyman / Rallyman GT / Rallyman Dirt 3.Brass Lancashire 4. Carson City (Big Box) 5.Castles of Burgundy 6. Ginkgopolis 7. Mystery of the Abbey 8. Deception Murder in Hong Kong 9. Woodcraft 10. Cat in the Box

[@pudicio]

Barrage is just so good

[@SirThecos]

Very cool list!

[@SirThecos]

@@pudicio I really want to try Barrage some time!

[@monikakerntke1125]

I like your videos and I agree to your list. I love land of galzyr, because it is not punishing. Keep up your good work!

[@SirThecos]

Thanks, will definitely do! ☺️

[@JJ_TheGreat]

LOL 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 I prefer games which are punishing - which give you a challenge!!!! 😉

[@SirThecos]

@JJ_TheGreat 😅

[@evandercaldwell9993]

New to having boardgaming as a hobby! :) My Top 4: 1. Blackout Hong Kong: Such a great mix of mechanics, I find this by far the best Alexander Pfister game!! (So far I have played Great Western Trails, Maracaibo and Port Royal) Just awesome and very unique mechanics, this combination of mechanics is just SOOOO good!! It`s a GREAT expert game and it´s very sad, that there haven`t been any expansions, because with expansions this game would be PHENOMENAL (sorry for the captions, but I really like this game) 2. Beyond The Sun: Again, like the one above, a board game, that mixes different mechanics so well together. The best way to introduce worker placement into a game in my opinion. A mix of Worker Placement / Engine Builder / Area Control, so original!! 3. Concordia: Perfectly balanced game, I would enjoy it even more, if it would be even more complex, with more different cards/actions and resources and if it would have modular maps and more ways to upgrade!! But in terms of mechanics this game is great!! 4. Rattus (with expansions): Such a fun game, perfect to play with a group and it`s so mean!! 😂 Perfect to play with people who like mean games, that aren`t too complex! I`d say this is a perfect game for a fun night! I hope this game will become more popular in the future, because it can rival Small World ANY DAY!! I love original and unique mechanics!! Maybe there`s a game that you could recommend to me, knowing my Top 4?? :) Thank You for that great list, I am very inspired by your list and will check some of those out!! :)

[@SirThecos]

Oh, I need to check these out! 👀

[@danoleary7401]

Just love your channel and all you videos.

[@SirThecos]

Thank you so much! ☺️

[@voyager5333]

Great top 30!

[@SirThecos]

Thank you! ☺️

[@PBMatthews254]

Uh oh. No bargain quest?

[@SirThecos]

It just slightly dropped off the list. 😬

[@Table.Fables]

Great video! Games I think you should try if you haven’t already: Burgle Bros, Robinson Crusoe, Dune Imperium

[@SirThecos]

I have played Burgle Bros. and like it but I don't own it yet! Dune Imperium I really want to try some time - I keep hearing great things about it. 👀

[@Table.Fables]

@@SirThecos Dune Imperium is a must play for sure. Hope you get a chance to play soon :)

[@SirThecos]

Me too!

[@shark_bacon]

I love your videos! Always so inviting! My top 10 1. Gloomhaven 2. Everdell 3.zombicide 4. Rising sun 5. Nemesis 6. Colt express 7. Smash up 8. Boss monster 9. Mysterium 10. Citadels

[@SirThecos]

A very cool list! There are some games on there I'd like to try myself some time.

[@JJ_TheGreat]

5:00 I really liked my one (1) play of Parks. I like how tight and constraining the game is. I prefer a game which is constraining, but helps guide you on what to do - as opposed to an open sandbox type of game, in which we can do anything we want - but how do we know what the best thing, from a game perspective, is to do? For this reason, I also like Calico over Cascadia. Calico is constraining with its board, but you know exactly what you need to do to score - with those scoring tiles. In Cascadia, you need to figure out which pair of a tile and animal you want, and what is going to score best for you.

[@SirThecos]

These are all great games! 😁

[@seanvalenzuela6815]

Amazing video! Most people make a video like this last 3 hours.

[@SirThecos]

I'm always trying to not waste my viewers' time too much - I'm glad it seems to work! 😁

[@pete1042]

I haven’t been into board games that long, only about a year so haven’t been exposed to many but my top 5 so far are: Pandemic Legacy Season 1 Azul Lost Cities The Card Game Cascadia Sky Team Great Video! I’ll have to check some of these out

[@SirThecos]

That's a great list! 😊

[@stretch616]

One game that never seems to make these lists but is always a crowd favourite is Diamant. I love Aeons End amd just about to get stuck into the expansions

[@SirThecos]

This game has been on my list of games to play for a while! And I just heard that next year there'll be a new version coming out, so that might be the perfect point to get it. 😁

[@JJ_TheGreat]

9:10 Yes, I really like It's A Wonderful World, too! I prefer it so much more than 7 Wonders (I know quite a lot of people compare the games)!

[@SirThecos]

😁

[@suzanne202]

My favorites: Terraforming Mars Ares Expedition, Castles of Burgundy, Meadow, Azul Queens Garden, Targi, Splendor Duel. Have Ark Nova, but yet to try!

[@SirThecos]

That's a great list - thanks for sharing! ☺️

[@MrB711]

What card sleeve brand do you use?

[@SirThecos]

I use the matte sleeves by Arcane Tinmen.

[@jaderavenau8005]

Favourite games that I own: 1. Lords of Waterdeep with the Skullport Expansion 2. Tickets to ride 3. Plague 4. Wingspan 5. Calico 6. Century Spice Road I also have Dominon (just the base game) and Machi Koro, which I haven't had the chance to play yet. Least favourite: games that heavily rely on the roll of a dice. I prefer strategy over luck.

[@SirThecos]

That's a great list! 😊

[@Janisurai]

like the transitions

[@SirThecos]

Thanks! 😁

[@dariomenegazzo8039]

damn i would really like to buy heat, but i already own clank and the hunger which have a similar theme of push your luck and run through the tracks, that i'm a bit stumped on getting another one for that kind of price; i know i will love it, but with a small collection i don't really feel like a can buy it yet :(

[@SirThecos]

Yeah, it's also quite pricey but it also is really good. I need to try to record a playthrough on my channel soonish. 👀

[@hskater1]

Which card sleeves do you usually use?

[@hskater1]

Especially referring to your wingspan card sleeves

[@SirThecos]

I'm using the matte sleeves by Arcane Tinmen.

[@z3m4l]

Keep the heroes out reminds me of Dungeon Keeper videogame.

[@SirThecos]

Yeah, a bit! Except that you're not constructing the rooms but it's cool to be on the other side for once. 😁

[@pyziakkos]

I would agree with most but I can not really understand how one can call Wingspan's gameplay engaging. I tried playing it twice and haven't finished once, because the whole group (including me) said they're bored to death. Really liked heat, even though I hated Flamme Rouge, big thumbs up for that one!

[@SirThecos]

Luckily we all have different tastes. 😁 I have also heard a lot of good things about Flamme Rouge but I have never played it myself.

[@jorgedawsonwetto25]

nice games! some look tempting is just i mostly play solo! cascadia is one i have on my list though cause its easy enough to play with someone also! and wingspan is the one i play the most! i just dont like the dice/food system i made a house rule for that.. and i also feel that u barely get to play few of the cards per game! like u could play with a much smaller deck and maybe would be nicer!

[@SirThecos]

Cascada and Wingspan are both absolutely amazing! ☺️

[@jorgedawsonwetto25]

@@SirThecos i was able to find cascadia but is a BD gift for my GF in a few days! wingspan is very cool! its just too many cards i feel there should be a variant were u only use like 1/4 of the deck! UFS still my favorite!

[@SirThecos]

These are all good games! 😊

[@jediquigley2192]

Played Terraforming Mars last night. I love that game😊

[@suzanne202]

I would love to try the board game. I have TM Ares Expedition and I loooove it!!!

[@SirThecos]

It's a good game! ☺️

[@SirThecos]

@suzanne202 Ah, I really want to play that some time as well! 👀

[@mikefoster6018]

Must admit I got bored with Wingspan, despite loving the theme. I learned the tactics after a few games and now it plays the same every time. Heat looks excellent and I keep almost buying it. My favourite racing game is Thunder Alley, which takes some beating.

[@SirThecos]

😯😯😯 Fair enough - we all have different tastes, which is good. ☺️ Heat really is excellent!

[@RockeroDeSangre]

My 2 new games that we've been enjoying is Bonsai and Shake That City

[@SirThecos]

Oh, cool - Bonsai has caught my interest as well! 👀

[@vakilu77]

Hey! Welche Sleeves verwendest du? 🙈

[@SirThecos]

Ich nutze die matten Sleeves von Arcane Tinmen.

[@rioterism]

The Artemis Project is such a great game! Glad you showcase it and have it so high in your list - it definitely deserves more recognition - pure GEM of a game!!!! :)

[@jsc69]

Oh man I want to try The Artemis Project. I did not back their newest addition and regret that. How does it play solo?

[@SirThecos]

It's so good! ♥️

[@catpurrrcino-crafts-and-me]

Everdell and Wingspan are my favs

[@SirThecos]

Good choices! ☺️

[@paperfortgames]

❤

[@SirThecos]

♥️🐙

[@bryceb8331]

Great choices - except for lands of glazyr. Really wanted to like it as great theme and I love choose your own adventures like sleeping gods etc. but it felt like nothing we did really mattered at all. Mostly just reading stories and no consequences whatsoever.

[@SirThecos]

I'm sorry to hear that - luckily, there's so many games out there that there are games for all different tastes. 😊 And yes, Lands of Galzyr is supposed to be just that - a storytelling game without any major progression.

[@wendyisgrowinginwisdom6350]

I'm looking forward to Lands of Galzyr as a relaxing, dive into a fantasy world, exploring for the fun of it, with no particular hurry, just curiosity.

[@angelmacias436]

End of year video?

[@SirThecos]

Yes, that is usually my end of year video, even though I publish it around October.

[@Smowling]

Based on that how much you like solo and dice games Im surprised you dont have Too Many Bones on your list.

[@SirThecos]

It's actually quite easy: I have never played it. 😅

[@JJ_TheGreat]

LOL 😂😂😂 That explains that! 😉

[@SirThecos]

@JJ_TheGreat Doesn't it? 😅

[@Felikios]

My favourites are Ark Nova - Heat - Revive - Space Empires 4x at the time Wingspan: 3 randomness. randomness with the cards, the food, the goals. Can make you king. Can get you mad. Good for passing time, but so many better games there. But as you said... if you like it :) Keep playing it :) Lands of Galzyr is interesting...

[@SirThecos]

That's a good list as well! 😁

[@JJ_TheGreat]

4:01 You know - Five Tribes is a game which I thought I would enjoy, but didn't work for me. I believe this is because it is an overly tactical game - in which the board state changes COMPLETELY each turn - and therefore, you cannot plan for your turn until right before/ when your next turn comes around... This and also the fact that if you are playing a multi-player (more than 2 player) game, you may have to wait a long time before your next turn - so you could think about the perfect move, but someone else takes it before your turn and that's what forces you to re-think your entire turn, since you have no choice... tldr; Five Tribes is just WAY too tactical for me. I prefer games which are more strategic and kind of hold your hand - and guide you, based on X, Y, Z factors, etc. - and these games which are overly tactical have way too many options/choices to choose from. Another game which this happened for me - i.e, way too tactical - is Red Rising. Both of these games are my 2 most disappointing games - comparing my level of expectation coming into the experience of the play to the actual play itself.

[@SirThecos]

Yeah, there are a lot of games that are very tactical. I personally like this a lot more than strategic games but I know quite a few people that are exactly the opposite. 😅

[@waynobots]

Mansions of Madness, Betrayal of the House on the Hill, Arkham Horror 3

[@SirThecos]

Oh, a nice and spooky selection! 😁

[@JJ_TheGreat]

The only one of those which I have played is Betrayal - and let's just say that: 1) There is WAY too much randomness for my taste; and 2) I don't like how too asymmetric it becomes at the end - to the point where it is so chaotic that no one knows exactly what the heck is going on until AFTER the game is over - and I don't like that the players are playing completely different games. Because I had played Betrayal so early in my gaming journey, it has put me off games with different asymmetric mini-games, like Merchant's Cove and Sonora. However, I am still intrigued by the hidden movement mechanic (but have never played a game in the genre), so that is the exception (for now). I would really like to try a simultaneous hidden movement game - in which everybody is moving at the same time (playing the movement first on a turn - and then everybody revealing their movements, etc). Does anyone know of a good game which has simultaneous hidden movement? I gave and need to try Mind MGMT and I am going to back Beast (which is a one vs many game, in which 1 player plays as the Beast and is the one moving around hidden - but has objectives to do and therefore needs to reveal himself throughout the game; while everyone else is a Hunter - and moves around the map [but NOT hidden - which is why I was asking about a simultaneous hidden movement game], trying to find the Beast). Thanks.

[@SirThecos]

@JJ_TheGreat I'm not an expert on hidden movement games but can say that Mind MGMT is a really good one. 😁

[@wurfelwurf9184]

🇩🇪

[@smarriner25]

By definition, most of these aren't truly board games...

[@SirThecos]

In German we actually have a more fitting name for them - in English, it's a bit hard to name the video differently without having a name that's too long and cumbersome. 😅

[@hanysonic]

i still can't understand how people can say that sleeping gods has a good artwaork, seems like a child drawed them on paint..

[@AlessandroScaltritti]

Pax Pamir Wingspan Puerto Rico Heroquest (sorry) Foodchain Magnate

[@SirThecos]

Good list!