Top 100 Games of All Time: #20-#11

[@nikeri2296]

Running late to Thanksgiving with my wife yelling "ARE YOU WATCHING BOARD GAMES AGAIN? WE HAVE TO GO!"

[@dantes9811]

I got the same.

[@geraldbrito6509]

Same!!!!!

[@tptangenivy28]

I also have a significant other that doesn't get it

[@drbasseri]

Lol

[@zoiks6631]

I just got home from Thanksgiving and am now watching board games. It’s the circle of life.

[@4757joshua2]

These videos are more enjoyable to watch when there are pictures of each game while they're talking about them. Still enjoying, though!

[@Wolforce]

I really would like to know eu they dont do it more. Finding them and editing them is easy, im sure of that. Do they get copyright priblems? I dont get it

[@KissellMissile]

@@Wolforce A single case is easy, but x300 adds to a fair amount of work. Time could go into that, or editing the next review for you to watch. You have to pick your battles.

[@Wolforce]

@@KissellMissile its not 300, its 60ish per 1h video, and yes its really easy. I dont think thats the reason they dont do it.

[@KissellMissile]

@@Wolforce 3 top 100s is 300 entries. If it takes only one minute per image, you've still spent 5 hours doing it, which is not insignificant.

[@Mentat1231]

I don't understand. There IS a picture of each game while they talk about it....

[@showmicr]

"Number 1 is alright The rest are filler" - Zee

[@commandershepherd3467]

Tom, I watched a review from you for the first time a couple of years ago when I was trying to decide if I wanted a particular game. Since then you guys have REALLY pulled me into the hobby. You three are so fun and your passion for games is infectious. Thank you guys so much for the time and effort that goes into making all of the Dice Tower content. One of the best things is how y’all are unashamed to talk about the fact that you’re Christians who are involved in your churches. Keep up ALL the great work!!

[@thomasschmidtdk]

Brant Shepherd perfectly mirrors my thoughts, except I began watching you arround 8 years ago. Bless you all

[@fnorddiscord]

Most tasteful, cool outfit you’ve ever worn Tom! Keep them classic tones coming!

[@markusschmidt9260]

Bah, what a bland outfit. People want eye pooping colors!

[@keikosah8254]

Too tame.

[@evergreen_monster]

Not 'Murican enough tho.

[@michaelmelen9062]

Thanks, guys! I've been a fan since 2012, when I first started back into boardgaming. I've made many comments, 90% of which I've deleted prior to posting. They were mostly horrible puns or dopey jokes. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I simply want to tell you three that I greatly appreciate the work that you do. You do the hobby/industry proud.

[@TacoNYoshi]

I got to play Captain against Tom and Zee at Origins when it was going to be released at GenCon. Our team won each time. Zee was radar and at one point shrug at Tom. We had Eric as our radar guy and he was our MVP. Still a top gaming highlight in my life. Thanks Tom, Zee, and Eric for the excellent memory. Tom we could do streak vs streak.

[@bdmitruk]

Release the top 10 too! I need to finish my Christmas wish list.

[@RGcrasyRG]

Well, they've got another video series for that.

[@sydneyquick6324]

I needed top 10 BEFORE Black Friday sales pass.

[@wesleystatler6604]

Just watch the one from last year. most of them will be the same

[@steveody978]

My 20 - 11 20 - stuffed fables 19 - Lorenzo il Magnifico 18 - The Voyages of Marco Polo 17 - Charterstone 16 - Dinosaur Island 15 - 7 Wonders Duel 14 - Lords of Waterdeep 13 - Castles of Burgundy 12 - Settlers of Catan 11 - Bloodrage

[@RaduStanculescu]

I'm so mad at myself for not backing Dinosaur Island... That's quite a nice top 10 for you. :)

[@robo3007]

Is Stuffed Fables worth getting if you don't play with kids?

[@steveody978]

@@robo3007 Cant answer because I did play with kids. It really is fun but I heard rumblings of plaid hat using the same system with a more adult theme so I would hold off.

[@wayner396]

I feel like I either need to buy a newspaper or call a cab from Tom. 😉

[@oliverthompson2323]

Or have a chimney swept !

[@HITFORDCYCLE1]

I kept waiting for him to break out in song.Newsies, Mary Poppins.

[@funkoxen]

i want to take his whippet for a walk while he calls the sheep in.

[@buffalobear160]

He looks sharp here. Not a fan of his normal crazy colors.

[@TheCheezusKrist]

My guesses for their top 10s: Tom: Cosmic Encounter 7th Continent Gloomhaven Le Havre Scythe Viticulture Project: ELITE A Feast for Odin Escape Room Games Summoner Wars Zee: Pandemic Onirim Arkham Horror LCG Ghost Stories Deus The Others Five Tribes Imperial Settlers Tides of Madness Abyss (It's Mine?) Sam: Blood Rage Twilight Imperium 4 Memoir 44 Star Wars: Rebellion Zombicide: Black Plague Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire Rum and Bones Blitz Bowl Deception In the Name of Odin (or maybe Vikingdoms instead?)

[@mattvucu6706]

Zachary thanks so much for doing this, I’ve been trying in my head but just not writing it down. Did Tom do Root yet? That will probably be there. I do not think he considers escape room games as a real entry. I hope abyss and tides of madness are not in zee’s top ten... I like NShex and Blue Moon so much more. Maybe Zee ate a Lemon and it screwed up his taste buds...

[@mattvucu6706]

Zachary also Sam has that dinky trick taking game that is 10000x worse than sword and sorcery

[@JoaLoft]

The wait for these lists is always sooo long. Wish they came sooner.

[@j_atkinson]

Terraforming Mars solo is great. Zee should check it out!

[@freeheeler00]

It's funny watching this five years later. Sam's Terraforming Mars "The Dice Game" joke hits a little different lol

[@marcoschaub8978]

One major factor why I prefer Race for the Galaxy over San Juan is that it has much more variety. In San Juan I always feel like I'm doing basically the same thing with the same cards. There are differences, but they are minor. In Race I can go many more different routes. What is true, however, is that San Juan is easier. Although, when you know how to teach Race well, people can pick it up surprisingly fast.

[@dgeci]

Great videos, good team! I am french. It's really interesting to see americans talking about/liking euro games. Subscribed !

[@mr.nelson9481]

Just a quick comment that the visual quality of the video is very high. Not sure why I noticed that in particular. Of course I loved hearing the discussion and seeing which games have moved up or down the top of the lists as well. Keep up the good work!

[@DerRentner818]

So nice to see Lorenzo il Magnifico here

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

DerRentner818 It was a genuine shock to see it in a good way as it was unexpected. Don’t like the game much at all, rating started at six and has since dropped much further as the dry repetition set in fast.

[@capefury8731]

Hey Guys love every Top 10 list you guys do!! So Sam, regarding the in-game currency argument. In the digital gaming world (for lack of a better description) there are massive arguments and boycotts and fights happening between consumers and the game company's for exactly the reason Tom points out(among other reasons). Shortly put, if we (the gamers) want to stop greedy companies from monetising their games in unfair ways. Love you all from New Zealand

[@Kraehenblut]

Stone Age Expansion title: The German title was a Pun, since Style in German is pronounced the same way as "shaft/handle" for a tool. Unfortunately they just translated that directly instead of coming up with a new Pun ;)

[@raydexter9013]

Ah, Thanks for clearing that up. :)

[@marcoschaub8978]

Great Western Trail is one of those games that I can never get to the table. Although it's (probably) really good.

[@willbeplayin]

GWT has been my #1 for two years now and the expansion is clearly the best expansion of 2018.

[@TeChNoWC7]

Tom, the reason people prefer to play Agricola I would say is because it is a tougher, more tense game with more tactical depth. Caverna is still an amazing experience, but it is a sandbox version of Agricola so plays very differently. That isn’t always everyone’s thing.

[@TheloniusMage]

Sam seems happier in this recording. I don't know what was going on man, but I hope all is well.

[@williamgarcia-medina9989]

TheloniusMage lol

[@TheloniusMage]

B Palmer he thrives on negativity in older videos, and it’s hilarious and you can tell he’s enjoying himself. In recent videos, though, the energy just wasn’t there at all. This video seemed like he was a bit more engaged and enthusiastic, though. I was being genuine. I could be way off base and it’s none of my business what’s going on, but just offering my encouragement and 2 cents.

[@GaNSiNaTeR]

Ah, this is perfect to listen to with my current food coma. Amazing timing for another installment of the top 100!

[@MCJesse-hu4ru]

Yes!! Lorenzo is my #4. So glad to see Tom give this one some love! It's so good.

[@chobindue]

Zee has never played Terraforming Mars!?!?!

[@RaduStanculescu]

I'm not surprised. It's quite a long game.

[@AnxiousAaron616]

I love it because when Sam said "Oh how gloomhaven has fallen" I was thinking the exact same thing!

[@eddieb8054]

Thanks for making them longer!!

[@raymyers700]

878 Vikings is awesome! I was lukewarm on 1775, but this one blew me away. They *did* offer cubes during the KS for a VERY reasonable add on price. But it's mini minis by default.

[@keel1701]

Inadvertent Psych reference by Zee "I've heard it both ways"

[@danijelposta1748]

Zee, I got your back on the Jamaica expansion. ;) It's exactly what the game needed.

[@UnluckyHydra]

I instantly started googling about the Pitchcar expansion as soon as Tom mentioned it. Couldn't find it at first and then found it on Kickstarter. Wow, didn't even know they used Kickstarter. New colors and stuff too.

[@ryananthony110]

I love the outdoor theme!

[@BenBoersma]

Blue Moon Legends is an amazing game. I'm with you Zee. Highly underrated. I love it to bits.

[@larrytedmcbride]

Sam! I'm right there with you about Big Trouble In Little China. One of my favorite movies. Really looking forward to playing the game one day.

[@BrocknNoobz]

Sam arguing with Tom about the app and how "it's normal" that the developers try to make you spend more money than you need...My eyes almost rolled out of my head. Sam - please just stop

[@Vekerur]

It is normal.

[@Valcurdra]

Great to see Sub Terra getting some love from Zee, a criminally underrated game.

[@bastiv7806]

Concordia, my favorite game right now.

[@MoriMemento117]

It is so good.

[@Phelixc]

I got Jamaica as a birthday present from my girlfriend, I really wanted that game to play with her and her 3 children (11-13-15)... Sadly none of them liked it very much, and I can't get it to the table... And those times I do, they are so indifferent to the game that it sucks all the fun out of it for me as well... So when ever we are playing with the children, we are stuck with either cash and guns or sheriff of Nottingham. And I've started to loathe Sheriff of Nottingham now, even though it is a great game, it just reminds me of the games I don't get to play... I have ordered the kickstarter version of Fireball Island (all expansions etc) and I really hope that will hit the table a bit more when it gets here...

[@GameWeekendChalbie]

Agreed Zee. Although I’m more extreme, I didn’t like 7Wonders Duel until the expansion. Really opens it up.

[@ramonosuke]

Agree with Tom, Jamaica quickly loses its luster after a few plays, it shocks me that it's so high for both Sam and Zee still. I can say the same for King of Tokyo. These games I feel are solely for gateway/family settings only, and since I'm not always in that setting, which adds to the dropping off for me as well.

[@markusschmidt9260]

Wasn't the movie The Martian "Agricola in Space"?

[@simonlavender]

Waited all week for this :) architects of the west kingdom as great on Wednesday. Thought this would end on black Friday

[@simonlavender]

I replied before watching this list!

[@ExBeeOne]

"I would like to thank my lawyer.." Lol

[@t1s2m3a4]

Already on line trying to purchase advance tickets for "Jack Burton's First Hoopla"!

[@jankogo]

Just FYI, Tom: The coolest way to pick player powers in a game would be to duel with light sabers.

[@Some_Guy_In_Ohio]

Regarding Dominion "being expansioned to death"... The thing is, 3 of the last 4 expansions are 3 of the 4 best expansions for the game, at least in my opinion (exceptions: Nocturne and Seaside, respectively). I look forward to you reviewing Renascence.

[@KristoVaher]

I am so surprised Zee and Sam have not played Great Western Trail! Wow.

[@Wigdogger]

It's really not their style of game. A theme that isn't their cup of tea, too long and probably a couple too many things going on. It's basically my fav game of all time, but i can totally see why they wouldn't go near it.

[@Fighterfan69]

huge jump for Architects of the west kingdom. Played out first game last night and it's definitely a great game. With that Raiders of the north sea is on it's way as I like idea of the interesting take on the worker placement concept.

[@benjaminbruhn4360]

Hey Zee: If you like Kashgar so much you have to Play „Andor - Chada & Thorn“. Same card mechanism but it’s a 2 player coop or solo puzzle game with story. Play time ~ 30 minutes. I don’t know if it is available in English but you will love it!

[@aka_batgirl]

Im convinced that Sam backed Valhala on Kickstarter. I cant wait to see what he thinks of the game when it ships next year.

[@funkoxen]

Why is Tom dressed as Sean Connery in "The Untouchables"?

[@BRBTheFireball]

My Thanksgiving feast of favorites: #20. The Gallerist, #19. Las Vegas, #18. Luxor, #17. 7 Wonders/7 Wonders Duel, #16. King of Tokyo, #15. Concordia, #14. Arcadia Quest, #13. Elysium, #12. Century: Spice Road/Century: Golem Edition, and #11. Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game.

[@danhopper8266]

Sam seems like he’s back to his old self again

[@doggosplosion]

I think Zee's brilliance was lost to the masses on his last comment. "I would like to thank the Academy, let's not forget the Academy". When just before Sam forgot 878 Viking from ACADEMY games.

[@sarahlanger2605]

1.) Drafting of powers was something the Terra Mystica expansion brought in, I thought it was aneat concept then, even if I don't enjoy the game as much. 2.) The Kickstarter to 878 had the possibility to purchase cubes as a replacement for the minis ;-)

[@johchadow]

Top Ten list idea - games that were killed/made worse with expansions. I have so many games that, after getting expansions for them, I never play any more. The expansions made them more complicated, or bogged down, so they're harder to teach and don't get played (or at least the expansions don't).

[@DumahAtreides]

One point on the Dominion app discussion, the app Tom talks about is really the old one (from more like 5 years back). The current one launched last year is pretty good. You get all of the expansions for a single subscription cost of 3.80 euros per month (so no more fake gold currency). This is one my wife (and sometimes other family) play regularly using our laptops. It's a web app and not well suited for tablets or phones. That said, it's a huge improvement over the prior one: dominion.games/

[@vonwoolf9963]

KZbin has trolled me by recommending this video, while I'm waiting for the top 100 games of all time: 20-11 of 2019 :-)

[@valery_bondarchik]

Hey Zee, you should totally check out Terraforming Mars! It's awesome :)

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Valery Bondarchik It’s ok, but I don’t think Zee will like it. He already agrees with mAny that the components are bleurgh, and the game is 3 hours all the time, he will get annoyed with the long playtime and downtime involved.

[@williamwilting]

It's sad that it really didn't work out for King of New York. I still like it a lot. King of Tokyo may be better, also for my taste, because the mechanisms remain simpler, but I like to have more things to do as well. The problem I have with King of Tokyo is that it tends to make the players depend more on the points than on attacking each other. King of New York's additional action types takes a part of that problem away. On the other hand, the problem King of New York may have is that things can get a bit more ambiguous sometimes.

[@anthonykuhn3792]

This episode should be titled "That's Not Really Drafting"

[@Jonezy1977]

I really think, that Zee would enjoy Terraforming Mars puzzling and drafting his own little engine throughout the game. Even though it is long and not very pretty.

[@Dalmatinac3]

Cosmic Encounter. One of the greatest games ever designed coming up on Tuesday.

[@senderradcliffe]

According to BGG: Heroscape game weight: 2.29, Tannhauser 2.73

[@lokihve6591]

Terraforming Mars with 4 players and drafting definitely and easily can take 4 hours + at least for people who are no playing it regularly.

[@larrye]

I know guys that can knock out a 4p game in less than 60 minutes. My first game was close to 4hrs. One guy had his last turn take 20 minutes and everyone left the table. That caused me to not play again for 6 months. #TerraformingMarsTweakers

[@hypnoticsorin8016]

4 player game for me took about 3 hours with pretty experienced people. But I think Prelude and maybe having all tracks start at "1" should take an hour out of it. Drafting the cards does add about 30 min.as well

[@SP_Rocks1408]

Zee is the real People's Choice.

[@Cujo8600]

Zee would like terraforming Mars. Suck it up and try it Zee.

[@andrewv3515]

Terraforming mars is way too long for Zee's (or my) tastes. Can get the same engine building from games like 51st State

[@jfnovotny]

You guys should do a top 10 list of the new games in your top 100.

[@LuisPandabmb]

Hey Sam. Since your not digging heroscape. You can gift me your stuff. My nephews and I enjoy it quite a bit and just with an incomplete set. Good video gentlemen.

[@Platonick66]

I cannot believe that Sam and zee have not played, nor know so little about Terraforming Mars and Great Western Trail

[@thedicetower]

Sam here...I have played Terraforming Mars, and it just isn't a game for me.

[@Platonick66]

@@thedicetower fair enough. Isn't it fantastic that variety means we all get out needs met. These 2 games are in my top 10 so someone saying they don't lole/know them is so weird!

[@corbinrasmussen]

I freakin’ love Heroscape!! So glad it’s on the list!

[@iiamrand5129]

So looking forward to watching this 😀

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

I’m calling that Scythe has entered Toms Top 3 since Fenris came out. One can only hope it’s displaced Gloomhaven. I’m actually worried that it hasn’t appeared in the People’s Choice yet, I’ll level Tokyo to the ground with my fire breath if Gloomhaven takes the People Choice #1.

[@Osborne4Life]

Considering the Gloomhaven Awards-er, sorry, the Dice Tower Awards practically gave every category win to Gloomhaven, I doubt it’s not still Tom’s #1. I think Gloomhaven is a garbage game too, but I will be immensely surprised if it isn’t the People’s Choice #1.

[@lokihve6591]

@@Osborne4Life Gloomhaven has a bit of a problem for such lists. That problem is that it is kind of a campaign game, so while you can still grade that you had an awesome time playing it, without expansions and stuff like that, you dont return to it, so I guess it comes down to do I rate the game I once played and was awesome as my favorite game or a game that is still amazing and I still play? So I think sooner or later it will drop for Tom unless it starts getting expansion after expansion to keep it alive

[@RaduStanculescu]

I'm so sad that I didn't like Scythe more. I read the spoilers for Fenris too, and still didn't think it would be good enough to get back in my top 50. Sold my copy, kept the metal coins. :D

[@aowoodworks2408]

Oh man, I really don’t understand the Gloomhaven love either. I love Scythe.

[@lokihve6591]

@@RaduStanculescu I get you on that one, scythe was nothing that special to me apart from nice art and and mechs. Gather resources use upper or bottom action funny combat, complete euro like goals the end. Mechanically definitely sound, but no immersion, no epic story to tell nothing, just moving pawns left right gather points, gather resources do funny combat the end. heh

[@CascadeHush]

San Juan - It's just like Race for the Galaxy only you can actually teach it to new people.

[@johchadow]

King of New York is better imho. I bought the KoT Halloween expansion so I can still play KoT using those dice if I want to also, since some people just want the simpler version. I like having a few more options and I also think KoNY does away with the rolling for points every turn problem that Tokyo has (so boring).

[@Aaron.Rants.Reviews]

I agree, KoNY is better. It streamlines the point system and adds more mechanisms so you actually feel like a giant monster destroying a city, all for only ten more minutes of play time. My group hasn't touched KoT since.

[@SuperMenace11]

What time will the live top ten be on Tuesday ? watching in the U.K.👍🎲

[@FERTIGAMES]

Hello Tom and the team. Thanks for your nice words about Pitchcar the Loop. The kickstarter is now funded, all informations here: www.kickstarter.com/projects/167427101/pitchcar-expansion-7-the-loop/description

[@classicsubmarineguy5477]

Captain Sonar only #17? why is there so much hatred in the world?

[@CheroChess]

Show The Games ! Whenever you are talking about games, Show The Games ! The rest of the time, show you. We want to HEAR you guys, but we want to SEE the games. We can tell who is talking while you are panning over the game. By now you should have a gazillion video clips of every game on your computer. Yes I know that this is probably part-time, and I appreciate everything that you do, but if it would take two more days to make this video [by showing games], then take two more days ! We'll wait. This time you showed no games. Show The Games ! Please

[@michaelgoshorn476]

CheroChess they showed an icon of the game cover in the lower right corner. But I agree I like to see a game setup in-play, it helps.

[@robertchmielecki2580]

That would require a lot of work with editing. I guess the effort-clicks ratio would fall dramatically and that's not what DT are aiming for ;)

[@CheroChess]

Yeah, I agree that it would require a lot of work editing. However, if they don't show any visuals of the games (besides the covers), then this would just be an Audio-Podcast, that, for some reason, is being filmed. The Dice Tower already has an EXCELLENT audio-podcast (as I'm sure that you know). However, their regular audio-podcast suffers from just one insurmountable flaw: it can't show visuals of the games. Their Top 100 [above] can.@@robertchmielecki2580

[@keel1701]

I love watching their interactions and mannerisms.

[@guillermoz4914]

They show the games on some

[@xsinshi1868]

Scythe is in toms top 10 for sure. He hasn't mentioned it yet and said rise of fenris was one of his favorite expansions ever.

[@johna6108]

He rated it Rise of Fenris a 10. I believe he reserves 10 ratings for his top 10-20 games only, so it would be a good bet. Plus they need some other new games in there to drop AQ, Kemet, HS, etc. out of there (i.e. 7th Continent).

[@stevenlamb8007]

Could it be Tom’s new number one seeing he may not have played Gloomhaven much this year?

[@xsinshi1868]

I could also see dinosuar island possibly making it in his top 10 as he reviewed and loved this game last year but it was after last years top 100.

[@xsinshi1868]

And project elite will be on there too!

[@buffalobear160]

@@johna6108 What are you talking about, Kemet is awesome.

[@republikadugave420]

Menara is on my shortlist for christmas :)...seems really great

[@goodaccount2488]

Echo location, baby! 🤣

[@maxnix9256]

Will we be able to see all the 4 the top 100 lists, when this series has ended or do we have to check the end of all videos ourself?

[@waterwixxxer]

Man I was so happy to sell Blue Moon regular version. It was so not my thing.

[@wroot_lt]

Zee got us frightened a bit wrongly hinting Pandemic is not on the list :D

[@markusschmidt9260]

Building the arena for Heroscape is actually more fun then playing the game, imho. Agree with Sam, that this is to light and shallow.

[@tttopolis]

Sub Terra is highly under rated!

[@Falkdr]

No.18. Tom is absolutely right. Concordia owes almost everything to SU&SD. I, too fell for the hype. You can even check it in the timeline. Up to 2016 no one was talking about it, then came "the review". I mean, it is a really, really good game but more like a classic in a sense that Agricola oder Catan is "good". It's nothing to write home about, though. Play Imperial instead, it's marvellous :D

[@tptangenivy28]

Good. A reason to ignore my family for a while

[@buffalobear160]

Play a game with them instead hahaha

[@MG-oj7rr]

Kemet - seth expansion review, i neeeeed it!!! ;)) Its a big question, realy want to try it, but is it the expansion i will want to play instead of usual kemet at least 1/3 times... Basicly its interesting to try it but is it worth to buy it. (Moneyyyy)

[@ChargeCity]

Show the player count for the game guys, to know if a game will work for our group player count is the most important!

[@dddmmm21]

Lorenzo is my 2nd best game! Love it!

[@janesharp4071]

The boys are back on form.

[@soerenheriksen]

Expansion name locked in by Zee - Captain Sonar: Hunt for the Deep Sea Goat

[@Syko1985]

Star/Hero Realms are the same game fair enough, but he had one in the 90s and one in the 30s last year now they are both 20th? how does that happen?

[@evangiorg]

the fact that sam and zee have not played terraforming mars yet, is really shocking to me. And to comment that “the game looks boring” or “like agricola in space”to them had me rolling my eyes. This among other incidents make me think that it is only Tom really the person with the most mature and complete knowledge about board games.

[@wazzamattau]

Yeah, honestly. It's super popular, highly lauded by pretty much everyone in the industry, #4 on boardgamegeek's top 100 list, and Zee himself said he was interested in the theme of it and wanted to try it. And he didn't because it... looked boring? I love Zee to bits, but, from a board game reviewer, that's a surprising and disappointing thing to hear.

[@TeChNoWC7]

Tom you are so American. ‘Where’s the guns, where’s the shooting and stuff’

[@christopher3226]

Welcome back, Sam :)