Top 10 Exceptions to the Rule

Tom Vasel, Zee Garcia, and Sam Healey list their Top 10 Board Games that they shouldn't like, but still do, for one reason or another!
00:00 - Introduction
02:50 - Sam’s #10
03:49 - Tom’s #10
05:13 - Zee’s #10
08:03 - Tom’s #9
09:47 - Zee’s #9
11:49 - Sam’s #9
13:02 - Zee’s #8
14:48 - Sam’s #8
16:38 - Tom’s #8
18:05 - Zee’s #7
19:57 - Tom’s #7
22:35 - Sam’s #7
24:26 - Tom’s #6
26:10 - Sam’s #6
27:25 - Zee’s #6
28:50 - Sam’s #5
30:32 - Zee’s #5
32:24 - Tom’s #5
34:04 - Sam’s #4
36:22 - Tom’s #4
37:39 - Zee’s #4
39:43 - Tom’s #3
41:11 - Zee’s #3
42:23 - Sam’s #3
44:17 - Zee’s #2
46:03 - Sam’s #2
48:20 - Tom’s #2
50:39 - Zee’s #1
51:46 - Tom’s #1
52:49 - Sam’s #1
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BGG Link: www.boardgamegeek.com/boardga...

[@noloatmo6682]

I wasn't sure I'd watch this list but I'm glad I did. You guys are hilarious. I'm going through a rough patch right now and this is just what I needed. Thanks guys! Great work.

[@Lucas.Blevins]

This comment made me smile to read. Hope you’re doing better now

[@tobynmanthorpe]

Tatsu: The Missing File. Sounds like a good expansion.

[@mechashadow]

The random slip up definitely gave me a chuckle

[@fitz33]

Stellar minis and amazing box art...

[@mikaelbrresen983]

mechashadow

[@raker1000]

Surely through the desert with marshmallow pieces would be Through the Dessert

[@Mentat1231]

You guys cracked me UP on this one! Instant classic. I loved this whole video.

[@benlewis3745]

I like the missing file picture during Zee's #3

[@crazbird]

Really looked like you guys were having fun with this list! Great to see that energy! Keep it up guys!

[@mrdrock]

Totally recommended a "Guilty Pleasures" Top 10. Glad to see it is kind of happening.

[@markcooke776]

I'm with you Tom, took me ages to realise the Ice Cool/High School thing!

[@kevinsullivan3448]

They didn't use a British accent.

[@alexddumitru]

You guys pulled out the funniest video I've seen on the network in the last year. Excellent list! Thank you for sharing!

[@Monkeyb00y]

Can't wait for the Part 2 of this. Very great video

[@Really_Skunkey]

55 minutes and no mid rolls. This is beautiful

[@Romey301]

I'm Glad you guys uploaded this when you did. ... really needed this

[@richie3008]

Great video - always enjoy the top tens, but this was one of the particularly great ones!

[@necrotoaster94]

I really enjoyed this Top Ten, not for the games, but for the camaraderie between the guys. Serious reviews have their place but when you have three good friends on camera at the same time you gotta have some good laughs. I was in tears laughing with the guys at a few different points in this one.

[@chrissischmid]

Thanks for savin´my day again, guys! You are awesome!

[@csblack72780]

I would ABSOLUTELY buy that Chewbacca Apples to Apples variant!

[@robotskirts]

15:46 Zee, you're a marvelous person

[@wroot_lt]

We need Apples to Apples Chewbacca Edition! :D And Zee should come as a bonus player to play with :D

[@almsthvn]

Still rewatching it, still laughing my head off Zee is a funny funny dude!

[@Amy_V]

I love that you mentioned Crokinole, Zee! I have very fond childhood memories of playing that game with my grandfather and cousins. I have a distinct memory of how my finger would ache after it got slammed with a hard wooden disc. Those metal rods showed no 7 year old mercy. It was challenging for adults and kids but both could get good at it. We would gather around and have some friendly competition. It's a fun game! 😊

[@maciekjonczyk]

When Sam started about Math - I knew it was about Power Grid:D

[@dmcd7619]

This was one of the most interesting ideas for a list you guys have ever done. I find I often like what Zee likes (I loved that he gave Crokinole some love) so it was intriguing to hear what he usually doesn't like in games, but which games he likes despite having those characteristics. The 2 games that I'm definitely going to have to get that I had never heard of were Tatsu and Codinca as they both looked and sounded great, and maybe PotECG.

[@muzgash]

i loved the lighthearted mood in this video

[@TheloniusMage]

The best way to play pit is to get one of everything in the market, excuse yourself to go to the bathroom, and then observe from a distance

[@JumboFe1337]

that sneeze was the best

[@soursimon]

He does it at 4:42 in "Top Ten Comic Characters" too; equally strange and funny.

[@bgambin7039]

M0ISTBABYFARTS sounded like a sick cat 😊

[@martinandersson2109]

Another great list! Next live play - Captain Sonar?!

[@Mr_Mooo]

I LOVE KILLER BUNNIES! For that exact reason, the cards are funny, and the way the bunnies die is funny!

[@nuncapasaran9374]

I am weirdly in love with good artwork and themes. Like if you nail that you can probably trick me into liking a game I wouldn't normally like.

[@madifinley7018]

I'm right there with you on Codinca, Sam. It immediately caught my attention at Origins and after 2 turns of the demo I quit and bought it. I was sold. It's beautiful, simple and fun. I love how small it is as well.

[@Himerion]

Zee, there's a version in spanish for The Pillars of the Earth: The Card game (Los Pilares de la Tierra: El Juego de Cartas) that is published by Devir here in Spain, it's from 2011 but I got my copy a few months ago so, as far as I know, it's still in print in case that you want to get a copy. There's a search engine for board games in Spanish online stores called Muevecubos, in case that you are interested at some point to get a game from Europe.

[@BrannDailorIsMyHero]

That missing file image was hilarious to me.

[@sylvain3883]

I'll add my voice here, great Top 10. As always, when you 3 get together it is a lot of fun to watch, and since you have different tastes, we get 3 different takes on things and this is always great. But it is refreshing to see a Top 10 that's really different - you know, it's not "Top 10 strategy games" or some other boring theme. Whoever came up with the idea for this one, congrats.

[@thetiger51]

Sylvain Bourcier ive been playing since it was aeon of strife in wc3...hut me up for a game sometime, sadly i dont play as much as i use to. steam profile steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197965342617/

[@grantofat6438]

In Scrabble it is not the person who is best at memorizing a dictionary who wins. It is the person who is best at taking advantage of the double and tripple spots.

[@dirksk3075]

Those d20 die you are using are awesome! What size are they?

[@OrangeKing529]

Crokinole and Loopin' Louie/Chewie are favorites at our curling club. Great drunk games. :)

[@jackjohn810]

I agree with Tom that the Ice Cool play on words wasn't obvious. I hadn't realized that Ice Cool sounds like High School until I heard Sam say it during this video.

[@thechaptermaster]

Sam @ 12:55 - "Wits and Ragers." :)

[@SolofAvaldor]

This was a very fun list. As for me I don't usually like cooperative games but I really like "Sentinels of the Multiverse" because of the strong superhero theme.

[@Romey301]

HAPPY THANKSGIVING GUYS! !!!

[@philheaton1619]

Three copies of Garden Competition are available on BGG Marketplace.

[@Tzimisce25]

Love that double facepalm at 5:25 !

[@nerzenjaeger]

This list was fantastic!

[@porqpine53]

The "Missing File" pic at 41:52 kills me

[@Mentat1231]

I've watched this like 10 times now and I still laugh at Sam's zombie dance and Zee's "Chewbacca Apples to Apples". Classic stuff.

[@LEGnewTube]

Re-listening to a bunch of these older top 10 just for fun. I miss Sam :'(

[@McBehrer]

I have a few of these. War games: Smallworld. really long games: Argent: The Consortium CCG/LCG type games: Summoner Wars heavy money management: Powergrid 4X: Seafall more if I can remember them.

[@TheWebsterGroup]

Sam, how do you feel about Suburbia (the whole math at the end of each move)?

[@ThomasMcCancejr]

i cant help but think Zee is wearing a dice tower shirt d/t the question on the Q+A the other week.

[@mackstertube]

I am with you Sam on your minis philosophy. I just think they add so much visual interest accelerate your imagination, way more immersive, something to look at all the time, easier to pick up and move, add another hobby of you like to paint. There are just so many reasons. But mainly because there just so cool. They also sell a lot of games of your on Kickstarter.

[@Korakos]

Dat missing file on the tatsu segment though, thanks for the hard work! but you missed that one!

[@TheWebsterGroup]

I really despise silly party games that have no strategy. This past year at GenCon I was quoted saying "I will never play Happy Salmon" and not more than two hours later I was caught on camera enjoying happy Salmon at The Secret Cabal meetup. Was it the atmosphere or beer or those I was playing with? Who could say BUT I had so much fun!

[@knittch]

I haven't watched the episode yet, but even money Sam says something to the effect of "I don't like any of the Catan games ... except one."

[@knittch]

I really thought he would put Catan Geographies Germany on the list. Color me wrong.

[@jd5iron]

Zee during the dice rolls cracked me up! "He's better than us!"

[@briandietz9524]

I completely lost it at Chewbacca Apples to Apples

[@woehrle17]

I always hear people talk about Loopin Chewie/Louis and I finally looked it up OH WOW I WANT THIS THING. I don't even have kids, I just want this to play it with my Star Wars friends lol.

[@CD-zd6zr]

what do you guys do with the games you don't keep?

[@gamera2351]

"I do not like games with other languages on the cards" As soon as I heard this I immediately thought Deception: Murder in Hong Kong. The Chinese below the English on everything is so ugly. That's why I don't own it yet. So many people raving about it will finally make me cave and pick it up, but boy does it look ugly.

[@jacobmason3313]

How about Thunderbirds Cooperative game for screen capturing?

[@Kelas1980]

What a great list!!

[@suntzugames]

Hahaha... Apples to apples Chewie - wonderful! :D

[@padraigb580]

neat idea for a list

[@KRWoods1]

I normally hate auction games, but I love Keyflower.

[@malcomchase9777]

What was the "missing file" image? XD

[@EyalItsik]

I stared at the screen confused for a second and then started laughing

[@malcomchase9777]

Eyal Itsik "What a weird abstract game!" XD

[@johnrochester1419]

I want to play games with you guys so bad. One of these days... :)

[@guillermoz4914]

Who else is here to check out Sam’s old Top 10!? Miss you bud!

[@BenjaminVaterlaus]

Cracked me up the tatsu file not found graphic @ 41:51

[@jjcc8379]

41:50 I think i'm missing something here ... 🤔

[@Stephen-Fox]

Who put the IPA for Crokinole? Great gag. Err, Zee... You've given positive reviews to various Thunderbirds expansions, and that game uses screencaps... Pretty sure that's on your shelf in some Blender shots, too... Please film more Top 10s when you're in this silly a mood, great fun to watch.

[@JeanDubuc]

15 min in and I'm laughing my ass off, thanks guys!

[@JB-ym4up]

chewbacca apples to apples is brilliant. kind of like epic rap battles groot vs hodor.

[@darthgrader]

For myself, I hate supernatural-themed games, but I love Betrayal at House on the Hill, probably because it's so campy and tongue-in-cheek. I also hate bluffing games (because I'm so bad at them), but I have a blast every time I play Good Cop, Bad Cop.

[@polettix]

"It's the top ten embarassing admissions" - still laughing, Zee's the best!!!

[@MadGarbler]

More fun when you're not serious imho (within reason of course). Cheers, good list. other top ten suggestions: top 10 crossovers, top 10 game mechanics

[@patrykzukowski7471]

Oooooh, Pillars of the Earth The Card game... man, for this price it's a must have! Very original and very fun.

[@Vu1canite]

I wish these 3 guys would make a top 10 RPG (character development) board games, don't know if there is that many though, maybe I just do not know a lot of board games.

[@martinlarouche4418]

I usually don't like deduction games... but Tragedy Looper is super good. Probably because it's the only game that let's you try to deduct it's elements through the actions of another player that's trying his hardest to hide them from the other players. It's a concept that's super-weird and should not work... yet it does, it's really balanced and very good.

[@MussoGames]

I also tend to not like "random" winners but Killer Bunnies is also an exception for me. It actually remains one of my favorite games for years now and I own every expansion (which btw I don't ever recommend playing with all of them because it makes the game take 60 years and you have to shuffle for longer than that) but I just really enjoy it. It's silly fun and everyone I've showed it to likes it as well so I gotta go with that one as my favorite exception to the rule.

[@mmmhorsesteaks]

I don't tend to like bluffing games very much, but had a lot of fun with overseers! It's fun, fast, and there's a lot going on besides the bluffing ^^

[@DRockeh]

I'm not usually a fan of Party games, but I love "Imagine Iff"

[@arekkrolak6320]

Isnt a drawer a box like storage compartment? ;)

[@tomasxfranco]

I hadn't realized Tom was missing a canine.

[@touche1545]

4:02 "Garden? Like a garden, like outside?" I'm curious, are there any other types of gardens besides...well, gardens? XD I get that maybe he was just trying to clarify, but it just made me curious.

[@jukka-pekkatuominen4540]

Good thing about Wits and Wagers (that I have also used to get points) is to make your own guess way off and hope someone falls for that. Then bet on other answers that are better. Or to make your answer super low and hope that everyone else put their answer as too large. It's a good mechanic, but not my favourite game.

[@KregorEight]

I use "noxious" in ordinary conversation all the time.

[@ThatDolph]

I usually don't like "Apples to Apples/Card Against Humanity" style games where a judge votes on players answers, but I really enjoy Joking Hazard. Say what you will about the adult/juvenile humor and art of the game, but the game gives the judge more to do than just read a card, so there is more creative control and participation for everyone on every turn; I also happen to like Cyanide and Happiness comics, so that helps. Say Anything is another game in the similar style that I like, so I guess that's two exceptions, though I would probably put Say Anything in a different category of games.

[@fadedtiger3181]

I got into onitama playing it with Tom. Now I play it all the time.

[@JamesHazBeHaiTyme]

Laughed so hard at the missing file at 41:51.

[@SamHealey6]

JamesHazBeHaiTyme I looked so hard for that stupid thing, and it wouldn't show up like that in the timeline...sorry!

[@BG_StuartJ]

Chewbacca Apples to Apples cracked me up

[@ramonosuke]

This was probably one of their funniest Top 10 of recent memory(Top 10 Annoying Gamers and Games these two jokers don't appreciate still take the cake for me). Five Tribes in every right should be a game I shouldn't enjoy but I do, sadly I'm the only one in my group that does. Wonder if there's a solo variant on BGG I could play instead

[@9xxxmusicxxx9]

what is a programing game

[@skippydoo123]

Tom is still never going to play Android Netrunner again right?

[@jukka-pekkatuominen4540]

Is Captain Sonar anything like Space Cadets? Because it sounds so similar.

[@GrandElemental]

It is, but instead of a co-op its team vs team. It's also a much, much better game alltogether IMHO.

[@Stephen-Fox]

Closer to Dice Duel, but without the dice, as I understand it. From what I hear the most interesting role is the player who's listening to the other team's captain with a map, a transparent overlay, and a pen, trying to work out where they are.

[@josegimenezchilavert8699]

IceCool it's greaaaat! Got mine today!!

[@pirotehs]

Garden Competition - Dice Tower Essentials 2017 :)

[@brianb5145]

I have watched your top 10 Euro games video, even Googled "Euro games" and "Ameritrash" (thrash? crash?) games, but the difference/definition is still not clear to me. Can someone give me clear, specific, understandable definitions? Thanks.

[@BitJam]

There are no universally accept definitions. Some people say Ameritrash games start with a theme and tack on gameplay while Eurogames start with the gameplay and tack on a theme. One definition I thought was interesting is that in Eurogames, you roll the dice (or whatever) and then make a decision while in Ameritrash games you make a decision and then roll the dice. But even with this definition I'm sure there are many exceptions. For example in dice placement games like Alien Frontiers you first roll the dice and then decide what to do with them while in games like Eldritch Horror and Arkham horror you first decide what to do and then roll the dice to see what the outcome will be. So Alien Frontiers is considered to be a Eurogame while Arkham Horror and Eldritch Horror are considered to be Ameritrash.

[@conatgion]

Generally eurogames are mechanisms first, theme second, with indirect interaction (blocking, drafting, majorities) while amerit(h)rash is the opposite, theme first, mechanisms second, direct interaction (conflict, destruction). But the roll then decide vs. decide then roll definition really is the best way to put it :)

[@Spamereq]

By the title I expected top ten good games that didn't got reprint

[@sebastienzander5593]

That's sort of similar to games that need a deluxe edition since a lot of those games were out of print. A lot of Sams list ended up happening.

[@Spamereq]

I'm not dissapointed in any way, just saying my first thought was exceptions to "the rule" are exceptions to "Vasel rule".

[@CommanderGaming01]

Spamereq That was a Law, vasels Law...

[@BardicLiving]

One "exception to the rule" that comes to mind for me is The Resistance: Avalon. Usually I hate bluffing games and Mafia/Werewolf-style secret identity guessing, but Avalon does it very well and makes it entertaining for almost any group.

[@Candorsmayhem]

BardicLiving I think broomservice the card game is about the only bluffing game I like. It's not hidden role, but it is actually really fun

[@FLAXinFLY]

Hi, first of all I want to tell you that I'm Italian and I have been following you for years from overseas. Even now that I lived in Costa Rica for over a year. I also made trip all around the States and slept in the car for months, and even then, I kept following you. I really appreciate your job and think your are very good at what you do; I find most of your videos very useful an enjoy them. Though, there is something very serious and way more important than board games that I really didn't like and invite you and your viewers to reconsider. You might say it's off topic. I want to put beforehand that important and serious things are never off topic, and I believe that an opportunity to talk about them occurred watching this video. I'm talking about what you say from minute 22:16 on. In few seconds you are delivering a message that should be discussed for hours/day/months if not years. When you say "america is a great country" I think you are not looking at the whole picture. If it's a great country (and I disagree with that) that's at other people/countries' expenses. USA are constantly killing innocent people around the world pretending to bring freedom (which you don't actually have), but we all know that the real reason is to steal or control other countries' resources (mainly oil), controlling their politics and impose your rules for the sake of your markets and money. You are always into war because producing and selling weapons is one of your biggest market, if not the biggest. And to do do that you need wars. Not mentioning that you sell weapons to the people you pretend to or will fight against in the future (i.e. Afghanistan, ISIS and many more). I wouldn't call a country that always starts and supports wars a great country. You guys have a mass distribution of guns on the street; in your country is normal to have guns in your houses. Even kids have easy access to them. Let me say that it's not normal and it's not the right way to solve problems. Do you know that your presidents own shares of companies that produce weapons? USA are the cause of poverty, desperation and devastation in many countries; in order for you to be "great", other countries have to suffer. And how can you possibly call a great country a place where poverty is seen like poor people's fault and not as a failure of its society? Where welfare means that only rich people can have dignity. You have serious problems with food, obesity, no respect for the animals, the planet and for other cultures and countries. A country where racism is so strong and the school system is ridiculous. A country where all that matters is making money, no matter what. A culture that falsely believes that everyone has the same opportunity, but it really almost exclusively applies to rich and white people. The percentage of alcoholics and drug addicts in your country is really high, one of the highest in the world, if not the highest. And what about Guantanamo and your prison system? People who own the prisons are very close if not the same ones who rule the country. They want to make their own profit and, in order to do that, you are arresting mostly poor and black people for very stupid reasons, whilst the real criminals are untouchable. Also, you should think about the words you use; calling the USA "America" is somewhat arrogant and disrespectful for the other countries that are on same continent. Why do you call them with their own names and South America or Central America as a whole and yourself "America'? Some of you might say "it's just a word". Words matter! They carry an idea, a culture. Have you ever realized that among nearly 50 presidents of the USA only the good ones have been murdered? Have you ever asked yourselves why? And what you guys did to the Indians? Your banks, financial companies, big companies and corporations go around the world dictating rules that enslave and impoverish people and countries with the only goal to make money for themselves, no matter what. You are the most consumerist society in the world, and most of the times you are giving money to companies which don't respect human/animal rights at all. Giving them money means supporting their policies and strategies and contributing to all the bad and horrible things they do. I know that after reading my comment many people will get angry; I know, truth hurts. And that's one reason why, even if you think you do, you actually don't have democracy; you are not able to discuss about your problems, you are not even able to acknowledge them. If someone points out your faults and problems, you become angry and don't want to listen and understand. Instead of getting furious, think about what I wrote. Thera are so many books, articles and documentaries that can explain and present those problems to you; if you want, I can suggest you many. Stop spreading the idea of being a great country, because you are omitting, not taking into consideration all the bad sides of your society, and they are many. Don't be lazy, ignorant and stop setting your agenda around tv shows and sport events; it's not me thinking that, it's the money companies invest in tv commercial proving it; that's how your beloved companies look at and consider you. Stop believing that your media system provides you with true, uncensored and unbiased information. Freedom and democracy start with open minded people who are able to criticize their own culture and not pretending that it's great or perfect. I'm Italian and able to state that my country is not great at all either. Beautiful, but definitely not great. Sam, Tom and Zee you have the chance to speak to a quite big audience, kids included, don't miss the opportunity to make them think about how to became better people and make USA a better country telling them that you are already great. Wanna make USA a great country? Start recognizing that you have many problems and are the cause of many others around the world and start to make the right choices in your life.

[@Candorsmayhem]

FLAXinFLY wow, you really are a self indulgent asshole, aren't you?

[@wroot_lt]

Bless you, Tom ;)

[@gamera2351]

"No minis. No fun" Yeah I'm with Sam, there is a grain of truth in this. I LOVE giant monster moves. And yet for the longest time I never picked up King of Tokyo because it used standees over minis. And yes I know now that the standee is meant to be placed on a single space, but I didn't even know that due to not giving the game a second glace when I saw standees instead of minis on the back of the box.

[@d.b.4910]

Some that come to mind for me are: 1) I don't like zombies, but I really like Dead of Winter. 2) I don't like Cthulhu, but I enjoy Mansions of Madness (especially with the app). 3) I'm hoping I like Captain Sonar in spite of not liking real-time games.

[@thomasromanelli2561]

I'm sorry that you seem to have had a poor experience during the formative stages of Netrunner, but I hope that you will give the game another chance with the upcoming release of Terminal Directive. This narrative expansion will provide a different way to play the game, and hopefully will serve as a useful entry point for new players who may be intimidated by the current card pool. IMHO, the varying terms for the trash pile like "heap" if you're the Runner and "archives" if you're Corp are part of what strengthens the theme behind the asymmetric foundation of this card game. It is indeed an increasingly complex game, but that's part of what makes it fun. For those that are willing to invest the time and attention to detail, it remains a very rewarding experience- even for the casual player. Love your videos. Keep 'em coming!