Going Through the BGG Top Rated (10-1)

[@dromadrosis]

Lovely series, Tom! It was like visiting a museum with a personal guide. Thank you!

[@FranzBazar]

Tom you're just the best overall reviewer out there. You've made So Many video's that are interesting for people just getting enthused about this Board Gaming hobby like me!

[@Traumtheater0]

Really enjoyed this series! Also the sitting down and clicking through the list instead of only talking about the games for a change was fun. Thx Tom!

[@AhJong0]

Oliver König agreed, that made a big difference!

[@TheRmm1976]

Great job Tom, this was my favorite series the Dice Tower has produced in the past year! Super idea to do this, since most subscribers are probably familiar with BGG!

[@zakkchambers263]

Maybe Tom, Zee and Sam should do a top ten games that they want to play but have not had the opportunity to do so

[@JDalkinn]

Really enjoyed this series, Tom! It was well put together, too.

[@KabukiKid]

Yeah, this should be a yearly series. ^_^

[@AhJong0]

Loved this series. In the future could do an update each year - changes, movement, etc. Top stuff, thanks Dice Tower!

[@nallosword]

WOW i just realized TOM is the voice of the people now!!!!!!!!! :D

[@ericlosiewicz519]

Really enjoyed the whole series Tom. Couple suggestions for next time you do it. Make sure to start each episode with a quick reminder of the day you are recording the list (as the top 100 can change). Good way to ground where the list is. Definitely agree about your comment in one of the videos to check ahead to maybe add a few more items on the list since games like Dominion, War of the Ring, and Through the Ages technically take 2 places (I agree they should be combined entries somehow, but I also see the argument about rules changes technically making certain editions actually different games).

[@Ender424]

Through the Ages is something I would have never gotten to play if it weren't for the app. Great game!

[@Ulaan-ti9nm]

I loved this series! Please keep it going!

[@TeChNoWC7]

Um, you don't draft dice in Castles of Burgundy.

[@TheRyry97]

Had a moment of panic when Tom Vasel made me think I've been playing one of my favorite games wildly wrong! :D

[@fredmyers8366]

when do we get you guys Top ten games not on BGG list that should be?

[@Steve-L]

Just watch their top 100 games they already listed.

[@christianesch5938]

I would love to see that with you three discussing it. Even if it would take an awfully long time!

[@thesearemyhobbies]

Tom that was a really awesome and amazing video! I loved that you were so precise and on to the point with your review. You covered a lot in a short amount of time.

[@supersamuraisunday685]

Watched the whole series. Loved it. Thanks Tom!

[@1000YearBeard]

"peanut butter & chocolate" love it.

[@hawkeye137137]

This was a fun to watch list Tom. Now start a top 250 list. :D

[@TabularConferta]

Awesome thank you guys. Is there any chance of a top 10 budget games?

[@RobVespa]

This was a great series Loved it!

[@jonnyw2887]

Thanks for an enjoyable series Tom!

[@IsacSandelin]

That one unopened mail...

[@headphonecatty]

Fairy Tale’s 2 player draft is fun though. Just passing to the person in front of you is far less complex haha

[@daveshafer7908]

Do bottom 100 rated games on BGG!

[@PamWD]

The Castles of Burgundy, Scythe, Terraforming Mars, are all in my top 10.

[@TheRyry97]

PJWDeyerle Same!

[@KorRioux]

Wow....The Castles of Burgundy has been knocked down to 11 since....yesterday? (its the 15th now....video was posted on the 14th....but who knows when he made it) Nice series ....some games I've never played and would like to know more about....should stop this one and start at 100-91 haha.

[@misomiso8228]

Yeah - i think also with Twilight Struggle it's a two player game that helps, where as a lot of the wargames are multiplayer. Plus Rather than just a War or a battle, Twilight Struggle simulates an 'era' which is very cool to play.

[@EclecticCamel]

War of the Ring blows Star Wars Rebellion out of the water, though I haven't played the SWR expansion so maybe it fixed the combat. But pound for pound on the base games, WOTR wins.

[@poggydudeman]

TheGreatHamEl Huh, I’m the opposite, and the IPs *are* basically equivalent for me. WotR’s variance feels just a bit more in your face and finding the base is FAR more interesting than chasing the ring.

[@EclecticCamel]

Mason Sokol How is it more interesting? I don't want to disrespect your opinion, but that blows my mind. You can make an educated guess in WotR a lot easier than Rebellion, which is mostly blind shots in the dark until you interrogate someone or get a lucky probe. I'd concede that I've played WotR quite a bit more (and at competitive level) but you don't have a direction or really much to go on to make a decision in Rebellion. I can't see how that's more interesting, unless you're more IP biased than you think you are.

[@Hieronymus-Pseudonymous]

Drafting dice in CoB? One wonders just how long it's been since he played it. Here's what he had to say about it back in the day: "Even though I think the theme should be put through a meat grinder with extreme prejudice, this is a good Eurogame."

[@mindlikewater4188]

Does anyone know where the opening theme music comes from?

[@MastigosAtLarge]

THROUGH THE AGES looks like Great Man Theory the Game. As an historian, I already have enough trouble getting college freshmen to understand what we expect in history courses at the university level.

[@williammcguinness795]

I prefer "Nations" as my civilization building game.

[@Walter.Kolczynski]

It isn't really though. The leaders can give a boost or reward certain lines of play, but it is really about building up your economy and/or military.

[@Walter.Kolczynski]

To each his own. I like both, but I think TtA is a far superior game. Nations has some weird things, such as having very few (or none) of certain types of cards available depending on the shuffle, or the *weakest* civilization declaring war defensively.

[@Steve-L]

Castles of Burgundy was one of the 1st games I played when I first joined my board game meetup. It did not impress me, but only played it once. But 99% of the time, it usually only takes 1 play to pique my interest. I wasn't opposed to it, I just didn't think it special. Scythe was a game I had mixed feeling about. In general I liked the game, but the cave/tunnel aspect I hated. It reminded me of the caves in Small World which some races could exploit. It added an extra dimension in the game which required your attention even if it wasn't used. If the tunnels were removed I would enjoy the game and would probably be near the bottom of my top 100, and thus a game I would enjoy, but because of the tunnels, I won't play it again. Terra Mystica was a game that did not interest me due to Tom's review, not that I have the same tastes, although similar in some aspects, my tastes fall between Tom and Sam, but the ideas behind the game did not interest me. Therefore I never sought it out, but one day at my meetup it was being played, and it was my only option, so I played. I didn't even try at 1st, but as I played I got the hang of it and started doing well. I think I came in 3rd place out of 5. It was okay, and I will still resist playing it, but if forced in that situation again, I would play it again. Star Wars Rebellion: this was a game I was able to beta test for FFG. I thought it good. Good enough at the time to make my 100 but wasn't amazing. I was still relatively early in the hobby and half my top 100 games were just "good". I would definitely play it again. But would not request it. And it can be played with up to 4 players. Terraforming Mars is currently my 46th favorite game of all time. I quite like it, although it is a little long for what it is. Through the Ages is 1 of 12 games on my "do not play" again list. I hated it, despite the fact I beat the 2 players who taught me the game. Just because I am good at a game and win, does not make me like the game. I detested it. I will never play this game again. I tend to dislike civ games.

[@sayinpower3]

Interesting. With tastes like yours I am really curious to know your top ten :P

[@Steve-L]

1. Tikal 2. Trias 3. Tomb & Tomb: Cryptmaster 4. Cutthroat Caverns 5. Alien Frontiers 6. Bang! the Card Game 7. Above and Below 8. Cosmic Encounter 9. Colt Express 10. Three Dragon Ante 11. Talisman (Revised 4th Edition) 12. Mission: Red Planet 13. Insider 14. San Juan 15. Power Grid: the Card Game 16. Carcassonne: Hunters and Gatherers 17. Balderdash/Beyond Balderdash 18. Modern Art 19. Mafia de Cuba 20. Roll Player

[@sayinpower3]

Very interesting, thank you. I'll have to look into some of those.

[@AUGOM0919]

Tom how do i look for the top 100 games at bgg site? cant see a link

[@LTdrumma]

Browse>Games They should be listed in rank order already which is the "Geek Rating"

[@LoftOfTheUniverse]

I'd rather hear what you liked about scythe rather than the whole "there's not as much combat as you think...next" that every single review has already said. I feel like for 15 min this was brief, but then again there's 10 games so each get 1.5 mins.

[@benbigham6374]

WARNING: Spoiler for Pandemic Legacy Season 1 (a picture, looked unintentional). If you haven't played yet, I would just skip that portion of the video.

[@markusschmidt9260]

I haven't played Season 1 yet, have seen the video, but don't know, what you are talking about. For somebody not knowing the campaign, these pics don't reveal anything. People are a bit over-sensible regarding spoilers these days imho. Very annoying in case of some TIME Stories scenarios, where reviewers tend to tell NOTHING about the game, and it is quite likely, that people will say "Oh doh, what a disappointment! Didn't expect the story be such a stupid run-of-the-mill cliché."

[@gamera2351]

Yeah I saw the little green guys (zombies?) on the board and haven't played the game yet. I own it but it's still unplayed. Oh well that's ok I'm not upset or anything.

[@IdlestHands]

As a bonus for anyone who wasnt watching the video when the image popped up they can now be spoiled in the comments as well

[@gamera2351]

Schwarzeskreuz Eh. Only if you click on the replies. :)

[@almosmohai2321]

Thx you saved my life !

[@KabukiKid]

The first time I saw Scythe and the rules were being explained, I got all excited when I saw the combat wheel and learned that you can add cards and that everyone loses what you devote to the fight. Cool! This sounds like the combat system in Dune. Nope... combat isn't like Dune. heh Definitely a disappointment. Scythe is a fine game, but the combat system bummed me out a little... maybe from my expectations. ;-)

[@TechnoGolem]

I'm curious to see how well the Star Wars games will do over the next few years. I used to be a big SW fan but watching Last Jedi killed it for me. I stopped buying or playing anything SW related since. I'm sure I'm in the minority but I'm interested to see if Disney's handling of SW will make others feel like me.

[@jeromeiveson4614]

TechnoGolem so you’ve stopped for a month ;)

[@AhJong0]

I’d have to say it’s the opposite to me. Like it or loathe it (I like it) Disney’s handling of Star Wars has breathed life back into the film side of the franchise that had ended with three prequels which I’ve always felt were disliked (I find it hard to compute that Episode II can have generated less “hate” than the Last Jedi). I think that Star Wars game products are going to evolve along with the films. Doesn’t mean everyone will like them of course, but I’m excited to see what’s coming 🙂

[@LoftOfTheUniverse]

I agree with you. I knew the force awakens was gonna be poor but I gave it a chance. They chose to lecture the public on SJW messages rather than make a deep and compelling story. They feel like star wars can't fail, so they are just puppeting a dead corpse. I hope star wars dies now because it's just dragging my childhood through the mud.

[@LoftOfTheUniverse]

+Off-The-Cuff Gaming breathed life? More like plot inconsistencies and destruction if classic characters (that they didn't create or make us love). they can't make likeable characters so they're killing off well made ones all the while making mary sues and cheesy humor that is aimed toward the lowest common denominator. I'm surprised the actors don't wink at the camera when something is supposed to be "funny". You're probably a liberal so your opinion isn't real anyway.

[@lonniw]

No nose touch count in the comments, this time?

[@x1teDota]

Next up: Top 100 games Tom hasn't played.

[@MrTravolta7]

Tom, you prefer playing the Through the Ages App than the Board Game!!!? But that goes against the essence of Board Gaming. Noooooo..... Dont tell me that you prefer playing Civilization on Pc. Im just kidding but that makes me thing if all board games had an app (a good one)... what would happen?

[@stg1963]

Best mini series you've ever done Tom but MASSIVE SPOILER PICTURE of Pandemic Legacy Season 1. You really shouldn't have included that. I've noticed you've given spoilers for season 1 and 2 over the last few months...whenever I hear you about to speak about them I turn the volume down immediately as you can't be trusted to not give spoilers...

[@shawnfleury1295]

I understand what you're trying to say but Pandemic Season 1 was released in 2015. What do you consider to be the point where you no longer need to worry about if you're spoiling a surprise in a game? I would think that 2 years is a good amount of time.

[@gibbostooth]

Yeah. I'm currently in March in the campaign and I'm like "WTF?!"

[@Deinbeck]

That time you spoiled Pandemic Legacy :-|

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Just wrong for Gloomhaven to be #1 - barely any ratings compared to others and only accessible to a chosen few. BGG is a popularity contest.

[@deanlowdon8381]

+Luke Hector “BGG is a popularity contest” Surely anything where people vote is a popularity contest? How could it work differently?

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Probably should add more detail - I'm meaning it more from a "cult of the new" perspective. Granted there are some older stuff on there, though the issue with them is that no-one updates their ratings and we get duplicate editions as Tom says. I just find it a shame that something like say "Ticket to Ride" which has redefined the board game hobby as a whole for new players can have over 60,000 ratings, is known/played by all, popular, and IMO a good game also will never see the light of the Top Ten. But a £100+ Kickstarter only complex game with more content that can be feasibly be played in ones lifetime that only die-hard RPG loving gamers will play as #1 just seems very cult of the new.

[@deanlowdon8381]

+Luke Hector I believe that the rankings are weighted to favour games with more votes. New games getting lots of votes will end up higher when they first come out but they generally do settle into a steady position.

[@freakstylebjdstudios8198]

Gloomhaven isn't THAT hard to get. I was too late for the 2nd kickstarter, but I'll get my copy through a pre-order.

[@kchorst5037]

If I back it or pay over $100 for any game, I'm more likely to make sure I'll love it first, so it's worth the money spent. If I'm on the fence, why bother? So the people who bought it, loved it (and knew they would), giving it 9 or 10, while the people who were a maybe or might not have liked it, never got to play it and give it a low score. I don't see an honest solution other than to ignore the ranking.

[@ComodinZero]

Your favorite game?! Really? Omg what happened to Cosmic Encounter!

[@AJ-nc4vr]

Check out his recent top 100 games of all time.... :P

[@ComodinZero]

Andy Jackson I immediately went and checked it out! That's crazy I was a surprised as Zee and Sam!

[@pallas100]

7 wonders Duel is a terrible game in my opinion and quite unbalanced

[@Osborne4Life]

Ugh. Gloomhaven. :/

[@EclecticCamel]

And yet, there it is.

[@AJ-nc4vr]

Ugh. Other people's opinions....

[@Osborne4Life]

That's what it is, yes. Seems like you don't like them.

[@quasistellar]

Have you played it?

[@Osborne4Life]

Yes, I have. Multiple scenarios with my gaming group and a few times solo, just to try it out on both ends. It is not the worst game, but I rated it 4.