Top 10 Stonemaier Games - with Tom Vasel

In this Publisher Showcase, Tom Vasel takes a look at his top 10 games from Stonemaier!
0:00 Intro
1:27 #10
2:12 #9
2:56 #8
3:31 #7
4:20 #6
5:11 #5
6:13 #4
7:03 #3
8:00 #2
8:54 #1
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[@jameystegmaier]

Thank you, Tom! I feel very fortunate to be about to design and publish games as my career, and I never imagined I'd have even 1 game for reviewers to talk about, much less 10!

[@tbahr123]

Thanks for some great games Jamey!

[@timtimmy1466]

Are you bringing anymore of your games to BGA?

[@jameystegmaier]

@@timtimmy1466 We’ve given BGA the green light to bring any of our games to their platform-it’s just a matter of them having developers available and interested. :) Currently we have Viticulture and Tapestry there.

[@timtimmy1466]

@@jameystegmaier Very cool and thanks for the reply! Viticulture is my favorite game on the site

[@Darkthur]

@@jameystegmaier hi Jamey! I really enjoyed Pendulum as a family plus game. Any expansions planned for this one? I think it would be fantastic to make it even better.

[@dannyanderson4723]

Two Stonemaier games are in my top 10, 3- Scythe (rating: 10) and 5- Viticulture (rating 9.5). Loved this review, though I disagree with Tom on Between Two Cities, I think it's the perfect game for helping bring novice and intermediate players into gaming.

[@Hemux0]

I reckon Red Rising is in my top 3 of SMG, it is amazing, and this is coming from someone who also loves Fantasy Realms. So far there is no miss for me with SMG, I am no fanboy of anything, but for me this is a publisher that rose from "who?" to "I have more than half of their games!". Worse: the other half is in my wishlist!... Good on you, Jamey.

[@franciscorojas8088]

Scythe is a 10/10 for me, it's just perfect, I've played it over 200 times by now and I'm still enjoying it. I especially love it with new players, because they get so engaged we eventually end up playing between 2 and 3 plays in one day.

[@garylangford6755]

What are your favourite expansions/modules?

[@Gmoney14]

Would love to see a updated video to see where Apiary and Wyrmspan would fall into this list. I also can't believe Red Rising didn't beat out pendulum or euphoria. It's underrated.

[@Groovestonenz]

It's Scythe, Viticulture and Wingspan for me. I haven't played their version of Libertalia, or Charterstone, Viticulture World or Red Rising. Scythe is the game that made me fall in love with modern boardgames, so it will always hold a special place in my heart. I've got all the expansions and have deluxified it, as I have with Viticulture. I'm not a fan of the cutesie art style of some of their games, but mechanically they're outstanding.

[@hucz]

I'd say you need to have played more from them in order to have a large enough pool of choices to rank. For example, rank a top 10 if played at least 20 games but ideally 50+, top 50 if played 200+, top 100 if played 400+ etc. If you've played less than 15 Stonemeier Games, id say you can give a top 3, but anything less than 7-10 games of theirs played, only a top 1 or 2.

[@Groovestonenz]

@@hucz Super. Well, my top three are those ones. Of course I'd love to play more :-)

[@TorIverWilhelmsen]

Red Rising is perhaps also interesting in that the retail version can be a better choice than the deluxe version, since two of the metal player colors are not as distinct as one would like, and that the insert requires the box to be oriented in one particular direction in order not to spill the components all over.

[@kub20t]

great top ten!

[@mikaelhansson9613]

I was at a convention a month ago, and both the old and new versions of Libertalia was available for play. I didn't see anyone play the new version...

[@jdotco23]

Great list, Tom. I 100% agree that Charterstone is so great after you're done with the campaign. I personally wish they would just release a more streamlined, non-campaign version of the game. I realize you sort of can do that anyway, but I'd love to see a version of that game with better rules and better scoring designed around single playthroughs.

[@AkmalGameAtion]

Pendulum is such an interesting game and it is so underrated too! Great to see it on the list.

[@cotj73]

Scythe is one of my top games of all time and Stonemaier won my loyalty after sending me a replacement part for it, even though I had got my copy in a trade. Amazing publisher, one of my favorites by far.

[@kjak94]

I love many of Stonemaier's games, but I'd agree with Viticulture (with Tuscany) at #1. It's one of those few games that I KNOW that whenever I bring it to the table, with whomever is at the table, win or lose it will have been an entertaining and intellectually compelling gaming session. Some of my favorite play sessions have been really back and forth games where I've lost on a final turn, and I think it's a mark of a great game when those moments can still be regarded as worthwhile.

[@b67us]

When you know its from Stonemaier Games: you know what you will get it's = Quality in Production!! one of the best For me the best Stonemaier games are : RED RISING and WINGSPAN! Thanks for the good games

[@bigd7383]

Stonemaier Games is also my favorite publisher & 2 of his games are in my top 10 of all time (Scythe & Tapestry) with both Viticulture & Wingspan also being in my top 20!!!

[@timdertim]

Love that hat!

[@zvnetzley9209]

I had never played Viticulture until after the pandemic hit, and then it was a solo play to learn how so I could teach it whe. The opportunity arose. I have yet to play it with anyone else, but I have played it at least 15 tines solo and love it! I don't do a lot of solo gaming (minus the oniverse games and some button shy) but Viticulture I played 2 games back to back straight from the get go! Scythe is a favorite and one that I cannot get enough of. Just bought Euphoria at the Lake City Gamefest and looking forward to bringing it to the table as well.

[@carlosandino5524]

Enjoyed the list. I would just made sure that Red Rising is on it.

[@manuelkooijman5757]

My number one, by a mile, is Wingspan. It is such a beautiful and very good game whereby in every game I always find myself short of one turn to just get done what I wanted to do or just put that last bird out from my hand. Clever and gorgeous game.

[@StevenStJohn-kj9eb]

Of the ones I've played: 1. Scythe 2. Tapestry 3. Euphoria 5. Between 2 Castles of Mad King Ludwig 6. Wingspan 7. Viticulture 8. Red Rising 9. Rolling Realms 10. Charterstone (only played the app) 11. Libertalia (though I haven't played the SM version)

[@Redcorvus]

It would be really nice to have your 1-10 score next to each game. I've been loving it in the 4 square reviews! Thanks for all the good content!

[@pilotvc]

Prob all 10/10

[@pilotvc]

My favourites are Scythe, Wingspan, and Between Two Cities (with Capitals expansion)

[@robertdascoli949]

What was the rule that changed on the base game of viticulture? I only have the enhanced edition with the Tuscany expansion.

[@brucekaplan5544]

If I remember correctly, it wasn't actually a changed rule, it was adding the Grande worker. The first version of Viticulture didn't have that worker.

[@robertdascoli949]

@@brucekaplan5544 WOW. The grande worker makes a huge difference in the game, and all workers placement games that stole the mechanic.

[@antoniostoryteller]

Scythe and Viticulture are in my top 10 of all time. I also love Wingspan.

[@KabukiKid]

Wingspan is easily my favorite of the ones I have played from Stonemaier. Of the ones that Jamey designed, I'd say my favorite there is Viticulture.

[@jeromykoffler1613]

Wingspan is #1 for me for sure. Red Rising also deserved to be on this list. I really like that game, too.

[@dannyanderson4723]

Whoa... This got me to drop everything and watch

[@SwedishWookie]

Oh man, Stonemeier have so many of my faves! But I think Wingspan takes the no.1 spot for me.

[@eVanDiesel]

I agree with your tip five, but I think id swap 3&4

[@winstonhammonds3314]

With regard to Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest, I am reminded a great deal of The Legend of Zelda in 2000. Fans of the series had just played one of the greatest games of all time- Ocarina of Time and its cult follow-up- Majora's Mask. Then that video from Space World dropped with a "realistic" looking Link battling Ganondorf. It was incredible. A year or two later, fans realized just how much of a tech demo that was after being shown the newest title Nintendo was working on- Wind Waker. People were so upset about the cartoony, cell-shaded shift in the series. And then they played it. It's become one of the best in the series, and typically ranks higher than the more mature-looking titles. Yes, people might prefer to grab the gritty, dirty looking art (which I do think is amazing), but no one should discount this re-imagining just because of the lighter looking art.

[@lessavini]

Great vid! I think Scythe map is situated somewhere in Ukraine, judging by the factions starting locations.

[@sceif]

1. Red Rising 2. Wingspan 3. Scythe 4. Viticulture 5. Tapestry

[@Poiuytrew.Q]

1. Wingspan 2. Charterstone 3. Viticulture 4. My little scythe 5. Scythe

[@MJ-cf1pe]

After your talk about #1 and #2 I got the idea of a Top 10 Games without any expansion? But I do not know if you ever did this before?

[@brucekaplan5544]

Why? Expansions can REALLY change the game for the better? Why would you dismiss that?

[@robertanushafedele7847]

Great breakdown, Tom; Stonemaier is a favorite, quality publisher of mine for the points you make. "Scythe" and "Fenris" is such a satisfying combination.

[@mikaelhansson9613]

Many good games, with amazing production. My favourite is Tapestry.

[@maxv658]

I've been playing core Scythe for many years now. The base game is so good I haven't even thought about getting expansions. Maybe it's time I at least check out Rise of Fenris considering how great everyone says it is. Good to know My Little Scythe is a great kids game! I'm always on the lookout for kids games that are good and engaging for adults as well. Definitely will pick that up sometime. Viticulture and Charterstone have both been on my list for years and years and I still haven't picked either up. Probably time I scratched them off my list too.

[@lemiless]

I own Scythe. I have the "Invaders From Afar", and "Wind Gambit" expansions. I really would like to get the Rise Of Fenris expansion, but I don't currently have a solid group to play through a campaign. I like Invaders because it expands the player count.. and even if you don't play with more than 5 players, just having those extra options available is awesome. The Wind Gambit is great, although sometimes doesn't seem to factor into the game as much as I'd hope. But I love having the extra mechanisms available.

[@ChrisSmithSmooth]

I think my top 3 has to be: 1. Viticulture - Yeah it's just a brilliant design, loving the cooperative expansion too. 2. Between Two Cities (With the mats and purple tiles from capitals) - Best higher player count game I own & infinitely better than between two castles that feels too complex for the 'balance your cities' mechanism to work satisfyingly. 3. Wingspan - Yep solid game. I do like Scythe but after Fenris I think I'm just done with it - I'd happily play a similar game with the combat removed though.

[@modemacabre]

I really REALLY need to give Viticulture another try. I played it way too early in gaming life and I suspect that that really hurt it for me. Not to mention that the theme did absolutely nothing for me. I've never understood the romance of winemaking and really despise wine. (Full disclosure: My grandfather owned a vineyard and sold all his grapes for juice, never wine.) I'd be torn in deciding whether I enjoy Wingspan or Scythe more. Maybe Wingspan? Perhaps this is influenced by how much my wife enjoys Wingspan and how much I enjoy playing games with her. I have to give Jamey credit for changing the look of Libertalia. I had long heard this game referred to in glowing terms, but every time I'd go to check it out I would be so turned off by the artwork that I never got further. (Full disclosure: I hate pirates!) With his update I actually watched a few videos and read a bit of the rules. I'm still not sure it would be a game for me, but I'm closer with the new look.

[@GodkingSlayer]

[@tycham85]

1. Scythe 2. Wingspan 3. Rolling Realms TBD: just got Viticulture EE, so that may displace one of the others.

[@TerrierHalo]

Scythe, Viticulture, Wingspan. I haven’t played all their games but those three I either enjoy or really like.

[@Danathon80]

1.Tapestry 2.Red Rising 3.Viticulture 4.Wingspan 5.Scythe. In that order. Special mention to the seemingly under-loved Pendulum.

[@ziomalZparafii]

8:10 I've never played Scythe. Is it really happening in Russia? Artist, Jakub Różalski, is from Poland and huge amount of his graphics are usually placed in alternative Poland being invaded by Germans and Russian mechs.

[@tavanesh9122]

It takes place in what the game calls Europa, a 1920’s alternate history version of Eastern Europe, Russia is never specified. I believe it’s set across several alternate history versions of eastern European nations, including Russia and Poland. Also, it’s really more dieselpunk than steampunk.

[@unlimitedrabbit]

Do give it a try sometime. I've found it to be highly addicting and it successfully dodges the accusation of multiplayer solitaire with which many Eurogames tend to be tagged - although I'd classify it more as a pseudo-Eurogame. I'd avoid playing the full seven player count for your first game as the expansion factions are an uphill climb for experienced players that can make chicken salad out of 🐔 💩.

[@wolflarson71]

@@unlimitedrabbit Decent as a 2 player game?

[@unlimitedrabbit]

@@wolflarson71 For a first teach, it's fair but combat could conceivably be avoided altogether so it doesn't adequately prepare first time players for how contested areas of the map can get with all five factions from the base game trying to get the necessary spots to harvest the resources they need and the limited encounter spots to get bonuses.

[@JJ_TheGreat]

6:01 But I think it would be a good game to bring out for an intro for non-gamers, too!

[@corbinrasmussen]

My favorite has to be Wingspan, although I love almost all Stonemaier games. I’m not surprised that Wingspan is number 4 on your list, just based on what you have said about it in passed videos. I am surprised that Charterstone was ranked so high on your list. Thanks for the list Tom!

[@hanslamal5632]

I just don't understand why Tuscany is not coming to the Viticulture digital app... When will it finally happen? And why no Scythe digital expansions?

[@JPNox]

I was surprised that My little scythe actually is about as heavy (if not more?) than original Scythe (since Scythe is pretty simple game) and I actually enjoyed it more, I think it's more fun game

[@rossglenn7600]

Thing you didn't notice, or didn't say if you did notice: with only a couple of exceptions, the farther you go back in time, the better the Stonemaier games are. You also mentioned that they produce high quality games, and I very much agree for their older games. But I don't think that's very true any more. Their most recent five games have all had very lackluster quality, especially Pendulum.

[@mr_baa]

I believe that the map of Scythe represents Europe. (Imho territory of Russia start on the game board around the big star symbol. Northern part of the board is Scandinavia and the southern part is Central Europe.) Edit: And Scythe is the very best game from Stonemaier Games by a large margin. ;)

[@Twister4815]

1. Scythe 2. Viticulture 3. Wingspan

[@hyde33]

What makes a Euro game a Euro game?

[@joethomas1775]

Great list, but because they're just great games.

[@dannys_78]

Mine would be: 1. Viticulture 2. Tapestry 3. Charterstone 4. Euphoria 5. Wingspan 6. Between Two Castles 7. Libertalia 8. Between Two Cities 9. Rolling Realms. 10. Red Rising. Sorry to say, but I've not actually played Scythe! I would probably like it, I think, but it looked a bit too imposing when I first saw it, we passed our copy on to friends. My Little Scythe is good fun too, but doesn't keep me engaged (as an adult) except when playing with kids. Pendulum I did not like at all :(

[@evansj18]

I ended up enjoying Red Rising a lot. I've got that at 3, Wingspan 2 and Charterstone my #1 from stonemaier.

[@rossjaax]

5. Between 2 Cities; 4. Charterstone; 3. Wingspan; 2. Viticulture; 1. Scythe…I’d rank more but that is all I’ve played….for now

[@stephenball2108]

I was actually really disappointed with the Libertalia reprint. I love Libertalia, and while I didn’t love the look of the new game (I’m not crazy about the art style and everything just feels sterile), I love Libertalia enough that the idea of more cards was enough to get me to want to try. But I really didn’t like the reputation track, through the game it felt very fiddly, and a lot of the new cards seemed to focus on that. I do like some of the changes to the loot, but overall I was disappointed. Scythe would be my number one, even though I haven’t played as much as I would like, even just halfway through the first game I loved it. I’d put Wingspan a little ahead of Viticulture, because for me engine builders are still fun even when you aren’t doing particularly well.

[@Allanq69]

I love Stonemaier games, the production and the ideas behind the games are fantastic. Great list! I haven't played Pendulum but Rolling Realms and Red Rising are really fun

[@thomasrobb1398]

I have played quite a few of these games but Euphoria is still my favorite - the wife and I play it at least twice per year.

[@arekkrolak6320]

I think they have many mega blockbuster hits :)

[@jonah3985]

Yeah, it's been said a million times before, but Viticulture without Tuscany is a really fun game, probably a 7.5 or 8 out of 10 for me. But with Tuscany it's closer to a perfect 10. Most expansions are just bloat or simply patches, but Tuscany is essential.

[@tomburke5311]

Only ever played Viticulture (Ess. Edition), which I find frustrating. I dislike the rather arbitrary end to the game - first to 25 points? Why not 20 (or 30)? And there’s nothing thematic in that ending. For example, Terraforming Mars ends when Mars has been terraformed (which is 100% thematic); and after that you find out who’s won. I greatly prefer that kind of ending. That said, I do like the mechanics of Viticulture; I just wish it all lead somewhere….

[@SAUPAYANMAZUMDAR]

My little scythe can very much be an adult’s game. Just coz scythe is grander and thinkier in every way, doesn’t mean my little scythe can’t be an inferior version of the same adult’s game

[@macmacox]

Euphoria is one of my absolute favorite games.. it is a 5 or preferably 6 player game though. I won't play with fewer.

[@Chris_IsBoard]

Not sure what I'd replace but Rolling Realms would be in my top 10

[@andrewwagner3462]

Agreed, Rolling Realms is excellent. I also really like the solo puzzle of Red Rising, even if I haven't yet played it multi-player

[@theshogunstein6475]

Pendulum was better than I thought it would be.

[@JonTalbain777]

I own Viticulture, Wingspan and Scythe, all of them with all expansions, and they would be my 1-2-3. The imbalance in Scythe knocks it down a little for me. SM games all seem to make very good decisions with production. They feel deluxe and special without being overwrought. Art is always on point and the price seems about right. Also I got a defective Albion meeple and they replaced it right away, so my experience with service was good too. That said, I'm not sure I want a fourth game with the current catalogue. I would like to try a bunch of these, though!

[@montyfarris]

Looks like u need to add Scythe, My Little Scythe & Charterstone to the list. Only played Wingspan(9) and Viticulture w/ Tuscany & Rhine Valley(9)(perfect combination)

[@davidgodfrey880]

1) Wingspan, 2) Scythe & 3) Charterston.

[@wolflarson71]

Is it "viti" or "vitee" culture?

[@john-qz3fu]

I love stonemaiers production level. Their games are hmmm ok. If their production level could be put towards a game like Madeira it would be awesome

[@rikhavok]

Stonemaier games definitely has an amazing catalog of games. You know what is funny, I own all of these games, including Scythe, which I don’t like. 10 Pendulum 9 Euphoria 8 Viticulture 7 Charterstone 6 Between two Cities 5 Between two Castles 4 Tapestry 3 Red Rising 2 Libertalia 1 Wingspan I don’t like Scythe because I don’t like games with area control. Tapestry has some area control, but I am ok with how it’s done here and I tend to avoid that part of the game and it doesn’t hurt my play when I do.

[@RichMulholland]

I really enjoy Rolling Realms. It would prob swap out Wingspan, which I don't enjoy so much.

[@Ras137]

I strongly disagree with Tom on My Little Scythe, I would happily play it with other adults. I think it's a great game to introduce non-gamers to some light Euro mechanics.

[@pierrewhite2062]

say the line Bart: 'Tapestry unbalanced'

[@Fx51xDi]

Scythe is not about Russia but an alternative history of 1920 in eastern Europe. In real 1920s Poland defeated Russia in a very important battle and saved Europe from communism. Plus art is from Poland and there are a lot of real life easter eggs like Wojtek the bear that fight in Polish army in 2WW and Basia Murmańska (white bear) that fight in Polish army in 1WW.

[@Straddllw]

My taste just doesn't match with Tom. For me: #0 - Libertalia (but the non Stonemaier version because I prefer the art in that one - technically not in top 10) #1 - Euphoria - Great theme and replayability and the bumping off mechanism is fantastic #2 - Red Rising - I prefer this one over hero realms. Much crunchier and has better theming. #3 - Tapestry - Fantastic civilisation themed game, but I would have preferred a deeper combat system. #4 - Wingspan - Fun, but very average. Gorgeous art and production though. #5 - Between Two Cities - Fun, but very average with average production. Too light for me. #6 - Scythe - I must have played this over 20 times including all expansions and campaign - it's just unsatisfying for me. I don't like the abrupt end and a lot of the faction combinations feels imbalanced and make your game not smooth. Gorgeous gorgeous production though and plays really quickly. However for a truly 4x game, I'd prefer something like ti4 which is nothing like this except the 4x promise. #7 - Viticulture - not a theme I enjoy and the cards are really random. I want some control with what strategy I decide to go with and I don't feel like I have much control over the cards. Those above are all the SM games I've played. I'd play Between Two Castles of Mad King Ludwig if anyone in my gaming group has it but the others I am not interested in.

[@stephenjohnson7488]

1. Scythe 2. Tapestry 3. Wingspan 4. Libertalia 5. Red Rising Haven’t played Charterstone or viticulture yet….though my 2 most common gaming friends hate the way Viticulture ends.

[@HorseIRL]

I love stonemaier games because of their continuous support for their titles. You never have to find anything secondhand and they're extremely responsive. Having said that, I do not have a list of top stonemaier games. I just like Scythe and dislike the rest. I dislike euros and engine builders in General. I played most their games and I have to say that I dislike wingspan the most. Not because it's trendy. It's a nice theme with great production but I think it's really boring.

[@joenelson2170]

Viticulture is also my top ranked Stonemaier game by quite a bit. I rank it a 7.5.

[@Patronux]

Nice

[@hucz]

Have you played all of the games listed here today?

[@joenelson2170]

@@hucz nope. I have not played Pendulum, My little Scythe or Charterstone. I also have not played the new Libertalia, though I do own the original and am so-so on it. I rank that a 6.5, which puts it above all the other Stonemaier games, so I guess that would be my #2 if the new one ranks the same.

[@adilgeresu2296]

Red Rising is imo better than two thirds of the list.

[@hucz]

Have you played all of the games on this list??

[@adilgeresu2296]

@@hucz all but pendulum… mainly because I’m not a fan of real time games.

[@gorgrum]

Scythe is one of the biggest board game disappointments for me along with Terraforming Mars. Just isn't a great game and I really wanted to like it

[@rav3style]

Tom, you underestimate the power of the furry demographic

[@cartergreen2309]

1. Scythe 2. Wingspan 3. Red Rising 4. Charterstone. Don't really like any of the other games (haven't played libertalia)

[@rb4551]

very much disagree with order here. #1 wingspan #2 tapestry. rest i dont care. man tapestry and wingspan are so good

[@mabos555]

0 from this list are my favorite. Just can't stand his games. I played Viticulture and wingspan in the apps, the app is great for sure the games? Huge meh for me

[@Andrew_NJ]

I hated Charterstone so much I wished I had never bough it and it solidified that I would never buy another Stonemaier game again. I find their games to be some of the most boring and overrated in the industry. There was always something about Jamey Stegmaier I never liked either. With so many better game companies out there I still do not get the hype train for these.

[@TorIverWilhelmsen]

Um, the games are great? You might have different tastes in games than the market in general perhaps?