Top 10 Board Game Designers

[@jacksonmillard7598]

Phil walker-Harding! He is such an excellent designer!

[@codainlaw]

I love that Chris snuck that picture of himself as Dr. K. Well done Chris. As usual, your humor is 10/10.

[@Macthulhu84]

Prediction: Zee's #7 is technically a vehicle

[@isaacdavis4108]

Amazing

[@LookAtTheBacon]

That comment ended me. Good job fine sir. Way to honor the continuity.

[@IndianaGeologist]

You three together is solid gold.

[@jahniedez6834]

I'm glad to see my guy Mike back in the studio! Loved this vid

[@pgaboury]

My one comment would be to add on to the love for Jamie Stegmeir just because of everything he's done to help other designers on his youtube channel.

[@mikaelhansson9613]

Uwe Rosenberg is my favourite. I'm surprised that Alexander Pfister didn't make anyone's list. He has lots of really good games (Great Western Trail, Maracaibo, Mombasa/Skymines, Isle of Skye, Port Royal etc etc). He would probably have been my #2.

[@LassePeterson]

Totally agree

[@francoisdg4495]

No one at Dice tower likes Pfister. They didn't even reviewed Gwt Argentina...

[@Straddllw]

For me: Honorable Mention: Cole Wehrle 10. Bruno Cathala 9. Eric Lang 8. Martin Wallace 7. Shem Philips (& SJ Mcdonalds) 6. Jamey Stegmaier 5. Vladimir Suchy 4. Alexander Pfister 3. Simone Luciani (& group of other Italian designers) 2. Uwe Rosenberg 1. Stefan Feld

[@jeffkouba6521]

I'm going to give some love to some great designers that are more in the war game world and are probably on my personal top ten list... Mark Herman, Volko Ruhnke and Mark Simonitch...

[@namelessfire]

Notable omissions for me: Splotter, Brad Talton, Stefan Feld, Phil Elkund/Cole Wehrle, Donald X Vaccarino, Friedman Friese, Tom Lehman, Carl Chudyk, Justin Gary, Vlaada Chvatl, Peer Sylvester, Michael Schacht, Sandy Petersen, and literally any GMT designer.

[@PowrThru]

Why is Cole lumped in with Phil Eklund? I know Eklunds influence on Cole’s career but Cole stands high above in his own right.

[@CharlesBoyung]

Splotter isn't a designer.

[@mcstabba]

Ah yeah! Mike has returned once more and the classic trio is back again! I knew Mike and Zees top without a doubt and could guess a few others like Lauket, did not guess Toms number one though. Great vid and the thumb nail was amazing.

[@Jagkt]

Many great designers ! Here are some of my favorite that were not mentioned in neither of the 3 top 10: Cole Wehrle, Vital Lacerda, David Turczi, Stefan Feld.

[@BoardgameLiker]

Turczi for solo modes!!!!!

[@swvi9459]

Turczi and Lacerda, yes. It's mind blowing

[@mattvucu6706]

For some reason this video really hammered home how the old days of Christian, Corey, and old FFG are long gone :/

[@dilatedbeholder3865]

Corey's games in particular are still sought after today

[@redshadow310]

Would have loved to see some love for the Italians. I will try and often buy every game from the Acchittocca group. Simone Luciani, Daniele Tascini, Virginio Gigli, Flaminia Brasini and Nestore Mangone are all excellent designers on their own and stellar when they work together.

[@mkitten13]

Agreed, for me it's gotten to the point where if Simone Luciani's name is on the box, it's an instant buy (he seems to be the common denominator for me), and if it's some of the others, I will at least closely examine it.

[@bibleboardgames]

Thank you, Mike, Tom, and Zee! I liked this top 10 list as I want to learn more about the designers.

[@ingomertens4548]

Many thanks for your No.1 Mike!!!

[@StevenStJohn-kj9eb]

Wow, you guys did a GREAT job. Most of my favorites are here. I'd add - Stefan Feld, Simone Luciani, Danielle Taschini, and Mac Gerdts. Oh, and Vlada Chavatil - anyone who designs both Codenames and Through the Ages has some serious range.

[@Jammonstrald]

I'm not one to really get into specific designers; I'm more interested in what an individual game does on its own merits. However, the one designer that absolutely creates interest for me simply by seeing his name attached to something is Martin Wallace. Something about his approach is just exactly what my brain seeks out in a game. I noticed after playing Auztralia (without realizing it was Wallace) and being surprised by how much I liked it. When checking who designed it I thought "man, he's done about 4 other games I loved." The next time I saw his name on a box it was Anno 1800, and I bought the game pretty much because of his name, and it ended up being maybe my favorite game.

[@timmerdaswimmer]

Such a great video! Thanks for your hard work in putting this together!

[@elnicolas123]

The boys are back in town!

[@stevepaltrineri7956]

Ryan Lauket is definitely my number 1. Glad to see him show up here. Also glad to see Shem Phillips in there, who's probably my number 2. Stan Kordanskiy is also a sneaking into my top 5.

[@jdotco23]

Donald X. is my favorite. Dominion is my No. 1 all time, but he's made several other games that don't get talked about enough (namely Kingdom Builder, Nefarious, Temporum, Winter Kingdom).

[@digocr]

Was ignacy t. mentioned? Robinson Crusoe is my favorite game, and Detective the most immersive.

[@evanstrong4064]

im a simple man, i see mike in a top 10 and i watch til the end

[@Crs9072]

These lists just makes me realize how The Dice Tower guys have such a different taste from mine. No Luciani, Tascini, Lacerda, Pfister...

[@jonathanlecarpentier2994]

By far my favorite designer is Aleksander Pfister.... And he's not even mentionned in the video... 🤔 Maracaibo, Mombasa, Great Wester Trail, Isle of skye, Port Royal..... Come on guys!!!!😥😥😥

[@dafnemesis]

I know they are kids boardgame authors but if I see Marie Fort and Wilfred Fort have done a boardgame I am definitely gonna try it.

[@kub20t]

one of the best videos you had. very informative. thanks.

[@middleclassboardgamer]

Wallace and Suchy are my #1 and 2 respectively. You could own a very good, well rounded collection if you only owned Martin Wallace games. I don't think any other designer can hold that claim. Suchy is just a mega hit guy for me. He doesn't design quite as much as Wallace, but what he puts out is fantastic.

[@kikkoarceo353]

Mike was ready to throw hands before Tom's 9 lol

[@rexology_bg]

I figured this would be easy but the bottom 5 was so crowded. My list is 1) Andreas Steding 2) Vladimir Suchy 3) Ryan Laukat 4) Uwe Rosenberg 5) Shem Phillips & SJ Macdonald 6) Nuno Bizarro Sentiero & Paulo Soledade 7) Jamey Stegmaier 8) Bernd Eisenstein 9) Alexander Pfister 10) Matthias Cramer. Lacerda and Matsuuchi are right there and Trey Chambers needs another great design to make it.

[@landlboardgames]

Surprised not to see any Stefan Feld on here

[@stephaneauplain5254]

Abyss was codesigned with Charles Chevallier ! 53:19

[@stefansibbes2440]

Phil Walker Harding ?

[@JorWat25]

Yeah, thought someone would pick him. I swear Tom is always praising Sushi Go Party.

[@rexology_bg]

...Where's a Yi when you need one? 😊

[@namelessfire]

They already put Paolo Mori and Emerson Matsuuchi

[@jakubhruza1229]

I never saw their faces! It's cool seeing how the people look! Everyone knows mike tom and zee but with respect those are the real mvps!

[@boardgamefangirl]

I once did a written interview with Kristian Amundsen Østby when REVIVE came out-he is so smart. His day job is working as a doctor and a researcher of epidemiology with the NIH of some European country.

[@andrewellis712]

My favorite, based on my significantly smaller sample size, had got to be Vlaada

[@th3cha1rmak3r]

1. Joris Wiersinga and Jeroen Doumen, 2. Cole Wherle, 3. Martin Wallace, 4. Dr. Knizia, 5. Alexander Pfister, 6. Nuno Bizarro Sentiero & Paulo Soledade, 7. Taiki Shinzawa, 8. Phil and Matt Eklund, 9. Vital Lacerda, 10. Daniele Tascini & Simone Luciani

[@theSolemnBard]

Three designers currently appear three or more times in my game bag: Xavier Georges, John Clowdus, Carl Chudyk

[@Shad0wSix]

More love for Phil Walker-Harding!

[@DrFrige]

I was getting worried there because no one mentioned John D Clair ... glad to see where he ended up!

[@julianthor4988]

The best of Inka and Marcus Brand, they made, is the Invasion Coop-Modul for Orleans.

[@donaldshults8957]

Haven’t watched yet, but It’s such an honor to be a unanimous #1. I would like to thank my mom and dad for ignoring me.

[@searose6192]

Top 10 “We want a 2 player version of” games

[@didice7666]

Already have an idea for zee's #1

[@searose6192]

Which game from that group (Shem and Sam games) would be the next step up in complexity from Raiders of the North Sea? I’d like to try another of these games, but I mostly play with my kids.

[@LuigiVampa33]

Architects. I play that often with my 10 and 12 year olds and they love it. Paladins and Wayfarers are huge jumps in complexity and are just too long for my kids at least.

[@Rhino1186]

I would also say Architects.

[@ajguez]

Very good list! And always great to bring the “old gang” back together again.

[@garryknox1614]

Where is Phil Walker Harding?

[@Manigo1743]

Lower than their top 10.

[@danielcunningham5513]

it wld be nice if they show the names of the designers next to the photos

[@koriakin]

I just wanted to correct Mike to make a justice - Abyss is co-design with mr Charles Chevallier.

[@paigeyy29]

Top 10 Meeples in games. That would be amazing!

[@vanyaserra1]

1. FELD 2. Luciani 3. Breese 4. Rosenberg 5. Tascini 6. The Brands 7. Kramer & Kiesling 8. Lacerda 9. Turzi 10. Johnny Pac Honorable Mentions: Jeroen Doumen & Joris Wiershinga (splotter Duo), Xavier Georges, Marc Gerdts, Sebastian Dujardin, Rudger Dorn, Michael Rieneck & Stefan Stadler, Regis Bonnessee, Michael Reini, and the usual suspects Bauza, Cathala, Wallace, Clair, Lockett, Faidutti, Sackson, Knizia.

[@beckynoel840]

My favorite designer is Phil Walker Harding. His family weight games are always a big hit in our home...Gizmos, Baren Park, Sushi Go, Planted, Summer Camp!

[@davidbarny607]

He might not be my #1 designer, but he's definitely in my top 5. His designs are so diverse AND so elegant. I was really surprised to not see him in anyone's list.

[@Bleuchz]

PWH doesnt have any games in my top 20 but seeing his name on a box instantly makes me take notice. Never makes a bad game.

[@CMarie2415]

Agree! Our family loves his games ❤

[@ryanpost1155]

Praga is 140 on BGG, Suchy's second highest rated game. I think it's doing just fine lol

[@KissellMissile]

It's very highly rated, but I literally never see anyone playing it or anyone talking about it. Might just be more popular in Europe (or Yucata).

[@Alittlefruitgoesalongway]

Uwe Rosenberg is definitely my favorite designer, but I've also not played many of the games featured on this list. Time will tell!

[@rachelandryan]

I still see Tigris and Euphrates at the top of most people's Knizia lists. I think Tom's wrong on this one.

[@Punkve1987]

In no particular order: Suchy, Lacerda, Svensson & Østbye, Feld, Knizia, Wallace, Turczi, Pfister, Splotter and Luciani.

[@TabletopTurtle]

Zee picking Bruno blew my freaking mind!

[@uplift-yourdailypickup6424]

Not sure if you are being sarcastic or you haven’t watched a lot of dice tower. It’s not a real mystery that Zee loves Bruno Cathala. Also one of my favorite designers as well.

[@BassForever]

@@uplift-yourdailypickup6424 it's clearly sarcastic

[@konstantinaviutskii]

Ahhh...spoiler!😃

[@joshjenson8111]

​@@uplift-yourdailypickup6424the fact that you didn't know whether he was being sarcastic or not worries me

[@TabletopTurtle]

@@uplift-yourdailypickup6424 Get out of here! Next you're going to be telling me that he also likes Pandemic!

[@terry3733H]

So happy 😃 Transmissions got 2nd printing 🎉

[@jimgrant9081]

Thanks for an awesome list!

[@uplift-yourdailypickup6424]

Ok here’s my guess for #1 for each while watching this: Mike- Shem Philips Zee - Bruno Cathala Tom - John D Clair

[@uplift-yourdailypickup6424]

Well 2 out of 3 ain’t bad

[@JorWat25]

​@@uplift-yourdailypickup6424I love you got arguably the easiest one wrong. Mike's love of Knizia is pretty well known.

[@ChrisHathaway]

Haha, knizia is literally in the thumbnail :)

[@Rhino1186]

I think Mike even mentioned about the thumbnail spoiling his #1 in the very beginning.

[@marknic]

1. Knizia 2. Colovini 3. a really large gap 4. everyone else...

[@matheusfonseca2826]

36:44 a sutil way of saying that TTR Legacy is great

[@alexdanev]

Guys, it is a shame that you didn't mention Corey Konieczka. He must be not subjectively, but according to the games designed or co-designed in FFG, among those people mentioned here. StarCraft: The Board Game, Battlestar Galactica, Middle-Earth Quest, Runewars, Mansions of Madness, Eldritch Horror, Star Wars: Rebellion, Star Wars: Destiny, Star Wars: Outer Rim (with Tony Fanchi), The Initiative, 3000 Scoundrels, The Mandalorian: Adventures (with Josh Beppler)... He is amazing designer, in my TOP 3 with Lang and Richard Garfield!

[@thedicetower]

He's an amazing designer, and objectively hugely influential! But, there's only 10 slots in a top 10 list, and so even some amazing choices just can't make it on. But Corey is amazing!

[@jessewieman6955]

This was a really interesting list

[@josephmenchey2871]

Stan kodonskiy, Luke Laurie, Jamey stegmaier, Eric lang, Phil walker-Harding, and Stefan feld. Not sure the order but Stan might be at top currently

[@terry3733H]

knew it! Martin Wallace -Anno 1800

[@emmalevett1040]

I'm a simple woman. I see Mike, I click.

[@marshwiggle8364]

Bruh..... where is emerson???????????

[@JorWat25]

What, you mean Tom's number 3?

[@marshwiggle8364]

@@JorWat25 ooooops. My bad

[@stevewithington1787]

My top ten: 1. Vital Lacerda 2. Martin Wallace 3. Cole Werlhe 4. Stefan Feld 5. Andreas Odendahl 6. Friedeman Friese 7. Alexander Pfister 8. Uwe Rosenberg 9. Reiner Knizia 10. Peer Sylvester Lots of honourable mentions, but a special shoutout to Taiki Shinzawa. Didn’t make the list because he specialises in tricktakers, but his back catalog is amazing.

[@Twister4815]

Next time do a top 10 illustrators

[@stevenh.5826]

no Rudiger Dorn?

[@edholzman]

How does Sid Sackson not appear on any of these lists?

[@ieatatsonic]

the biggest one I'd throw on my own list not present here is D Bran Talton Jr. Also, I do not enjoy John D Clair's designs

[@LordNovaPrime1]

I feel like im the only person that absolutely loves Red Rising and thinks its far better than Fantasy Realms lol

Peer Sylvester is my top 1 with Reiner Knizia

[@Scorcher505]

Is Mike back back or just back for the retreat?

[@ronthal]

Well I'm so surprised not to see Pfister, Lacerda or (not my favourite personally but still) Feld among the 3 lists. I would also probably slip Stan Kordonskiy in there somewhere in the top 10. Tom's top 3 is definitely not in my top 10, the other 2 podiums are not mine either :)

[@ronthal]

@@coltonbeatty6117 not my favourite designer but still did loads of great games thus deserves to be in a top 10 or 5 ? Played Macao 2 days ago and this 15 year old, beige, not very famous game of his is still super interesting to this day! Not sure what was not clear in the first place...

[@ronthal]

​ @coltonbeatty6117 well, you may not have played any of the Marrakesh, Castles of Burgundy, Bora-Bora, Merlin, Macao, Aquasphere, Burges... It's OK can't play everything. But then you cannot debate. Then instead: - Well, let's take Mike's no1, Knizia, "MR 400 games", have you played his latest stuff? Bröwl, Marabunta (played yesterday), MLEM, how can a game be worse and generic than Whale Riders, how underwhelming is his LotR, Ra, Witchstone... - How is Cathala ahead of those? Quantity before quality again? I despise 50% of what he co-signs at least and the rest I don't even care. - Same with Kramer / Kiesling who did Azul (rather boring except no3) and loads of ok games? - Why is Saashi ahead? Are you having fun in Get on Board or Coffee Roaster after the first couple of games (and I paid for those so I can tell you aren't)? Come on. - I like Vladimir Suchy but how is he that better than Pfister or Lacerda ? Underwater City is really good but Praga? Messina? Woodcraft? Complicated but not really satisfying thoughout. - Would you put C Ostby ahead of Pfister? Revive was meh, I love Trails of Tucana but it's a family flip & write among many... - Do you rate Mastuuchi higher than any of those 3, with Century 1 being his gem of a game, the rest uninspired at best? When you are leaving on the side all 3 GWTs, On Mars, Kanban EV, CO2, Blackout Hong Kong, Mombasa/Skymines, Maracaibo, Marrakesh, Castles of Burgundy, Bora-Bora, Merlin, Macao, Aquasphere...

[@julianh.9939]

I really expected Simone Luciani on Toms List

[@Tommy.Kerbow]

Alexander Pfister is my favorite.

[@Atlas-FM8]

Simone Luciani would be #1 on my list.

[@terry3733H]

thanks Mike 😊 kudos to foreign designers 🎉

[@Norrygan]

Vlaada? Feld? Simone Luciani? Danielle Taschini?😞 At least they remembered Shem&Sam, Knizia, Uwe and Vlad...

[@Intacta1]

Where is Vlaada Chvátil? 😲

[@matt7912-j9p]

Wow, no Simone Luciani, Daniele Tascini or David Turczi in the top 10? This is criminal behavior to omit them!

[@uplift-yourdailypickup6424]

Simone Luciani would def be too 10 for me. Love Lorenzo and Grand Austria Hotel

[@dabearz27]

Shocked Eric Lang didn’t make Tom’s list

[@manhogbear1086]

EL's said a lot of hateful stuff to a lot of people over the last few years.. could have soured some tastes

[@nuuqbgg]

So no mr Feld?!

[@adilmajid8785]

Is Eric Lang still designing?

[@gaarlefrogi]

Where is Vlaada and Vital? 😮

[@mikereiling7]

#1 Mark Herman

[@BlueGiantMedia]

John D Clair Vlaada Chvatil Phil Walker Harding Uwe Rosenberg Stefan Feld Antoine Bauza Bruno Cathala Eric Lang Emerson Matsuuchi Shem Phillips and Sam Macdonald

[@SonofSol1]

So are you gonna do a top 10 games that should have a 2 player only version? Please say yes

[@tulsaborn545]

His name is pronounced "aydahm weest" :)

[@joelhaslam1120]

trevor benjamin and david thompson!

[@jankogo]

Mike!!! 👏👏👏

[@JasonLaw29]

Next to no one mentioned Luciani, even in the comments section. The guy has really fallen. It feels like he burnt himself out with Barrage. I wasn't a fan of Golem and Tiletum was just ok. Haven't played Darwin's Journey.

[@mkitten13]

Highly disagree with you, he's still an instant-buy for me.

[@joeferreti9442]

I prefer to focus more on the games themselves and not so much on the designers and publishers. Every game designer and publisher has a lot of misses. Sure, some designers reached a good reputation, and some even earned it, but blindly buying each new game of a certain designer will always set you up for disappointments, because not every game of a certain designer is good or is to your liking.

[@Edwinschuur]

Sure but many top 10 lists have been made about games..what's wrong with having a list about designers?

[@joeferreti9442]

@@Edwinschuur Well, the hobby is about board games not about game designers. Person cults are never a good thing.

[@Edwinschuur]

@@joeferreti9442 it's not about cults. It's about liking boardgames and recognising someone's work to make them. Also it is a way to discover games. If I like Caverna and le Havre and find out who designed it, it's a way to discover new games from the same designer. Without good designers no boardgames.

[@dilatedbeholder3865]

Think Tom, Zee, and Mike were a bad trio for this video. Their lists were almost identical.

[@jacobfulwiler9393]

Well, at least the best designer, Eric Lang, got one pick.

[@carlitosjb99]

Question. How about Vital Lacerda?

[@carlitosjb99]

Thanks for your input. I am not trying to get over anything. I am new to the board game hobby and was asking because Lacerda seems to have a good fan base. I dont know much about good or bad dsigners but would appreciate if you have a good one that can be recommended.

[@Fissi0nChips]

Not putting the names of the designers under their pictures feels like a fail.