Top 10 Board Games of 2023

Welcome to Foster the Meeple, a channel dedicated to board games and all board gamey things! Join us as we chat about our favourite games from 2023!
BGG Solo Mode Play of Kinfire Delve: • Kinfire Delve: Vainglo...
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Jump:
00:00 - Intro
01:44 - Honourable Mentions
03:31 - 10
06:15 - 9
09:44 - 8
12:57 - 7
15:53 - 6
19:44 - 5
22:23 - 4
26:24 - 3
29:39 - 2
32:23 - 1
36:32 - Wrap Up
37:36 - A Little Bit Extra
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#boardgames #tabletopgames #fosterthemeeple

[@blackboardgaming5348]

Jeff, I usually laugh out loud at your facial expressions during Jamie's picks. But Jamie's facial expression when you said that you like Wild Tiled West more than Planet Unknown 😂😂😂

[@FostertheMeeple]

I stand by my statement!

[@Poodle_Ellie]

08:20 That sigh, though LOL. I laughed so hard my wife was like 😢😢??

[@ZEITGUEST]

YO - yalls chemistry is through the roof. GREAT STUFF.

[@FostertheMeeple]

Appreciate you! Thanks for the kind words

[@HomeschoolwithRachel]

Thanks for sharing your list! Jamie, I’m reading Fourth Wing too right now and it’s the book series I didn’t know I needed in my life, but now I know better!

[@FostertheMeeple]

She’s been up until like 3am reading! Haha she loves it

[@efout89]

Cheers to another year with FTM! I love this channel and the content you put out. I am definitely in need of Wild Tiled West!

[@FostertheMeeple]

We appreciate you!! Thank you

[@Emroe1104]

Thanks for a great year of board game videos. Have enjoyed them all so much. Can’t wait for the new game room!

[@FostertheMeeple]

You’re most welcome!! Thanks for always being here to comment :)

[@ErikArneson]

So happy to see your love for HOOKY! 34:13 I absolutely love it - such a brilliant deduction game. I don't think it's an exaggeration to call it an all-time great. Thank you!!

[@FostertheMeeple]

It’s crazy we don’t hear more about it!

[@nicktheprogaming]

Thank you guys for all you do You really helped me find some great games and I can’t wait to see what else I might find from you guys 😁👍

[@FostertheMeeple]

Awesome!! That’s why we do what we do. Thanks so much for the kind words!

[@steveg9939]

Wow! Thanks for the recommendations and the fun. Jeff’s #1 really suprised me. Will check it out b/c I agree it got buried quickly under all the releases. Happy holidays !

[@FostertheMeeple]

Definitely recommend giving it a try!

[@Geeky_Anja]

Thanks for a year full of fun and interesting videos. You guys can really put a smile on my face. Enjoy the end of year festivities! 😊

[@FostertheMeeple]

Thanks for being with us for the ride!

[@mikeslife8268]

Guys, it looks like you’re ones of the best with your top 2023 I’ve seen yet 😊 Cool games, cool vibes and nice speech. Thank you 🙏

[@FostertheMeeple]

Appreciate the kind words! Glad you enjoyed the list

[@NachosGrande]

I've got Santa's Workshop on order, can't wait for it to arrive and your list gives me even more excitement for that one. My top 5 for 2023 releases (using geekgroup's "sort by published" feature): 1. Unmatched Adventures: Tales to Amaze (love Unmatched!) 2. Ra (25th Century Games edition) (a classic I had never played until this year) 3. Looney Tunes Mayhem (listed as 2023, pretty sure Kickstarter delivered in 2022, lots of fun esp. with the extra characters) 4. Diced Veggies (fun game to play with my son) 5. Isle of Trains (multi-use card game with interesting considerations)

[@FostertheMeeple]

Some great ones here!! Very much enjoyed Ra, Diced Veggies and Isle of trains

[@JakeJackPot_]

Merry Christmas Jeff and Jamie!! I feel like after watching the video I have not played a lot of new games this year but I really want to try white castle! Hope you guys have a great newyear!

[@FostertheMeeple]

Happy holidays Jake!! Happy new year friend

[@GGdeTOURS37]

TY > We only share the Star Wars deck Builder > The rest nope sorry > But very attracted by Thunder Roads !

[@2532robh1]

Glad that Board Gaming Ramblings helped me find your channel!

[@FostertheMeeple]

Welcome!! Those two are great. Hope you enjoy more of our vids!! Happy new year :)

[@nalder4x4runnerfamilyoverl93]

Great list both of you. Couple real winners on there. Couple I haven’t seen/played. I think my favorite 3 this year were Kutna Hora, Castles of Burgundy special edition (feels like a brand new game), and Art Society. Fox experiment and Unmatched Tales to amaze also made a nice top10 for me.

[@FostertheMeeple]

Awesome!!! Thanks for sharing :)

[@gslink]

Love you two and yes, people out there...stop being mean to content providers! Be kind to all. I loved your list but yes, it's YOUR list and I love that you shared it with us!

[@FostertheMeeple]

Appreciate you!

[@Archer-hl3sj]

Okay I missed it lol, but I’m glad you guys loved the White Castle! By far the best game I played from this year. Love you guys so much! Please do a White Castle and Bamboo playthrough! I would love to watch that and I’m sure others would too!

[@FostertheMeeple]

We will see what we can do!

[@gurnblanston2848]

Jamie, I think you just talked me into using one of my Christmas gift cards to get Hooky. It sounds awesome. Jeff, which entry in the Undaunted series would you suggest for someone (me) who has never played any of them, and has reached the point where they (still me) can no longer resist all the glowing word of mouth about the games and is looking to jump in?

[@FostertheMeeple]

I would say likely Normandy! I haven’t played North Africa. But yea just be mindful some people struggle with the war theme!

[@VeeeeryyyFaaaastSlooooth]

In case you don't mind unsolicited advice from a random Undaunted junkie: - dont get it if you can't stand randomness, game is about managing your chances, nothing is ever 100% sure success, you can lose to a very lucky opponent even if you play well - if the ww2 theme is a problem there's a scifi box planned for 2024 Otherwise I'd say any box you can get the easiest and for cheapest, all are good and the system works the same way in all of them (with a slight exception of Battle over Britain) My take about the individual boxes: Normandy - USA vs Germany, symmetrical sides, most straightforward, very common (and cheap) on used markets in my experience, probably simplest start overall as Jeff said NA - Brits vs Italians, asymmetrical sides, even more swingy that Normandy due to no unit respawn, vehicles allow for wider tactical options, my personal favorite due to asymmetry and how quick, tight and nerve-racking it is, every single roll matters Stalingrad - Russians vs Germany, symmetrical, big legacy campaign game, some more involving mechanics (leveling up, permanent terrain destruction, squads, vehicles) Battle over Britain - Brits vs Germany, different than the rest because you control dogfighting planes, movement is more involving and needs to be planned ahead, also a good start into U if you prefer aerial combat to infantr, in my opinion Sorry for long comment, I'm really into Undaunted as you can probably tell :)

[@gurnblanston2848]

@@VeeeeryyyFaaaastSlooooth Haha, no worries, I respect the enthusiasm and I really appreciate all the info! I actually love a bit of randomness in my games, and the WW2 theme is not an issue for me. Sounds like a series I'd really enjoy, so I think I'll be picking up Normandy soon.

[@jamessmith1274]

Yes! Wild Tiled West! Santa's Workshop! So good! Great list to both of you! What a great year for board gaming! Sky team is my number 1. I have over 100 plays most are on BGA.

[@FostertheMeeple]

We haven’t played it yet!

[@ianw0ng]

happy holiday & wish u a bigger success in the new year! ❤

[@FostertheMeeple]

Thanks so much! Happy new year!

[@jamesmorgan1967]

Devir Games is on fire! I loved The White Castle this year. Have yet to play Bamboo...need to get it off the "to be played" shelf! Fun list, guys.

[@FostertheMeeple]

Glad you enjoyed!!

[@pamd9834]

Love to see the 3 ring circus as Jeff’s number 1 and also high on Jamie’s list! I love that game! I want to try focusing more on my player board to maximize those points. I feel like I sometimes focus too much on getting the specific performers for the big cities but, you do need points.

[@FostertheMeeple]

Yea good shout!! In most of my plays I tend to not pay enough attention to the tableau and more on the area control haha

[@cruel_knight3478]

We live in your world! LOLOLOOOLOL Hilarious with the facial expression. Love you guys!!!

[@FostertheMeeple]

Thanks so much!!!

[@soniawormell4004]

Great lists! Have you ever played Lords of Waterdeep? We call Santa’s Workshop “Christmas Waterdeep”. They are very similar. 😊

[@FostertheMeeple]

Oh that’s interesting! I’ve played lords of waterdeep a couple of times only.

[@marcielleb]

Thanks for everyone's help.

[@vloche11]

Nice to see a lot of different top 10 games as compared to other channels

[@FostertheMeeple]

Thanks!

[@chuckm1961]

Love the love for Hooky! I'm bringing it on the Dice Tower Cruise to spread the word!!

[@FostertheMeeple]

YESSSSS!! We appreciate your work!

[@peterblack_]

Absolutely love Slay the Spire so I’ll have to check out kinfire!

[@FostertheMeeple]

You definitely should!! Just be mindful it’s not quite as deck build-y as StS but it really does have similar vibes.

[@revdavidpeters]

Aw yeah, here we go!!

[@FostertheMeeple]

Haha enjoy!!

[@CheeseDud]

Would love if you published your top 20-30 in video or text for the BGG meta-compilation!

[@FostertheMeeple]

We will be releasing some additional content to our patreon community!

[@timborocksloud]

my top 3 of 2023 1. Oathsworn (my kickstarter shipped to me this year) also, it has become my favorite game of all time. 2. Thunder Road...every time we play this everyone has a blast. Embrace the chaos 3. Planet Unknown. Everyone we've played this with wants to play it again, and again....Happy New Year my friends to the North!

[@FostertheMeeple]

Happy new year Tim!

[@CandiceLikes]

Love the hat Jeff!

[@FostertheMeeple]

Thank youuuu!!

[@bettermoodboardgames]

I've had my Freelancers for too long and have yet to take it out of shrink because we have been in the whirlwind of selling the house and soon to be moving, but this is the first game I want to play when we move! So great!

[@FostertheMeeple]

Good luck with all that!!

[@JonathonV]

I only actually only played fourteen 2023 titles, and two of them were expansions. 😂 But here are my top 10 of them: 10. DEEP DIVE: The first game I played in 2024 (right after the stroke of midnight!). Fun little push-your-luck filler. 9. DARWIN’S JOURNEY: I want to play this more so I understand it more. I feel like it’s a bit too intense with all the races to all the various things, but I could be convinced otherwise. 8. DISTILLED: An enchanting theme and fairly enjoyable gameplay. 7. EXPEDITIONS: I like Scythe a tiny bit more but this is so much easier to get to the table so I think Scythe is not long for this world! 6. EARTH: This has become a fairly regular game in one of my weekly groups. Similar to games like Evergreen, you can learn it fairly easily but you can also really game it if you’re a heavy gamer. 5. GREAT WESTERN TRAIL: NEW ZEALAND. I only played the original game once and thought it was okay. I really liked the New Zealand version; it seemed tighter. 4. THE WHITE CASTLE: Crossover! I have only played it once but I really like it! Look forward to playing it more! 3. NUCLEUM: Like Power Grid gave Brass Birmingham a very special hug. Love this game! 2. AGE OF INNOVATION: Just reconnected to the Terra Mystica series in 2022 after years of neglect, and then I tried Gaia Project and thought it was awesome. Then I played Age of Innovation and thought it was the best of the three (I also recently got a copy of Terra Nova for cheap and it’s a decent simplified version). 1. DELTA: For a game that’s so simple to learn and teach, it’s phenomenal the depth of the decision space this game has, and the degree to which sequencing can make a huge difference. Huge hit in all three of my game groups, and the steampunk theme is interesting and beautiful (even if the application of the theme doesn’t make a ton of sense to the gameplay). A surprise win! By the way, I wish you folks on the east coast could get FreshPrep, because I switched from HelloFresh and I have never regretted it. They give you a cooler with reusable ingredient containers that they swap for a different one when you get your next order, so there’s way less packaging waste (they even recycle any soft plastics for you, except meat packaging). The prices are pretty much the same and the recipes are so much more interesting, in my opinion. The only things I miss from HelloFresh are the random perks.

[@FostertheMeeple]

Thanks for sharing!! Haven’t heard of that food service, sounds awesome though!

[@stevewithington1787]

Good lists. Still haven’t played White Castle and think it might have made my top ten if I had. My top ten: 10. Beer & Bread. Replaced Targi as our go-to two player game. 9. Stationfall. Chaotic hilarity. 8. Sail. Replaced Fox in the Forest Duet as our go-to cooperative two player game. 7. Earth. Like Wingspan, but with no downtime. 6. Barcelona. Elements of this reminded me of Lisboa - crunchy goodness. 5. Come Sail Away. Saashi & Saashi do a big box game and knock it out the park. 4. Taiwan Night Market. This feels like a really good gateway to Food Chain Magnate. 3. Hegemony. Asymmetrical heavy gaming doesn’t get much better (or more thematic) than this. 2. Horseless Carriage. This hurts my brain in all the best ways. 1. Nucleum. Like a more forgiving and more sandboxy Brass: Birmingham.

[@FostertheMeeple]

Great list!! Haven’t played the majority of these but heard good things about them!

[@jonathanbenton1406]

For fans of Undaunted, you really need to check out General Orders. Quick 2-player awesomeness. Probably my favorite game of the year, although I haven't played a ton of new games. Thunder Road, Seas of Havoc, and Wild Tiled West are all great. Sounds like I really need to try Kinfire Delve.

[@FostertheMeeple]

I really do need to try that one!

[@roberthultsten]

Thanks.....that will be costly! Now I have to get Bamboo, Hooky, 3 Ring Circus and.....ohhhhhhh. Thanks for the input.

[@FostertheMeeple]

Hahaha I apologize to your wallet

[@darbyl3872]

Hooky is all about eliminating the impossible while narrowing in on the most probable. It took me a few games to settle into the correct way to play it, and score 75 out of 80 points. I say "correct" because there are a couple of things that you have to learn, in order to get high scores. I won't say any more, because it's fun to figure out how to play it well.

[@FostertheMeeple]

Jamie had a perfect score last time we played!

[@darbyl3872]

​@@FostertheMeepleI heard. I will get there soon.

[@ozlantern4707]

I love thats more obscure game you can see they are more connaisseur

[@marcielleb]

I am new at board games and only want to start with games that are very easy with minimal instructions.

[@FostertheMeeple]

I’d recommend looking up some videos about intro games!! Lots of content from amazing people to help you discover games that’ll work for you :)

[@SmoothGummi]

Wow, Earth not in the Top 10 or in the Honorable Mentions 😮

[@FostertheMeeple]

Nope!

[@SmoothGummi]

@@FostertheMeeple and I thought I knew you! lol #1 for me :D

[@FostertheMeeple]

@@SmoothGummi it’s awesome you love it!

[@rolling.reggie]

“Yeah I’m aware” is the most husband phrase out there lmaoooo

[@FostertheMeeple]

I feel seen

[@rolling.reggie]

@@FostertheMeepleI feel you. You can tell Jamie that the BGG video of her just dropped and she can link it fyi

[@FostertheMeeple]

Updated thanks Reggie!!

[@Thebrad11984]

Wild tiled west was one I was excited to try but fell flat for me. May have been because first play was at 5 which is always a mistake for me. Just felt too long for a polyomino game for my tastes. I think I max out at like 60-90 for Tetris. Thunder road is my favorite for the year from your lists but haven’t played most of these games since we slowed down slightly on buying new releases

[@FostertheMeeple]

I mean. Playing anything with 5 players is a lot.

[@toe.knee.sobaskie1678]

Finally!!! 🎉🎉❤🎉🎉

[@FostertheMeeple]

Enjoy!

[@Polskimg]

Not sure if "The Fox Experiment" is a game for people who love foxes. Great list though. Didn't play enough new games this year, even though BGA was on a crazy roll this year with all the new games.

[@FostertheMeeple]

It is for Jamie!

[@giancarloabreu2523]

Jeff: “if you don’t like it, make your own list!” Jamie: “White castle didn’t make my top 10.” Jeff: “EXCUSE ME?!” 😂 The eyes say it all brother haha

[@FostertheMeeple]

Hahah that statement applies to people not in the room. And it wasn’t judgement, more so shocking.

[@giancarloabreu2523]

@@FostertheMeepleoh 100%! It was just funny 😂

[@FostertheMeeple]

@@giancarloabreu2523 haha glad you enjoyed it! :)

[@Emily_VT]

How does Hooky compare to Awkward Guests?

[@FostertheMeeple]

Very different outside of being deduction based. Hooky is more of a word game than anything else

[@JRMINS]

Wait, did you really have a friend try to kill you by poisoning?

[@FostertheMeeple]

Yes, my friend Max. He is part of a channel called Tablenauts. Go give him hell for me

[@runraggedrhino]

Thunder Road is "chaos inCARnate" 😉

[@FostertheMeeple]

EHOOOHHH

[@craigandrews7544]

And my number one: drops the Limp🍪

[@FostertheMeeple]

We out here!

[@theot9307]

Are you sure this is YOUR LIST?? Wasn’t clear enough!!😂 For the Thunder Road one, is it just a luck based fun game!? Would you say play it as an appetitizer before a heavy strategic game?

[@FostertheMeeple]

I think it’s got a good mix of luck and strategy. Likely a bit long for an appetizer but depends on what you’re looking for

[@Shea.24]

Its funny that you guys have to remind people that your top 10 is YOUR top 10 😂

[@FostertheMeeple]

I wish we didn’t, but we do haha

[@getgaymin]

Liz Hargrave is a genius. That is all.

[@FostertheMeeple]

On that, we can agree

[@GettingEasyMoney]

Couldn't get past #9 listening to this dude smack onhis hard candy.

[@FostertheMeeple]

It was so good though! Thanks for watching dude!

[@Listan1]

I guess Hooky can’t be played by kids? Too thinky?

[@FostertheMeeple]

I would say maybe older kids? It takes some serious deductive reasoning.

[@christinebiancheria7237]

It depends. Someone in the UK asked about its playability for homeschooling, and she said her 8-year-old was picking it up handily although that surprised me. I haven't ever tried it with a kid that young.

[@ceesjanmol]

Are you guys doing okay, relationship-wise?

[@FostertheMeeple]

No. I’m actually being held against my will. I actually hate boardgames. Uwe Rosenburg? Gross. If I have to look at one more meeple, I might spontaneously combust. Send help.

[@ceesjanmol]

@@FostertheMeeple, okay. That's fine then.