Top 10 Economic Games

[@aleksandrasgembickis6261]

Has Johaness lost some weight? Looking good man!

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

Thank you so much for this comment, it made me smile! A lot! I have been working hard on losing weight, but still have ways to go before I am where I want to be. Thanks for noticing, it's very motivational!

[@aleksandrasgembickis6261]

@@BoardGamingRamblings It really shows! Good luck with it!

[@shortydancer]

Board Gaming Ramblings Keep it up man! I have a few pounds I need to lose as well. You inspire me.

[@Vadimaster]

Board Gaming Ramblings. It’s really showing Johannes. I know firsthand that it takes time, hard work and discipline to switch to a healthier lifestyle, but the results will make it worth it. Keep it up!

[@shanerion]

Looking trim and sharp! Commenting this before even watching the video because I see it from the first frame!

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

Thank you :D Hope you'll like the video also :D

[@MegaJc1981]

Good video as always from you guys.

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

Thank you :D

[@JogosnoTabuleiro]

Thanks for the video. I love these tips you two do. I see many of my game tastes in your tops. Let's hope you can come to next Leiriacon! ;)

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

We where supposed to go this year, but then the world changed! So sad to miss a week in Lisboa and then Leiria Con! Let’s hope the world looks more normal soon, and that we can go next year, or 2022 at the latest!

[@pad92011]

This couple is the most charming couple in Board game media right now!

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

Wow, thank you so much! That means a lot :D

[@pygmalioninvenus6057]

lol.

[@aeglosux]

Hey guys, I am a new subscriber to the channel! I just found out about it through your Endeavour: Age of Sail review, after which I HAD to know where you're from (apparently Norway, which is awesome, I love how international our hobby is!) I love these top10 videos a lot since your chemistry is palpable. Nevertheless, if I could give one piece of constructive criticism (even though this video is three months old and you probably won't even see this comment) it would be to show some pictures of the game while you're talking about it. This might mean too much work for you as editor and you might've explained this before, which I would completely understand, but it would really help viewability. Anyway, thanks again for the videos, keep doing what you're doing! Lots of love from the Netherlands!

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

Hey Alexander! Welcome on board! Sorry for the late answer :) In our reviews, we now use a 2 camera setup, like in our playthroughs, with an overhead camera on the game components, so we can show and tell a bit more. That works well for those! For top 10s, yeah, we can still be better at photos. I can't use other peoples photos, and we often talk about games we haven't played it a while, or we sometimes forget to take photos of all games we play, so we have some gaps here and there. The goal is to remember to take those photos, to have a bank of photos to use, to be able to make those videos even better :)

[@aeglosux]

@@BoardGamingRamblings Don't worry about the late reply! Thanks for taking the time to respond, you're grand. I have an incredibly different taste in games than you guys, but I'm slowly getting into heavier games, or at least, I'm slowly introducing my girlfriend to them. But that does mean that I don't know all the games you're referring to, so that's why the photos would be nice :) . Still, I understand your predicament, don't worry about it, the videos are great!

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

What kind of games do you like? Also, super cool that you enjoy the videos even though you might not enjoy the same games! We are all just gamers eho wants to have fun, right? 🤩

[@aeglosux]

@@BoardGamingRamblings I completely agree! I started out with Amerithrash, Game of Thrones the Board Game, Imperial Assault etcetera. Then I found out I actually also really enjoyed lighter games, such as Imperial Settlers. And a few years ago I started playing and loving Terra Mystica and Lorenzo il Magnifico. However, since I've not been living in one country for a long time, I don't have a game group (and the current situation makes it difficult now that I'm back in The Netherlands). So, I mostly game with my girlfriend now, who is not too used to heavier games. So, we're playing Pandemic Legacy Season 1 now, I do not like Pandemic too much as it is quite basic, but Legacy is good fun. But I am looking at eventually maybe playing Gaia Project or Brass with her, if she finds that she likes them, since she's never tried heavier games and I don't want to convert or force her. Still, I am now looking at games that could bridge the gap, such as Concordia. Would you have other suggestions, given my previous likes and dislikes? This was the longest comment I've ever written, but it was fun thinking back at the games I enjoy most. Sorry for making you read it 😂

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

Haha, nothing to say sorry about! I love reading the comments that all the viewers leave! That is (almost) half the fun of making these videos :D Neither Concordia or Brass are games I love at 2p, but that is just me! For great «next step» games for 2, have you considered The Castles of Burgudy? I know it’s a soulless, bland Euro, but it was the game that got Sunniva into playing anything else than Carcassonne and Lost Cities! We still love the game! Also, Pandemic Legacy S1 is amazing! We are playing 0 now, which is also very good so far! Have fun with that :D If you like playing coop together, what about Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion? It’s amazing with 2 players!

[@RedEyedGhost1]

Very good lists, reaffirms my thought that I need to get Nippon and Wildcatters played. My list would definitely include Arkwright, Pipeline, 18XX (as a category, can't pick just one), Brass, Powergrid, Vinhos (maybe the Gallerist as well), Age of Steam, Container, and Food Chain Magnate. That's 10 off of the top of my head, now I would just need to order them. I really enjoy Terraforming Mars, but it doesn't feel economic enough for me. Looking over BGG's listing of economic games, Indonesia might make it in instead of The Gallerist, but wow, there's so many games on there that do not feel like economic games to me.

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

Yeah, the BGG list is very strange, and it was a hard list to put together! Would love to play Indonesia and Container!

[@JamesI88]

Brass, Pipeline and FCM scream economic games to me. Great choices.

[@shawnmincer8231]

completely agree on the Gallerist. I recently bought the complete edition from eagle gryphon and love the merging of theme and mechanisms in the game

[@dr3putt62]

Container! I totally forgot about that game

[@LegendaryTactics]

Fun video!

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

Glad you liked it!

[@Nain1982]

You guys looking good. I must know the secret of this vacation as guys are looking sharp! Brass would probably also be my no. 1, but I admit not having played many of those other titles.

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

Yes, the vacation gave us a new camera :P Any of these that interest you, or are they not your cup of tea?

[@Nain1982]

@@BoardGamingRamblings i need that camera then! Haha. I've heard you both mention in a few other videos that die macher game. Im curious to read more into that one 🙃

[@gardamun]

The study of Economics has to do with scarcity: we have unlimited wants, but limited resources. Do I choose option A (eat a hamburger) or option B (eat a milkshake). If I can only afford one of the options (because resources are finite), which one do I choose? Any board game with resource allocation would fall into this broad definition. The foundation of most Euro games is economic in nature. To me, that is what defined Euro Games in the first place. I can build a farm this turn, and get one grain each turn for the rest of the game, or buy 5 grain from the market and use them now. Which one is the better choice? That's what makes those board games interesting to begin with. How to make the best choices, using your limited resources more efficiently than your opponents.

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

That is a great way of thinking of it! Thanks for taking the time to write up all that :)

[@illogicalferi]

Am i the only one who thinks that Johaness find a time reversel machine ? he looks younger with every video :| :D

[@rcub3577]

I was going to say the same thing

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

What a nice comment! Thank you so much for that. It put a huge smile on my face when I read it, and I'm sorry that I haven't gotten back to you yet!

[@aweso]

Very nice list. I won't argue about what is or isn't an economic game, since it seems like a not particularly well-defined term, everyone seems to have a slightly different definition. I like the approach of going mostly by feel. I have to admit I was actually reasonably convinced by the argument that Heaven & Ale should qualify. When I first hear the pick I thought it was a pretty out-there choice, but it works. And it's an amazing game, one of my favorites. Love to see Brass and Wildcatters, those would be at the top of my list. I'd also probably include Indonesia and The Great Zimbabwe, as well as a cube rails game like Chicago Express or Irish Gauge. I've also been really enjoying Modern Art recently, that would be up there. Vital is one of my favorite designers, Vinhos is a good pick but for me I think his most economic feeling game, and one of my favorites, is the original CO2. Arkwright is also a great pick. Pipeline and Nippon are games I love, and I totally get why you'd put them on this list, but for whatever reason they don't quite feel as economic to me as many of the others I've mentioned so I don't know if they'd make the list over something that feels to me more strongly economic. But thanks for doing this one, it was a fun list, a lot of excellent games and none that I can really object to being called economic.

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

Glad you liked the list! I have not played Indonesia, but it does seem like I need to do something about that! Chicago Express is great, just been too long since we played. Irish Gauge, we only played once, so need to remedy that some time as well!

[@andrewboyd105]

Great video. I agree on #1 being Brass!

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

Thank you! Glad you liked it! I really wanna play Brass again!

[@alexandretavares3081]

I'm really surprised that Bruxelles 1893 is not on Sunniva's list. I was also expecting Crystal Palace to be there. Haven't you played it?

[@sunnivavarjord]

I love the game, of course! But I was really unsure how I thought of it in terms of being an economic game. My brain is still debating this issue 🤔 Played Crystal Palace, and although I can’t put my finger on the exact reason, it hasn’t become one of my favorites.

[@alexandretavares3081]

I can see it might be hard to define the limits of an economic game but I think Bruxelles may fit in. You have money, buy materials, produce art, sell what you've produced to get more money and prestige and...start again. Production, transactions, investment and return/profit. I see it as economic. 😜 I only played CP once and with 2 but really loved it...so I expect everyone to love it as well. 😅

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

Crystal Palace has some random elements that takes it from being a great game to a good one. They are there without me understanding why, and they can swing the game. I really love parts of the game, but some parts not so much, sadly!

[@Thebrewgeek1]

I would say Heaven and Ale is not an economic game. I feel money is more of a resource than part of the economy. I do agree that it’s a great game.

[@sunnivavarjord]

I see your point, and I was prepared for some disagreement on this game in particular.

[@Nain1982]

@@sunnivavarjord I side with you on this one, Sunniva. This game can be so punishing!

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

I might agree on that, but I also see Sunniva's points! Hope you didn't lose all hope in us ;)

[@dr3putt62]

Fun channel ! Economic games: In no particular order: Power Grid, Vinhos, Food Chain Magnate, Stockpile, Acquire, 18xx games, Die Macher, Brass: Birmingham, Age of Steam, and City of the Big Shoulders

[@deepdivemusicreactions]

for me economic game is type of game in which money is the most important resource, and pay/sell/buy action is the main action of the game. in some economic games other mechanisms become more important, like hand mgmt in t.mars so, by looking at bgg list, the most economic feeling that I get is from Clans of Caledonia and Railways of whatever I am not sure would I include Bruxelles 1893 in economic games, even though money is important for bidding, but I must mention it, as it is a great often overlooked game

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

You know we love Bruxelles in this household :D Clans is also one of my favorite games, and I would love it if there was an expansion, as it's one of the games I have actually played enough to want one!

[@saviloic]

Solid picks 👌! Did you consider Skymines by any chance?

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

Haven't played it, sadly!

[@PablowingUrMind]

I am about to purchase Ponzi Scheme. not sure if you guys have played it, hope its as good as the reviews claim.

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

I have sadly not played it, but would love to give it a go if I had the chance!

[@grassnibbler2026]

Thanks for the great list. Have you had the opportunity to try Smartphone Inc.?

[@sunnivavarjord]

We’ve played it once, don’t own it! We liked it, want to try it again 😊

[@magorzataja7088]

You look great :) 1 with new weight, and the second 1 with new hair cut ;* Ragusa review!!! Please!!!! :***

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

Thank you so much, that means a lot! :D Sadly, I'm pretty sure we sold Ragusa, so we'll probably not be able to do a review for that one!

[@magorzataja7088]

@@BoardGamingRamblings the fact that you sold it is an adequate review ;) ❤

[@economicboardgames]

Economic board games, my favourite 😉

[@Thebrewgeek1]

Power Grid GREAT CHOICE!!! Probably my number 1.

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

Very good game!

[@scyldscefing3913]

A lot of fun.

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

So glad you liked it :D

[@luckilukey]

Have you guys played Yinzi yet?

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

I have not even heard about it :O Need to check it out!

[@luckilukey]

@@BoardGamingRamblings I'd definitely be interested to hear your thoughts on it!

[@SonnyBonds-]

I'm interested to see how this list has evolved in 2024.

[@johnathanrhoades7751]

18xx, Food Chain Magnate, Pipeline, Brass... I think those actually may be the only ones I have played. (I think I have a more restrictive definition of "economic game", though)

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

Yeah, that makes sense! I have only played four 18xx games: 1846, 18CZ, 1824 and 18Chesapeake. So far, I like 18CZ the best, but it might end up not being my favorite genre of games! FCM was too mean for me, haha! Pipeline and Brass are amazing :D Thanks for watching!

[@MortlachNL]

Oh, I do need to look at getting Heaven & Ale and Nippon

[@MortlachNL]

The Nippon vid of @jongetsgames is really good!

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

Most of Jons videos are very good! And both those games are amazing games!

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

I'm disappointed that Pret A Porter is not even mentioned.............. :'( ..............the king of economic games! DEATH TO BRASS!!

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

Pretty sure Sunniva mentioned it towards the end ;)

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

@@BoardGamingRamblings Might have missed that as I went off to join my don't starve group!

[@sunnivavarjord]

As I say at the end; We haven’t played Pret A Porter enough to decide how much we like it, but I absolutely recognize it as a solid economic game 😊

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

@@sunnivavarjord We must resolve that! If only they had a Simulator mod for it!

[@shakierismail9874]

I literally got to the sunniva's number 1 and was about to ask where is pret-a-porter haha! Such a fantastic game and probably my number 1 economic game :)

[@Oaklestat]

I really need to play Brass: Birmingham

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

Yes, yes you do!!

[@mortenpedersen1454]

I was so afraid that you guys would let me down not setting Brass on top. Thank God you didn't 😀

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down!

[@pintachan7178]

Go Brass team!

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

Brass is amazing :D

[@yujirohanma7551]

am I the only one who considers Terraforming Mars economic but highly luck based?

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

Yujiro Hanma I haven’t though of it as economic in feel for me, but I do find it very luck based! That is the main reason why I have a love/hate relationship with the game!

[@pm71241]

The bank in Vinhos 2010 is nice ... But I think the designer's is right that 2016 is the better game.

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

I cannot wait to play again soon! Probably gonna play with the bank, as I like my money kept safe, haha!

[@timstimbre9762]

My inner-nerd finds games with a fully functional banking system sexy.

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

I agree 🤩

[@2bearnest]

Surprised that Lisboa isn't on this list. I know that you love the game so I assume it's because you don't consider it to be an economic game?

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

I love Lisboa, but have never thought about it as an economic game! :)

[@jonathanpickles2946]

I don't think there is anything economic about Die Macher. You get money you spend it no investment decisions to make, straightforward resource allocation with no economic interactions or development. (IIRC it's been a very long time) . Pipeline on the other hand is an extremely pure economic game. Terraforming Mars is too - you make investment decisions, look at ROI for cash or V|P. It really has 3 resources as the metals are just restricted cash but since you an only really use the other two for one thing each the are just pre-conversion VP so it's all cash. Needs more trains though

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

Yeah, I can see that point, but it still feel economic to me, hehe! I agree on more trains, but need to play most train games more, and Sunniva doesn't love them ;)

[@pm71241]

No 18xx ?

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

I like them, Sunniva don't. They are not my favorites!

[@meenki347]

Cinema is a Good Looking person! But she's a bit more clever than Johannes. He's a bit predictable. I have the same taste as Johannes. But Cinema tends to brain think a little more.

[@RuiMPConde]

Die Macher a economic game???

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

Yeah, it feels that way to me, but as we also said, this is a hard genre to pin down, and there has already been many opinions in the comments, which I love! Thanks for the input! 😁 I would love to hear more of your thoughts on this!

[@RuiMPConde]

@@BoardGamingRamblings Die Macher is Area Control

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

Rui Conde Yes, it’s absolutely are control, but it can obviously have more mechanisms and genres than that! :)

[@davidnielsen2383]

you need to play chinatown, then you will redo your list. Try it.

[@diamondmeeple]

The catch-up mechanics in Power Grid make the game a joke. Couple that with crazy long playtime and you get a game which only belongs in the garbage or lighting a fire in winter. I would use the word stupid. Could use even stronger words, but lets keep it civilized.

[@sunnivavarjord]

Do you mean the catch-up is too powerful or that is doesn’t work?

[@johnathanrhoades7751]

That is definitely a minority opinion.

[@diamondmeeple]

@@sunnivavarjord The two catch-up mechanics are too powerful. As stupid as the designer's green hair. "The catch up mechanic is especially unthematic in Power Grid. In most businesses, the larger company (ie powers the most cities) would have better access to resources than the smaller companies." Then you got this also: "If you want to find something wrong with Powergrid, i'd point to the auction market and the all to frequent occurrence when the last person to bid gets a killer power plant and doesn't have to bid against anyone else to purchase it. That really bothers me and i've seen that determine the winner enough times that i don't like it".

[@Juegosmontt]

An effort to pronounce English better would be welcome, from the perspective of a non english speaker. Un esfuerzo en pronunciar mejor el inglés sería bienvenido, desde la perspectiva de un no delante del idioma. Dice Toser entiendo todo; acá, un poco más del 50% solamente

[@BoardGamingRamblings]

Hey! We do our best with the language capabilities we have :) It seems like most people from all over the world understand most of it, hehe :) I'm sorry that it doesn't work for you, but I'm also sure you understand more of our english than you would have if we spoke Norwegian, hehe :D