Top 10 Games that End with Excitement!!

Tom, Sam, and Zee talk about ten great board games that have exciting conclusions!
00:00 - Introduction
02:28 - Sam’s #10
05:02 - Tom’s #10
06:15 - Zee’s #10
07:37 - Tom’s #9
08:30 - Zee’s #9
09:43 - Sam’s #9
11:38 - Zee’s #8
13:13 - Sam’s #8
14:05 - Tom’s #8
15:24 - Zee’s #7
16:45 - Tom’s #7
17:50 - Sam’s #7
20:03 - Tom’s #6
21:25 - Sam’s #6
23:07 - Zee’s #6
25:37 - Sam’s #5
27:55 - Zee’s #5
29:27 - Tom’s #5
30:12 - Sam’s #4
31:31 - Tom’s #4
32:49 - Zee’s #4
34:47 - Tom’s #3
36:39 - Zee’s #3
38:09 - Sam’s #3
39:29 - Zee’s #2
41:21 - Sam’s #2
43:07 - Tom’s #2
45:09 - Zee’s #1
46:18 - Tom’s #1
47:30 - Sam’s #1
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[@leshrac369]

You didnt waste anyones time. Your banter is why we come. :)

[@chrishenderson3691]

Sam's classic - "I didn't punch him in the throat - I only BEAT HIM!" :)

[@NightRunner9]

Chris Henderson Yeah I laughed so hard on that one too ( 26:26 ) Only because it was Sam. LOL!

[@lylejackson645]

100% agree with BSG being number one! Especially if there's a centurion boarding party in play, it often comes down to one die roll. The first time I ever played was like that, and we weren't the only ones standing. It was at a small local con, and we had a pretty good crowd gathered around our table watching the last round. Everyone was cheering or booing that last die roll. Awesome!

[@NicholasLA1]

Lyle Jackson Yes. Times a million. BSG is one of my alltime favorite games and every time it's been great. So much banter, so much excitement. Very few games can have my heart racing for 3 straight hours but this one does it!

[@Beepbopboop19]

Such an old comment...but, any game with a different theme, but is still as good as BSG?

[@dannys_78]

Almost every game of Pandemic we have ends in excitement - we're always in the "just won" or "just lost" situation... only very rarely do we win easily or lose so terribly. Of course, we do deliberately make sure the game is challenging by increasing the number of epidemic cards, adding in various expansions etc...

[@Ragnarokender]

Danny S Not for me. The theme is super dry for me so I'm bored by then (just moving around a map removing little cubes, no force of opposition), and I can see the ending from a mile away (e.g. when you get everything under control and there is just 1 virus strain left), the last part just becomes going through motion (we usually just stop).

[@aosxion]

Ragnarokender I find it gets really intense with 7 epidemics. Because playing with 7 requires a bit of luck, sometimes you have to make a 50/50 or 30/70 decisions about what to do and drawing infections can get very exciting. You also have to play with higher risk throughout the whole game and hope to get lucky infection draws. When you win, you're always just a couple cubes of each colour and 7 outbreaks, just moments from losing - always exciting for us!

[@Ragnarokender]

aosxion Awesome, I enjoy difficult games, maybe I should try it with more epidemics next time. I can appreciate most games even if I personally don't enjoy it so good for you guys for finding a game you enjoy.

[@errolwilde1656]

I totally agree I was really surprised that zee dodnt have pandemic as his number 1. Almost every single game I play is so close its nail bitting. And I swear almost every time I lose I would have won on the very next turn...

[@barryswevels5746]

Danny S Agree completely, we usually play with the purple disease and 6 orange epidemics. Always comes down to pure tension. After some epidemics you know that revealing one specific city will end the game, if this doesn't happen. The last rounds, you know you need to arrange a lot for those final cures. Hope the board doesn't kill you or gamble for drawing the right colour cards. Always exciting in the end.

[@FishofMuu]

I'm totally with Zee on Power Grid. The end can be pretty tense, and we've often gotten it to a 3 or 4 way tie, and it's down to counting dollars

[@shumandaniele]

"It's an older one, I think it came out in '09." Yeah, that's like -- ancient history.

[@BigBoii1369]

Dan Shuman Yeah exactly! I was 19 back then! lol 😂

[@AbsurdandFantastical]

Hey Dice Tower! Could you guys do a "Top Ten Games That Tell Great Stories" There are just some games (Mansions of Madness, Arkham Horror, Mystic Mice, Mage Knight and so on) that just manage to tell great stories after you're done. They are excellent for a re-telling basically. I love games that do this, and it would be great to see a top ten. Thanks!

[@Zentennen]

Exciting endings is a feature I often praise games for, but it is rarely discussed I feel, good to see you guys give the topic some love. Cheers!

[@Pengi_SMILES]

Forbidden Desert has a wonderfully tense ending more often than not. And because the game is fairly short it keeps the excitement levels from fizzling out.

[@greywolf466]

Pretty much the same for most co-op games!

[@mdoughty]

this is easily one of the most fun top tens you guys have done!

[@geoffreyhawley503]

I'm just getting into gaming and am really enjoying going through your library of Top 10s. Thanks for all your time and hard work.What an incomparable treasure trove of knowledge you've assembled! The game I'm playing right now TOTALLY fits this category. Each case in "Hellboy: The Board Game" ends with a flurry of excitement and mayhem. A total blast! My highest recommendation. Thanks again for your devotion to spreading the word about great games (and what to avoid ;) )

[@olafbuddenberg4787]

Actually, Sam, when you read the backcover text of "Camel (C)up" on the German version, you see that is reads "CAMEL UP". I agree that "Cup" makes somewhat more sense but that's how it is.

[@stephanberger3476]

Yes!

[@eralston1989]

I'm surprised Escape didn't make anybody's list

[@user-yi2bv5zr8j]

Was my first thought when I saw the list.

[@28green]

Sam, I agree with you on Kingsburg. I have also had many games come down to the final attack. Some great stand-up moments!

[@lachlanalbert9280]

My favourite game ending is Going, Going Gone!. The moment right before that final auction is almost always a stand-up moment. Everyone know's exactly where they're about to throw those cubes, they're all standing ready, the person with the paddle takes a deep breath... and all hell breaks loose.

[@NicholasLA1]

I totally have Zee's back with Power Grid. Super tense endings!!

[@maio52]

Great top ten :) It was sooo funny when Sam knocks Tom s water :D :D

[@Stumbleduc]

I love the Carcassonne coasters. :) Great video as always guys. Thanks.

[@alexwastaken]

I would like to see their top ten list for games that you wanted to play it again right after you played it for the first time. Like a game that was just REALLY fun or a game where you realized your mistakes or a strategy clicked, and you HAD to play it again.

[@AzraelSilent]

"It's like a clown on a unicycle in my head..." Great image Zee. Lol

[@steveg7000]

Yes, Sam and Tom definitely were on the money with their number one pick!

[@Fizban]

Well done for number one! It is the best for exciting ending by far

[@Aabra69]

How is it possible that Escape: The Curse of the Temple did not make any of these lists... it has hands down the most exciting ending.

[@Hisdudeness9500]

King of Tokyo, also Robo Rally with a house rule. As is it's quite a boring ending since one guy is usually out front. We fixed this by having everyone start with 5 options and losing one with each flag rather than gaining an option with each flag. This compresses the field and makes for much closer endings. Our last game had two people fighting for the last flag, shoving each other out of the way, then the person in 3rd raced in and grabbed it out from under us (I was one of the two :P).

[@bhodges3]

Treasure Island should be on this list now. Once BlackBeard is making a bee-line for his treasure it gets insane!

[@MasterdoMagic]

"I avoid playing it after being awake for 24 hours, typically" - Zee. Awesome :)

[@dpotter2113]

I agree with Zee to a degree about Kingsburg. We play where you don't score any of your buildings until the end of the game to keep it a surprise.

[@BeardsandBoardgames]

I love this ending! Sam Flips the table......brilliant.

[@markustinnfalt6660]

Been following you guys for years, great stuff! A few suggestions I would like to see: Top 10 card games Top 10 asymmetrical games Top 10 travel games Top 10 games you can play outdoor

[@Dungyfan007]

I totally agree with Tom about Baseball 2045. I've played many world series and we always get into it and have several tight games that come down to the last card!

[@jayw5277]

***** When I read the title of this Top 10, the first game I thought of was Baseball highlights 2045. Sad to hear Sam put it down.

[@Cvandw]

I was totally thinking what Sam was thinking when Tom was introducing his #2. I laughed real hard when I realized he was writing BSG on the table. ( 43:18 )

[@metal134]

One that comes to my mind is Eldritch Horror. I've played that game maybe 15 times and except for maybe twice, the ending came down to the wire, with the caveat that often if the Ancient One awakened, it was anti-climactic (although there have been a few times where even THAT battle came down to the wire), but the race to solve those mysteries before the Ancient One woke up has almost always been down to the last turn or two. There have even been games where, 2/3 of the way through, we thought we either had no chance or were going to cruise to victory and it ended tensely anyway.

[@adriandevries8716]

Yeah and lots with Arkham. So close to getting that last seal... but the next Mythos card could screw you over...

[@TylerAndToast]

There's something to be said about a game that you can have fun with even when you're losing. That for me is exciting. For all.

[@stevef3663]

Thanks for another good Top Ten. I agree with other comments about Escape the Curse of the Temple. I'd add Homeland: The Game

[@stevenosborne1042]

My favourite for exciting endings would be "History of the World". it is laregely because of the mechanism in the game that is based on the person who is doing the worst.. That mechanism allows everyone a chance to win the game.

[@XiphonIII]

While it usually falls into the guaranteed win/lose trap for me when there's 2-3 rounds left, this episode just reminds me of my favorite game of Eldritch Horror I've ever had. Solved the final mystery on Azathoth, and then lost when the mythos card right before the win resolved killed three investigators, dropping us to lethal doom.

[@justinlaser2423]

After watching you guys multiple times, I have to say all three of you are awesome. I generally agree with Tom's choices most often, but he is sitting in the middle for a reason.

[@AgentKuo]

"Top Ten Games with that End with Excitement!!" Catchy!

[@MrKeller13]

I, Spy has such a great end game. The last round of turns is so tense, thinking you know who is what country and being totally wrong most the time.

[@ViralAgent1]

Hell yeah, Rush N' Crush!! I thought I was the only person on Earth who liked that game. I'm still trying to get more people into it. They seem open to the idea of playing when I tell them "It's Formula D with machine guns and flame throwers." Also, I was surprised to find that Infiltration wasn't in this video. That game gets very tense when the proximity gauge hits 75 and everyone is on the second floor.

[@sethgoodnight]

I've mentioned it in the comments for another video, but Red November. There's nothing like the feeling of killing a kraken with no time to spare, just minutes before your burning, half-flooded wreck of a submarine limps into port. If you like the way BSG plays, I'd wager you will like Red November too.

[@IvelinBelchev]

I agree about BSG (when one jump away from Kobol President Admiral Adama reveals he was a cylon from the very beginning of the game -- ah, good times). I would also add Chaos in the Old World up there. The last turn in CitOW is always exciting when all alliances fall apart, accusations start and 3 or 4 of the players have an actual chance to win, mostly due to each other's mistakes or betrayals. What follows is a lot of hair pulling and "what if" discussions - nice!

[@johnnyjmagic]

I totally agree with Sam's choice of Cosmic Encounters!!I also agree with his cool shirt!!

[@Iraklis4444]

The Manhattan project has a very tense ending too i believe. You never know when a player is ready to build his last bomb and when he does, usually everyone is ready to finish their game too or need one more turn.

[@TheFamilyShowdownHRKN]

I like the pre-list chatter. I try to predict things like crossovers and number 1s too.

[@billlynch3704]

Letters From Whitechapel? We always have very tense endings during that game, and there's always a huge celebration if we can catch Jack.

[@typoko]

I'm not sure if i could list 10 and order them, but i feel like Bang! The Dice Game has really exciting conclusions. In the end even when all of the outlaws have been killed they might win if the renegade and sheriff die on the same turn. :) For BSG and Arkham Horror alike, i feel like they are really great with the correct people. But when the game drags on for a little too long, people get tired and the ending flats out a bit. I know they are different kind of games, but i feel like they have the same problem in the end where the game just takes a bit too long for people to stay excited till the end.

[@SuperWolfkin]

typoko man i gotta try Bang Dice so hard because i kinda hate Bang and everyone else seems to that likes Bang Dice. As for BSG and AH. I think BSG maintains it's "interest factor" better than AH. AH is complicated but doesn't change. BSG with it's traitor element keep the tension high.

[@temporaryscars]

Lol @ that scream. Love it when you guys do stuff like that.

[@Talon3000]

I LOVE the carcassonne coasters. Where do you get those?

[@bradycooper634]

When I saw the title for this top 10, Battlestar Galactica immediately came to mind. It seems like every game ends with either a critical dice roll or card flip that wins or loses the game for the humans. I'm glad to see my thinking was right in line with ya'lls (minus Zee I guess...)

[@EamonBurke]

The team sport that ends with the most tension is soccer. Sporting Kansas City made the comeback of the year against Toronto FC just a couple days ago by scoring 3 goals in less than 10 minutes after trailing the whole game. It only takes a split second to put that ball in if you let them.

[@magination9288]

You guys are freaking great

[@MiniWarzone]

Great lists :)

[@ninek666]

I have to say X-COM. 4 out of 5 games depended on one last roll to decide do we win or die and everybody was waiting for that final roll with anticipation.

[@thirteenways3420]

Concordia because of how the final scoring is revealed.

[@toytonia9293]

Another Sam Classic: Tom: "My number 1 will surprise you!" Zee: "...and my number 2 will suprise you because you never heard of it!" Sam: "Actually it won´t surprise us then..." lol

[@BriansGotGame]

I agree with Zee on Power Grid and in a similar manner we have had some tense endings to Ticket to Ride. Anytime everyone is standing up while points are tallied makes it exciting. 7 Wonders scoring is exciting too!

[@EclecticCamel]

I'm going to back up Sam on Kingsburg. I think that game is very exciting during the final round and I've seen many end with a surprise (sort of) winner.

[@thwilee]

Shout out for Killer Bunnies! We always flip the carrot cards one @ a time and it's ALWAYS down to a couple of people eagerly awaiting that last "magic carrot".

[@DastardlyMatt]

Sam with the Jim Duggan nod for the win.

[@geo088]

1. Modern art 2. Cleopatra and the society of architects 3. Battlestar galactica 4. Pueblo 5. Dune 6. La isla 7. Aladdins dragons 8. Dixit

[@dregen77]

I totally agree on Ghost Stories. A game which always comes down to the wire every time I have played it is Claustrophobia.

[@MitchellMiller1]

The designer of Camel Up actually has confirmed that the Publisher decided to name the game "Camel Up" rather than "Camel Cup". It is very confusing because there are so many possible references. Camel Up could refer to the stacking of the camels...or it could refer to "Pony Up" because there is betting involved. However, Camel Cup could refer to a race. boardgamegeek.com/thread/1137179/name-game

[@joaocamilo8106]

Great theme for a list. Some really cool games. The ending was clearly the best thing ever caught on film. Better than the ending of the first Saw, better than the ending of Pulp Fiction, better than the Ending of Casablanca! :P

[@dashdageek]

A Game of Thrones Second Edition. Simply mental

[@DarthSironos]

Fully agree, Battle Star Galactica deserves number 1, no other games has produced so many exciting ends for my group.

[@ashleepradella4912]

Sam and Tom great number 1 pick!!! I love BSG :D I'm suprised Tom didn't put cosmic encounter on his list! That is the ultimate in exciting endings haha! Loved your list Sam!

[@jonofpdx]

So, this isn't true for ALL of the Elder Ones but Azathoth can make Eldritch Horror pretty exciting at the end. Depending on the draw you get from the research deck doom can start accumulating pretty fast and in two-player it can be difficult to keep the board under control AND work on the mysteries. Have played many games where we won or lost on the flip of a mythos card in the last round.

[@keithparker1346]

I have a suggestion for a Top 10 - Top 10 Boardgames which are great to watch being played - some games are great to play when you are there participating but as a spectator can be very dull - Dominion anyone? Whats that game set on the 3D train with cowboys???

[@tannerwright5643]

that is an awesome t shirt tom!

[@GuiltySpark1817]

Enjoyed this one immensely! Long-Shot as #1, Zee? Really.

[@dinoman2222]

Zee is right about Power Grid! It always comes down to the wire

[@snowren24]

BSG is my #1, period ! If I could have pledged on the kickstarter to play a game with Sam at Gencon it would have asked to play BSG :)

[@SamHealey6]

snowren24 And I would have whole-heartedly agreed!!

[@snowren24]

Hopefully whomever pledged for it requests something good !

[@xshortguy]

Manhattan Project. Most games come down to multiple people who would win on the last round.

[@LEGnewTube]

Tom - I'm surprised you didn't mention Killer Bunnies and the Quest for the Magic Carrot.

[@thechaptermaster]

Zee's shirt, "Life's Good" Sam's shirt, "#God is greater"

[@davekoehnlein4575]

I like your shirt sam!

[@Bieranti]

I would add Eclipse to this top! This almost always ends with great battles all across the universe, betrayal and uncertainty.

[@ryanrank3070]

I like Death Angel. I've played it numerous times and I've never had a game where the end was a foregone conclusion.

[@Steve-L]

At the beginning I thought that every selection was going to be games that have a scoring surprise at the end. But there were other types of endings thrown in, glad that was the case. I know you guys don't like Talisman, but Talisman can have some exciting endings. Horrible Black Void anyone? Also Bang! can have pretty exciting endings. Twice we had a player come back from the dead (the Dead man card) and win the game. I have only played 1 game of Cutthroat Caverns so far, but have a sneaky suspicion that one also will have surprise endings. Not a fan of Defenders of the Realm, in fact probably gonna sell my copy. But those have intense endings. The Dungeons and Dragons Adventure System Board Games also have intense endings. And Pit is intense through the whole game, LoL!

[@lonelongboarder27]

First experience with BSG, phase 2 came, I just found out I was actually a Cylon the whole time, everything is racing through my mind what I can do to start sabotaging this ship, then BOOM! Kaylie the character that can kill another player once per game shoots me in the face and then accidentally reveals she's the cylon. I after having just died had to reveal I was the cylon. Well there went 4 hours. Still love playing this game every time is different.

[@kholdstare21]

My list 10Acquire 9King of Tokyo 8Flash Point: Fire Rescue 7Pandemic 6Sentinels of the Multiverse 5Elder Sign 4Robo Rally 3X-Wing Minatures 2Escape: The Curse of the Temple 1Formula D

[@ThatTrekBoy]

Duel of Ages II is great!! It's one of my favorites!

[@feonline9789]

Enjoyed the show but thought I'd mention that the green captions for Sam's 2 should be "Run, Fight, or Die!" not "Run, Flight, or Die!"

[@thedicetower]

For me, it's "Run, Flight, or Dive!"

[@feonline9789]

LOL.

[@magus32]

Good on you guys for drinking water instead of the junk you usually have.

[@LazyNeutrino]

BSG live play. That would be exciting!

[@notea6389]

I have to agree with Tom about Duel of Ages 2, it is fantastic, but my friend and I prefer doing a set number of rounds rather than a time limit.

[@rpriske]

No Adventurers? I can see the box on the shelves so I know Tom likes it...

[@GreyHunter88]

Never played Spectre Ops, but it sounds very similar to L5R: Ninja. I've always been curious why they felt like Ninja was an awful joke of a game, but that Spectre is such a classic. Everything they say they like about Spectre, I find myself liking Ninja for the same reason.

[@michaelhastriter3299]

Ghost stories is way exciting at the end, but I will say that Shadows over Camelot, revealing the traitor is also up there just behind Ghost Stories, but I don't know why Shadows didn't make the list.

[@ericfolsom4108]

I find Pandemic on medium and Robinson Crusoe very beatable, not easy, but not 'lose every time'. I wonder if I'd find Ghost Stories as difficult as they say it is.

[@Benderwii]

I was expecting to see Stone Age on Sam's list. You are never sure when the game is gonna end, there are some options of stretching your luck during the last round(s) and there is hidden scoring in it.

[@SamHealey6]

Benderwii I guess my experience with Stone Age has been that I have a pretty good idea who's winning based on what I've seen them purchase throughout the course of the game. Usually, that has held up...in my experience. The only real hidden part are the cards on the right hand side of the board...not terribly exciting, imo.

[@Benderwii]

Playing with the expansion ups the excitement for me. To have some cheap buildings in there (possible to end game faster),, one extra green card option and the option to buy face down cards just makes me lose track during the game. Anyways, thanks for sharing the other 10 and keep up the good work guys! :)

[@adriandevries8716]

Sam's five would've been my number one or two. DEFINITELY agree with that choice.

[@marke4834]

You put "Run FLIGHT or Die" on the screen. I think it's supposed to be fight.

[@steveptacek2520]

World of SMOG: on Her Majesty's Service. It seems everyone is one move away from winning at the end of each game.

[@rinceart]

I really (REALLY!) miss Chaos in the Old Workd from this list.

[@WhatHappenedFFS]

Yes, Tom at 26.40 Priceless :-)

[@Marccp]

BSG seems like a great choice. I couldn't really think of any. Many longer games that are exciting at first aren't really that interesting towards the end. One player is clearly in the lead and we're just waiting for it to officially be over (TI3 comes to mind). Maybe something with dice-based combat like Summoner Wars? There's a lot of tension in that last dice roll that may or may not end the game. Maybe I just have a boring collection :) Surprised Cosmic Encounter isn't on Tom's list.

[@robertdunn4847]

The Adventures...so many make or break die rolls down to the wire, can I get out the water, will i get enough movement to make it out, maybe the boulder won't move three spaces.......

[@mattrodda1975]

Idea for top ten - Top Ten Sports Games.