Top 10 NEW Family Games in 2023

[@andrewcohen3772]

I love that you had the little background music for each of the games that matched the themes. It was a touch I appreciated. I though the intro was cute. As I got into board games I begin to recognize many of the games and when you say one game is like another game and ALSO say why they are different, that’s just gold! I never regret watching your videos even when im super busy or have to go to sleep! Thank you brother for these family recommendations. I will be ordering some of these when I get a chance! Thank you! One more suggestion. I would love to see the top 10 games to play with adult friends. I know your channel is about families but there are so many cool games that I want to play but I wouldn’t necessarily play with family. Also, adult children can also join in on the fun and that would fit the theme of your channel still!

[@theperfectboardgame]

Thank you so much for the feedback. It’s very valuable, for me and for creators in general. A lot of effort goes into those details, for example: getting the sound so you noticed but it doesn’t distract. I have several videos already that feature games for adults but yeah, I’m due for another.

[@OwentheSamoan1]

Love all the descriptions and feedback in a thoughtful manner. Very appreciative of the thought and time you put into your videos!

[@theperfectboardgame]

Thank you so much. Glad you found it valuable.

[@everhat]

Thanks so !such for this video! This will help us find a few games to enjoy with our grandson.

[@ekurisona663]

im so glad i found your channel - i love your enthusiasm, and all the effort you put into you videos - pictures and videos of the games, and graphical analysis/breakdown at the end! appreciate you!

[@theperfectboardgame]

Thank you so much! That’s very encouraging!!

[@cdonlan]

Thanks for sharing! Great review.

[@ekurisona663]

thank you so much! always need games of this type for family and friends!!

[@bestatstartrek2179]

Very nice list. Great games I didn’t know about

[@theperfectboardgame]

Thank you! Yeah, I try hard to learn about as many games as I can so that my list isn’t just the “10 known games that were published this year” but I actually played and compared many. Also, a lot of so-called “family” games don’t actually meet the 3 criteria, so that narrows it down too. I’m happy with this years list: there’s good variety here, despite the restrictions.

[@bestatstartrek2179]

@@theperfectboardgame yes I was very interested in 3 of the games never heard of but wish I owned. I’m curious what other games in other categories your holding out on. Just picked up point city and scout. Scout blew my mind point city was very underwhelming

[@Archer-hl3sj]

Love your content! Honestly, my game group prefers more simple games so we can talk more while we play, so these recommendations were great! Couldn’t speak more highly about wandering towers! Excellent game!

[@theperfectboardgame]

You are right. I title these videos “family games” but they could just as easily be games for people who want something just a bit lighter.

[@davidgarza9731]

Love the list! Thank you for the recommendations. I own Wandering Towers and it’s been fun to play. Someone else suggested games to play with adults (I’d like to second that suggestion) Would you be willing to do a list of games better than Cascadia?

[@bestatstartrek2179]

I think calico is better. Ecosystem is a really good drafting placement game, caldera park was a lot more fun for me too. Also patchwork is an essential my wife also loves Ny zoo.

[@theperfectboardgame]

Great recommendations, @bestatstartrek2179. Thanks for seconding the request. You also aren’t the first person recently to request another comparison video. Right now, the priority is to review a few more new games that I brought home from Essen (I have some awesome reviews that I’ve been putting off in order to publish this video) and then I have something in mind for a list much like what you requested here.

[@pennyhardaway1985]

WOW! Thank you!!! I'm really happy that you enjoy the game that much! I hope more people get to know Draft & Write Records 😀 I'm going to share this video 🤙

[@theperfectboardgame]

...and THERE it is! I have been waiting for you to watch this and read your comment. I knew it was only a matter of time. Yes. It is THAT good. Well done. It was a pleasure to play with my family and review. I'm happy I was included. Also, I just logged in to post my "Draft & Write Records in 60 Seconds" video so be on the lookout for that one.

[@fermicosta]

Parabéns Bruno. Totalmente merecido, este nº 1!!!

[@pennyhardaway1985]

@@fermicosta Muito obrigado 🙌🙌🙌

[@alisonwentland3765]

Draft and Write Records is now on my buy list. Thank you, Board Game Dad.

[@jameskirk4692]

Thank you for doing the recommendations. I am always interested in being recommended good game.😀 Btw, Santorini is such a great and cool game. It's one of my favorites too.

[@theperfectboardgame]

This is my favorite video to make. It takes a lot of time but it is always so much fun.

[@Sarah-ph8cp]

Any suggestions on how to find balloon pop? My kids would love that game

[@theperfectboardgame]

Did you see the links in the descriptions? This is the best place to order it: en.lautapelit.fi/product/47451/balloon-pop-eng-from-us-stock The game is brand new so at this time they haven’t worked out distribution to US retail stores. You’ll only find it online.

[@theperfectboardgame]

Also, I’m assuming you are in the US. If you are in Europe or elsewhere, check that same website for shipments from their Helsinki stock.

[@erniesulovic4734]

Wow, I'm moving to Serbia soon to be with my Mrs and I have never come across the game Heraldica......will look that up once I get there. Thanks for the heads-up 🙂

[@theperfectboardgame]

You bet! Have a great time.

[@christievanavi9652]

I love that your family game recommendations have an educational/development aspect. I just discovered Forever Homes and am wondering what your thoughts are on the game. I am debating between Tiny Towns, Castles by the Sea and Forever Home. Would love to hear your thoughts and, most importantly, would love to know which games your kids are most excited to play.

[@theperfectboardgame]

Thank you. I do own all three games. I think it depends on how old your kids are and what you are looking for. I’m can tell you my favorite (Tiny Towns) but I think that is possibly the worst for kids because it is the most abstract and extremely strategic. Forever Home is like Tiny Towns but it has much better art and a higher degree of luck. I think that means generally speaking, more people would be drawn to Forever Home, but I like it less because I tend to find games with more luck LESS engaging. Castles by the Sea is less like the other two and is perhaps harder to compare. The stacking of sand blocks really adds a more tactile/visual element that I asked the game stand out. I also think it has a better balance of luck and strategy. The drawback of CBTS is the threat cards: the threat cards make it the most stressful game, and I have watched my own kids get a little frustrated when “their castles fall down”. Nevertheless, if you asked ME to rank them according to my own, personal preferences and experience, I would say: 1) CBTS, 2) Tiny Towns 3) Forever Home.

[@theperfectboardgame]

I don’t think I answered your question! My KIDS would almost agree, but they would prefer Forever Home over Tiny Towns. The only reason I might get Tiny Towns instead is if I thought my kids needed more experience playing abstract strategy games, but I think the dogs and element of luck in Forever Home makes it more fun for THEM. …oh yeah, and Tiny Towns is the only game of the three that has players doing something simultaneously. I think that is better for short attention spans, as you don’t need to wait for your turn.

[@christievanavi9652]

@@theperfectboardgame thank you so very much for your detailed explanation! Do you think we can play Forever Homes like tiny town?(Personally I agree with you, I WANT to buy TT for myself 😂 but the kids may not be as excited). What about First Rat vs CBTS? Which is more fun for your kids?

[@CMarie2415]

I love your videos and want to take the board game quiz, but it never loads no matter what device I try it on. What am I doing wrong?

[@theperfectboardgame]

Thank you. It’s not you. I took down the quiz because after I updated my rating system, the quiz was made obsolete. I need to remove all references to it. I will eventually make a new quiz, sometime after the holidays. Thank you for your encouragement!

[@diamondmeeple]

How is Japan? Heraldica seems interesting.

[@theperfectboardgame]

Okinawa is a dream. I got my diving certification and this is a paradise for diving and snorkeling. One additional feature of Heraldica that I did not describe in the video (for sake of time it was cut:) it also includes a memory game that involves trying to remember the configuration of the tiles even as they are flipped and swapped around. My kids love the memory variant. Thanks for dropping a note to me!

[@diamondmeeple]

@@theperfectboardgame Tried "That's not a hat"?

[@theperfectboardgame]

Yeah, I did! It was a fun party game.

[@chieparras4815]

Subscribed! 😃

[@theperfectboardgame]

Yay! Thank you!

[@olivierjodoin2283]

I've enjoyed some of your videos but I'm flabbergasted to see Life of the Amazonia in a family game video... And with strategy/luck and complexity ratings below the middle line. This game melts adult experienced gamers brains and a 4p game with new players takes 3h. That's not a family weight game...

[@theperfectboardgame]

You must understand that I endeavor to find games that are suitable for the whole family yet not necessarily designed for family: I want games that are interesting to play EVEN when my kids aren’t around. I hope you are surprised (to an extent) by ALL my recommendations, as almost none of them are nominally “family” games. That being said, on the scale of complexity at large, I do not think LOTA is too complicated, but it is certainly for board game FAMILIES. I would not teach it to a 7-year-old who hasn’t played anything more complicated than UNO.

[@ekurisona663]

heraldica sounds like a little game called codinca

[@theperfectboardgame]

I got excited and only found out… it’s out of print! 😩

[@ExploreCanadaandBeyond]

I like number 10

[@kaliehall-to8im]

I choice is the purple one Bible bubble gum bord game that is my favorite one my name is Heather ha

[@nataliekosenko466]

Wandering towers

[@theperfectboardgame]

Absolutely. Wandering Towers was actually featured on the previous year’s list.

[@myjodo]

Dude, given the subject matter... This video is 900% too long. Shame on you.

[@joshuawestlund]

I politely disagree, I found the length dedicated to each game was perfect. Many of us who play with kids already have a lot of games and need to be very deliberate about new purchases.

[@theperfectboardgame]

900%… nice. A harsher critic would have given me 1,000%. Thanks for the generous feedback. 🙏

[@Mysmi]

Zero subscribers, zero videos on your channel, but happy to give your negative opinion on someone’s channel that’s succeeding. Get a life, bot.