Top 10 One-of-a-Kind Board Games

In this video I run down my 10 favorite board games that I feel are completely unique and one-of-a-kind. This video is sponsored by Forgotten Tales and their new games Sirens: The Deep Sea currently seeking funding on Gamefound here: gamefound.com/en/projects/for...
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00:00 Intro (11. Inis)
00:25 Sirens: The Deep Sea (Sponsored)
01:00 10. MicroMacro
02:06 9. Coffee Roaster
03:30 8. Carnival Zombie: Second Edition
05:29 7. Innovation
06:53 6. Pax Pamir: Second Edition
08:30 5. Doomtown Reloaded
11:30 4. Galaxy Trucker
13:32 3. Robinson Crusoe
15:13 2. Dungeon Petz
17:56 1. Cosmic Encounter
19:49 Outro (12. Bullet Heart)
MUSIC
Dolphin-esque by Godmode
Thumbnail image is from the board game Cosmic Encounter by artists Andrew Navaro, Ryan Barger, Felicia Cano, Sabe Lewellyn, Brian Schomburg, WiL Springer.
#totallytabled #boardgames #tabletop #top10

[@travisbicklejr]

Shaggi-Just wanna tell you that you produce the BEST board game content on YT. The video and sound quality, editing, b-roll, etc. are all incredible! Thank you for your hard work!

[@TotallyTabled]

That is super nice of you to say. Thank you! I'm very happy you enjoy the channel.

[@Meaulnes]

Nemo’s war 2nd edition, This war of mine, The 7th continent and Slay the Spire the board game are 4 notable unique solo games.

[@TotallyTabled]

Yes, very good ones! Thanks for checking out the video.

[@burgek1]

This is exactly the kind of video that makes me want to buy more board games and I have enough already! Great list! The only truly unique game I've played is called Fog of Love - 2 player where you create two characters and try to make thier relationship work and by the end you have this kind of rom-com story about what just happened!

[@TotallyTabled]

That's funny, Fog of Love nearly made the list. I've only played it a few times, so I ultimately dropped it off, but it is absolutely one of a kind and a really creative and fun design. So few games tackle relationships, it basically stands alone. I'm glad you mentioned it. Thanks!

[@joulesFect]

Great list and idea for a video Shaggy! I went over my collection and here are my picks, many overlaps because I've bought some of these off your recommendations. 1. Dungeon Petz - The base mechanics centered around growing pets wrapped in a traditional resource management euro makes for a very unique feeling game 2. Galaxy Trucker - The fact that it's real-time, has a goofy theme, is tile laying, even the galaxy expedition portion of it makes it feel very distinct and unique 3. Carnival zombie - I've not played many tower defense games, but the multi-night aspect 4. Tzolk'in - It's really traditional worker placement, but with a huge twist in the rotating gear. It makes you think not only about where to place your workers, more so where they will end up. 5. Alchemists - Similarly to Galaxy Trucker and Dungeon Petz, this has a very unique theme of brewing potions as alchemists, but it's effectively a deduction - sudoku like game entrapped in a worker placement/resource management euro. It even has bidding in there to meet the customer needs, very different and unique game. 6. Skymines - Obviously it shares a lot of DNA (read all of it) with Mombasa, but that is out of print. The only other contender using Pfister's cool card-play mechanic which has you place cards to take resources or actions in rows, and you can only get one row back each round is Blackout Hong Kong. But Skymines is wrapped in an area-control / company shareholding/worker placement euro ! A very unique mix. 7. Pax Pamir 2nd edition - The mix of tableau building, area control, faction allegiance, political control feels very unique to me 8. Woodcraft - The dice contract fulfillment puzzle and the ways you can mix and match them makes this one stand out to me 9. Inis - As far as area control games go, the combination of drafting, how meaningful it is and the different winning conditions make this feel almost chest-like. 10. Targi - The worker placement junction puzzle mixed with the tableau building, especially with the expansion.

[@TotallyTabled]

Great list! T'zolkin nearly made the list. Thats a great one. I didn't think of Alchemists, but that fits the list perfectly. Very original design, especially when it came out. Thanks for checking out the video!

[@danbea4996]

Amazing list, thank you!!

[@TotallyTabled]

Thanks for checking it out!

[@drew8235]

Inis has been my favorite for the past couple of years, and at this point, I don't see it ever leaving my collection.

[@hiho8084]

I really enjoy Micro Macro Crime City. I have the entire set, plus Bonus Box, where the entire four maps are used! Haven't done it yet, since that takes a lot of room, but I know I will get to it. You turned me on to Coffee Roaster. I was skeptical, but it is really fun; addictive. I even bought coin cases, which makes the game more satisfying, so THANK YOU!

[@TotallyTabled]

Nice! Those coin cases are so important. I cannot draw cardboard tokens out of a bag without those cases. I'm glad you enjoy Coffee Roaster. I find it so enjoyable every time I play. Also, I just recently got the MicroMacro expansions, so I'm excited to dig in and eventually set up the four maps. That will be insane. Thanks for watching!

[@bookaddict777]

Interesting list, Shaggy, and some great picks! Thanks.

[@TotallyTabled]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@idjester]

great topic and interesting idea... that is why your the best board game content on the internet...keep up the great work man...

[@TotallyTabled]

I really appreciate that. Thanks for the nice words. Have a great day!

[@namelessfire]

The Pax series is impeccable. I highly recommend Pax Renaissance. Such a deep and thematic game.

[@TotallyTabled]

Yeah, I haven't managed to table any other Pax game. One day. Thanks for checking out the list!

[@txsportsfreak02]

So if you say one of a kind board games. I start with the mad scientist of board games Friedman friese.

[@hyperinox]

Awesome video. So many games I'd never even heard of before!

[@TotallyTabled]

I'm glad you enjoyed it. I hope you're able to play some of them and find something you really like. Thanks for watching!

[@TableTopTroubadour]

Perfect list for the subject!

[@TotallyTabled]

Thanks so much!

[@chipelan7196]

Great video, hope I don't have nightmares from that thumbnail... Do you have a solo playthrough of Pax Pamir? If not, can I request it? Thanks.

[@TotallyTabled]

Ha, that alien is the Ace, which ties into being one of a kind. Definitely nightmare fuel. :) Pax Pamir is high on my to-do list. I suspect a playthrough video will happen in the next few months. Summer is hard to predict, but it is a video I'm itching to make. Thanks for checking out the video!

[@samirjafri191]

I loved seeing Cosmic Encounter on your list and at the top no less. Great memories of playing that in college in the early 1980's. Two of my childhood favorites have really stood the test of time - CE and the game my family played a ton in the 1970's, Acquire (still have my Avalon Hill Bookshelf Edition intact and complete). And actually, I still have the CE set we played with back then as well, but in a brown cardboard box now. I am tempted to try several of the games you mention. You didn't really mention which of them are solo-able.

[@TotallyTabled]

The only ones not soloable are Cosmic, obviously, Inis, Innovation, Galaxy Trucker and Dungeon Petz (although there is an unofficial solo mode on BGA). Doomtown has a solo mode in the new Weird West edition of the base game but there is also an unofficial solo mode on BGA. Thanks for watching!

[@samirjafri191]

@TotallyTabled Solo Cosmic Encounter...negotiating against myself...hmmm....🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@erickl7551]

Oh boy can't wait to watch this list.

[@TotallyTabled]

Hope you enjoy it. Thanks for checking it out!

[@erickl7551]

@TotallyTabled great list! Carnival Zombie seems like fun. Do you know if there are big differences between the first and second edition?

[@larrye]

Great list. Unique games that come to my mind are ones like: millennium blades, bullet, Paradox initiative...

[@TotallyTabled]

Ah, Millennium Blades! Great one. I've only played once but I really want to play more. Very unique game. Thanks!

[@bellabella327]

Love your videos. I decided to pickup the Robinson Crusoe game. I hope you do more videos from the adventure book :)

[@TotallyTabled]

I definitely will! Next one will be the Jurassic Park scenario (I forget the actual name). Thanks for watching!

[@bellabella327]

@@TotallyTabled I look forward to it. You’re an amazing content creator.

[@TotallyTabled]

That is very kind of you to say.

[@monoludico6166]

New subscriber here (found this video today and... Wow, such a great idea for a video!) I own/have played 6 of the games in your list and agree about their uniqueness. For playing all the scenarios of the Robinson Crusoe's Adventure Book is enough having just the second edition? I'd add to this list John Company, Pax Renaissance, Glory to Rome, The Incan Empire and Tawantinsuyu. Doomtown Reloaded and Carnival Zombie, both caught my attention!

[@TotallyTabled]

Hey, thanks for the sub! I appreciate it. Yes, any addition of RC will work with the Book of Adventures. Those are great games you listed. Unfortunately, I've only played Glory to Rome. I'll need to check out the others, especially John Company. Thanks for watching!

[@Izzboticus]

Doomtown has long been the best CCG/LCG out there.

[@TotallyTabled]

101%

[@Nutth]

I like Coffee Roaster, Feel good to find it on my Japan trip.

[@TotallyTabled]

Nice! Great pick up. Thanks for checking out the video!

[@JJ_TheGreat]

Wow, I've got to check out your #9 😀

[@TotallyTabled]

I talk about it a lot for some reason. It just keeps popping up on lists. I guess it is a go-to solo game for me. Thanks for watching!

[@EliasTrollkarln]

As I statred to watch this i thought to my self what game of mine I would put on this list, and the first game that came to mind was Dungeon Petz! A game i never hear anyone talk about and is not usually on any lists, but is the first big board game I got many many years ago, so it holds a special place in my heart. Happy to see it on the featured! Impressive of Vlaada to have two games on this list btw! And it's not to far fetched that Mage Knight could have made it as well 😁

[@TotallyTabled]

I think I could have put every Vlaada game -- Space Alert and Tash Kalar certainly. Even Through the Ages. The guy is a genius. A shame he stopped designing after Codenames. I really hope he is secretly working on something big, but I fear he made so much money that he's lost the spark. A tragedy for the hobby, really. Thanks for watching!

[@antonichristel6430]

Pax Pamir 2ed is a good one i love. Cerebria is also uniek. Perseverance and Mission Red Planet 2ed. Pecunia non olet you wold love.

[@Biodelic]

Since we don't focus specifically on solo games, my entry would be Nexus Arena Combat System. From the setting, to the mechanics, to the actual gameplay, all these elements have unique twists and approaches but in its entirety it's just an absolutely unique experience. Adding the new Legacy Edition rulebook to it and it hits out of the ball park. I also would like to point out Dungeon Alliance, such a unique twist on the dungeon crawling genre. Your list is rather excellent and features some titles I definitely have to check out. Thank you for sharing!

[@TotallyTabled]

Wow, I've never heard of Nexus. I'll have to give it a look. I've long wanted to give Dungeon Alliance a try but could never get a copy. Looks cool. Great suggestion for the list. Thanks!

[@Pokephantom]

Fun list! I love doomtown!

[@TotallyTabled]

Yeah, Doomtown is amazing. Hopefully I'll be able to make a video about it soon that goes into depth. Thanks for watching!

[@bL1nK400]

Do you think robinson crusoe is better than this war of mine ? If so in which way please ? I have a hard time to chose a New solo game to be used in duo as well

[@TotallyTabled]

I personally love both games but I like Robinson Crusoe more. RC is an adventure survival game with emergent storytelling -- it is gameplay forward. This War of Mine is horror survival with a story forward approach. The focus is on the experience. I would suggest watching my playthroughs of these two games to really get a feel for how they play. I have three playthroughs of RC and one of TWOM in multiple parts. Thanks for watching!

[@Max_prez555]

Great Video! I am getting a little confused on the different versions of Robinson Crusoe😅. Which version do you hav Are there expansions(probably yes)?

[@TotallyTabled]

It does seem confusing. I'd say it doesn't matter which version of the base game you have -- first, second, or collectors. I have all three because I'm a psychopath. You then want to get The Book of Adventures, which is being sold separately either now or soon. Then you are good to go. Later, if you enjoy the game and play it to death, you can start to worry about the expansions, but honestly I wouldn't even bother. Thanks for watching!

[@Max_prez555]

@@TotallyTabled Alright. Thank you for always answering comments!

[@jbo2471]

I would say bullet is missing: real time bag building puzzle bosses with asymmetric power listening on jpop/kawai electro music as a timer.

[@TotallyTabled]

I put it as number 12 during the outro, so it didn't quite make the top 10 but it is definitely one of a kind. Thanks!

[@renn4585]

Is there any chance you will do a solo play of Pax Pamir or Dungeon Petz?

[@TotallyTabled]

Pax Pamir is high on my to-do list. A playthrough will definitely happen in the next few months. Dungeon Petz doesn't have an official solo mode as far as I know. Maybe I'll check out an unofficial solo mode if it is good. Thanks for watching!

[@renn4585]

@@TotallyTabled I can't wait for Pax Pamir then! There is an unofficial solo on BGG for Dungeon Petz but it is just a BYOS. I saw slikerdrips play it recently and bought it immediately. I'd love to see a playthrough with your level of production!

[@1000hound]

Dungeon Petz looks so cool. Off to check if there is a good solo mode.

[@TotallyTabled]

Let me know if you find one. You can play on Board Game Arena. The implementation is very good. Thanks for watching!

[@maartenmercken]

One to consider for the list is Five tribes

[@TotallyTabled]

That's a great one. Very few games with that sort of mancala mechanism. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@victorgonzalez2927]

Carnival Zombie 2E is phenomenal! The campaign was shaky there for a minute but I’m glad it got delivered. The sad part is that it might never see a reprint, which leaves those wanting it left to pay much more for a second hand copy.

[@TotallyTabled]

Yeah, that will become more and more of a problem going forward as crowdfunding becomes the standard, insanely. It ensures the minimum number of copies will be produced and guarantees scarcity. Most of these great games will never reach new players -- not a great way to grow the hobby. I've definitely dropped the ball with this channel and I'm assessing how I can highlight retail releases and focus more on games that have a chance to endure. Most of those games are lightweight and aimed at the mainstream. I don't know, I'm thinking about how to deal with these issues. I don't love celebrating games people can't play. Anyway, thanks for watching, Victor!

[@victorgonzalez2927]

@@TotallyTabled you’re doing a great job. You hit the nail on the head about crowdfunding and scarcity. I’m sure it’s tough as a content creator to balance out your love for certain games that might not be accessible over games that are. Regardless, you do an awesome job and really enjoy your content.

[@TotallyTabled]

Thanks for saying that, Victor. I really appreciate it. I'm in the awkward position of loving board games but increasingly hating the board game industry. I'm an outsider and I'm working behind the scenes to better position the channel to reflect desire to focus on play and players. Unfortunately, in the current content creation environment, it is difficult to even survive. So we'll see. But I really appreciate the support. Have a wonderful day!

[@victorgonzalez2927]

@@TotallyTabled do you have a Patreon account? See if you can get supporters to donate.

[@tzgardner]

Some of the most unique games I've played . . . 1. Tobago 2. Dungeon Fighter 3. Under Falling Skies

[@TotallyTabled]

Ohhh, I didn't think of Tobago. Excellent choice. I'm shocked that reverse deduction mechanism isn't used more. It's so fun! Thanks for watching!

[@dayoltay]

Yea bro 100% on dungeon fighters. It is our favorite game to drink with 🍻

[@hesperolletje5302]

Nice list altough, I'm missing The King is dead.

[@TotallyTabled]

That's a great one, although I haven't played that game enough to get a handle on it. I've had good and bad plays, which is probably just me not understanding the game well enough. Certainly unique, though. Thanks for watching!

[@allankamen9875]

In way the King is Dead is on this list. Cole Wehrle has said that Pax Pamir was based on The King is Dead.

[@hesperolletje5302]

Which one would you recommend? I Own The King is Dead and I hesitate to purchase PaxPamir

[@Neon_Gorilla]

I like your video premise.

[@TotallyTabled]

Thanks!

[@kobusbrits3523]

Great list overall, but I think you missed one of the most unique games out there. Kingdom Death: Monster.

[@TotallyTabled]

That is one I haven't played. I've seen it played and it definitely has some unique aspects, that's for sure. Thanks for watching!

[@coyotemoon722]

Android belongs on a list like this, but not too many have played it.

[@TotallyTabled]

Yeah, I never played that one, but from what I know it would be a great one for this list. Thanks!

[@Anaoa_Official]

Off topic but, are you feeling well, Shaggy? You sound more energetic on your previous videos

[@TotallyTabled]

Yeah, everything fine. Thanks for asking.

[@jakecrowe3797]

Keep mentioning Robinson Crusoe so I can keep remembering to play it. 😂

[@TotallyTabled]

Well, if you insist! :)

[@broavonyl5997]

Hey man, I hope you are doing well. I have watched quite a few of your videos in the past but it's been a while. Not even a minute into this one you sound a lot less joyful and energetic than I remember. Not sure if I missed anything, or it's just one of those days. Anyways, your videos have always been informative and of good quality to me. I hope making them doesn't tax you too much. Don't forget to take a breather if you think you could use one 👍

[@TotallyTabled]

I was just recording that first part at night and trying not to wake anyone up. Some of these I recorded during the day, and I'm probably more energetic. I struggle to find large blocks of free time during the summer, so I have to fit these recordings in at weird times. Thanks for watching.

[@broavonyl5997]

@@TotallyTabled Glad to hear ;) . I figured that may have been the case , but I know that a lot of youtubers pre-record content to upload at a later date, and since the intro included the mentioning of Sirens: The Deep Sea it had to have been recorded recently, and maybe the rest of the video was recorded way earlier. So something could have happened in between. Anyway, this wasn't criticism of any kind, I just wanted to leave a reminder in case something did happen. Just looking out for my fellow human :d Keep doing what you're doing 👌

[@TotallyTabled]

I appreciate it. I wish I recorded stuff ahead of time, and had a bunch of videos already made and ready to go but I'm not on the ball like that. :) Nearly all my videos are fresh out of the oven.

[@adriang6259]

All these videos do is create a dilemma. Trying to restrict my collection and wondering what I can afford. Now I’m wondering if I can afford not to increase the collection with at least three of these games….

[@TotallyTabled]

Ha, well, it is never my intention to make people feel like they need to buy games. I try to focus on play and experience. Of course, for many people, buying is the only way to experience a game. I get that. Nevertheless, the question of whether something is worth owning is better handled by board game reviewers, which I am not. Sorry if my videos are causing FOMO. :) Thanks for watching!

[@adriang6259]

@@TotallyTabled Not your fault, I'm the one with the need, the "see it, want it" disorder. Boardgames and books.

[@then8mac]

Photosynthesis

[@TotallyTabled]

That's a great choice for the list. Not my favorite game but very unique. Thanks for watching!

[@Hanes.Review]

try Pocket Master Builder, nothing similar to this game.

[@TotallyTabled]

Never heard of it. I'll check it out. Thanks for the recommendation!

[@boeta9778]

it is a gem hidden by not-so-good translated rulebook. But once you mastered it, there are a lot of combination/replayability like mottanai

[@TotallyTabled]

Awesome. I'm intrigued. Thanks!

[@dayoltay]

Not complete without any CTG game. Niche board game company, Too many bones being the best is one of the most unique board games out there with unique components, mechanics and gameplay.

[@TotallyTabled]

I can't argue with that. Unfortunately, CTG games haven't hit my table like I want them to. I hope to rectify that this year. Thanks!

[@donnakeferlis1649]

Every time you show your Coffee Roaster footage - 😠😡 I'm so pissed I have the newer, duller version.

[@TotallyTabled]

Sorry about that. I forget that happened. Very sad and another reason to hate Stronghold Games. Thanks for watching!