Top 10 Tile Laying Board Games

Join us as we run through our Top 10 tile laying board games.

[@TeskoLove]

It's great to see Glen More get some love.

[@gabdewulf]

Carcassonne is my most played game mainly because of the app and the game that got me into board gaming.

[@notlaw1976]

We still love Carcassonne in our house. We play wirh a hamd of three tiles , it keeps the maps tighter amd its a bit more strategic.... only a bit, but we like it that way. Most of them are absolute bangers to be fair. Cracking list.

[@TheCharlesFr]

We all love carcasonne, but Chinatown sounds fun, I might try it. Thanks for the recommendation

[@breakupgamingsociety2170]

I've got the 3M bookshelf copy of Acquire. Amazing how it keeps managing to surface. I've got to dust it off and try it.

[@gerrade71278]

I don't play many tile laying games. I quite liked Carpe diem, though.

[@alittlebitofwaffle4072]

I'd recommend akropolis or cascadia.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

I played Akropolis at the UKGE and it was fun

[@go_golden]

Alhambra is fantastic, first board game I ever bought myself, still have it and play it often with people new to the hobby. I would throw in Ginkgopolis as my absolute favorite for this genre, though tile laying is just one of the elements, there's also engine building, drafting and area majority. Bloody good game still.

[@alanrobertson8626]

I love Ginkgopolis. I think it would be a hit if not for the shit theme, shit expansion and inordinately crappy point token readability. How they arrived at tree hugging future cities when it feels like criminal property moguls screwing each other over I will never know.

[@go_golden]

@@alanrobertson8626 yeah, there's a definite mismatch between the theme and the actual gameplay 😂 Never played the expansion, tracking down the base game was hard enough, got it used from a friend who gets a lot of imports. Shame that it's not great, then.

[@heyheyjk-la]

I just discovered Alhambra last year and it immediately became a favorite and I've played more times in this last year than most other games I own. I recently got the new Alhambra: The Red Palace game which is mostly a more fiddly, longer version of the original with wooden buildings that sit on top of the tiles which gives a nice look, and actually does make it easier to look across at other players's layouts to see what they have. But it also does have one new bit that I want to use in all games from now on, and that is the end of round scoring is now randomized so that different buildings score differently each time, so it's not always the same buildings in the same order.

[@JJ_TheGreat]

7:18 Chinatown was re-implemrnted as a game called "Waterfall Park".

[@ralfn9629]

I love your love for Carcassonne. I have all expansions and I love the variety. With the expansions it is still in my top 10 games of all time. I can play this game with my grandchildren (5+6yo).

[@richardhancock1505]

Some fantastic games on your list: I love AZUL, CHINATOWN, GLEN MORE (II) Carcassone. I’d like to try Alhambra and Attica. Have you played MIYABI ? Fantastic tile laying game - Japanese Garden theme from Wolfgang Kramer & Michael Keisling. I would also highly recommend CALDERA PARK by the same duo.

[@theshogunstein6475]

I do love Cascadia!

[@SteveAMcPherson]

Great listing! ❤

[@meeplejunkies5432]

They were giving away copies of Galaxy Trucker as entrance swag this year at BGG Spring, very nice.

[@IlanMuskat]

The new edition is very, very cost-effective.

[@photon72]

Great vid!!!

[@kidmarine3994]

Think Chinatown is out of print now and has been replaced by some bland waterfall-themed nonsense.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Why do they do this?

[@kidmarine3994]

@@BoardGameBollocks no doubt the theme and art were deemed ‘problematic’, the usual bullshit

[@BoardGameBollocks]

@kidmarine3994 What was the issue with the tiny car crash on the board? I’ve never heard the Chinese are bad driver trope before. Did they make that up?

[@kidmarine3994]

I’ve seen comments about the box art from the usual types. Specifically the Chinese fella, who looks, erm, Chinese! Imagine that!! Not heard about the Chinese/bad driver trope either

[@kidmarine3994]

Don’t know what’s going on with replies, but my last one disappeared. Anyway, in short, I think it was the box art that some people were moaning about. Not heard of the bad driving thing either.

[@TheHyde70s]

After Carcassonne my favorite is Isle of Skye. Sad how it got forgotten somehow over the years.

[@kidmarine3994]

Great game

[@joshyaks]

YES!! The Isle of Skye: Big Box is amazing!

[@TheHyde70s]

@@kidmarine3994 Yup, still a classic.

[@TheHyde70s]

@@joshyaks I was bummed they didn't include Journeyman. One of the best expansions out there. Wasn't worth the purchase for me. I would still rather get Druids, than this for the Borderlands tiles.

[@joshyaks]

@@TheHyde70s I had the opposite experience with Journeyman. I bought it, read the rule book, and was immediately like, "Nope, not the experience I'm looking for with this game!" and sold it without playing it. I'm glad you enjoy it, though!

[@DeepFriedDave]

Glasgow is a overlooked hidden two player gem that includes worker placement and tile placement.

[@timjones990]

Been looking for China Town for a while, i hear there's a reprint coming soon

[@joostvandemeerendonk9342]

Great list. Tigris & euphrates still the best for me.

[@AndrewWatsonChangingWay]

It's number 3 tile-layer for me, behind only Thru the Desert and Samurai.

[@IlanMuskat]

A stone cold classic for a reason; Samurai too, though I haven't played Through the Desert. T&E is a real fistfight of a tile-laying game, only slightly less explosively violent than Neuroshima Hex within the genre.

[@JJ_TheGreat]

@AndrewWatsonChangingWay How is Babylonia? That one I heard about and I am very interested in! Thanks!

[@AndrewWatsonChangingWay]

Need to Babylonia again, only played once, likes it.

[@nobuthatsme9201]

I’ll stand on my Captain Flip mountaintop and fling my minions down on top of ya. It’s easy, it’s maybe juvenile…. But man it’s pure fun.

[@dancondonjones]

My votes: 1 Bandido 2 Acquire 3 Planet Unknown 4 Isle of Skye 5 Kingdomino 6 Race to the Raft 7 World Wonders 8 Sprawlopolis 9 Carcassonne 10 NMBR 9

[@Fatpie42]

Why play a different version of Azul than the original? Because there's a mini version! And you know what? There's a mini version of Quirkle now too! Easier to get these brilliant games onto a table than ever before. I need to get a copy of Alhambra. I was sceptical about it initially but now there have been multiple times at our game group where it's been like, we've got about 5 people and one option is Alhambra and we all go "that one please" and love it. Gotta say Carcassonne is my favourite game. I was introduced to the new post-2000 gaming golden age with Tsuro and Catan, but Carcassonne was the first game that made me fall in love with board games. I know for other people it was Catan or Ticket To Ride, but I just don't think either of those come close. And if anyone tells you to play without farmers to help ease a newbie into the game, tell them no. Better that newbies see a competitive game where they can't quite grasp everything than that they see a simple boring game where your score just depends entirely on what tiles you draw. Carcasonne is bland and unbalanced without farmers.

[@PompeyLegend2009]

Habitats is a good tile laying game

[@th1ngo]

_Attika_ is a beaut blast from the past.

[@adamski_uk]

"A quick blast on the Qwirkle trombone" 😅

[@aguywhocodes]

I watched the whole video like “where’s carcasonne?” Love it but didn’t expect it to come in at the top. But I guess I should’ve because it’s an awesome game

[@jimicapone]

Great list. I own 4 or 5 of them and love them all. I think you'd like Cascadia based on this list. It's a pretty relaxing game.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

I’m usually stressed out mate

[@jimicapone]

@@BoardGameBollocks sounds like a must buy then!

[@PompeyLegend2009]

Cascadia will have to be played soon

[@BoardGameBollocks]

I have it now so Monday

[@billable1861]

Azul mini is $20. It also has a nifty little board that keeps the tiles more secure. I prefer it because it takes up less space and was more thoughtfully designed AND cheaper.

[@toppkaffe527]

Agree, easily the better version

[@a-c-m]

Isle of Skye replaced Carcassonne for me. Also: sounds you urgently need to play Harmonies…

[@lonewolfvc3575]

Same here. It is by far my favorite tile placing game. And very close to number one in auction games as well.

[@kevindelord]

There are auctions in Harmonies?

[@lonewolfvc3575]

@@kevindelord I am referring to Isle of Skye.

[@PBMatthews254]

Another Isle of skye > carcasssone Person hopping on this message thread. Welcome brothers. 🫡

[@flavflav7792]

Not played Alhambra in ages, might be a plan for the weekend, really enjoy it! Have you played Akropolis?

[@BoardGameBollocks]

I played it at the UKGE and it was fine. Maybe a bit bland in its presentation and could do with more stuff. I heard there’s an expansion coming so maybe that will fix it.

[@PaulMazzoni]

Not sure if you’ve played Captain Flip yet from Paolo Mori, but it’s definitely cracked my Top 10. Hell, maybe even #1. I shit you not. 😊

[@BoardGameBollocks]

I have not. I love Paolo Mori’s games so I’ll hunt that down.

[@PaulMazzoni]

@@BoardGameBollocks Keep in mind it’s meant as a family game.

[@nobuthatsme9201]

@@PaulMazzoni no… It’s not a family game. It causes brawls.

[@kevinbabb7004]

What? No Tigris & Euphrates? Unforgivable!!

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Didn’t really like it mate…

[@shortydancer]

Not on the list, it’s shit mate!

[@mrbovinejoni569]

Land VS Sea

[@kevindelord]

A true gem of a game!!!

[@daveflynn3397]

The Grand Carnival is also a good tile laying game.

[@db5823]

Carc and Acquire I was hoping to see. I had forgotten about Chinatown, probably because my first thought about it is the "negotiation" aspect. Qwirkle I can pass on, and Galaxy Trucker is hit or miss a lot of the time. A really great tile laying game that I (relatively) recently found is Nova Luna. It has a mechanic like Patchwork (also a tile laying game, and a decent 2-player game), but it has a lot more going on. Highly recommend trying.

[@TheTreeHugger1]

tough list to make. so many options! I'd add Castles of Burgandy and Sorcerer City.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

CoB is dice based too so I didn’t include it

[@iansutton7416]

Aesthetically Azul is certainly pleasing, but for me it is just too abstract, and so I never feel particularly engaged with it. Probably sensible to exclude many of them from this list, but I do like games where tiles form the 'board' with players creating it, either at the start of the game, or as they play.

[@b-squadhero9698]

Good list. Mine would of had Carpe Diem on it....just sayin.

[@hughzarie1860]

If you forgot your Qwirkle but had a pack of Uno cards could you use those instead and lay similarly to domino tiles. ?

[@MegaBags]

I forgot about Carcassone. Was utterly convinced that Castles of Burgundy was going to be top dog here. You sold me on Chinatown! Gutted that is out of print.

[@nobuthatsme9201]

It’s a good game but don’t pay those out of print used prices. It’s not that good haha.

[@MegaBags]

Yeah, quickly ruled it out. Don’t worry!

[@MinistryProductions]

Please for the love of God treat yourselves to some Carcassonne expansions. They transform an already excellent game into... Well something fucking more excellent! I'd buy 1 & 2 as they add some key pieces. You'll thank me. 🤟🏻

[@platinumman1824]

I wonder if Land vs Sea could replace Carcassone ?

[@johnjones6115]

That was a looooooooong linger on the peasant girl.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Thought she was Royalty

[@barmybee61]

hot as fuck. I would

[@johnjones6115]

@@BoardGameBollocks Must be. She hasn't got s$@t all over her!

[@Silberkreuz]

I played Carcassonne once with expansion but felt they don't add to the enjoyment. Just the base game is plenty of game already.

[@TAC3O]

Where is Isle of Skye?!

[@Kojimalosophy]

why, why, why ..... WHY!? haven't you played Cascadia ! ? 🤯

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Always out of stock and then the price went up

[@Kojimalosophy]

@@BoardGameBollocks well, that's actually a very solid reason, I myself have a fair share of games I haven't bought cuz like you said, hey are never on sale 😭, and unfortunately bills are of higher priority than board games, although, if I could live off the land and be a hermit board gamer, I would 😁

[@nuuqbgg]

No Isle of Skye???

[@barmybee61]

love isle of skye. the bidding element is fun.

[@barmybee61]

love isle of skye. The bidding element is fun.

[@Ibbisin2]

Just to let you know your play through of Cyclades has been spoken of in my wholesaler's latest email, to promote why it's a pre-order must. Quote: The KZbin channel, BoardGameB****cks, famed for sweary and foul-mouthed reviews has the original Cyclades rated as his favourite game ever made. He has just published a video to his 26k subscribers in which he stated: "It's amazing really, the game has been top of our top 100 list for years - and they somehow managed to make it even better." KZbin's Board Stupid featured the new edition as one of their favourite games of UKGE, stating "it's an amazing game... I can't wait to have this one in my collection"

[@nicholasschneider6655]

The reprint of Chinatown is called Waterfall Park. Your photos/videos of Alhambra and Carcassonne both showed illegal tile placements.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

I set that up in 30 secs…if I’d made sure there were no illegals the video would’ve taken 30 hours instead of 20 to make.

[@toppkaffe527]

Goes wrong sometimes, ho hum. Good idea of components though.

[@Pengi_SMILES]

Tetra-mino? how do you pronounce Domino?

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Domino

[@billable1861]

@@BoardGameBollocks😂

[@drunken_physics]

not bagel..... its beigel just saying hahaahahah

[@Drekster2001]

I was kind of expecting Cascadia on the list 😅 Have you not played it or DID you and was it dog sh*te?

[@heyheyjk-la]

He specifically said at the beginning of the video that he hadn't played it.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

I’ve not played it. I’m sure i said that in the video?

[@Drekster2001]

@@BoardGameBollocks Argh my apologies: I skipped the intro and immediately went for number 10.... I will remedy that in the future and watch all complete bollocks!

[@theshogunstein6475]

Qwirkle is a great game but horrible for us colorblind players

[@BoardGameBollocks]

There’s a colorblind friendly version of Qwirkle available I believe

[@b-squadhero9698]

I need that. Its good for a laugh though when the kids yell "Dad, that one is purple not blue!" I generally ask before laying them down now. Lol.

[@toppkaffe527]

Sunrise Lane is a great game with the same issue. Red and purple look the same unless lit by a 200 watt bulb. Even non-colored blind have an issue. 😢

[@noprobllama9747]

What a load of sense.

[@theshogunstein6475]

Big Boss is a good game which is an update of Acquire

[@davidfavre6145]

Isle of Skye > Carcassonne