Top 10 Turkeys

[@XRay44]

Top 10 Turkeys 1. Thanksgiving 2016 2. Thanksgiving 2011 3. Thanksgiving 2009 4. Thanksgiving 1998 5. Thanksgiving 2017 6. Thanksgiving 2000 7. Thanksgiving 2013 8. Thanksgiving 1990 9. Thanksgiving 1995 10. Thanksgiving 2001 Honorable Mention: Thanksgiving 2014

[@mydemon]

That shouldve been a joke from either Zee or Sam :)

[@theninjadog4676]

You forgot Thanksgiving 2007

[@XRay44]

@@theninjadog4676 We try our best not to talk about Thanksgiving 2007.

[@joshfrench5858]

Lmao

[@bigtsmadhouse]

I've always loved Dice Tower and especially the top 10's (gotta love the long form camaraderie, but man over the years you guys just keep getting better. An absolute joy to watch this.

[@brockh4422]

After rewatching BSG recently, it's amazing how close the board game is to the show. It's just so good.

[@ToxDrawace]

The best thing about Hero Quest is that it's on this list!

[@josiahkendall4492]

This is a great comment.

[@joshfrench5858]

Nice

[@brandonwallace2497]

one of my favorite things is being able to easily get a group genuinely excited to play a game that is also easy to teach. That's why Love Letter will always be a favorite game to bring to the table.

[@chrishenderson3691]

Good to see you already found a use for those small hands you opened up the other day - classic!

[@RestorationGames]

A "tom" is a male turkey. Coincidence? I think not.

[@MisterChris1978]

ahahahahaha

[@blanetalk]

Lol!

[@nienke7713]

Are you saying you like Tom less now than you used to?😉

[@flex2themax]

+1 for Zee's singing

[@vazzaroth]

This was an awesome list, reminded me a lot of the "good ol' days" of Top 10s. Good games, a mix of things I know well and things I don't, a lot of reasons why things are on a list rather than just "it's popular and good and we've said it before", and even some nice off-topic goofing. :D

[@timarnold4944]

Good video guys. Love the shenanigans. The hands were hilarious. This one had me laughing. Good topic as well. :)

[@BalanceFreedomPiano]

The year is 2022. It’s time, The Dice Tower-bring back the creepy little hands.

[@actualol]

Loved Zee's rant on Deep Sea Adventure. I couldn't agree more. Such an overrated game.

[@spiderfingers86]

My 8 year old son always wins at Deep Sea Adventure for the simple fact that he just grabs a bunch of level 1 treasures and then quickly goes back up. Personally, I'm not a fan of games that rewards you for not playing lol

[@ryusorata]

Played once, Zee basically told how my game was. This game is bad and expensive

[@littleratblue]

Y'all are playing with stupid people. I've played this game across probably 20 different people and I don't think anyone has died more than once. Figuring out how deep to go and when to turn back is not rocket science.

[@jay7a2j]

I've never had the game play out as Zee described. It does feel "samey" but the deaths have been few and far between in games I have played.

[@TheGamePit]

You are wise and beautiful.

[@TheAthenaum]

This list feels like a very healthy therapy session for you guys.

[@bigpapa_duds9742]

I definitely had the most laughs while watching this too 10, thanks guys! Great video!

[@kirbymaster5]

Forbidden Stars not getting expansions is a crime against humanity

[@adamfrench1914]

i think this list title might be mis-named - a turkey is something that was a bomb or a failure - unsuccessful. If it is a game you used to like and now just won't play as much - i don't think that qualifies as a turkey

[@antscymru]

This is what I was thinking.

[@Yesbryn]

Agreed a Turkey is a flop. Waterworld with Kevein Costner was a Turkey.

[@ryusorata]

They used a name to describe the top10 a good name i think. Better than "top 10 games that we used to enjoy a lot but nowadays not that much" so "top 10 turkeys" is clearly way better

[@Yesbryn]

Fading, shallow, diminishing, off the boil. You present it like a mouthful is the only other option.

[@DrHamishLove]

Agreed. What I expected when I saw the title, and what they actually changed the definition of Turkey to mean for their lists, was very very different. Top 10 Games That Faded. Top 10 Games I Broke Up With. Ha

[@AhJong0]

I’d be curious how many players Zee has been playing Deep Sea with. I’ve played a few games that have gone the way he’s said, but they tend to be with players the first time they encounter it. I’ve enjoyed it, though I think it’s like Love Letter where it’s a tiny game that plays best with a local meta.

[@ElanDivan]

What a weird definition of what a boardgame turkey is. Films, teater plays or books that are defined as a turkey are a failure or unsuccessful. Whether they are competently made or not like "The Room" og last years "The Mummy". The only example that I'm able to come up with now is Seafall. It had everything going for it but just tanked, next to its expectation.

[@KabukiKid]

Yeah, it is a pretty odd usage of "turkey," but it is what Tom has used for ages now. It used to be something he and Joe Steadman would do on the Dice Tower podcast. They had a segment where they talked about their "turkeys," which were games that have fallen in their eyes over time for whatever reason. They also would talk about their "kangaroos," which meant a game that was initially not liked or seen as so-so and then "jumped forward" and became a well loved game. heh Yeah, Tom is a nut. ;-)

[@jukka-pekkatuominen4540]

I never listened to any of the podcasts (or any podcasts actually) so I didn't know any of this. Thank you for the explanation.

[@mgk2020]

Tom's definition is the same one with which I'm familiar.

[@doggosplosion]

Sam's comment on Heroscape could be a list in itself. Games that don't come to the table due to setup and teardown.

[@Bangerz12]

My top 10 Turkeys cuz why not: 10. Castles of Burgundy 9. The Resistance 8. Istanbul 7. Splendor 6. Ticket to Ride 5. Divinare 4. Hanabi 3. Coup 2. Carcassone 1. Mysterium

[@ryusorata]

Ben my top 10 is extremely similar

[@CapriciousIntent]

I've not played Divinare, and Carcassone is pretty meh. However, I adore every other game on your list.

[@Erlaad]

I disagree with half of your list, but I am giving you a thumbs up because Courage the Cowardly Dog. He deserves it.

[@supersamuraisunday685]

Mini hands down, my top Turkey game was Shadowrun Crossfire for the reasons Zee mentioned. It went from a 9 rating to being sold.

[@OmegaDestroyer99]

That's how I feel about Dragonfire, despite Zee's assurance it is better (it's not).

[@rontalkstabletop]

Wrath of Ashardalon, Love Letter, Munchkin, Tiny Epic Galaxies, 7 Wonders, Catan, Marvel Legendary, and Boss Monster.

[@CapriciousIntent]

Ron Frazier Oh god, Boss Monster! I played it a few times over the course of a couple, bought everything for it, then I realized a few months ago, "I kind of actively hate this game." Marvel Legendary is still amazing though. It's been my number one for years and it's not moving anytime soon.

[@Ulaan-ti9nm]

I LOVE this subject! Great choice!

[@whitleypedia]

Zee is right about the Battlestar property not being hot because of the shows absence

[@tomgustafson3464]

"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." - Arthur Carlson

[@tyronewilliam7712]

Not sure of the joke but turkeys do fly

[@bannacha]

WKRP in Cincinnati. Love it!

[@teflonravager]

Tyrone William. Turkeys raised on an industrial scale for food are to fat to either breed or fly. Wild turkeys can fly but it can be quite ungainly.

[@tyronewilliam7712]

teflonravager lol you are just flat out wrong about wild turkeys. I have turkey hunted for many years and let me tell you, they can outrun pretty much anything in the woods. They are also excellent at flying.

[@tyronewilliam7712]

teflonravager not sure about industrial scale turkeys, I have no experience there. I have seen with my own eyes how fast wild turkeys can both run and fly..they also have incredible vision.

[@ennieday1009]

Machi Koro was maybe the 3rd or 4th modern board game I ever bought when I was first getting into the hobby so it will always hold a special place in my heart but man has that game fallen off for me. Used to play it religiously with my girlfriend all the time and can't remember the last time I played it.

[@mitchalibi2794]

Another excellent vid you guys... THANK YOU!

[@natelinhart114]

I did the same thing, Tom. Would constantly make cool decks and never get to play with them. It's just so fun making decks. Building dnd characters gives me that same feeling too.

[@rollingwithrob6579]

Always thought Mysterium was Dixit: Murder in Hong Kong ;)

[@KristopherMiller0]

Hot dang! I bought Fairy Tales because of Sam's recommendation! Glad you still enjoy it but it's crazy that you've cooled on it.

[@ChristianAdventureGamer]

I think the Descent journeys in the Dark is still a great game, because there is no other game like it specifically. The story, the xp system, the over lord cards, and the monster to hero racio. It takes less time to play them Does and Sorcery, less learning curve, and it isn't overly complex.

[@valreznic]

Loved this segment even though there were a few I felt differently about, but more than not, AGREE!!! I could definitely create my own list of this

[@oninoyakamo]

Corey Konieczka seems to be king of designing turkeys according to this list

[@BrianLiming]

Hooray the #1 dice are back!!!

[@jackdempsy7104]

You guys are in a great mood today! "Give me that dirty hat!" Best Top 10 in a long time

[@bricelory9534]

For me Smash Up is a Turkey in this usage. I enjoyed it the first few games I played, bought an expansion and almost immediately lost interest in bringing it out again. I think I have gotten over the gag of Zombie Jedi or Robot Ninjas, etc. Ultimately it is a good game, and I would not be upset to play it. I just am not looking to. I don't particularly get a craving to play it like I do others.

[@RossMyers89]

The biggest drop for me is Splendor. It's a good game, but my group wanted to play it so much that I got burned out. I ended up donating my copy.

[@stevepruneau6561]

Splendor was one of the games in my collection that I just got recently, just before they announced Century Spice Road. To be honest, it's on my to-buy list and I haven't played it yet, but they say it is the Splendor successor :D

[@epone3488]

OMG - Dungeon Crawler of old is Warhammer Quest.

[@jakereinhardt6270]

Tom, Heroquest was my first boardgame I enjoyed as a child. I played it with my father and we had a great time. Unluckily, it was destroyed in a flood. I had forgotten about it until about 5 years ago when I got back into boardgames again and now have a good collection. I would be willing to buy it from you since it costs an arm to buy online.

[@HeadCannonPrime]

Wow, Cash and Guns NEVER gets old at our party game nights.

[@TorIverWilhelmsen]

Above and Below is a light enginebuilder/set-collection game with some stories. Near and Far is "better" if you want it to be more complex AND you play the campaign, and you actually get to do any of the story points before the other players rush over to them. If you don't, the story book might as well not exist for your purposes, as you are left with the area control, recipe filling (artifacts) and a light point salad.

[@StyxTBuferd]

I still don't get the appeal of Laukat's games. They're all sort of barely there and are basically the same design.

[@XRay44]

Cash n' Guns is always a hit at parties. I've never had it fail.

[@mrsuitcase9799]

Battlestar Galactica?! Tom. Tom. You're obviously a cylon.

[@foyoGames]

Justin Swaine toaster head lookin boy

[@olafbuddenberg4787]

Tom is right about BSG. Never understood the hype anyway.

[@Downloaded7]

I haven't played Deep Sea Adventure too many times yet, but I think there's a fair amount that you can game while playing. Understanding how much you can push your luck is a bit more obtuse than it appears at first glance. In my experience, it offers a fair amount to consider that depends significantly on the number of players and their spread across the board, and allows you to make aggressive plays that include intentionally sinking other players by slowing yourself down to drain the oxygen faster. Maybe I'm giving it too much credit but it gives me roughly what I want out of a pocket-sized family-tier game, similar to Welcome to the Dungeon but it can accommodate more people.

[@Twirl360]

BSG WILL LIVE ON FOREVER, THANK GOD FOR SAM! Great list lads.

[@zachmckinney2497]

I do love the game but it is gone now, you cannot find it at all on the FFG site (the probably dropped the license) and it is hard to find online. I believe new angles is suppose to be its replacement and while similar it is a different game, I enjoy both.

[@eclecticdoctor]

I'm not sure who zee is playing deep sea adventure with but it is a staple here, and no everyone doesn't usually die. Rarely do you get everyone back but that is the tension.

[@FelipeRodrigues-vj1zb]

Just like Zee, i was hoping for an updated BSG game. Sadly, Unfathomable is still the same gigantic mess.

[@zacdredge3859]

41:00 You might think Tom got cut off there but Ticket to Ride is actually the twelve games he'd like to play more. 😂

[@sethhale235]

Tom, you need to do the Tzolk'in re-try just in case before you do the games you like better list you mentioned at the end.

[@paulsitko7988]

I usually don't like the negative top tens, but this one was a lot of fun. I want to see more of the creepy baby hands!

[@Vampa219]

LOVE BSG, LOVE the board game. That is all....

[@neilerredge5358]

YES THE DICE ARE BACK!!!

[@marcosfernandesdesousajuni9576]

Nexus Ops seems similar to Cry Havoc, isn't it?

[@spiderfingers86]

Some of my turkey games are Mice and Mystics, Time Stories, Pandemic, Cosmic Encounter, and Betrayal at House on the Hill.

[@OmegaDestroyer99]

I agree about Time Stories. It's really starting to feel stale. Estrella Drive was bad.

[@spiderfingers86]

Nick Rossell It started to feel stale for me after The Marcy Case.

[@DarkseidTCG]

I just bought mice and mystics. I like it so far.

[@HeadCannonPrime]

I find Time Stories to be so over hyped. The only good adventure was the one from the starter box. Everything else has been tedious in the extreme. "Oh you didn't see that random number hidden in the card art six rooms ago? Too bad you will never get through this random maze because we have no real good reason."

[@Elantry]

Deep Sea Adventure is so good. There’s a lot of tactics based on what the other players do, and it’s never the same. Sort of like poker.

[@ktotheramer]

I’m with Zee and his take on turkey(the food). 100%!!!!

[@nicholasblackburn1559]

Those hands are hilarious. Hopefully they make it in a live play.

[@tomatodamashi]

Heroquest is the perfect game for a super light dungeon crawler. The fact that the rules are so simple make it a great game for boardgame novices. It is not deep or complex and that is a benefit for this game.

[@cybergecko6472]

Thank you Zee I HATE machi Koro due to the reasons that Tom said. The whole falling behind and staying behind.

[@professormayhem3080]

That's what it's always like for me too when I play Descent, Tom. It's always like " BUM BUM BAHM BAH BAH BAH!"

[@davidpridige1532]

It would be so dull if we all liked the same things and everyone is entitled to opinions . This is a real mixed bag of a top ten. I love mysterium and have never had any trouble with people playing the ghost role on their first viewing of the game and if I take the role I guarantee that as soon as it is over people want to play it again and they ALL want to have a go at being the ghost. Love it

[@StefanLopuszanski]

29:34 : I've actually been working on a prototype of a streamlined version of BSG that is shorter and has a different theme... Let's hope my prototype works out.

[@JeramyWare]

Is there a top 10 worker placement games? I have recently found myself enamored with them, and I'm always looking for a new options to add to my collection.

[@Steve-L]

yes

[@rasmusolesen5307]

Top 10 eurogames is close.

[@Steve-L]

no need for close when you have exact

[@rasmusolesen5307]

Doma Agape couldn't disagree more

[@Steve-L]

Guy asks for a pineapple, and you hand him an apple. Give the man a pineapple.

[@annjourney14]

Using The Dice Tower's definition of "turkey," mine would be any game that requires a deck (or spellbook) to be constructed beforehand, like Mage Wars and living card games in general. I guess I'm still burned out on that necessity from my old CCG days.

[@desertgamers6065]

OMG Zee I had to pause the video and comment I laughed so hard! Your Hallelujah song.....to funny.

[@playitydown7588]

Lol Sam, "I hate every single one of these games."

[@john-paullaflamme1825]

Agree 100% with you Tom on Game of Thrones for the same reasons.

[@HeadCannonPrime]

I can't disagree MORE with Sam's Mysterium pick. For me deception falls flat and the traitor mechanic forces someone to basically NOT play the most fun part of the game, which is guessing the murder. I HATE being the traitor because if you say anything obvious it gives it away and you can't help solve the crime. It's like, lets all play a game except Dave, he gets to sit there and watch everybody else have fun. Also the game seems VERY easy if you have half competent players who are paying attention. (I don't think the detectives have EVER lost in all our sessions.) For me Mysterium lets everybody play the fun guessing game and everyone is working towards their own specific goal. (ps. we don't play the tacked on betting minigame). And if you dress it up a little bit with some low lighting, table knocking or a simple black hoodie for the ghost it really adds a lot.

[@peterscarpa526]

Love these top 10s! Though, I must say that I think it's hilarious that the board game table is totally decked out with cup holders, and yet there is a cup sitting on top between two cup holders...

[@JJ_TheGreat]

This should be titled “Top 10 Games We Are No Longer Enamored With”, lol

[@Punko1969]

Port Royal is scheduled to be delivered to my house tomorrow. When it shows up, I'm gonna punch the UPS guy in the neck. Thanks for the warning, Zee!

[@flaviusbelisarius3240]

Spot on with Game of Thrones. Its diplomacy.

[@GerackSerack]

Sushi GO! is GREAT. I can play it with my parents, I can play with my grandparents (my grandma will mercylessly destroy anyone in the family), I can basically play with anyone and it's still a fun game. Few games are that easy to introduce while still having some depth to them.

[@MVlemminx]

Could you guys do a top ten dungeon crawlers in the future?

[@legolasegb]

YES! I was so keen on Machi Koro at first. But boy did that help burn me out on dice games. I would do all the "right" things strategically only to get burned by the dice. I hate that.

[@nicolivoldkif9096]

Wait, there is a game involved for Heroscape? I though it was 3D tiles for Battletech.

[@nienke7713]

Catan was one of the first proper games I played and owned and really enjoyed it, (still own it including sea farmers and two scenarios) but now that I've gotten more into boardgaming I've found so many games I like better, and I find that I especially like more Amerithrash style games where the story is the focus and the mechanics exist to support that story and help build suspense much more than Eurogames which tend to beore focused be on the mechanic, and the theme is just pasted on to give it a bit of flavour. I just don't play Catan anymore and don't really have the desire to play it. I generally don't ever bring it with me to board game gatherings/evenings unless someone specifically requests it (and even then, I tend to not mention that I own it a whole lot because I generally don't feel like playing it and don't want someone to suggest it). It's a good game that can bring loads of fun, but it's lost the appeal for me.

[@Skarpo89]

Yaaay, the dice are back!

[@Vagus32000]

My bucket list now includes playing Deep Sea Adventure with Zee

[@keel1701]

That look Tom gave Sam after the Trump quote... haha

[@Nayue]

Just wait til the board game tariffs begin. Lmao.

[@TygerZorg]

Is Cry Havoc a Nexus Ops replacement?

[@hypnoticsorin8016]

Great list guys. My personal top 10 1. Bang! The Dice Game 2. Splendor 3. Betrayal at House on The Hill 4. Pandemic 5. Legendary: Marvel 6. Dominion 7. Imperial Settlers 8. Citadels 9. Codenames 10. Jamaica/Shadows Over Camelot

[@Snyggrumpa29]

With codenames is it due to its lack of replayability?

[@Snyggrumpa29]

And splendor, why? Everybody raves abt it

[@Wh0isTh3D0ct0r]

StarCraft: The Board Game is my favorite board game out of my entire collection (and the reason I first heard of FFG, for whom I now freelance). The only problem is finding people who want to play the game.

[@warwickbelcher9789]

Please, please show us Toms Heroscape collection - I am hoping it will make me feel marginally better

[@spiderfingers86]

Warwick Belcher he did a while back in a previous video, though I don't know which one specifically.

[@warwickbelcher9789]

Thanks - I will track it down

[@spiderfingers86]

Warwick Belcher good luck

[@drawnfunny]

I noticed a lot of the games are Fantasy Flight. They seem to have fallen off as a company, failing to produce anything new in an industry that is quickly adding very diverse content. They've had the best quality and were the top company for the longest time, but that's the problem. Success had reduced innovation at FF, and I hope they can push their own limits, producing something great like they used to.

[@hypnoticsorin8016]

James Faucher it seems FFG has put all their eggs in their popular LCG's, Star Wars and Cthulhu franchises, and has pretty much let everything else go to the wayside. I use to love the games these guys out out as well, so I have to agree with you

[@eric.paquet]

What is the name of the game that Zee says at 18:10 that is better than Port Royal?

[@LauwensS]

I was frowning at Tom for the BSG remarks!!!

[@DarkseidTCG]

They did streamline BSG and retheme it. The game is called Dark Moon. Quick someone tell Zee.

[@princeneumator]

Remember when Sam had a thin beard? This one still looks SO much better.

[@TabletopBaseballPlus]

Time (game play time) seems to be a common theme.

[@TheRetroViking]

28:45 - For BSG, i understand exactly what Tom thinks of BSG and it's lenght. I also share his vision and cringe when i think i'm gonna be playing a 4+ hour game when i can get the same experience with shorter games like Dead of Winter and resistance. But when i give it a go, BSG's length installs this feeling of Paranoia that you don't have time to develop in a game of Resistance. When you've been worring who you could trust, and know who you can't and after thinking you managed to screw the cylon over by trusting your pal that's been saving your but since the start, only to have him betray you .... Hmmmm that feeling ... i'm sorry but you don't find it in those other games.

[@audioweasel6997]

How can you not like Sushi Go? I've played that with people who don't even like card games who liked it

[@kewlito]

I bought the party version and REALLY want to enjoy it but it feels bland

[@matthewharris-levesque5809]

Fairy Tale's problems is piss poor symbols. Every time I teach it, I start the explanation with that statement, and the people I'm teaching pay better attention and DO get it. If they could fix the symbols a bit, it would be easier to learn.

[@mcfadden1516]

52:23 Zee approves the new word "conglomeratively", I will add it to the book of Samisms =) I agree with his reservations though, CCGs and all other games with 'outside' setup like Heroclix and Dice Masters I can't play much anymore. I've drifted from RPGs for the same reason, even though the setup is a different nature This was a fun watch

[@XRay44]

Mysterium is more of a Halloween party game. Deception is more of an anytime game. Love them both, though.

[@way9689]

Top ten dead horse Boardgame topics would make for an awesome list!

[@CascadeHush]

And I just got Machi Koro too... I don't have the expansions because they don't look interesting at all. We play the rule where you reveal 8 cards in a market, rather than having all the cards available, and that makes it better. But I agree, after about 8 games this is fading fast. I still think it's a nice occasional filler game but I won't be asking for it much.

[@HeadCannonPrime]

If you just got machi koro, and have already played it 8 times, maybe slow down a bit before you burn out on it. I got it last year for christmas and have maybe played it 4 times and I still like it just fine. Any game that you play to death is going to get burned out.

[@geoffreydevereaux3272]

I havent played Nexus Ops, but would Cry Havoc be a good replacement game?

[@OmegaDestroyer99]

Robinson Crusoe: The game is a slog and then just keeps beating you down. I am at a point I never want to play it. Dragonfire: I liked it initially but it is too punishing. The skills unlock slowly, the magic items are weak, and the encounters aren't fun. Easily the biggest disappointment in recent memory.

[@themaster408]

Space Cadets absolutely lasts 2 hours. That's probably my main problem. You play for 30 seconds, then take 5 minutes to see what happened.