Top 10 Underrated Games

Tom Vasel, Sam Healey, and Zee Garcia talk about games that most people don't seem to like, but we do!!
00:00 - Introduction
02:50 - Sam’s #10
04:25 - Tom’s #10
05:40 - Zee’s #10
06:39 - Tom’s #9
08:27 - Zee’s #9
10:11 - Sam’s #9
11:39 - Zee’s #8
13:18 - Sam’s #8
14:23 - Tom’s #8
16:14 - Zee’s #7
18:00 - Tom’s #7
19:58 - Sam’s #7
22:48 - Tom’s #6
24:27 - Sam’s #6
26:17 - Zee’s #6
27:47 - Sam’s #5
30:03 - Zee’s #5
31:28 - Tom’s #5
33:04 - Sam’s #4
34:09 - Tom’s #4
36:27 - Zee’s #4
38:33 - Tom’s #3
40:48 - Zee’s #3
42:21 - Sam’s #3
44:15 - Zee’s #2
45:19 - Sam’s #2
48:13 - Tom’s #2
50:23 - Zee’s #1
52:08 - Tom’s #1
54:30 - Sam’s #1
Buy great games at www.gamenerdz.com/
Find more reviews and videos at www.dicetower.com
Due to a video editing error, the top ten lists are listed below instead of the end of the video:
Tom Vasel:
1. Monopoly: Tropical Tycoon
2. Democrazy
3. Overpower
4. Mutiny on the Little Blue
5. Time Pirates
6. Fantasy Business
7. Picture Picture
8. Temple Run: Danger Chase
9. You've Been Sentenced
10. Are You the Traitor?
Sam Healey
1. Starfarers of Catan
2. Fire & Axe
3. Revolution
4. Mission: Red Planet
5. Jamaica
6. Tannhauser
7. Fairy Tale
8. Toledo
9. Guildhall
10. Eruption
Zee Garcia
1. Lost Temple
2. Atlantis Rising
3. Saint Malo
4. Uchronia
5. The Convoy
6. Lascaux
7. Quicksand
8. Cyrano
9. SmileyFace
10. Indigo

[@TheGrooves]

These top tens are addictive

[@eddieb8054]

9 months later and I still miss Sam! Thanks for being a true rock star, sir!

[@billjensen51]

You should do a list of top 10 games that are out of print...then make board game producers watch it over and over until they reprint great games.

[@ravensg5194]

Bill Jensen double agreed

[@MrGonecrazy001]

I really like the fact that you 3 guys have a variety of legitimate opinions that run a large spectrum.

[@macaddct1984]

Please continue to post the game lists in the description! It makes it so much easier to reference the list later on; we all still watch the videos, I swear!

[@rockingjamie]

Dice Tower old top tens with Sam are my happy place.

[@TristanBailey]

I really like the videos with the three of you as your not quite on same page and so feels like anything could happen which makes it funny when you hate on each others choices :)

[@dsem82]

Agreed! It feels like Top Gear for board games.

[@NOTuNOTme]

dion monteiro .....like Top Gear except funny and not completely scripted

[@patcraig3631]

LOLed at that Zee close up haha. "I don't know what you're talking about"

[@WhiteLantern12]

This is easily my favorite top 10. It's so easy to find games everyone's talking about and playing and evaluate them. However it'd be a monster going through the list and finding ones worth playing after 1000. It'd be such a daunting task. Thank you for this list. Can't wait to get some of these to the table.

[@winterplum]

I could listen to you guys nearly every day. Thank you for this list because I just know there are so many good games out there that are flying under the radar. As for refrences to 'Glory to Rome' artwork, I like the game, and the original artwork over the Black Box...(so stark)! Kudos to all three lists...especially for listing some games that are still accessible. :)

[@karlocleto]

Love the endless energy and enthusiasm, Tom and co!

[@kevin3003]

DRAMATIC CLOSE-UP "I don't know what you're talking about" hahah. 17:45.

[@andyb520]

seeing you guys interact with each other is priceless. one of the years i will make it to dice tower con to game with you guys. it just has to be awesome to do so.

[@TheKindredblades]

Hell yeah, new top 10. Great job guys!!

[@randylawson7559]

I SO want to hang out with these guys! Very enjoyable and educational videos. Thanks Tom, Zee and Sam!

[@otterbot]

GREAT SHOW! Since you guys often have a lot of overlap in some general recommendations (because you're in the same play group), it was especially nice to see that you all approached this in completely different ways. Really productive and, dare I say, enlightening episode. KUDOS.

[@ezezezezujh3EARHG]

one of the funniest top 10 videos i must say. As a former heavy wargame player playing things like 5th fleet and ASL and ww2 games lasting for weeks and not having as much time as in the past I would like a top 10 list of light wargames

[@boardgamecloset]

Great videos! We love your stuff! Thanks for sharing.

[@GarethJCook]

One of my favourite top 10 lists so far. Some great games here, and I have to give Sam props this time for choosing most of them. Thanks to Zee for reminding me of Uchronia. I'm a big fan of Glory To Rome and can't get a copy for love or money, so will definitely be checking that one out. Sam's on the money with Guildhall - the only one on this list that I own, and actually one of my favourite games.

[@pad92011]

ok it's been 7 years now since this video came out, and I enjoyed then and I still enjoy it today. Very cool.

[@ohbeone]

This list is awesome. I thought you guys would like to know I was looking at Lost Temple on Amazon and under frequently bought together it has Saint Malo. I can't imagine any other reason than because of this list. Also, under Customers who bought this item also bought was smiley face, lascaux, citadels, Jamaica, and convoy. All mentioned on this list. Very interesting to see your guys influence in the actual marketplace. Love. It. And now thanks a lot because you just added a bunch of games to my wanted list!!

[@JasonCookingham]

This was fun and informative. Thank you!

[@alexmatusiak]

Just when I thought I wouldn't have anything to watch while putting stickers on the hundreds of blocks in my latest C&C Ancients expansion...

[@hypnoticsorin8016]

Please do a redo of this list. Love checking out games that aren't in the top 100 always. I'm sure there are a ton of new ones for you guys

[@mr.horseshoe2301]

Its great that Sam and Zee are cool with doing these videos. Such good friends!

[@Entremont]

I normally dont agree with Sam... but this list, dude.... you nailed!

[@hypnoticsorin8016]

I would love for this list to be redone one day. A lot of good under rated games have come out since

[@jmlitwiller]

LOVE the music at the beginning of this video!

[@dregen77]

I just bought Mission: Red Planet because of the enthusiasm always shown by this trio on screen! I hope I will like it! :)

[@lostsince1985]

I really wish I had picked up Jamaica the first time you guys brought it up 'cause it seems to be impossible to find at a reasonable price these days...

[@SwordAgainstChaos]

This is a GREAT video for us new to this hobby!

[@julianvickers]

Thanks for this. I love these videos.

[@creativelyjuiced]

Start the presses so I can have my own Jamaica copy, I'm dying hearing you review it and never seeing it at the store! :)

[@davidlhsl]

Another fantastic list, but I do have one pet peeve I'll mention: I am tiring of some of Sam's protracted "Guess My Game" introductions. But other than that, I love the good humor and chemistry in the group.

[@spiderfingers86]

I love Mission Red Planet and was able to find a new cheap copy at my local game store and was super excited

[@brandonkempf298]

Agree completely with Indigo being on Zee's list, it really is a fantastic and beautiful game. I need to play Fairy Tale, it's been on our shelves for a year now and I can't even convince my daughter to try it out, she prefers to stick with 7 Wonders.

[@EricLucero]

Fairy Tale is similar to 7 Wonders but still feels like a very different game. It's a bit weird to learn, but once you get it down, it plays very fast. Anyone who likes 7 Wonders should try it out.

[@scottjones8100]

Very interesting list, fellas! Little oops though: you used the book/movie tie-in list for your closing! Doh!

[@josephskennedy321]

I recently talked with ordering person at my FLGS and it has become about impossible to get a copy of Jamaica now. People love playing the copy I have but are disappointed that they can't find it for themselves.

[@mitb]

I think Escape From Aliens In Outer Space should have been on the list. It's in the 1400s but this game has such a great suspenseful theme and has you biting your nails. Tom introduced me to this game with his review and it's a great game that deserves a higher place in the BGG rankings.

[@BenVara]

This was a really fun list. A lot of novel choices for jaded old gamers or for people new to the hobby, too.

[@rockxhero]

I saw that Rodney from Watch It Played just ordered Uchronia the other day!

[@nexttothemoon1]

Guildhall really isn't underrated on BGG. It has a 7.22 rating and is ranked 498th out of 9200+ ranked games. I see it rising further as well as more ratings come in on the game as it was only released last year.

[@nerzenjaeger]

Thanks to your plug, Sam, I bought Revolution a few months ago. Very fine light game!

[@SamHealey6]

Glad to hear you enjoyed it!

[@nerzenjaeger]

Sam Healey On our first play, I was actually the guy who was always short by one, as Zee pointed out, but it didn't diminish my enjoyment of the game. :)

[@mjesuiledemoisne7728]

Completely agree that starfarers of catan is brilliant. I like the fact that it includes core settlers logic and the gamble choices through the random encounters. I also agree that the ships bottoms are not well made and most of my booster slots have broken off.

[@wolflarson71]

Saint Malo- great pic. Cardcassonne is another overlooked gem.

[@wrxwrx]

I just got this game having forgot about it, but was keeping an eye on it since the reprint. I'm surprised Lost Valley didn't make it on Tom's list as a year ago it was on his top 100 and is currently 3K+ on BGG. I've literally just made the purchase and can't wait to play this game, and his review made me drool over the game. Just shocked it's in the 5's on BGG right now as the mechanics are unique and theme is amazing. I hope it plays as well as I imagine it.

[@TheLazyBe]

One of my favourites games is "Mystery of the Abbey" and I think is underrated. And completely unknown in my country.

[@WhiteLantern12]

Love this game. It'll always have a place on my shelf.

[@MrJenssen]

Oh boy, one hour! *brings out the popcorn*

[@Kalel0042]

I couldn't agree more about OverPower. Unfortunately it is getting very hard to find cards from anything but the first few sets, but if you're interested original Marvel starter decks and boosters can still be had for relatively cheap on eBay and as long both players are using cards from the same set it will be fun and fair.

[@BrianAThomas]

I think the game Tom was referring to while talking about Picture Picture is Scrutineyes, a rather good game that is ranked 3126 on the geek. I would imagine if it was made today they would have expansions planned for it... I still have my copy somewhere here...

[@xiongiee]

OMG. Mission Red Planet might be reprinted? >__< I hunted for it and bought a second hand copy just recently cause I loved it so much after playing it from our FLGS D: But that's great! More people can play it now! :D

[@StarcraftOakley]

weeeeeeeee!

[@guitarguy84]

You guys should do a top 10 educational games list

[@Wolfie64]

Just a note, most of Tannhauser is currently on sale at Fantasy Flight Games website!

[@GrandElemental]

I don't know if Guildhall is in wide distribution. At least I couldn't find a copy from any local game store here in Finland, so I ordered my copy from UK. This has never happened to me before, usually at least one of the local stores has this kind of games in stock, or at least in their catalogs.

[@dorpth]

Dark Moon and Blood Bound. They're the 2 best social deduction games right now (one heavier, one light), but nobody plays or has even heard of them. Meanwhile, people are still endlessly playing Secret Hitler or convoluted Werewolf variants.

[@LostNTranslations]

My all-time favorite game (rated in the 8,000's) is REMENICING! Not only does it bring up fond memories, it allows you to get to know your fellow players. You're GUARENTEED at least one point if you can at least tell a story about that topic. It's hilarious, fun, and perfect. Who loves this game?

[@spiderfingers86]

Love Tannhauser! I bought most of the figures and expansions and my game group loves it. you can thicken it up with more nationalities, like the Russian Matriarchy and Japanese Shogunate. I also make Asteros and Frankenstahl NPCs everyone has to watch out for. Makes it so much fun.

[@LEGnewTube]

Haha I have Monopoly Tropical Tycoon. Got it years ago for my birthday / Christmas. It was a ton of fun. I think I played it only once, but it is very different and a lot of fun.

[@MomoFerret]

Hey guys, after this video I went and picked up a copy of Indigo since my group enjoys Tsuro and it seemed similar. At first I worried that it might be overly simple, but a lot of interesting strategy emerged after a couple plays and everyone really enjoyed it. Thanks!

[@eliumeldritch]

Im surprised no one said Yedo... its at 455! That game is FANTASTIC!

[@EricLucero]

455 is very high, and the consensus about that game is that it's fantastic. By that reasoning, it's hardly underrated.

[@eliumeldritch]

I agree, 455 is high, but I'm saying it's underrated because I think it should be higher... like, top 100 higher... I think it's a better game than many similar ones above it... Better than Stone Age and LoW at least. IMHO.

[@RachelVacek]

Josh Aldrich I agree that Yedo is great and not talked about enough. Tom loves it and includes it in his own collection which is why he probably didn't include it on this list.

[@animeotakujoanne]

I loved Tannhäuser saddly it didn't seem to go over well with my play group. I think Fantasy Flight did a great job revising the game and giving the support that they did. Though rules were still a little complex, and I'm not sure if the characters were balanced well. Note: The pic you show of boardgame at 25:16 includes two figures that are not Tannhäuser figures. Their D&D plastic figures that happen to be the same scale and base size.

[@RobertMacLeanDeveloper]

The opposite of veto (48:55) is sanction: 'official permission or approval for an action'

[@dregen77]

Zee power! Managed to find a couple of his top rated games on this list, Atlantis Rising and Lost Temple at great prices. Both are good games IMHO, but maybe rated a bit too high on this list (especially Lost Temple being at number one).

[@permller7494]

Great show guys. The list at the end is from a different show.

[@tengshow]

I don't know what other's had against the overrated games list, but I liked it. I like to know what I consider as good isn't quite as good as I think it is, because there are better out there.

[@TrevorJust]

I love the recap. It's the list of top 10 games from movies/books. WOOPS

[@johny123456ification]

I have smiley face, bought it because it looked cool, haven't played it! should try it!

[@kyledalrymple1548]

Temple Run: Danger Chase is actually really fun as a really quick, light game. For only 7 or so bucks, it is an excellent deal.

[@GamingKnights]

Two of my favourate underated games are Arcane Legions and VS System both exellent games ,oh and Dreamblade

[@steveg7000]

Y'know, Geek Chic does actually make cup-holders that can be attached to the table rails. Maybe they be one of Tom's KS goals for next year.

[@VictorTheComputerGuy]

Just played Eruption this past weekend!

[@brianjohnson3780]

Did not like Lascaux. You get pretty stressed, ultimately for no reason. I felt like I had a ton of stones and no cards, but somehow ended up having 5 points and the winner had 6 points, only because of a secondary card set he had that nobody else had randomly. I went for horses and only horses, and the only way I won them, was by being first pick. So I felt like I was losing the whole time, but ended up in 2nd, very underwhelming.

[@EANTYcrown]

completely out of topic, how is tom's soda called in the US? is a colombian drink and over here is called "manzana" wich leterally means "apple", is it called apple?

[@theslasher99]

i completely agree about revolution!, almost everyone i know dismissed it for exactly that reason that it had the SJG name to it

[@jay7a2j]

I just bought Jamaica BECAUSE of one of your top 10 lists!

[@sdc3536]

Gotham City Strategy game is pretty underrated to me. It runs a bit long but the theme is great if you are a comic fan, you really feel like the villain you are playing as. Making a couple rule changes also really speeds the game up. Def check it out if youre a batman fan.

[@HelenaHandbaskit]

I can't figure out how to put the tower together in Cryano! We've tried many times but why are there FOUR stands, how does the tower set up with all those flaps and slots and sticky edges and 4 stands? No instructions, nothing online, no vids. It's very frustrating.

[@TyrionXavier]

Oh, also, I can not agree more about Mission: Red Planet. It's SO good. I can not wait for a reprint.

[@EricLucero]

Mission Red Planet gets the highest praise from just about anyone who talks about it. The reputation this game has is in the stratosphere. Hard to find is not the same as underrated.

[@matthewharris-levesque5809]

Zee is absolutely right about Lascaux. Convoy - would be great, but there are a few vague rules. Makes it tricky to be sure whether you won legit.

[@reasonablecheese]

I agree that Tannhauser is greatly underrated, it may not be the most in depth game around but it pack fun by the truckload!

[@pixelnick3110]

I really want to check out Tannhauser, but I recently went with Earth Reborn because it seems like it comes with more out of the box and has a little more complexity. Fingers crossed I didn't make a mistake!

[@justmebeingme8370]

I spent so many of my younger days playing Overpower!

[@freddieyu]

I TOTALLY agree with Guildhall being underrated. It's a great game and currently a group favorite.

[@EricLucero]

Agreed. Guildhall might be the best choice for this list.

[@azuravian]

Agree that Guildhall is a great game, but I have a hard time saying that a game that is in the top 500 boardgames on BGG is underrated.

[@EricLucero]

Gregory Booth Very good point. I didn't realize it was that high. It FEELS very underrated and I've seen stores carrying it on clearance. Perhaps it's not so underrated anymore.

[@rockxhero]

32:37 LOL that's why I love Zee! I feel my taste in games is usually a combination between Tom's & his choices. (Funny because I used to only want to hear Tom's opinion)

[@Jammonstrald]

Tannhäuser is AWESOME. I got a copy after seeing it on this list and Sam's top sci-fi games list. Love it! I think its weight is perfect. Wouldn't want a much heavier game or else I'd never get anyone to play it. Now I'm losing all my money getting all the expansion characters...

[@jimsmith7445]

I'M WITH YOU! All of the figures have their own special contributions. Mizu is amazing for her spin attack... Wolf is a necessity... the best character of all of them... get Frankenstahl! He's almost unstoppable. when he attacks. Asterous... is one dangerous dude. What I sometimes do is try to get around 15 characters into a firefight or make up missions... enjoy! Tannhauser is the best!

[@montoc1701]

How strange I just bought Revolution really cheap 2 days ago and watched this today so glad it has got a good vibe to it.

[@christopherdickinson2813]

Wel, I have owned Democrazy for years, no idea where it came from. I will now check it out and I just bought Fantasy Business. Thanks guys.

[@billjensen51]

I think Jamaica is out of print or at least hard to find which is why I think it is underrated. I have an online board game store that I started and I have been trying to get Jamaica for months but it is always out of stock. If they did a reprint of this I think it would sell well. Well, I would get a copy. Oh yeah and on that point reprint Robinson Crusoe already.

[@Kool212]

Do you have any more info on the possible reprint of Mission: Red Planet? I was so close to buying this, but everyone is charging such a high price.

[@ramonosuke]

Would love a redo of this list for sure. Been almost 5 years since this came out. Maybe after this year's DT Con's Overrated List ;) Some of my picks would be: Covert Revolver Xenoshyft Dreadmire Paper Tales Madame Ching Viceroy Treasure Hunter Greed

[@christopherdickinson2813]

Sam, Revolution is great game. Plenty of depth and a good play time too. Good call.

[@BLindForger]

Wrong list at end scroll, but otherwise, great vid guys!!

[@thewynnersgameroom]

Sam I completely agree with you about Starfarers. Its completely killed Settlers for me and is no where near as dry. The ships were crazy fragile though. I still have 2 of my 6 that I need to re-glue the tips on. Also didn't realize that Guildhall was so low on bgg. Crazy. My kids love Temple Run and I was also pleasantly surprised by it. Im stoked to hear that Mission Red Planet is possibly being reprinted.

[@Amaraxis]

Fairy Tale is 492 (as of right now). I have owned this game...well...since the first run and no matter how few people will actually play it, I will never get rid of it

[@SuperBellicose]

Funny you should mention Lascaux, as I played it with my HS students last night at our club.

[@josephtchapman]

I think Dragon's Gold is again out of print, unfortunately. I'd love to get that game and Fantasy Business sounds good too!

[@LORDJAVI131]

Battletech the card game was by far the best of the 90's trading card game. They should reprint it as a deck builder like netrunner.

[@TheBigLevange]

Give this person a medal.

[@sad0happy]

For me Oregon, Yedo and Ora & Labora fit into the underrated category. :)

[@omnitheus5442]

Good list. I see no one took the bait yet on GtR :OD

[@kingme4092]

The game that's like Picture Picture with a Where's Waldo map is "Scrutineyes"