Top 10 Worker Placement Games (2022)

[@revimfadli4666]

Ah yes, Sulking, Cavanagh, June Imperium, and Kylas. Fantastic games

[@Skorrigan]

There's everything in this vid: "leva cup" in Stone Age, "wo'a" in Barrage, and "lucriive" resources in Tzolkin. It's as if I was watching Snatch. Love it. Greetings from Poland.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Cheers geez

[@hotdoggington6962]

Great video as always, love your sense of humor. Definitely recommend Champions of Midgard. Not only does it incorporate the fun of dice chucking, but there's so many ways to mitigate the rolls (especially with the Valhalla expansion) that it really isn't very luck-based at all.

[@BlackDiluvian]

Love the mix of high quality production, harsh words and insults. Damn near addictive. Swalloved my mint at the cogs remarks.. ;)

[@BoardGameBollocks]

👍🏻

[@troygillespie]

Curmudgeons make the best top 10 lists. No nonsense, no sunshine pumping, no publisher-sponsorship. Well done again! Cheers

[@BoardGameBollocks]

👍🏻

[@theot9307]

Nicely done video. As a Dune fan, I tried the previous Dune games which were very disappointing but indeed can’t believe how good Dune Imperium is in terms of its mechanism and how well it ties in with the Dune universe theme. Also glad to see that Everdell appeared in the video.

[@TheMetalMark666]

We love Yokohama in our game group. Place a trail of workers to add power to worker placement spots that your manager will move along to activate. Highly recommend this one.

[@Moodman002]

That list was fantastic and I agree with every selection. My favorite is Lords of Waterdeep since that was one of my Gateway games and I loved your call out about 5th edition luddites!

[@Paul-ro6py]

As always a great list and your humour is spot on. We love playing Robinson Crusoe and agree its tough, have only won twice. Just picked up a used copy of Lords of Waterdeep and looking forward to trying it out.

[@hollybriggs1701e]

Lords of waterdeep is my favorite game. I love it. Nice to see it on a list somewhere

[@MegaSNES64]

Really like your list, good to see Barrage getting some love…

[@palacsintaz]

Excellent list. Rajas of the Ganges, Beyond the Sun, Arnak and Targi are some of my favorites that didn't make it.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Arnak is great. Almost made the list.

[@gravecac9522]

Good list. I have played and like most of them. A few additional worker placement games I like are Key Flower, Kingsburg and Raiders of the North Sea.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

All great games mate

[@elink2k1]

Here is what you missed: Anachrony is a worker placement game with specialized workers. They work on specialized places in your own facility or you must spend resources so they can use powersuits to take actions outside. There are a limited amount of turns and a loan system that incorporates time travel. Paladins of the West Kingdom: the west kingdom games are all worker placement but Paladins uses specialized workers and a clever player board that feels like you are running an engine.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

I have anachrony but I’m thinking about getting rid of it as it gives me a migraine

[@elink2k1]

@@BoardGameBollocks that damn cover on Calais will give ya nightmares brother! I got the big box on Anachrony and have painted suits and I love that game. You have to play it at least 3 times... to get the pace of it and learn to land the plane.

[@uplift-yourdailypickup6424]

Good list. I actually just got Caylus 1303 in the mail today. A bit controversial on which version is better. People who have played the original tend to like the old one better it seems, because although the game is streamlined they feel some of the magic is gone. I haven't played either yet so can't say. Champions of Midgard is one of my favorite worker placements. Rajas of the Ganges and Raiders of Scythia are very good too.

[@bulabroha]

I love Caylus 1303, probably my favorite worker placement.

[@dragonwiz87]

I love your channel so much! Your videos make me wish I could play games with your group!

[@BoardGameBollocks]

If youre in the vicinity let me know 👍🏻

[@tommykerbow]

Do you live in the Toon?

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Pompey

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Pompey

[@tjmontoya1128]

A really interesting list, im going to have to pick a couple of these like viticulture. A couple I'd recommend giving a go if you have, Anachrony for its simplisticaly wild time traveling mechanic and Galaxy hunter for its fantastic customization of Giant robots in a worker placement game

[@BoardGameBollocks]

I have anachrony. Used to like it but seriously considering getting rid. Don’t think I’ll ever play it again.

[@pennywise988]

good job, sir! love your video, as usual.

[@nakago7]

Great credit for positioning true Caylus nr One. I had Caylus 1303 and sold it after 2 plays. Caylus is priceless.

[@revimfadli4666]

What made 1303 less "true"?

[@nakago7]

@@revimfadli4666 Real Caylus is at least twice deeper because 1. It has "Build the castle action" separated on 3 sections with benefits. This is kind of area majority mechanic with 4 tracks where you gain more or do more important buildings when you advance. You can also move on these tracks by some buildings and action from the map. This is true heart for the game because you just cannot ignore these tracks (secially the free building track) becuse you will loose. 2. There are few sepcific action on a gameboard that gives more strategy to the game. 3. Dont have time to write right now...

[@revimfadli4666]

@@nakago7 I see, thanks

[@Tomazsus]

Nice list (with the usual humour!). Wonder what you think of Lost Ruins of Arnak and Architects of the West Kingdom

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Done a review and playthrough of Arnak. Not played Architects I’m afraid 👍🏻

[@dangerousbeans2907]

“Where were ya when AD&D was released?”, amen. Great list, I’ve played most of them. Is Hansa Teutonica considered worker placement? Played that one half dozen times now at 3-5 player counts. It lived up to the hype in my opinion. Definitely learned things to do and not to do after each play. Brilliant channel. Thanks.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Not played Hansa…shocked with myself

[@JustACuteFox]

It isn't worker placement in the truest sense but it is an amazing game and it sells for incredibly cheap now that it has been reprinted. This is a top game for me and if you love classic euros like Caylus, you should 100% buy and play Hansa Teutonica.

[@godzilla614UT]

@@BoardGameBollocks As someone who likes Caylus because it's "no luck", the same can be said of Hansa Teutonica. It's excellent at 4-5 players.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Must play it 👍🏻

[@waitingforvirtue3080]

I do like a top 10, I know the Dice Tower has saturated this format but it's still a great way to hear about the odd little gems that may have passed me by. Any chance of a One vs All or Hidden traitor top 10, if they sit in your wheelhouse that is.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

I did a hidden movement top 10 a while back but hidden traitor sounds like a decent list. I’ll do that for the next one 👍🏻

[@giacomomallamaci5649]

well, I know you think Yedo is obsolete but give a go at the deluxe master set if you manage to find someone who has it! Also Paladins and Architects of the West Kingdom in case you havent tried them yet!

[@BoardGameBollocks]

I keep getting architects recommended so it’s inevitable 👍🏻

[@kevindelord]

Great video! I really love whistle mountain as a worker placement game, no 2 games the same, lots of combos, almost infinite worker spots, check it out!

[@keith2570]

Great games all. For something more contemporary Whistle Mountain is excellent.

[@readilium3432]

Yes!!! I just got this and creating the action spots that people will use is so cool.

[@nonyofyas]

Great video! I think you could do with some more graphics of the games on screen!

[@BoardGameBollocks]

How do you mean?

[@nonyofyas]

@@BoardGameBollocks I haven’t heard of some of these games, so it would be nice to see them when you are talking about them!

[@BoardGameBollocks]

There’s truck loads of B-Roll showing the games as I’m talking about them…🤷

[@ianw0ng]

no love for champions of midgard? i thought it's common consensus now that midgard has replaced waterdeep.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Haven’t played Midguard so that’s why.

[@ianw0ng]

that's alright, i'll just pretend u rank midgard as no2. :)

[@BoardGameBollocks]

😂👍🏻

[@tlee5530]

Great list. Worker placement is my favorite mechanic in games. I know it's hard to get but I feel like Russian Railroads should be on the list. Have you played it? Take care

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Yes we have it…enjoy it quite a bit

[@readilium3432]

Damn it! I love Feast for Odin and le Havre, and really want to get agricola OR Caverna. Wish you could have helped me decide. Thanks, man

[@readilium3432]

Thanks for the video, not saying "gee thanks ass hole" haha

[@christaggart5687]

I approve of this channel. That is all

[@TravDadGamer]

Good video. Did you ever try Argent the Consortium by Level 99 games? It's fiddly as shit, takes what feels like a week to set up and teardown, but the end result is surprisingly satisfying. It's no Lord of Waterdeep yet I still have a soft spot for the game.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

I never heard of that one. Looks like i dodged a bullet.

[@itsGabrielaCristina]

Love Tzolk’in and Viticulture!

[@jamesdavid7782]

Auto captions have you saying June Imperium and now I can't unhear it.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Soz

[@rexgoodheart3471]

Caylus is really fine except for one aspect: it takes forever to play. The road is a bit too long.

[@photoshopafficionado]

Given the fact that Vlaada Chvátil 's Mage Knight is very high on your top 100 of all time list, I'm curious whether you have played his worker placement games Dungeon Lords or Dungeon Pets. I'm absolutely binging all your list videos at the moment. Cracking me up laughing :)

[@BoardGameBollocks]

I have Dungeon Petz. It’s fine but a pain in the arse as well. My group refuse to play it which is a shame.

[@rolling.reggie]

I’m convinced the creator of Roy fucking Kent from Ted Lasso studied BoardGameBollocks to write his character lol. Thanks for this update. Worker Placement is a new favorite mechanic of mine mainly due to Viticulture. So, I’m glad to check out some new ones you mentioned:)

[@BoardGameBollocks]

I’ve never seen Ted Lasso…who would win in a fight me or him?

[@travisbicklejr]

Good list!

[@Jootie_de_Kop]

Great list! It must be a struggle to select only 10 workerplacement games out of so many great ones. My question: couldn't Orléans made the list?

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Thought about it but it’s more of a deck builder with tokens imo, but then I put dune on the list so it is what it is I guess.

[@soboley8689]

Surprised Le Harve didn't make it seeing the love for Uve and the glowing review you've given it in the past. Otherwise a top notch 10 mate.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

It’s good but we only drag it out with 3 players meaning we haven’t played for a while

[@readilium3432]

You only have one worker in lehavre, so its more "action selection" than worker placement

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Still placing that worker

[@theshogunstein6475]

Have you played Red Outpost?

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Almost picked it up but didn’t for some reason. I remember you playing it.

[@theshogunstein6475]

@@BoardGameBollocks interesting take on worker placement

[@Drmanperson]

We had red outpost. Seemed pretty boring in the worker placement options. Got rid of it ASAP!

[@theshogunstein6475]

@@Drmanperson good for you then, don't care

[@jackburtonstwin]

Thank you. Great list many of which I have in my own collection so, obviously, I agree in large part with your choices. I knew I was in for a good time and a chuckle when you opened up with the legendary statement that "if your game is not included in this list it's because it's fucking shit!". I nearly gagged on my cup of tea with that one.

[@theshogunstein6475]

great list

[@mrbovinejoni569]

Barrage, Dinogenics, Targi, Kanban EV, Le Havre

[@scyldscefing3913]

Great list.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Word up 👍🏻

[@JustACuteFox]

I love Caylus and I think it is the true classic and test of skill in worker placement games. I find Lords of Waterdeep to be incredibly boring, though. Since players can endlessly hoard resources, there is no real downside to getting blocked on a given resource on any particular round. You can always just complete your quest later. Outside of the few plot quests that are of limited value, there is no engine to build in this game (unlike, for instance, Everdell), and thus there is no incentive to ever complete them any earlier. Another Uwe worker placement game that I love is Nusfjord. I would always rather play Agricola, but Agricola is big and more difficult for some players. I can teach Nusfjord to most anyway and it plays very quickly while keeping the tight game that we love in Agricola.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Just got rid of nusfjord…not my bag

[@bernardorippe7024]

Love you vids mate but your missing the really bollocks.... If you have the chance grab a copy of Empires: Age of discovery (There is a re-edition on the road). This is one of the first WP games with Caylus. Enjoy mat

[@BoardGameBollocks]

👍🏻

[@nihlify]

A Feast for Odin

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Watch my review 👍🏻

[@artyhowlin]

I have played almost all the games on your list, although not everdell and I would broadly agree they are good to great games. The only one I would quibble with is Alien Frontiers, which is an ok game but IMHO not deserving of a place on this list. I've also played both Caylus and Caylus 1303, the revised version has the spirit and much of the gameplay of the original so I don't see a need to differentiate between them.

[@nakago7]

trust me, the difrence is MASSIVE

[@Wolcik3000]

missed opporunity to have a top list of worker placement where its a great suplementary mechanics, e.g. Diune

[@BoardGameBollocks]

All worker placement games have supplementary mechanics…how profound is that 🧐

[@Wolcik3000]

@@BoardGameBollocks yeah, its not draft games

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Boo hoo for you you ✊🏻💦

[@Wolcik3000]

@@BoardGameBollocks My copy of Dune Imperium is waiting for me as package today :) I guess I don't need to wory about Bot being used for 2 player game since I will played it at 3-4 players.

[@fboa01]

Architects of The West Kingdom is a gooden

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Not played it. Maybe I should.

[@fboa01]

@@BoardGameBollocks I love it cos it moves at such a rapid pace, no rounds, each player just places a worker then collects the resource etc and it moves to the next person, also has a great morality system where you can be a dirty bastard and buy things from the black market. A defo recommend.

[@tonybresciano519]

try Yedo

[@theshogunstein6475]

your description of your three year old video sounds like all my current videos

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Go back and have a look 👀

[@hermitek]

Where's Archipelago? "It's not a worker placement game." I hear. Well then, what is it? "I haven't played it recently." I hear. Well... what are you waiting for?

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Love archipelago but sadly it’s dropped off the list

[@locustsun]

1) Where is the Top 10 Leather Bondage Cup games list? 2) No arguments to this list, these games pose a unique problem that most worker placement games are also some other category. Everdell is a great game, but it spans multiple types of current genres. I think there needs to maybe need to be more consideration into list-making, mainly because it's condensing too much by ignoring great games. Tenpenny Parks is one of those that has a light worker placement game strategy as well, but it could also be considered Euro-game as well. But, that game doesn't do one or the other to a great extent to be considered in either category exclusively.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

1) If you know of any games that require leather bondage cups let me know. 2) Never played Ten Penny Parks as it doesn’t have a leather bondage cup.

[@locustsun]

@@BoardGameBollocks honestly, any game can be leather bondage cupped if you try hard enough

[@BoardGameBollocks]

That’s what I’m afraid of…

[@ganAlexander]

I feel... dice placement is not worker placement

[@chriszan4254]

No Russian railroads?? I thought you loved it

[@BoardGameBollocks]

I do but I haven’t played it for about a year…only 10 games could fit

[@b-squadhero9698]

Too late.. I read Pillars of the Earth years ago. Bought the game because of that along with some decent reviews on Amazon. You are right though. The wife and kids had no idea of the theme, nor any desire to read the book, yet it's a house favorite.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Congrats. Something I could never achieve.

[@b-squadhero9698]

@@BoardGameBollocks not such an accomplishment....it was before smartphones, internet, and KZbin.

[@diamondmeeple]

Hehe 😬

[@petermillen6924]

The presentation was as always great performance art. The games were shit of course.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

0/10 cats prefer it