Top Games of 2021 (so far) | With Mike

[@Lvl99games]

We here being hyped about being number 1!

[@OneStopCoopShop]

WOOOOOO

[@markb5809]

Nice list, for me KS: Primal and Hoplomachus great choice 👍. Retail: Imperium Classics/Legends, Middara

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Just got imperium classics, and I am SO excited to play. I imagine it would have made the list if I got it earlier

[@jonnypac]

Thanks for the Merchants Cove mention! Glad you're enjoying it. ✨

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Nice job on the design!

[@apathy831]

That’s so awesome company of heroes was in your top 5. I am their lead playtester. It was my first board game to help work on lol I started as a playtester then took over printing all their prototypes. My normal day job is aircraft mechanic lol. Anyways most of your issues with solo and the game in general should hopefully be resolved for the 1.5 campaign we have been going all in streamlining the rules adding a few and balancing. I have some ideas to make the solo mode not so hurry and get those victory points heavy and being able to bring you tier 3 units more before it ends.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Thanks for all your work on the game! You definitely did a great job. And yes, I'm very excited to see what 1.5 will bring when it's ready. The option to have longer solo battles would be EXCELLENT :)

[@ptitbass]

Nice to hear solo will get more attention in 1.5, i bought 1.0 so hopefully looking for an upgrade option when it will be available. Would love to see more factions for solo or just a way to use the mini existing material. Good job so far! It look nice.

[@KyawThurein]

Bloodborne is "Pure Gold". Despite the fact that dungeon crawler is not my favourite genre when it comes to board games, I thoroughly enjoy playing this game.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

It definitely goes against a lot of the crawler "norms" that are common these days, and I enjoy it for that too!

[@neilz2869]

Have you played Veilwraith and/or Imperium Classics & Legends? Those are my top 2 solo games from this year so far. Veilwraith KS ran last year though, so maybe it wasn't eligible for this list. I backed Hoplo from your list, so glad to hear positive things about it.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

I haven't played Veilwraith, but I know Colin enjoyed it pretty well. I JUST got Imperium Classics, and will do a review of it in the next 2-3 weeks. I expect it to be a top game by the end of the year, but wasn't eligible for this list yet!

[@boardgametime3727]

Loved this!!! Thanks for the vid. :D

[@Muhd_Akmal]

Mike is back again with the best lists! So far 2021 has been a good year for me

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Me too! Lots of really good games so far (though many of them were technically released in 2020 and so didn't make this list)

[@Muhd_Akmal]

@@OneStopCoopShop they were still released in 2021 so i'll allow it 😂

[@kwulfe]

Company of Heroes is my most anticipated board game this year. Hope it will arrive soon here in Germany. I have huge expectations as the PC game was my most favorite computer game ever. No joke, I played it every day I was at home for 8 years online in a clan :-).

[@OneStopCoopShop]

I played the PC game a bit too. Not sure they fully realized the "feel" of it here, but it's a great game regardless.

[@TableTopWolf1984]

I'm excited for the primal late pledge to open, I also need to look into company of heroes more.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

1.5 Kickstarter should be coming sometime this year

[@cardboardconflicts]

I had to back Hoplo. Never played the other games but the combat looked so good!

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Tons of fun. I liked the original, but this is even better.

[@dilatedbeholder3865]

Sleeping Gods was a massive letdown for us. I think the problem was that it was obviously designed for a single player and, as you say, it is just a string of side quests with no overarching narrative. Biggest Kickstarter disappointment for me.

[@tonybowers9490]

Same here.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Yeah, it’s not even like you are controlling characters. They are basically just glorified resources :)

[@vaspiou]

whatever guys.......

[@b.c.eckhoff3495]

Looking forward to So You’ve Been Eaten and Primal.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Both good ones, though slightly different sizes and costs ;)

[@tomlikeabomb6706]

So what would be your rating for Primal? Have you played the full game or just a preview? It looks interesting but that price tag...

[@OneStopCoopShop]

I'd be hesitant to rate it because I have not played the full game. I think I mentioned it in the video, but I've only played 2 bosses, 2 hero builds per hero, and I haven't played any of the campaign or crafting aspects. I'm still excited because what I've played is so solid and fun, but it's entirely possible the ball could be dropped during development of the rest!

[@PlayGamzWithMe]

Great vid!!

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Thank you!

[@Syrilian]

I have similiar thoughts about Sleeping Gods. I am playing it with a group and it is..fine. It's barely a game with only a few interesting choices. Combat is by far the best part of the game.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Interesting! For me, combat was fun, but I wanted it to end to get back to the story bits ;)

[@tgeorgom]

Gameplay wise is the KS for Bloodborne adds anything Vs the retail edition?

[@OneStopCoopShop]

I only have the base game, but from my understanding most of the expansions add new creatures and new campaigns, while the chalice expansion adds an alternate way to play (sort of a randomized dungeon crawl), and a bunch of extra hunters/heroes to control.

[@tgeorgom]

@@OneStopCoopShop in your experience, does the retail core box comes with enough game to justify its price?

[@OneStopCoopShop]

@@tgeorgom I haven't bought anything else yet, so I think that's a good sign ;)

[@Gutock]

BULLET BULLET BULLET That is all. You the man Mike!

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Thanks Brian!

[@EricWoning]

'Sidequest the game' 😂

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Hahahaha, basically, for better or worst! ;)

[@retroarcadefan]

Bloodborne is solid. I will check out a few of your other pics. With Primal, do you think it might be 'too' stripped down?

[@OneStopCoopShop]

For me, no. Every move matters greatly within that little grid, whereas in a lot of dungeon crawlers and boss battlers it's a question of getting closer or further and actual tactical placement doesn't matter. So I personally prefer the stripped down feel :)

[@Kentchangar]

@@OneStopCoopShop I've heard that argument a lot (and I think I agree) In which game does positioning matter the most (in your opinion)? And a short description why?

[@OneStopCoopShop]

@@Kentchangar of the boss battlers? It depends. Oathsworn makes it matter a lot, not only because some enemy attacks will target multiple characters in range, but because you can hit enemies into terrain and because your attacks target different parts of the enemy based on your positioning. So it's very strong there. KDM matters more or less based on the boss you are fighting and their AI, and it also matters more as the campaign progresses and you unlock more abilities and long-ranged weapons and such. Aeon Trespass: Odyssey also did some cool stuff with terrain in the parts I played, and you can even jump on some of the bosses. Townsfolk Tussle had strong terrain effects, encouraging you to run over and take advantage of them, though the actual battles with the bosses themselves weren't often as interesting, positioning-wise. Wild Assent didn't make me care much about positioning at all, besides getting back attacks on enemies, especially since enemies tend to attack the same seeker over and over, so moving a bit further away doesn't allow for tanking and such like you might see in Gloomhaven.

[@Kentchangar]

@@OneStopCoopShop Thanks! I thought it was the norm for large map games to have positioning not matter

[@ToucanSamich]

Dang it, your tastes match mine so closely and I had safely let Primal sail on by me... I'll be waiting for the late pledges to come out I guess! Cheers for the video, fantastic list

[@Muhd_Akmal]

Yes primal is a really good game!! I would have jumped in too if it wasn't for the steep shipping costs

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Don't worry. The way things are going, there will 10 new boss battlers to pledge by the time it delivers :)

[@Amuny666]

Merchant Cove is coming my way as I ordered it earlier this week, and I must say you opinion on it increases my hype for it ! Primal is also one I'm very excited for. But for me, Oathsworn and ISS: Vanguard are the ones fighting for the throne of my most anticipated game ! I hope the freight issues don't hit too hard and we can get our hands on those ASAP !

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Oathsworn is exciting for me too. I never got to play ISS, so I’m waiting and seeing on that one :)

[@kevinerskine3299]

Thanks for this Mike. Already on the Victorum bandwagon. Not sure anything else has grabbed me this year. I keep hearing about Bloodborne, but I'm just not sure. Primal sounds interesting. I just can't repurchase everything for Sentinels even though it's a top 10 game for me.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Bloodborne is an iffy recommendation from me. I really enjoy it, but I recognize that a large percentage of that comes from my love of the IP. Have you tried Bullet yet? Because that is a straight up recommendation! ;)

[@kevinerskine3299]

@@OneStopCoopShop No, but I'll check it out.

[@bryanscollick8305]

It took me my second time through Sleeping Gods to really enjoy the game. I have also backed Victotum- Chip Theory always does a fantastic job. Great list. I guess Bullet is this years’ must solo like Under Falling Skies last year!

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Ohhhh, good comparison! I think Warp's Edge narrowly edged out UFS for me, but they are both must have solo games for me, and yes, Bullet is right in that group now. Of course it's awesome that Bullet also has co-op and competitive play ;)

[@jorgenantonioelgueta7842]

Wohooo!!

[@jorgenantonioelgueta7842]

What was the prize? :)

[@nuggets1356]

a company of heroes board game? ill buy it as long as they dont simulate the cheating AI and terrible pathfinding of units in the computer game lol

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Haha, no, they left those out 😂😂

[@erikpeters7072]

No chronicles of drunagor! That’s it! Unfollowed! 😝

[@OneStopCoopShop]

I haven't played it! But Colin and Bairnt sure are tempting me......... :)

[@82ndmi]

I really hate the secularizatioexualization of children in the bullet series, which continues to make me disappointed that I'll have to pass. Wouldn't even want that sort of product in my home.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

I watch a lot of anime, so I am certainly overexposed to this stuff, but I didn’t find this very sexualized at all. The poses aren’t necessarily ideal, but they aren’t scantily clad or engaging in ridiculous fan service. And children… are they children? I might need to re-read the backstory, but I thought of them as 18-20 year old warrior people.