Wingspan, originally released in 2020, was received with rave reviews. This 1-5 player game can be a bit complicated to play the first time, but after that it’s a superbly fun resource management game that moves quickly between turns. Using objective cards to guide players towards individual goals, the competitiveness of the gameplay is often less antagonistic than other resource management games. This unique game not only provides lots of real-world information about various species of birds, but also features exceptionally beautiful art. Every card is wonderfully illustrated in a style similar to zoological sketches, but with bright watercolors added. If players opt for the deluxe edition, the game also comes with high quality tokens that fans of tabletop minis will adore. The replayability is high with this game, plus there are three expansions adding oceanic birds, European birds, and, just released earlier this year, Asian birds!
Winner of the American Tabletop Awards casual games category, this 2-4 player game centers on the annual cube cup, a competitive race between oddball cube-shaped characters. Designed as a deck builder but with cubes instead of cards, this tactile game offers vibrant, colorful aesthetics perfect for engaging kids and adults alike. The quick play time also helps to keep younger kids entertained and makes for a fun warm-up on adult game nights. Featuring tons of dice and wacky, cartoonish art, this quirky game about racing cube creatures is absurdly fun!
Cascadia was chosen as the winner of the American Tabletop Awards for strategy games, but it often feels like some kind of cozy resource management game instead. While it’s a bit pared down compared to other strategy games, it does make for a great introduction to more serious tabletop gaming and can also offer a lighthearted break to veteran strategy game players. With puzzle elements baked into the tile-laying and token-drafting mechanics, this 1-4 player game is a quick and fun experience for new players, even including kids! Plus, all of the cards feature wonderful art and provide basic information about the various creatures living in the Pacific Northwest. Overall, this un-intimidating nature game presents a good opportunity to bridge the gap between absolute beginners and more experienced players.
Couples looking for a strategy game they can play without having to get all of their friends together will love Caper: Europe. Set in one of six possible European cities, each playthrough presents its own unique challenges and obstacles that players must overcome. Along with the game, players must also outwit their opponent as each sets out to complete their own heist goals. This game is far from complicated, but it is quick, fun, and very affordable. And of course, it doesn’t hurt that the art style is colorful and reminiscent of contemporary animated projects.
The first expansion for one of 2021’s best board games of the year, Dune: Imperium – Rise of Ix adds even more depth to this 1-4 player deck-building, worker placement tabletop game. Designed as a tie-in for the Dune movie, this game follows the current trend of board games based on media that are actually really fun to play. With two board additions included, part of the original board is completely replaced and a new section introduces mechanisms for freighters, dreadnaughts, and tech tiles. Also included are a handful of cards for the Imperium, Intrigue, and the solo House Hagel along with six new leader cards. Finally, new tech tiles add even more mechanisms that alter the game enough to breathe new life into it, even for players who may have played it to death over the past year.
Three Sisters is a unique 1-4 player game that focuses on planning and organization under the guise of managing an adorable little farm. Featuring beautiful writing pads that players use to keep track of their scores through each round and a large number of pumpkin-themed dice, this game brings cottage core to tabletop. Each round, players will plant, harvest, and sell their goods at a farmer’s market, tallying their points throughout the game. This game is certainly not for beginners though, as it does require pretty thorough plotting to beat out other players. However, for veteran players, this game does a surprisingly good job at creating a competitive feel without being too mean to table mates. The playtime can be pretty quick once everyone is familiar with the rules and flow, plus this game offers a rare single-player option that boosts replayability.
This 1-5 player game lets players explore a fairly large board to accomplish secret goals that may or may not be in the best interest of their table mates. With multiple floor levels, light and power control mechanics, and a handful of new characters (including an alien race), this dark game gets intense fast! Players will be moving throughout the base to complete tasks, but they’ll need to be careful to not give away too much information in case there’s a betrayer in their midst. The actions, events, and the art all contribute to a creepy, downright scary aura reminiscent of John Carpenter flicks. Perfect for groups that like to be on edge while being seriously challenged by each other, Nemesis: Lockdown is a worthy follow up to its award-nominated predecessor.
A 2 player deck-building WWII game, this is a new installment to an award-winning series, offering a completely new storyline with 150 missions written by acclaimed author Robbie MacNiven. In addition to this, there are over 300 unique illustrations by Roland MacDonald. Perfect for siblings or couples, this in-depth game offers a long-term adventure that can be conquered over the course of many game sessions. Action RPG fans and WWII buffs will have extra fun engaging in infamous battlefields, managing historically significant weapons, and navigating the dynamic politics of the time period.
The Merchants of Dark Road is set in a unique world where only some merchants can travel between towns to deliver goods during the half of the year when there is no sunlight. It’s a dangerous job, with monsters and bandits ready to wreak havoc on players. This ultimately means that players need to have a fair amount of strategy game experience to successfully plan for each of their trips during rounds. Besides this unique setting, there are a number of cool mechanics that spice things up for gamers who love to play strategy games. This 1-4 player game is longer than most other titles, but it’s designed for immersive play which it does accomplish. With tons of cards and characters that add different elements to each game, the replayability with this board game is very high, making it one of the best of the year.
A finalist of the 2022 Board Game Awards, Crescent Moon is an area control game that uses rounds to gather points across 3 or 4 in-game years. With its hex-shaped board pieces and the social aspects that include haggling and forming table alliances, this 4-5 player game is like an evolved form of Catan. Managing resources, raising armies, and generally attempting to control the board are the touchstones of the game. There are many different empires that players can lead and tons of strategies for victory, many of which hinge upon collaborating or sabotaging other players. Although it’s a very long game, for those who love to mix resource management, table talk, and unique characters with independent mechanics, there’s nothing quite like Crescent Moon.
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