End of Year & Top 100 (2025)

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60 — Lost Ruins of Arnak

2022 #21
2023 #44
2024 #59

I expected it to drop more, but it’s almost in the exact same spot. We haven’t gotten to the newest stuff, yet, but probably next year. I’m always hoping something fixes the research track for me, which is my least favorite part of the game. The rest of the game is great. Love the deck-building, the exploring, resource management, and the leaders are really fun.

59 — Pax Viking

New in 2025
2022 #88
2023 —
2024 —

Technically, my brother and I played it a few years ago, but it was only the tutorial setup, which ended before we really got to experience much of the game. So, this year, we got it to the table for a real game. It’s less obtuse than most other Pax games, so it clicked pretty quickly for us. The events are really satisfying to pull off, and just about everything you do feels powerful. But opponents can easily mess up your plans. Got to make sure you’ve got backup plans in your pocket! Such a shame that the solo mode is apparently really weak. It doesn’t sound interesting.

58 — Finspan

New in 2025

We played all three ‘Span games this year, so it was interesting seeing how they compare to each other. I was surprised how things shook out for me. Finspan is the most streamlined of the series, but introduces some neat ideas. I really like having the depth aspect to the tableau in addition to the columns. And needing to move the baby fish around to make schools is a neat puzzle. I also like the personal discard pile and the opportunities to get cards back. I’d happily play this version. But is one of the others higher?????

57 — Cartaventura

2022 #12
2023 #43
2024 #61

Still hovering about the same spot. Though it’s in cards, really it’s a gamebook, and essentially a solo game. None of the versions I’ve played added much complexity, but it’s fun seeing what new mechanism they introduce. There’s quite a few of them now, though I don’t think any more released in NA. These really remind me of old point-and-click adventure games with real-world settings.

56 — Vantage

New in 2025

This feels like the bigger brother to the Cartaventura series, though you don’t lay the cards out to connect them. It’s still barely a multiplayer game, though (and the whole idea of hiding your location and describing it feels like a weak gimmick). I love the open world feel of it, the number of options, and growing your character with all these new cards (or even upgrading the character themself). The dice mechanism doesn’t really grab me, but it doesn’t get in the way of what I enjoy. Likewise, the bland writing is very brief and doesn’t ruin the exploration.

55 — Vikings: Scourge of the North

2024 #63

One of the more unusual entries in my top 100. It’s a solo wargame adventure with lots of dice rolling. It’s one I’ve thought about off and on, even when it’s been a while since I last played it. I’ll definitely be getting it back to the table soon (I hope).

54 — Everdell

2022 #30
2023 #56
2024 #58

This has been very consistent, though it would have dropped a lot if not for us adding Newleaf to the base game. It adds a lot more variety, and improves all the weak points of the base game. We’ve also tried out Farshore, but none of us loved it, and all the Everdells seem so similar, none of us felt it was worth playing that one over this one with Newleaf. I’m looking forward to Silverfrost, though.

53 — Elder Sign

2023 #67
2024 #33

This is another one of those Cthulhu games that’s less about fighting off monsters and more about surviving and trying to complete objectives while avoiding monsters when possible. I had gotten pretty good at it when I used to play the app a lot, but I’ve gotten rusty, and the last couple of plays were brutal. But the expansions add so much more immersion, I don’t mind.

52 — DinoGenics

2022 #15
2023 #14
2024 #31

It’s been a bit since this got back to the table. Still the best Jurassic Park game for me. The base game is good, but I’m glad the expansion adds a bit more variety and more strategy. The wild DNA really helps when the card draws just don’t work out. I kind of wish the specialists were a little more impactful; this is almost a dinosaur version of Agricola.

51 — Race for the Galaxy

2022 #53
2023 #24
2024 #41

Still hasn’t been back out multiplayer. I’ve just been occasionally playing the app. It’s just such an easy game to play once you get the hang of it. I’m sure at some point, it’ll come back out for multiplayer. I’m less sure about getting expansions.

Top 100: 50–41
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