The Top 6 Board Games of the Year Thus Far

A photo taken of the board game Wyrmspan in play. It shows multiple cards arranged side by side, with game items, like an egg, sitting on top of one.

Photo: Stonemaier Games

The early portion of the year is always slow for tabletop releases. The deluge begins in the summer once convention season kicks off and then carries on through the holidays. Despite the transition period we’re now in, there has been a small collection of exciting new games that have emerged. These six titles contain innovative ideas, creative adaptations, or clever twists on existing systems.

This list is not ranked. Instead, titles are offered in alphabetical order.

Dune: War for Arrakis

A render of Dune: War for Arrakis arranged for play. The pieces are red and green, gathered around a crescent-shaped set of mountains on a desert-colored game board.

Image: CMON

Publisher CMON Games is best known for its enormous, sprawling miniatures games. Dune: War for Arrakis is no different, offering a two-hour epic battle for control of Arrakis. One player takes on the role of the Harkonnens, while the other wields the might of the Atreides. You will gather spice with harvesters, maneuver troops such as the Fremen and Sardaukar, and seek to fulfill ancient premonitions.

This game is highly asymmetrical, playing similarly to designers Marco Maggi and Francesco Nepitello’s previous board game, War of the Ring. Just like that Lord of the Rings epic, Dune: War for Arrakis is a rich and evocative experience that teases out dramatic moments that could have appeared in the book. While this is primarily a two-player game, it does support up to four players with a team format. This game has arrived at a perfect time, releasing in tandem with the fantastic new film and standing tall on the table like a Fremen atop Shai-Hulud.


Gloomhaven: Buttons & Bugs

  • $20

Prices taken at time of publishing.

• 1 player, age 14+

• Playtime: 20-30 minutes

• Similar games: Legacy of Yu, One Deck Dungeon

Mythwind

Cooperative adventure game Mythwind is unusual in that it’s very laid-back and chill. Players work together to build a new town in the magical Mythwind Valley. Magical creatures, odd characters, and engaging story encounters litter the area, waiting to be discovered. The goal is to explore the surrounding countryside while also constructing the town. The player characters develop over time and become more proficient in their specific professions.

The central conceit of Mythwind is that it doesn’t properly end. Lacking a solidified finale, players can continue to play the game indefinitely. Eventually the content may be exhausted, but there is no hard cutoff or forced end time. The story elements interact with player discovery as well as the evolving town. Seasons and characters change over time, affording new quirks and touching moments. This is a game devoid of the typical pressure constraints, instead allowing you to mosey about at your leisure.


Spark Riders 3000

  • $48

Prices taken at time of publishing.

• 1-4 players, age 10+

• Playtime: 60-90 minutes

• Similar games: Space Alert, Galaxy Trucker

 

Source: Polygon

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