My Top 10 Boardgames Published in 2025

      

Here's a look at my 10 favorite games published in 2025.

(Or else made available in North America so late in 2024 that there was no way to really play them before the calendar flipped.)

#10

MATRX GIPF

The culmination of the entire Project GIPF, this ninth entry is more complex than all of its predecessors, without shaving away any of the depth and addictiveness that have been hallmarks of this series of abstract games since 1996. I'll be playing this for years to come, and probably will never get very good at it.

(You can read my flash review here.)

#9

OFF THE LINE

I've never been secretive about my profound and life-altering love of Combat Commander, which always makes me a bit leery of trying out other WWII tactical wargames. But I've got to admit that where several others have floundered, Off the Line managed to hook me, and hook me good. It's the most original tactical system I've encountered thus far, and has forced me to relearn many systems I thought I was done digesting a long time ago. And I mean that in a good way.

It won't dislodge CC in my heart, but what could?

#8

VANTAGE

Now this cooperative contraption is not going to be for everyone, and that's fine. With loosely stated win/loss conditions, it might go so far as to defy the very definition of a game and cross into "experience" territory. You're exploring an alien planet, every session will be different, and you pretty much decide when the game is over. Just jump in and go where the river takes you; I promise it'll be intriguing.

#7

FIELDS OF FIRE - DELUXE EDITION

Yeah yeah yeah, the original dates back to almost 20 years ago—I care not! This deluxe edition was published in 2025 and it bulldozed everything that came before: easier to learn, easier to play, and snazzier than ever. It's still a beast of a game to get into, don't get me wrong. But GMT has done everything in their power to open the door as wide as possible while you ease yourself in. Feel like jumping into solo tactical WWII action with more material than you can shake a whole platoon of sticks at, and more expansions on the way? Look no further.

(You can read my components review here.)

#6

SPEAKEASY

Despite designer Vital Lacerda not topping this Top Ten list like he did back in 2020, he's still making a strong showing with his latest opus, about profiting from illegal booze during the US prohibition. Speakeasy is a heavy game that's somehow more approachable than many of its brethren, in no small part thanks to an engaging theme that facilitates both learning and remembering the many rules found herein. (It also doesn't make the life of the rules explainer an absolute hell the way Weather Machine did...)

#5

TAKE TIME
Partners sit around a clock face showing special instructions and restrictions, and must silently play their cards (most of them face down) around said clock so that when revealed, the sum of the cards in each sector keeps going up all around the clock. One mishap and you start over; but victory allows you to move on to the next clock, where all new challenges and brain rewiring schemes await.

The superstar cooperative game I had on last year's Top Ten list was Bomb Busters (at number 2!) and it went on to win the Spiel des Jahres (game of the year) award in Germany. Will similar honors be lavished onto Take Time in 2026? I wouldn't be surprised.

#4

FIGHTING FORMATIONS - US 29th INFANTRY DIVISION

This new entry in the Fighting Formations series gives you more of everything you loved about the original, this time bringing the searchlight to shine on the exploits of a specific American division. Driven by the now classic initiative matrix —quite useful for barking orders all around in an organized manner—the game proposes a trove of scenarios of the small and large and holy-crap-this'll-take-all-night varieties, which makes it an ideal entry point for any newcomer.

(You can read my review here.)

#3

SETI

Scan the skies, launch probes, develop your technology and analyze all of the data you've gathered—and once you get in touch with actual aliens (because you will), make the best of what you manage to learn from our new friends.

Seti is one of those so-called Eurogames that sit right on the fence between heavy fare and gateway game; it's a challenging engine you can teach in a very reasonable amount of time, and even though your typical game will last around two hours, it won't feel like two hours. And that rotating solar system is just brilliant.

Whether you end up winning or losing, Seti makes it super engaging just to pull its lever and watch it go, and it certainly gets my vote for next year's Kennerspiel des Jahres (expert game of the year) in Germany.

#2

STAR TREK - CAPTAIN'S CHAIR

I was already a fan of the first few titles (known under the name Imperium) that use this civ-ish deckbuilding engine, but Captain's Chair takes everything to a new level. True, it is a more complex game, but it puts nothing out of reach of the average gamer. And it infuses the proceedings with more interaction between players than its older brothers ever provided.

I would go so far as calling it the best Star Trek game I've ever played while at the same time maintaining that you don't need to be a trekkie at all to thoroughly enjoy Captain's Chair. Just sit in it and see if you want to get up again.

#1

CIVOLUTION

There's always a smattering of Stefan Feld designs to be found around my blog, and this year is no different. Still, I've never encountered a Feld game quite like Civolution.

Players are superior intelligences more or less attempting to raise new civilizations in a lab. With more options at your fingertips—and enough stuff spilling out of the box to send you running to IKEA to buy an extra table or two—the game looks like it'll be impossible to digest. On the contrary, it's one of the most organic learning experiences you'll have encountered all year, and it's pure joy to see that engine run. Learn as you go, enjoy the discovery, and thank the graphic designers who came up with visuals that make everything crystal clear!

* * *

DISAPPOINTMENTS
I define disappointments as games I expected a lot from, and which failed to deliver. Here are the "top" three from 2024.

Martin Wallace has long been a favorite designer of mine, but his output has equally long been a hit-or-miss affair. And Aeterna sits unequivocally on the miss side of the line. The system is fine, I guess? But it's just that: a system. One that's looking for a game but also, more importantly, for a soul. And there's nary to be found here.

I'm always looking for THE pirate game that'll feel like it was designed just for me, and this one certainly is not that. Oh it's got heart and theme aplenty! It's just lacking everything else, especially meaningful player decisions. It's not because you're rolling dice on a thousand different tables that you're playing a game.

Look at it this way: If this were a computer game, the close-to-nil level of human input required to keep the thing moving forward would have people screaming bloody murder.

Is it an LOTR game? Sure. Is it a cooperative trick-taking thing? I am compelled to answer in the affirmative. Does it do anything that The Crew doesn't accomplish way, way better? Er, no. (Especially The Crew: Mission Deep Sea—just go play that and don't look back.)

This is just an inferior design that sells because it's got LOTR slapped all over it. Don't fall for the shiny trap.

* * *

STRAGGLERS
Let's end on a high note with three games that would have made my Top Ten had I encountered them back in the year when they were published.

With the Fischer-Spassky Championship for a backdrop, this little gem pulls a miniature Twilight Struggle of an engine to get your pulse racing in 30 minutes, no chess knowledge required. I can't believe it took me two years to get around to playing it.

There's something impressive about designing a two-player shedding game with minimal components and a core system that's so simple you can explain it in one sentence, and yet so deep your brain won't fully grasp its implications until you've played at least a few hands.

I was completely blown away by this.

Another cooperative game? 'Tis the season, it seems. This one has you and your favorite buccaneer trick-taking your way through treacherous waters, dry-as-bone islands, maelstroms and the actual kraken! With its magnificent components and clever mechanics, Sail will go a long way towards tempting me to dive into the legacy version that I hear is coming out in 2026.

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