Top 10 Best Board Games of the Century (So Far)
#10: “Power Grid” (2004)
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Considering how dominant “Euro” style games have been this century, it’s fitting that we start off with a game that originated in Germany. An updated version of “Funkenschlag,” a game that utilized crayons, “Power Grid” sees players building a network of connection cities by acquiring power plants and resources. The game features resource gathering and expansion mechanics reminiscent of popular European games like Catan. It combines these features with economic structures that harken back to American classics like Monopoly. Its wide appeal and mechanics make it unsurprising that the game remains popular around the world.
#9: “7 Wonders” (2010)
Top 20 Best Board Games of the Century (So Far)
In “7 Wonders”, each of the three to seven players takes on the role of an ancient civilization constructing one of the wonders of the world. But the historical flair isn’t the only thing that’s made this game so memorable. Its mechanics have been massively influential in the years since its release. Many game developers have cited it as popularizing drafting and simultaneous play, both of which are trends that helped shape gaming in the 21st century. One of the games it inspired was its own spinoff, “7 Wonders: Duel”, which was designed for two players and rivaled the original in popularity.
#8: “King of Tokyo” (2011)
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Drawing inspiration from Japan’s classic kaiju films, this dice rolling game sees players taking on the role of giant monsters attacking the titular city while vying for dominance. While a number of the games on this list can get fairly complex, “King of Tokyo” is a simple and fast-paced experience. This makes the game easy to pick up for beginners and requires less time investment. A typical game will usually last around half an hour. While the casual nature of “Tokyo” is great, players who wish to change things up can try the spinoff, “King of New York”. This new experience features a larger board that allows for monsters from the original to stomp onto the new game.
#7: “Machi Koro” (2012)
While many games in this list come from Europe or North America, “Machi Koro” hails from Japan. The city-building game is a great entry point for those curious about board games. It features engine building mechanics that are often fixtures of more detailed experiences, but delivered in an easy-to-learn system. Its quick pace and playtime make it perfect for game nights with friends or family. Players will gather resources after dice are rolled and use them to construct buildings and eventually landmarks. The game ends when a player is able to complete all their landmarks.
#6: “Welcome to…” (2018)
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From French publisher Blue Cocker, “Welcome to…” is a roll and write game that swaps out the rolling for card flipping. Each player receives their own sheet, and play happens simultaneously. During each turn, three number cards are paired with three plan cards that possess unique abilities. These abilities give players a number of different options to accrue points. However, players must also be careful to leave themselves options for any number that may come up later in the game or they could rapidly lose points. Of course, no game is truly great without a great premise and aesthetic. While “Machi Koro” perfectly captured the feel of constructing a Japanese city, “Welcome to…” is an ode to 50s Americana architecture.
#5: “Pandemic” (2008)
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While its title may hit a little close to home these days, it’s impossible to deny the impact that this cooperative game has had. Instead of competing against one another, each player takes on a specific role to help stem the tide of four diseases. It’s only by working together that you can prevent an outbreak. A legacy version of the game allows players to enjoy a much longer experience that’s played over many sessions. This update helped popularize the legacy format. Multiple “seasons” of “Pandemic Legacy” have been released and have had no small role in legacy-style games’ meteoric rise in popularity.
#4: “Betrayal at House on the Hill” (2004)
In a much different take on cooperative gameplay, “Betrayal” has players making their way through a classic haunted house. Drawing inspiration from horror icons like Vincent Price, H.P. Lovecraft, and many, many others, the game features dozens of frightening “haunts”. This means that almost every play-through is a new experience. There’s also one final twist to this scary experience: the existence of a traitor. One of the players, chosen at random, will often betray the group. Since the true culprit remains a mystery, knowing who to trust can be nearly impossible. With a new scenario and horror plot with each new game, “Betrayal” is one of the most repayable experiences on our list.
#3: “Lords of Waterdeep” (2004)
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Fans of Dungeons and Dragons will be familiar with the city of Waterdeep. For those unfamiliar, it’s a sprawling, beautiful, and dangerous city where many adventures have begun. Adventurers typically take on quests given to them by the shadowy figures that control the city known as the Lords of Waterdeep. But rather than being a character setting off on a campaign, this game has players taking control of the titular lords, and sending off adventurers to do their bidding. While the game is certain to be rewarding for D&D fans, no knowledge of the RPG is needed to enjoy this strategy game filled with intrigue.
#2: “Wingspan” (2019)
Serving as the most recent addition to our list, “Wingspan” is a perfect representation of modern board games. It’s not overly complex or too simple; “Wingspan” strikes a perfect balance which makes it great both for experienced board game players and those new to the table. Utilizing card drafting and dice rolling, the game sees players trying to score points in a wide variety of ways. This allows for all kinds of strategies. “Wingspan” also just happens to be one of the best-looking games out there. It features impressive artwork, a unique aesthetic, and even scientifically accurate facts for the dozens of birds featured in the game. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Sushi Go Party!” (2016) A Fast Paced Party Game “Dice Forge” (2017) Unique Dice Based Mechanics “Risk Legacy” (2011) A Legacy Version of the Classic World Domination Game “Carcassonne” (2000) Medieval Landscape Expansion “Agricola” (2007) A Complex Turn Based Farm Game
#1: “Ticket to Ride” (2004)
Learning the rules of this railroad-themed game is incredibly easy, but mastering the strategy is anything but. While points can be gained by traveling between any two adjacent cities, players need to complete route tickets to earn enough points to claim victory. Over the course of the game, players can take on more route tickets to earn more points. But that strategy comes with a risk. Any routes not completed count against the player’s overall score. And as the board fills up, routes become increasingly difficult to complete. Although the game has spawned countless imitators and a slew of spinoffs, the original has unquestionably earned its spot at the top.
