In 2023, the world of tabletop gaming delivered a dazzling array of experiences-from the physics-defying thrills of Viking See-Saw to the strategic depths of Hegemony and the immersive evolution-themed Darwin’s Journey. Whether you’re a casual player or a seasoned strategist, this year’s best board games captivated diverse groups with innovative mechanics, stunning aesthetics, and unforgettable gameplay moments that kept tables buzzing long after the last turn. Dive into our curated picks and discover the games that defined a banner year for board gaming.
In a year filled with chaos on social media and digital platforms of all types, board games have continued to be a safe haven for folks looking to come together in person. But the relentless release schedule – including hundreds, if not thousands, of new board games, trading card games, and miniatures games from all around the world – can still be a lot to keep track of for most fans. That’s why we like to take the opportunity here on the last page of the calendar to slow down and to take stock of the best board games we played this year.
And maybe rebuild our stockpile of social media followers on other platforms while we’re at it.
To celebrate, AELGAMES asked dozens of writers, designers, YouTubers, actors, and personalities from around the world of board gaming to tell us which games stood out to them this year – even if they didn’t get released this year. Here’s what we found.
Blood on the Clocktower
Blood on the Clocktower reinvents the social deduction genre with its unique mechanics and immersive gameplay. Unlike traditional games where death silences players, here, eliminated players can still participate in discussions and even cast a final vote, keeping everyone engaged until the end. The game features a rich variety of roles across multiple scripts, offering complex strategies and fresh experiences each time. With a dedicated Storyteller guiding the narrative, Blood on the Clocktower balances tension, deception, and humor, making it an addictive and highly replayable party game that has captivated a passionate community and earned widespread acclaim in 2023.
Vanessa McGinnis, NPR digital campaign manager
We are flooded with social deduction games nowadays; why would you ever need another? The reason you should play Blood on the Clocktower is its Storyteller, both because their death is the catalyst for each game and because their role is what makes this social deduction game special. Like most of these games, your group will be divided into the good, voting for an execution each day, and the evil, killing and hindering the good team in the night. While the evil demon and their minions all have abilities to hurt and deceive the town, the good townsfolk have useful abilities, but they must work around their outsider allies, whose abilities hinder the town. But the Storyteller plays for neither team. They keep their thumb on the scale, subtly guiding both good and evil to build explosive final days of deduction, deceit, and death. If the Storyteller plays their cards right, their players will be left with a new, exciting story to share each game. Those stories are what makes Clocktower so special and why I could not stop diving back into this game in 2023.
Blood on the Clocktower
$145 $145
• 5-20 players, age 15
• Playtime: 30-120 minutes
Read More $145 at The Pandemonium Institute
Challengers
Among the standout challengers of 2023, Challengers! deserves special mention for its innovative blend of auto-battler mechanics and old-school deck-building, accommodating up to eight players in fast-paced matches. The game’s core appeal lies in the strategic choices players make when selecting and discarding cards from increasingly powerful decks, creating dynamic gameplay focused on synergy and tactical decision-making. Each round pits players head-to-head in a card-flipping duel where managing your deck and bench effectively determines victory, making Challengers! a compelling and accessible experience that has quickly gained a devoted following.
Jun Sasaki, CEO of Oink Games
There are many great things about Challengers, but there are two points in particular that I think are exceptional. First is the creation of a new style of game that can be played with a very large number of players. I like games that can be played by many people. While discussion-based games like Werewolf are certainly interesting, Challengers can be played by large groups of eight or 16 people with the same feeling as playing with fewer players. This kind of experience was something I had almost never encountered before.
The second is the narrative experience where all players bring their own will and ideas to craft their unique decks, and then compete and battle against each other. It reminds me of when I was a kid, practicing Street Fighter 2 at home, gathering on weekends to hold small tournaments. When I lost, I felt a real sense of disappointment, but at the same time, I felt a sense of pride for the friend who beat me, and I was happy when that friend went on to compete in tournaments. Every time I play the game, it brings back those feelings from back then, and I always find myself smiling.
Challengers
$25 $25
• 1-8 players, age 10
• Playtime: 45 minutes
Read More $25 at Amazon$40 at Z-Man Games$40 at Target
Daybreak
Daybreak marks a refreshing start in the world of 2023 board games, introducing innovative mechanics and captivating themes that set the tone for an exciting year in tabletop gaming. It embodies the spirit of new beginnings, blending strategic depth with accessible gameplay, making it a standout title that invites players to embark on a journey of discovery and challenge right from the first light. This game captures the essence of dawn, offering a perfect balance of anticipation and engagement that resonates with both casual and seasoned gamers alike.
Susanna Pollack, president of Games for Change
As you can imagine, my top game for this year is centered on social impact. Daybreak, a cooperative game by Pandemic designer Matt Leacock and Italian designer Matteo Menapace, is designed to not only raise climate change awareness but also cultivate optimism through thought-provoking themes and creative problem solving that leads to real-world solutions.
This game’s blend of serious play and collective visioning is exactly my jam, and the illustrations by a diverse array of global artists are stunning. I love how Daybreak brings players together to showcase the power of gaming to inspire and drive real-world change through both gameplay and by living its values by committing to sustainable production practices. Games really can transcend traditional entertainment, drawing players into environmental and social advocacy, sometimes without them even realizing it.
Daybreak
$60 $60
• 1-4 players, age 10
• Playtime: 60-120 minutes
Read More $60 at CMYK
Dice Miner
Dice Miner is a standout dice drafting game where players take on the role of dwarves mining a unique three-dimensional mountain made of 60 custom dice. Over three rounds, players draft dice from the mountain’s slope, aiming to build valuable combos by collecting tunnel dice in straights, treasure dice for gems, and managing hazards with tools and magic dice. Each die also features a Beer face that grants extra picks, adding strategic depth. The game balances luck and strategy with a compelling solo mode and has been acclaimed as one of 2023’s best board games, praised for its innovative 3D drafting mechanic and engaging gameplay.
Alan R. Moon, game designer and creator of Ticket to Ride
My favorite game from this year, Dice Miner, was actually published in 2021. Sadly, it’s been flying under the radar, lost among the thousands of games published every year. Too bad, because it’s brilliant. The dice come in five colors. Each turn, players pick a die off a mountain, within certain restrictions. That’s a clever system, but the most clever mechanic in the game is that each die has a beer face. You can roll a beer at an opponent who then inherits whatever result is rolled. In return, you get to select two dice from the mountain instead of just one. After all the dice have been taken, there is a magic (re-roll) phase. This adds a ton of luck but also a lot of excitement to the game. The scoring is also clever and is different for each color dice. The final scores are usually very close. The game lasts three rounds and takes less than 30 minutes. I’ve probably played it over 50 times and will probably play it another 50.
I sure wish I had designed this game.
Dice Miner
$31$3511% off $31
• 1-4 players, age 10
• Playtime: 20-30 minutes
Read More $31 at Amazon
Disney Lorcana
Disney Lorcana is an immersive collectible trading card game launched in August 2023 by Ravensburger in collaboration with The Walt Disney Company. It invites players to become Illumineers who use magical ink to summon Disney characters-both classic and reimagined versions-as “glimmers” to collect lore points in a strategic duel. Featuring characters from Disney Animation Studios and The Disney Afternoon series, the game combines family-friendly storytelling with deep tactical gameplay, making it accessible for beginners while engaging for veteran trading card game players. With its rich artwork and unique setting in the magical realm of Lorcana, it represents one of Ravensburger’s largest and most ambitious projects to date.
Charlie Hall, senior editor, tabletop
It’s no secret that I generally dislike trading card games, and strongly at that. I simply have no interest competing against deep-pocketed speculators for tiny scraps of shiny cardboard in a marketplace that is anything but free. But Disney Lorcana has its hooks in deep, my friends, and it’s not looking good for me and my pocketbook.
I’m not sure if I have the diamond hands to stick with it, if I’m being honest. $150 a box is a lot to ask multiple times a year, but the ride so far has been an absolute delight. The reason? Disney Lorcana is a family affair here in the Hall household, a game that everyone – my wife and I, as well as our daughters, aged 10 and 13 – can all get our heads around and play together. And as the complexity of the ruleset creeps ever upward with Rise of the Floodborn, it’s at least a comfortable pace of discovery. Grab a few starter decks if you can and give it a try. but don’t you dare pay a penny over retail price.
Disney Lorcana: Rise of the Floodborn Amber/Sapphire Starter Deck
$17 $17 $17 at Amazon
Disney Lorcana: Rise of the Floodborn Amethyst/Steel Starter Deck
$17 $17 $17 at Amazon
Escape the Dark Castle
Escape the Dark Castle is a captivating cooperative adventure game where 1 to 4 players take on the roles of prisoners trying to escape a sinister castle. With a focus on atmosphere, storytelling, and teamwork, players face a series of challenges represented by beautifully illustrated chapter cards, each game offering a unique experience due to the random selection of these cards. The gameplay is quick to set up and typically lasts around 30 minutes, making it accessible for newcomers and engaging for seasoned players alike. Players use custom dice and item cards to overcome horrors, traps, and fights as they progress through the castle’s storybook-like chapters. Its retro black-and-white art style and immersive narrative create a nostalgic yet fresh dungeon-crawling experience that balances tension and fun, making it a standout cooperative game from 2023.
Doug Cockle, actor and voice of Geralt of Rivia in the Witcher games
My favorite game this year has been the board game Escape the Dark Castle by Themeborne. The game is super easy to set up and play, and you can play solo or with some unfortunate friends. It gets even better if you set up one of the players as a sort of narrating Dungeon Master. My son was a sadistic DM narrator for one of our games and it was a blast!!
Escape the Dark Castle
$40 $40
• 1-4 players, age 14
• Playtime: 20-45 minutes
Read More $40 at Amazon$45 at Themeborne
Earthborne Rangers
Earthborne Rangers is a richly immersive, cooperative adventure card game for 1 to 4 players, set in a post-apocalyptic wilderness where nature has reclaimed the Earth. Players take on the role of Rangers, protectors of a bountiful valley, crafting unique characters through customizable decks that reflect their backgrounds, skills, and personalities. The game blends narrative-driven exploration with strategic deck-building and cooperative gameplay, allowing players to explore an open world filled with mysterious ruins, diverse wildlife, and engaging characters. Through a branching campaign, players shape their own stories, facing challenges that bring the valley to life with dynamic events and environmental interactions. Earthborne Rangers offers a deeply thematic and flexible experience that combines storytelling, strategy, and teamwork in a beautifully crafted setting.
Cole Wehrle, game designer and co-founder of Wehrlegig Games
There was a moment early in the starting scenario of Earthborne Rangers when I found myself squaring off against a prowling wolhund – a sort of wolflike creature you’d expect to find in a tutorial. I was no stranger to the world of cooperative living card games, and I began scheming ways to dispatch it. Then, something strange happened: My adversary stopped caring about me. Some prey appeared in the distance and the wolhund went off to pursue it. I could now move forward. Suddenly, I felt like I wasn’t the most important thing in the game world.
Open-world games have often had a troublesome relationship with their own openness. They want to convey a sense of possibility to players. However, in order to provide rich gameplay and narrative experiences, these games often have to push players into particular courses of action. Even when design teams do the hard work of building out dozens of branching scenarios, players can still feel like they are trapped in an amusement park.
Earthborne Rangers feels like it breaks genuinely new ground in open-world tabletop games. Partly it does this by getting rid of the traditional scenario format. Rather than presenting players with traditional set-pieces, the game uses a clever fatigue system that allows players to explore the game’s world at their own pace. The result is something that feels like a card-driven adaptation of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This innovation alone would be enough to recommend the game, but Earthborne Rangers goes further by introducing dozens of small improvements to the genre that make it one of the most promising living card games in years. If you’ve ever wanted to see what this genre has to offer, I couldn’t think of a better place to start.
Earthborne Rangers
$100 $100
• 1-4 players, age 12
• Playtime: 60 minutes
Read More $100 at Team Covenant
Flamecraft
Flamecraft is a captivating strategy board game where players become Flamekeepers, placing artisan dragons in various shops to gather resources and cast enchantments, all to build the best reputation in a magical town. Combining dragon placement with engine-building mechanics, the game offers engaging, accessible gameplay suitable for 1 to 5 players aged 10 and up, with a typical playtime of about 60 minutes. Praised for its charming art, strategic depth, and whimsical dragon characters, Flamecraft won the 2022 Tabletop Award for Best Board Game and continues to be a favorite for both families and seasoned gamers alike.
Twitter, game designer at Wizards of the Coast
I absolutely adored playing Flamecraft this year! The charming, whimsical art style belies a strategic – and, at times, surprisingly intense – resource management and shared engine building game. You compete with other players to employ and inspire dragons in budding shops across a magical village, using gathered materials to enchant stores and run errands to curry community favor. The game comes with a large variety of potential shops and enchantments to encounter during the game, which results in your final town looking wildly different each time you play. But my favorite part? Every little dragon you encounter has their own adorable portrait and name! (My personal favorite is Skewart, but don’t tell the other dragons that.)
Flamecraft
$39 $39
• 1-5 players, age 10
• Playtime: 60 minutes
Read More $39 at Amazon$39 at Target$40 at Lucky Duck Games
Forgotten Waters
Forgotten Waters is an immersive pirate-themed board game that blends cooperative gameplay with rich storytelling and strategic decision-making. Players take on the roles of pirates sailing together, each pursuing personal goals while working toward a common mission. The game features an innovative app-driven narrative with professional voice acting, bringing to life a whimsical and magical world full of over 30 unique locations to explore. Its Crossroads mechanic offers players meaningful choices that shape the evolving story, making every playthrough a fresh adventure. While sessions can be lengthy, the game’s blend of humor, exploration, and player interaction makes it a standout experience for groups seeking a deep and engaging tabletop journey.
Justin McElroy, co-founder of AELGAMES and The McElroy Family of podcasts
I had an incredible birthday playing Forgotten Waters, a rich but accessible pirate adventure that demands players balance the needs of their crew. Players take on roles on your ship, like a quartermaster manning cannons or the first mate, who monitors crew hunger and discontent. You’ll then set sail on a randomly generated set of adventures that are fully voiced thanks to the accompanying app.
There’s a lot to keep track of; players have their own stats and advancement, for example. But the app is designed to keep everything on track and easy to understand. If you have friends willing to take a few minutes to learn the basics (and can spare a couple hours for a session), you’re in for a really great time.
Forgotten Waters
$45$6025% off $45
• 3-7 players, age 14
• Playtime: 120-240 minutes
Read More $45 at Amazon
Frosthaven
Frosthaven is the highly anticipated standalone sequel to the acclaimed Gloomhaven, offering an expansive and immersive RPG board game experience set in a harsh, frozen outpost far north of White Oak. Players lead a group of mercenaries battling brutal weather, hostile creatures like the Algox and Lurkers, and mysterious machines while striving to rebuild and defend the settlement. Featuring over 100 scenarios, 16 new characters, three new races, and a rich crafting system, Frosthaven deepens the strategic and narrative elements of its predecessor. The game introduces a dynamic town-building mechanic that enhances player investment, alongside a seasonal event system and a detailed campaign timeline that tracks the passage of time and player impact. With its massive content and refined gameplay, Frosthaven is widely regarded as the best RPG board game available in 2023, perfect for those seeking a deep, cooperative dungeon-crawling adventure.
Connie Vogelmann, designer of Apiary
Throughout 2023, a few friends and I have played almost 30 Frosthaven scenarios (and are still going strong). This comes after we worked our way through almost all of Gloomhaven!
Frosthaven itself is great: The variety of character classes, monsters, and scenarios keep us engaged game after game. There is always a new puzzle to figure out, a new story to unlock, or a new monster to fight. But even better than the game itself is the tradition that it has given our group: Every week or two, we have an excuse to get together with the same friends, and play a game in a system that has become second nature to us. There is something extremely comforting about all working together to defeat whatever bizarre scenario the game throws at us that particular day, and having the opportunity to laugh together at the absurdity of some of the situations in which we find ourselves. In the midst of an industry that sees thousands of new releases every year, those repeat plays, that tradition, and that familiarity is really special.
Luis Loza, Pathfinder creative director, Paizo
Strategic combat is something I know well, and it pretty much doesn’t get better than Frosthaven. I was a fan of the original Gloomhaven, with its strategic combat, interesting character classes, branching RPG narrative, and legacy campaign material. Frosthaven does it all but better. Each scenario is an exciting chance to make use of your character’s interesting abilities and work with other players to make it through by the skin of your teeth. The addition of building up the settlement of Frosthaven is just an extra layer of frosting on an already well-frosted cake. My gaming group has spent many, many weekends playing through the game already and it feels like we’re only just a bit deeper than having scratched the surface. After every session, I’m thinking about what I would like to do next with the settlement or reminiscing about the most recent combat. This game has occupied my brain in ways that few other games have and I can’t wait to get back to it every week.
Frosthaven
$190$30037% off $190
• 1-4 players, age 14
• Playtime: 30-120 minutes
• Similar games: HeroQuest
Read More $190 at Amazon
The Funbrick Series
The Funbrick Series by itten is a collection of compact, portable board games designed for quick, interactive play anywhere. Each game comes in a slim, beautifully crafted box that slides open to reveal tactile, engaging gameplay suitable for all ages. The series includes a variety of unique titles such as “Bonfire Party,” “Gold Hunting,” and “3 Second Try,” each offering simple yet fun mechanics that encourage social interaction and laughter. These games stand out for their portability, aesthetic appeal, and the clever blend of physical and mental challenges, making them a delightful addition to any game collection in 2023.
Twitter, head of games at Kickstarter
I can’t pick just one! So I’m going to bend the rules a bit. The Funbrick Series from Itten is my favorite group of games released in 2023. They start at around $15 each and are well worth a look. My favorite so far is Three Second Try which blends dexterity, knowledge, and speed with the coolest analog timer I have seen in a long time. Everything Itten releases has lots of love and thought put behind it, which is why I often find myself playing them for years.
The Funbrick Series
$16 $16 $16 at Itten
Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion
Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion is a streamlined and more accessible prequel to the acclaimed Gloomhaven, designed to introduce new players to its rich tactical combat and RPG-style character progression without the complexity and bulk of the original. Featuring a smaller box, a tutorial-driven first five scenarios, and a convenient map book replacing modular tiles, it offers a smoother setup and gameplay experience while retaining the strategic depth and tough challenges that define the series. With four unique mercenary characters, 25 scenarios, and cooperative play for 1-4 players, it balances approachability with meaningful decision-making, making it an ideal gateway into the Gloomhaven universe and a standout game in its own right.
Twitter, YouTube personality and voice actor
I’ve always loved Gloomhaven’s combat. Choosing a top half and bottom half of two cards to maximize your turns and making sure you finish the dungeon before your cards run out is such an engaging system. But one of the biggest obstacles to Gloomhaven (and partially why my original group ran out of steam) is the barrier of setup. It is a pain to grab all the map pieces, and setup/teardown really can slow down momentum – not to mention the table space it takes up.
Then Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion came out, and I finally played through it this year with my wife. It is truly a game-changing experience. Having the maps printed in the book is such an incredible convenience, and it means you can play through multiple games in one night with ease. Even though my wife and I are both Gloomhaven veterans, I also appreciated that the game teaches you the rules through tutorial levels in a way that feels easy to grasp and intuitive. If you haven’t played Gloomhaven yet but are curious, Jaws of the Lion is the essential way to start your journey.
Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion
$37$5026% off $37
• 1-4 players, age 14
• Playtime: 20 minutes
Read More $37 at Amazon
Gudetama: The Tricky Egg Card Game
Gudetama: The Tricky Egg Card Game is a light and accessible trick-taking game for 2 to 7 players, where the main goal is to avoid winning the final trick, as doing so scores you points equal to the card played in that last round. With simple rules and bright, colorful artwork featuring the beloved lazy egg character Gudetama, the game offers a relaxed and fun experience that is easy to learn and quick to play. Its unique twist on traditional trick-taking mechanics, combined with charming design, makes it an enjoyable choice for casual gamers and fans of the character alike.
Anya Combs, freelance games consultant/musician
Writing about a game of the year was incredibly difficult. This year was one of change and transition for me personally, so my time playing games has been limited. Part of that is due to my creative life exploding – I am a NYC-based musician when I’m not in the games world, and I’ve had more gigs than ever! Part of that was due to me leaving a full-time job and branching out into full freelance life, a scary but so far quite rewarding decision. These are good problems, but ones that have limited my time to play games because the wheels of capitalism keep turning.
However, one of the games I kept coming back to – especially while hosting D&D nights and general social time with friends – was Gudetama, the simple yet strategic card game. I have a deep love of card games, especially party-based ones that are easy to learn but difficult to master, mostly because of my time constraints these days. But Gudetama was brought out repeatedly, and watching friends who are hardcore gamers and friends who are casual players all react with joy and excitement was pretty great.
(My favorite is card 10 btw, it’s so stinking cute.)
Gudetama: The Tricky Egg Game
$11$1631% off $11
• 1-4 players, age 8
• Playtime: 20 minutes
Read More $11 at Renegade Game Studio (pre-order)$16 at Amazon
Hegemony: Lead Your Class to Victory
Hegemony: Lead Your Class to Victory is a critically acclaimed asymmetric politico-economic board game for 2-4 players, where you take on the role of one of four socio-economic classes-the Working Class, Middle Class, Capitalist Class, or the State-in a nation facing political and economic turmoil. Through strategic planning, political maneuvering, and economic management, players vie to increase their class’s power and influence by engaging with real-world concepts like Socialism, Neoliberalism, and Globalism. With its deep thematic gameplay, voting mechanics, and class-specific goals, Hegemony offers a rich simulation of contemporary societal struggles, making it a standout strategy game of 2023 that challenges players to lead their class to dominance and reshape the fate of the nation.
Twitter, freelance writer and AELGAMES contributor
2023 has been such a great year for the hobby. Many new releases impressed me, but one game that really haunts my thoughts is the impressive Hegemony: Lead Your Class to Victory. This complex design has players advocating for various societal classes and competing in an economic simulation. It’s highly asymmetric, with factions consisting of the capitalists, working class, middle class, and the state. Over the course of three hours participants forge deals, argue over legislation, and occasionally work together to further their self-interests. Through card play and devious maneuvering, you forge unions, establish industry, and acquire goods and services to support your workforce.
This is an influential work that offers both inspiration and agony. It remains apolitical and distant from the most controversial of topics, while allowing participants to adopt a unique perspective and fight for their side’s success. Its zero-sum final state with a single victor is the most decisive of criticisms and highlights the cutthroat nature of capitalism. This one is bold and depressing, but it leaves you mired in reflection.
Hegemony: Lead Your Class to Victory
$95 $95
• 2-4 players, age 14
• Playtime: 150-240 minutes
Read More $95 at Amazon
John Company: Second Edition
John Company: Second Edition is an immersive historical board game that explores the rise and fall of the British East India Company in the 18th century. Designed by Cole Wehrle, it challenges 1 to 6 players to collectively manage the sprawling corporation while competing to advance their own family’s prestige and power. Players negotiate, secure positions within the Company, and influence trade and military actions across India and China, all while balancing cooperation and rivalry. With over a decade of research underpinning its design, the game offers a deep, nuanced portrayal of the political and economic forces behind the British Empire’s foundations. Featuring high-quality components, multiple scenarios, and a robust solo mode, John Company: Second Edition delivers a rich strategic experience about ambition, negotiation, and empire-building.
Twitter, video goblin at Shut Up & Sit Down
No game has dominated my brainspace more this year than John Company: Second Edition. This is a monster of a box to describe cleanly – an economic, simulationist, semi-role-playing, semi-cooperative gambling and negotiation game where players take the role of board members running the East India Trading Company.
It’s that last part that’s initially horrifying to most folks. So much of board game media has been rallying against the ugly colonialist revisionism that’s seeped into the settings of the games we play with our family and friends! Why are we now sitting down to a game where we play as the people responsible for the most insidious corporation in history? Luckily, John Company quickly reveals itself as a whip-smart piece of satire – a barbed and biting document of savage colonial greed. One minute you’re plundering Bengal with the brutish, callous force of a corporate raider; the next, you’re bribing the prime minister with your plunder so as to not enact window tax on the Scottish castle you just bought for your nan’s retirement. Directly connecting those entirely disparate worlds is the magic trick here – squarely framing the actions of those responsible as the result of nothing more noble than a psychotic, never-ending gluttony.
John Company: Second Edition is an utterly spellbinding text from Wehrlegig Games that thoughtfully expands ideas of what table games can do.
John Company: Second Edition
$120 $120
• 1-6 players, age 13
• Playtime: 90-240 minutes
Read More $120 at Wehrlegig Games
Just One
Just One is a standout cooperative party game that captivated many in 2023 with its simple yet engaging gameplay. Players work together to guess a mystery word based on unique one-word clues given by teammates, fostering creativity and communication. Its light, accessible nature makes it perfect for casual gatherings and family play, offering fun and challenge without complexity. Just One’s popularity in 2023 highlights the enduring appeal of games that bring people together through shared experiences and clever teamwork.
Em Friedman, scholar, critic, and AELGAMES contributor
My weekly board game group is ridiculously clever, crunch-loving hardcore nerds. Our Board Game Arena history is full of engine-building, strategy-heavy games with long teaches and even longer playtimes. But sometimes we all need to be reminded that our cleverness can bite us in the ass, and that’s where Just One fits in our rotation. It’s a game I can (and did) explain to my very much non-gamer mom in less time than it takes to pour a glass of water, and yet the delight is how complex it can become as players try to figure out what clue words will work on the current target while also trying to avoid giving the same clue as another player. It’s a fun icebreaker, though it truly shines with old friends and loved ones – and I’ll be bringing it to the holidays this year.
Just One
$17$2532% off $17
• 3-7 players, age 8
• Playtime: 20-60 minutes
Read More $17 at Amazon
Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team
Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team offers an intense and tactical skirmish experience set in the grimdark universe of Warhammer 40K. Players command small squads of elite operatives in fast-paced missions on compact battlefields, blending strategic planning with reactive combat through a unique activation system that alternates actions between individual models. The game balances depth and accessibility, allowing for quick play sessions of 30 to 45 minutes, making it ideal for both newcomers and veterans. Its narrative elements, such as naming operatives and earning experience for upgrades, add rich storytelling layers to the brutal and cinematic melee and ranged combat. Kill Team stands out for delivering the epic Warhammer 40K feel on a tabletop scale that fits easily on a kitchen table, offering compelling tactical gameplay without the overwhelming scale of larger Warhammer battles.
Rick Perry, production designer and creative producer on Dimension 20
After wrapping months of intense production work, nothing makes me happier than playing with tiny gothic space edgelords.
Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team is a tabletop wargame (and craft project) for two to four people set in the grimdark future of the Warhammer 40,000 setting. With a smaller footprint than similar games, each player commands a single squad of operatives. It’s Warhammer 40,000 Lite: The game ends after four rounds and takes about an hour.
The current iteration of Kill Team has been out since 2021. Gameplay is mature and balanced, with gads of scenarios and 22 teams to choose from. Fair warning, however, because the game comes in pieces on sprues and you’ll need clippers, glue, primer, and paint to put it all together; but that’s part of the fun! (For maximum building satisfaction, try Tamiya Extra Thin Cement, flush cutters, and an X-Acto.)
Discerning hobbyists know it’s hard to beat the quality of Games Workshop plastic miniatures – they are a joy to build, paint, and have on the table.
Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team
$84$10016% off $84
•2-4 players, age 12
•Playtime: 45-60 minutes
Read More $84 at Amazon
Land and Freedom
Land and Freedom: The Spanish Revolution and Civil War is a compelling 1-3 player board game released in 2023 that immerses players in the complex dynamics of the Spanish Civil War. Players take on the roles of Anarchists, Communists, and Moderates who must form a fragile anti-fascist alliance to repel the fascist forces while simultaneously competing for political control. The game features a unique blend of war and politics, with abstract combat on four fronts and political influence tracked through various gauges. Victory requires not only military success but also gaining the most influence in the government, reflecting the tense and often conflicting agendas within the Republican side. With strategic deck management, tableau building, and a mix of cooperation and competition, Land and Freedom offers a rich historical and tactical experience that challenges players to balance unity and rivalry in a pivotal moment of history.
David Thompson, co-creator of the Undaunted series
Land and Freedom is a one-to-three-player semi-cooperative game where three factions (Communists, Anarchists, and Moderates) must work together in an uneasy alliance against Franco’s fascist forces in the Spanish Civil War. It’s a card-driven game that uses an incredibly clever chit-pull system (where bits are pulled blindly from a bag) to generate tension. While set during the Spanish Civil War, this game does a fantastic job of bridging wargame and Euro sensibilities. As a gamer who typically doesn’t like semi-cooperative games, Land and Freedom does something very, very special in creating an organic, thematic structure for semi-cooperative play.
Land and Freedom
$65 $65
• 1-3 players, age 13
• Playtime: 60-90 minutes
Read More $65 at Blue Panther
Bonus: Halls of Hegra
Halls of Hegra lives in a very similar space by bridging wargame and Eurogame concepts. In this solitaire-only game, the player takes the role of a commander of Norwegian forces during World War II, leading their troops against a siege from numerically superior German forces. The game uses worker placement as its core mechanism, while evoking the feel of tower defense. It has become my favorite solitaire game.
Halls of Hegra
$54 $54
• 1 player, age 14
• Playtime: 70-90 minutes
Read More $54 at GameFound
My Island
My Island is a captivating legacy board game designed by Reiner Knizia, where players embark on a journey to develop and explore their own mysterious islands over 24 episodes. Each player has a personal game board representing their island, which they build upon by placing hexagonal tiles depicting houses, fields, and paths. The game evolves as new rules, goals, and components are introduced in sealed envelopes throughout the chapters, allowing players to shape the island’s history and uncover its secrets. Combining strategic tile placement with a compelling progression system, My Island offers a thoughtful and immersive experience that keeps players engaged across multiple sessions, making it one of the standout board games of 2023.
Paula Deming, Watch It Played, Things Get Dicey, This Game Is Broken
One of my very favorite gaming experiences this year was playing My Island from Kosmos. This is the third game in a series designed by Reiner Knizia – the first was My City and the second was My City: Roll & Build. But you don’t need to have played either of those to understand and enjoy My Island! My Island is a competitive legacy-style game, which means it has a campaign where each chapter the rules change and evolve. You discover new twists and turns in the game as you play and experience the discovery and development of your own mysterious island. A lot of legacy games are hard to play all the way through, as it can be tricky to get the same group together over and over and keep playing. But I found My Island very easy to get to the table – each episode is 30 minutes to one hour or so, and we often played a whole chapter (three episodes) in one sitting. It worked great at two players, and I played the whole thing with a friend long-distance over Zoom, each using our own copy of the game.
The tile-laying puzzle of this game is so satisfying, and the changes to that puzzle as you go through the campaign keep things interesting and engaging. Each new chapter had a true “Wait, whaaaat?” moment of reveal. Approachable for new gamers with enough strategy to definitely tickle the brain of more entrenched hobbyists. I loved it!
My Island
$40 $40
• 2-4 players, age 10
• Playtime: 30 minutes
Read More $40 at Thames & Kosmos$40 at Amazon
The Silver Bayonet
The Silver Bayonet stands out as a unique skirmish wargame blending gothic horror with the Napoleonic Wars. Players command small warbands drawn from major Napoleonic factions, each featuring specialists like Occultists and Supernatural Investigators, to battle not only enemy troops but also supernatural creatures such as vampires, zombies, and ghouls. The game offers a rich narrative experience with scenarios involving clue investigation and combat against AI-controlled monsters, making it accessible for solo, cooperative, or competitive play. Its fast-paced mechanics and thematic fusion of history and horror provide a fresh and engaging tabletop experience for 2023.
Chris “Peachy” Peach, The Painting Phase
The Silver Bayonet is one of those games that’s just crept up on me. I didn’t know much about it; in fact, if it wasn’t for Pete the Wargamer passing on a copy, I might never have stumbled upon it.
But what is this game, I hear you ask. Well, simply put, it’s Napoleonic skirmish meets Hammer horror. You build up a small diverse warband of up to eight daring soldiers from a selection of the six main warring factions of that era. These can be from all walks of life, from the humble infantryman or a dashing cavalryman to more specialised hunters, like the Supernatural investigator or Occultist.
The great thing is if you know nothing about the Napoleonic Wars or their uniforms. it doesn’t matter. Personally, I started with the British, made a few fabulous and gritty warriors inspired by the ’90s TV series Sharpe, and got stuck in. As the game is very open and free in its design and choices, I’ve recently begun a warband of armored, musket-wielding Knights Templar. None of this ever happened during this era. or at least we don’t think it did. Accuracy be damned!
This is why I love this game: It opens up so much scope for building forces based on cool and evocative themes, full of conversions – game pieces that players themselves create from scratch!
The Silver Bayonet: A Wargame of Napoleonic Gothic Horror
$30$3514% off $30 $30 at Amazon
Smug Owls
Smug Owls is a clever and engaging word party game where players race to craft witty and creative answers to randomly generated riddles created by a magic deck of cards. Each round, players quickly come up with responses that can be funny, punny, clever, or even nonsensical, then slap their hands on the table to signal readiness. The last player without an answer becomes the “Smug Owl” judge, who listens to all the answers and awards points by distributing the riddle cards to their favorite responses. With its unique blend of humor, creativity, and quick thinking, Smug Owls offers endless fun for 3 to 8 players and has been recognized as one of the best board games of 2023.
Tasha Robinson, senior editor, films
Are you good at solving role-playing game or fantasy-quest-style riddles? More importantly. are you good at solving them when there’s no fixed, planned answer? It’s easy to say yes to that, but Smug Owls, easily my favorite find of 2023, will make you prove it. A party game where decks of cards are used to randomly generate riddles like “What follows a path before it is edible?” or “What is broken and sadly is sharp?”, Smug Owls follows the usual Apples to Apples formula of having a table of players generate responses to a prompt, except one player, who judges them – but in this case, the cards generate the riddle, and then the last person at the table to come up with an answer is the judge, aka the “Smug Owl.”
Smug Owls is one of those games that really makes me appreciate how quick and clever my friends are. It’s a blast to rack your brains to come up with an instant answer to “What explodes but lingers?” (“A particularly terrible fart”?) and then hearing how everyone else around the table interprets the same question in radically different, surprising ways. (“Fireworks!” “Roadkill after three days in the sun!” “GameStop stock!” “My last relationship!”) It’s also the kind of game you can explain and demo in about 30 seconds, and it’s great as a game-day party-starter, icebreaker, or palate cleanser. I bought this one at Gen Con the same day a friend showed it to me, and I’ve gotten a lot of laughs out of it since.
Smug Owls
$20$2313% off $20
• 3-15 players, age 8
• Playtime: 15-20 minutes
Read More $20 at Runaway Parade Games$22 at Amazon
Stardew Valley: The Board Game
In Stardew Valley: The Board Game, 1 to 4 players collaborate to rebuild a farm, grow crops, befriend villagers, and explore the valley while preventing the Joja Corporation from taking over. Players work together to complete Grandpa’s Goals and restore the Community Center by gathering resources. The gameplay mirrors the storyline of the original Stardew Valley video game, but with a tighter race to the finish line, requiring players to carefully coordinate their actions.
Matthew Mercer, voice actor and co-creator of Critical Role
As massive fans of Stardew Valley the video game, my partner and I were enthralled when we discovered a board game had been released. We were pleasantly surprised to find it captures the spirit of the game quite well!
This one-to-four-player game does a wonderful job of easily adjusting difficulty based on the number of players, with choosing both a profession and a starting tool allowing you to adjust your play style to the emergent goals that arise. Multiple minigame loops intertwine, with you exploring the ever-changing mines for geodes and ore, farming crops via planning and watering, foraging as you race to fishing spots or collecting animal products via dice chance, all while befriending villagers to gain Hearts to spend toward victory.
With the Season deck randomized or customizable each game, it’s ever a unique bit of challenge and fun with every play. Adding in both optional Hard Mode rules (and some of our own home-brew ones), we keep finding fresh fun in this game, and occasionally ask each other at the end of a long day: “.soooo, Stardew again?”
Even as a newcomer to Stardew Valley, I can see this being a good time, but if you share in our Stardew obsession. ENJOY!
Stardew Valley: The Board Game
$50 $50
• 1-4 players, age 13
• Playtime: 45 minutes
Read More $50 at Stardew Valley Shop$88 at Amazon
Warhammer 40,000
Warhammer 40,000 remains a cornerstone of tabletop gaming in 2023, with its tenth edition released by Games Workshop bringing significant updates that streamline gameplay and refresh the grimdark universe. This miniature wargame immerses players in epic battles across a dystopian future, featuring iconic factions like Space Marines and Tyranids. Beyond the core wargame, 2023 saw a variety of Warhammer 40k board games gaining popularity, such as Space Hulk, Warhammer Quest Blackstone Fortress, and Forbidden Stars, each offering unique strategic and narrative experiences within the 40k universe. These games continue to captivate both longtime fans and newcomers, blending tactical depth with rich lore in the grim darkness of the far future.
Twitter, co-designer of Disney Lorcana
It’s tough to pick a single favorite board game! There are so many good ones, and it really depends on what you’re looking for, but I’ll do my best to keep it to just two.
If you want to immerse yourself in something, I’d have to go with Warhammer 40,000 from Games Workshop. There is so much strategy and creativity in the game; not only do you have so many options – how to set up your characters, squad size vehicle loadouts – but also tactical ones, like where you move your forces on the board. Players also get to build and paint their own miniature figures, which can be relaxing and satisfying all on its own.
Warhammer 40,000 Introductory Set
$55 $55
• 2 players, age 12
• Playtime: 120-240 minutes
Read More $55 at Amazon$65 at Games Workshop
Bonus: Horrified: Universal Monsters
If you’re looking for a more traditional board game experience – I have to go with Horrified: Universal Monsters from my colleagues at Ravensburger. It is a dynamic cooperative game that has something for everyone. You work together to gather items, solve puzzles, and defeat monsters – it’s a blast.
Horrified: Universal Monsters
$40 $40 $40 at Ravensburger$40 at Amazon
Forest Shuffle
Forest Shuffle is a strategic card game where 2 to 5 players compete to build the most ecologically balanced forest by gathering valuable trees and attracting diverse species of animals, plants, and fungi to them. Each turn, players either draw cards or play cards from their hand, carefully managing resources to pay costs and create combos that score points. The game features beautifully illustrated cards and emphasizes ecosystem building with unique card interactions, making it both thematic and engaging. The game ends when special winter cards appear, and the player with the most points from their thriving forest wins. Forest Shuffle stands out for its blend of accessible gameplay and deep strategic choices within a nature-inspired theme.
Efka Bladukas, No Pun Included
In a year of neoprene playmats, hundred-hour campaigns, and boxes of promises, Forest Shuffle has absolutely nothing going for it. Apart from one little detail – it’s just a darn good game.
Forest Shuffle is a tableau builder. Think Wingspan, Race for the Galaxy, etc. Each turn you either draw cards or play cards or sometimes do both. There’s two types of cards: trees, and various flora and fauna that live tucked under the trees. Each have various scoring criteria, but you need to play a tree first to play the flora/fauna around it. And then the combos start popping off.
Hares. They’re known to be populous. So, you can play multiple in the same space. But then if you play a fox – it scores for each hare you have. Delightful! The European fat dormouse will score you an eye-watering 15 points – but only if you also have a bat. The bat will score you no points unless you have three different bats. And so on. An ecosystem of combos.
It’s not innovative. It’s so old-school – it already has a dominant strategy that sneaked past the playtesting that will need to be fixed by a future expansion. But it’s cheap, it’s so beautifully illustrated it gives Wingspan a run for its money, it’s fully biodegradable, and every turn you feel so pleased you just want more. Many this year will overlook Forest Shuffle. They’ll make a mistake.
Forest Shuffle
$30 $30
• 2-5 players, age 10
• Playtime: 40-60 minutes
Read More $30 at Amazon
Wingspan
Wingspan is a beautifully crafted, medium-weight engine-building board game where players take on the role of bird enthusiasts aiming to attract the best birds to their wildlife preserves. Featuring 170 unique bird cards, the game challenges players to strategically play birds across three habitats-forest, grasslands, and wetlands-each enabling actions like gaining food, laying eggs, or drawing cards. The interplay of bird powers and habitat actions creates a dynamic engine that rewards tactical planning and adaptability over four rounds. With its elegant design, rich thematic elements, and balanced mix of luck and strategy, Wingspan offers high replayability and has become a favorite among both casual and experienced gamers since its release.
Ovidio Cartagena, senior art director at Wizards of the Coast
One of my favorite games the past year was Wingspan. Designed by Elizabeth Hargrave, with artists Natalia Rojas and Ana María Martínez Jaramillo, this was a very soothing, beautiful experience. The very first thing I loved about it is how the game looks. Gorgeous art and plenty of birds to enjoy! I spent a long time just admiring the artwork. Once I got to play the game, I was completely absorbed. I love looking for bird species and identifying them, and that birding experience was enriched by Wingspan.
This game is for anyone who would love to get started on birding, or someone who hasn’t had much time to go out in the field and wants to connect with that love of birds. I, for one, am looking forward to going on a nice long birding hike and play Wingspan at night over hot chocolate.
Wingspan
$46$5313% off $46
• 1-5 players, age 10
• Playtime: 40-70 minutes
• Similar Games: Wyrmspan
Read More $46 at Amazon$46 at Target$46 at Walmart
What makes Viking See-Saw stand out among 2023’s top board games
Viking See-Saw stands out among 2023’s top board games for its elegant simplicity combined with surprising depth in a dexterity format. The game challenges players to carefully balance a variety of oddly shaped and weighted pieces on a see-sawing Viking ship, requiring both physical skill and strategic thinking about weight distribution and placement. Its quick, engaging gameplay-often completed in about 15 minutes-makes it accessible yet thrilling, with moments of unexpected success and hilarious failure that delight diverse groups of players. The game’s clever design, high-quality components, and compact size add to its appeal, making it a portable, fun, and memorable experience that repeatedly wins over hobbyists and casual gamers alike.
How does Viking See-Saw combine simplicity and strategic depth in 2023
Viking See-Saw masterfully combines simplicity and strategic depth through its elegant balancing mechanic and carefully designed components. At its core, the game is straightforward: players take turns placing various oddly shaped and weighted pieces on a see-sawing Viking ship, aiming not to tip it over. However, the strategic depth emerges from the need to consider not just the weight of each piece but also its shape, friction, and placement position on the upward side of the ship. Players must decide when to place heavy metal cubes or delicate plastic gems, how to stack pieces to create stable foundations or precarious towers, and when to force opponents into difficult placements. This subtle interplay of physics and strategy, combined with minimalistic design and high-quality production, elevates Viking See-Saw beyond a simple dexterity game into a nuanced, engaging experience that rewards thoughtful play and offers plenty of room for exploration.
