You all are amazing and cheers to everyone kind enough to contribute (I've done it myself before too!), but since I know you're always striving to do better, I wanted to mention that I think the callouts are getting in the way of the content at this point. A lot of vtubers do callouts at the end or in a separate video and it might be worth considering for TDT, just throwing it out there!
Thanks so much for a great Top 100 list! Here are my ranks: Root (306) 7 Wonders Duel (200) Castles of Burgundy (115) Lost Ruins of Arnak (21) Everdell (265) Five Tribes (123) Dune Imperium (124) Raiders of the North Sea (60) Quacks of Quedlinburg (43) Ready Set Bet (323) Scythe (46) Merchants Cove (58) Cosmic Encounter (284) Terraforming Mars (127) Smartphone Inc. (13) Dominion (7) Ark Nova (9) Dwellings of Eldervale (too recent to rank) See you next year, everyone! (Or sooner.)
I think it'll be better to have someone write down all the names and then pass a sheet to Tom to have him read it. This way he can still talk about Mike's and Zee's picks.
I don't always have a lot of cross-over with Zee, but Five Tribes is a forever game for me, I have played it over 50 times. It was one of Zee's reviews about it and the expansion that convinced me to buy it many moons ago. I bought the base game and expansion at the same time without having played it.
Am I the only one who gets sad when the 10-1 episode ends? 😢 Hopefully we get another top 100 for Roy, Camila, and [I forgot the names of the other two].
My prediction is that Tom's #1 will not change for at least two years if not more. Because his review of Ark Nova doesn't just say 'What a great game', but describes it as a mixture of elements he has loved over the years and gel together in this 'culmination' (I'm of course paraphrasing and addong what I understood). The 'Culmination' part is what makes me predict as I have.
Played the hell out of Dominion back in the day. Then one of my mates googled what strategy to use and suddenly whipped our asses by not playing any buildings and just going for money each time. I go back now to see if things have changed and see that the "Big Money" strategy is still the benchmark and that people have 'diversified' it to be Big Money + Smithy, etc. Long and short, Dominion was and forever shall be ruined for me.
Thanks guys! Lots of fun again this year. Also looking forward to a series of games and stories about Cthulu’s annoying younger brother, “Keith-ulu”. 😂
Where was Dwellings of Eldervale on the people's choice? Did I miss it? And boy did Mike scare me, putting Merchant's Cove #3... Thankfully he cane back to his sense with his #1 choice ;)
So many games you folks have convinced me that I need! I think I align most with Mike's tastes, but you all had some interesting picks. Thanks for another great year of top 100!
Crossovers with my personal 2022 Top 250 list: 19 crossovers with Zee, 26 crossovers with Mike, 30 crossovers with Tom, and a whopping 51 crossovers with The People.
Its crazy how different taste we have when it comes to the board games. My top 20 (no TCGs): 1.Talisman 4th Revised Edition 2. Eldritch Horror 3. Betrayal at the Baldur's Gate 4. Twilight Imperium 4th Edition 5. Eclipse Second Dawn 6. Nemesis Lockdown 7. Villainous 8. Court of the Dead 9. Small World of Warcraft 10. Descent Legends of the Dark 11. Cthulhu Wars 12. Blood Rage 13. Cyclades 14. Scythe 15. Siege of Rundar 16. Mansion of Madness 17. Star Trek Ascendancy 18. Stratego 19. WoW Wrath Of The Lich King Pandemic 20. Clank!
Thanks for over a decade of great content! Zee is clearly my guy (but hide those feet): -7 Wonders Duel -Caper Europe -Abyss (I prefer Abyss: Conspiracy) But I'm with Tom on Cosmic Encounter & Dominion and share the people's love of Gloomhaven, Dune Imperium...My takeaway from this entire list is that I need to play Cthulhu: Death May Die.
Great countdown. My problem is that most of the top rated games are way too heavy. In my circle of family and friends, everyone hates the part where we read over the rules. If the rules take over 30 min, its almost assured disaster. if you play once a week, and you have 30+ games, by the time you get back to that game, you forgot most the rules. On the other hand, I cant understand why games like Ticket To Ride, Carcassone and Azul are even on the list. Those games bore me to tears are like Milton Bradley games. Based on this coundown, I am going to consider Dominion and Quacks next, because I have to choose easy to explain games. My family HATEs 7 Wonders. They get so lost on how to get a strategy that they just flop and go all Military, which is super lame, so despite the high praise, I cant go buy 7 Wonders Duel. Also, my family cant make it though Pandemic w/o getting bored so I dont think they would make it through the Legacy ones. In both those games, I have to basically tell them how to play their round, and that annoys me to pieces. Everdell amd Root look good to me, but the rule set will never go over with my peers; too complex. Wingspan... its birds... I just dont know anyone who wants to play a game based on bird watching. Of the 20-30 games we have that all have a low difficulty rating, Marvel Legendary, KoT, and Thats So Clever! get the most play. And my top solatire games are Pathfinder, LOTR LCG, and Legendary. Overall, usually I like Zee's picks because he plays so much solitaire, but this time Mike has the most interesting games for me. Thanks!
Wingspan is fine. The one issue I have is that when I play board games with my friends, I want to play *with them*, not just sit around the same table playing a game. Don't get me wrong, I like solo games and play solo quite often, but when it's game night it's kinda disappointing playing a game that feels exactly the same as playing solo.
I love wingspan, but any game where everyone has to be able to read something in the middle of the table, and most likely it's only facing one person correctly, just never works out so well. There will always be people half standing up and moving around trying to read the cards all game long. And those people are always at a disadvantage. I try to avoid games with reading involved, and this is a main reason why.
The current superchat format is painful. Interrupting each other to say the names of people that nobody cares about is ruining the video. Have the spontaneous conversation about the games, and shout out at the end or something. I love these videos, but I’m considering leaving if this continues.
I had so much fun watching your Top 100, and I’ve purchased Dominion, Caper Europe and Trekking Through History because of it. Thank you! Can’t wait to play!
Thank you DT crew. Your top 100 is the Super Bowl of board games. I love watching the lists from all the other content creators, but you all are definitely the senior statesmen of this hobby.
Previous top 100s were part of what got me into/excited about boardgames. Now that I’ve played for a few years, I realize I have pretty different tastes from y’all and the games I bought based off those lists are no longer in my collection. But I still love these videos :)
Yeah, I had a similar journey. Though I think I'm 70% similar to Zee....but Tom is my guy when he's praising Dominion, Cosmic Encounter (and Heroscape in the past).
These Dice Tower Videos really helped me pick board games to try with my friends and family. I definitely chose some based on the reviews that didn't go over as well as I hoped with either of those play groups... but It wasn't because the games were bad... It was because I wasn't very good (yet) at understanding what types of games the different people I was playing with did or would enjoy. Now I have several different lists based on the different types of gamers I end up playing with, and I've arranged my collection accordingly.
Zee needs to play Summoner Wars 2nd edition and Outlive again (I feel like he's said he wants to play it again every top 100 for the last 3 years). Tom needs to play 51st State again, and Mike needs to play Res Arcana again. I'd watch all of these!
Tom & Chris should do a tier list of Dominion. There are just too many expansions to get them all. I currently have Intrigue, Seaside and Prosperity. I have thought about getting others, but it is too hard to decide.
Hope you've got the Second Editions because the first editions of Seaside & Prosperity had a LOT of dud cards. It's easier to say which expansions to stay away from (Alchemy & Nocturne) than the ones you need to buy. Don't overthink it and just focus on mechanisms you like. If you like duration cards, get some of the newer sets that have plenty of then. If you like Event cards, same principle applies. On the other hand, do you like tokens? Or do you find them annoying? That may help you pick your next expansion. For example, I personally like Dark Ages & Adventures but they have some fiddly mechanisms, so for recommendations, I'd say you can't go wrong with Empires and everything after that. My main issue is storage. I just don't have the space in my Dominion case for anymore cards.
@@Indubitably14 I did get the upgrade packs last year. My issue is also storage. I have those four in the base box. So tempted to get another four as the game is just pure deck building goodness. However I am still more than happy with what I have. Thanks for your input, much appreciated.
Thank you Dice Tower for a very interesting and extremely well done Top 100. It's the highlight of UA-cam board game videos each year. The only problem is that it always costs me money, because you identify a few games I can't live without! 😂😀🙂
I don't get the terraforming mars love. I refuse to play it because it's hideous. I played ares expeditions which is supposed to be streamlined, it was pretty meh.
Instead of "ratchet system", howabout "leapfrog". In leapfrog when you jump over the kids to the front you need to stay there until everyone in turn leaps over you. Doesn't account for leaping further ahead, but-
I'm surprised seeing Zee's number 3 as Cthulhu DMD, because I've just watched his review of the game the other day (I think he gave it a 7?), said it's luck heavy and that the environment is too small. I'd love to hear what changed for him since then because I'm interested in buying this one.
idk about him but I have always liked DMD. The luck does impact my desire to play more (I haven't picked it up in a while) and each scenario / big baddie kinda gets mechanically stale (not thematically stale). However, the dynamics of each character's abilities and utility are super interesting to me and my friend. We play a 4 player game, each of us piloting two characters, and treat it more along the lines of a "Party Builder" concept. There's so many characters that we've still barely covered the basis. So while the core gameplay loop may be a 7 out of 10, the strategic depth pregame (character selection) and the enjoyment of seeing it flesh out (pun intended) is what does it for me.
Woo team Dwellings #1 game! Go Mike! Now I have to try that mobile market game....I hate everything you said about it but maybe like you, id like it lol. Also I tested Andromeda's edge and I'm backing it all in and loved it. Its different enough to enjoy it. Its heavier than Dwellings. Know that even knowing a Dwelling well, you will need 1-2 games to wrap your head around andromeda's edge...DESPITE having many similar mechanism. So yah. But its REALLY GOOD lol.
I agree with Mike. The endless "what game am I talking about" convo that happens before finally mentioning the name of the game is too much sometimes. Just tell me the game and then talk about it!
Very good lists. Enjoyed watching it. Marvel Champions, Gloomhaven, Summoner Wars and Dominion are also in my top 10. Dune Imperium, Dwellings of Eldervale and Massive Darkness 2 are quite high up in my ratings too.
Great to see Dominion back so high on Tom’s list. I love deckbuilding and tried and like a lot different deck builder like Thunderstorm, Aeon’s End, Clank, Heroes Realm, Star Realm, Ascension but still love the original and think the market of Dominion is better than a random cycling offering to lay out a strategie and follow that. But Dune Imperium beats it for my number one
Love these lists! Thank you Dice Tower That said - the super chat shoutouts are super distracting from the fun dialogue that Tom normally brings with the other 2 and makes the video unnecessarily long.
Love these top 100s! Usually I skim through them, but this year I decided to watch them all the way through. I was not disappointed! One game I am disappointed didn't make anyone's list was Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective. It was mentioned, but man that game deserves a spot in someone's list! Also, would be curious to see what everyone thinks about Blood on the Clocktower. Thanks for all you guys do!
Mikes list just fits my play style in many ways. My top 10: 1. Dwellings of Eldervale 2. Spirit Island 3. Too Many Bones 4. Brass Birmingham 5. Cthulhu death may die 6. Raiders of the North Sea 7. Circadians First Light 8. Kanban EV 9. Aeons end legacy of Gravehold 10. Gaia Project
Bummed I didn’t get my people’s choice votes in on time this year, but as always, love this time of year and watching all your lists! My personal top 10 for solidarity: 10. Radlands 9. Cosmic Encounter 8. Sleeping Gods 7. Star Wars Rebellion 6. Marvel United 5. Nemesis: Lockdown 4. Batman The Dark Knight Returns 3. burncycle 2. Dune Imperium 1. Marvel Champions
@@Anwar-AT I absolutely adore that game (obviously). I’m a sucker for post apocalyptic themes and that art style is to die for. The solo variant posted by One Stop Co-Op Shop went a long way for me too.
@@SporeVenom Subjectivity, I guess! I’m a big solo gamer and Champions is perfect for that imo, and Dune Imperium is such a great combination of mechanisms that somehow manage to perfectly capture the Dune theme to me! Solo mode doesn’t hurt for that one either. To each their own though.
@@adamwhite4858 right! I think our tastes are just really different, I strongly dislike solo games so that makes sense! The friends I played champions with as well said that 3 is generally gated amongst the community (which we played at), even with people who like the game
Thanks a lot for the passion you always put into your videos. Great watching them. Personally would be over the moon to own about 80% of these games, though I’m most excited to play Mind MGMT when it comes out in Spanish. Thanks again!
Viewer comment. I look forward to this top ten every year. So, I was disappointed at Tom not giving me his full attention, i.e., the note-taking and chatting with chat, lost me. So, bring me back some Tom-loving next year, please! Love your work, gang. Thank you for everything you do.
I can't wait for 51st state ultimate Ed to arrive! I haven't played it, but have wanted to for many years and decided to take the plunge on the ultimate edition. Not long to wait now :) excited that this is still Zee's #1
Sorry I missed the last half hour. Thank you Mike, Tom and Zee for all the lists. So great to see your presentations. 5 of 7 Uwe in the top 10 that is too many Uwe for me @Mikael Hansson 🙈. My top 3 are 1. Ark Nova, 2. Terraforming Mars, 3. Star Realms.
With you all the way Mike - Merchants Cove is fantastic production quality with a while ton of fun and variety through the factions, etc. Another game I can't wait for all the new content for! Fab ❤
Oh look, they like more heavy Euros/card games.. Who'd have thought it!? Watching through this years top 100 reminded me that I am an Ameritrasher. Has Roy got a top 100 list? Bet I'd get a lot more out of it! Thanks for the great list series though.
We got rid of Ark Nova. The final round is so unsatisfying compared to TFM. In TFM, you get to spend everything at the end and it can be fun figuring out how to squeeze every last victory point out. The end of Ark Nova is less predictable as you can trigger it from a *loooonnng* way away with the right draw. And the way that the game design has you setting up to score every two or three rounds depending on your engine, there it is more likely than not you won’t be able to score anything when one of your opponents triggers the end. For such a long game, with less synergy and more randomness in the draw than TFM, the unfulfilling end is a deal breaker. There is a 0% chance that we would table Ark Nova over TFM. Which is a bummer since I love the theme.
feel similarly about the few games of it I've had so far. the "have many animal-type" goals can favor a random player considerably. And some of them are so rare, like water or mountain animals. The personal player goals also feel super imbalanced, adding to the random feeling. Maybe it's just because i haven't played it a lot? But you draw a lot more cards in TM, and they overall feel more even. You also keep money for cards and can always sell them. Ark Nova you have very few cards, can't keep drawing if your draw is a dud, and don't have much to do with dead cards (unless you have that one board i guess)
@@themonsterkingr454 That was the other issue we had: such limited card draw for a game with so *many* unique cards. This results in a ton of randomness whether you can build an engine that you are trying for, whether you can sync with the different victory cards, etc.. Would be an okay game if it took half the time it does. But it simply cannot compete for table time with TFM and the other longer games that we have in our collection. (Also, it is painfully long at 3 players and simply DOA at 4 players.)
@@intrepidfool they had some good ideas in giving some late-game cards an early game ability as well, but some of them are just completely dead if you draw them in the wrong time. you can't hold on to a card for later either (like you could in TM!) because the break will take you down to 3 early, maybe 5 later
Mike looks so small when in between Tom and Zee. I will refuse to play the Maximum Carnage expansion for Marvel United because the comic book story was just THAT BAD!
Great seeing different perspectives on all their top 100's. I'd say I align with Zee the most on his game choices. So when there is a game he has in his list, that I don't really know about, I will check it out and give it a try when the opportunity presents itself.
@Zee: Can you mix Pandemic Iberia together with other Expansions like On the Brink or In the Lab? Or is the original game only supposed to mix up with the expansions?
I've been recording these top 100's (and many top 10s) for several years now. I'm a game designer and get and play games to learn mechanisms and such. I have found that the games I got years ago, and still play (or plan to) aren't on your lists anymore--which is understandable as you have to keep up with new games being released. However, many others (including myself) cannot keep up with current gaming trends. A solution is to do a top 10 (or top 20/40) favorite games over a span of time (like 2015 to 2020). These lists would change over time but they might include several games that people still love and play, but have been replaced on the latest top 100 for whatever reason. Just an idea.
I'd like to apologise to mike. I made a tongue in cheek comment on the chat, and it could have been taken badly, I do not actually believe it to be true. Point of fact, his choices always work out better for my family. Sorry big guy! You are a legend and I salute you sir!
Let's go Mike! Merchants Cove baby!!!
You all are amazing and cheers to everyone kind enough to contribute (I've done it myself before too!), but since I know you're always striving to do better, I wanted to mention that I think the callouts are getting in the way of the content at this point. A lot of vtubers do callouts at the end or in a separate video and it might be worth considering for TDT, just throwing it out there!
Agreed! I always skipped the first 3 minutes with all the talk about the WSBG and the shoutouts...
Thanks so much for a great Top 100 list!
Here are my ranks:
Root (306)
7 Wonders Duel (200)
Castles of Burgundy (115)
Lost Ruins of Arnak (21)
Everdell (265)
Five Tribes (123)
Dune Imperium (124)
Raiders of the North Sea (60)
Quacks of Quedlinburg (43)
Ready Set Bet (323)
Scythe (46)
Merchants Cove (58)
Cosmic Encounter (284)
Terraforming Mars (127)
Smartphone Inc. (13)
Dominion (7)
Ark Nova (9)
Dwellings of Eldervale (too recent to rank)
See you next year, everyone! (Or sooner.)
Superchats need to stop. Tom isn’t even paying attention to any of Mike or Zee’s discussion because he’s glued to the chat room.
At least this spontaneous shout outs making it hard. Why not wrap it up in some particular moments of the show.
He already knows their thoughts, this is top 100, very little has changed.
Disagree
I think it'll be better to have someone write down all the names and then pass a sheet to Tom to have him read it. This way he can still talk about Mike's and Zee's picks.
I’m agree. I’m much more interested in the discussion about the games in these videos, and the supercharger definitely detracts from that.
I don't always have a lot of cross-over with Zee, but Five Tribes is a forever game for me, I have played it over 50 times. It was one of Zee's reviews about it and the expansion that convinced me to buy it many moons ago. I bought the base game and expansion at the same time without having played it.
Thank you all at dice tower for this! It was entertaining!❤
Am I the only one who gets sad when the 10-1 episode ends? 😢
Hopefully we get another top 100 for Roy, Camila, and [I forgot the names of the other two].
My prediction is that Tom's #1 will not change for at least two years if not more.
Because his review of Ark Nova doesn't just say 'What a great game', but describes it as a mixture of elements he has loved over the years and gel together in this 'culmination' (I'm of course paraphrasing and addong what I understood). The 'Culmination' part is what makes me predict as I have.
Is there a place to see the entire list by person? I especially want to go back and review your comments on games I'm interested in
Zee! Cthulhu Death May Die is also my #3 favorite game of all time! Preach it brother!
Mike - I caught all your Seinfeld references :) "Limited. To the number they can sell." "I like to shop at the duty-free shop". Love it!
ready set bet or camel up? i want my kids to be pro gamblers. have to start early.
Hmm. Great games. I have to mention War of the Ring 2nd Edition (or Battle of Five Armies if you'd rather), Tekal, Mansions of Madness, and Oath.
Played the hell out of Dominion back in the day. Then one of my mates googled what strategy to use and suddenly whipped our asses by not playing any buildings and just going for money each time. I go back now to see if things have changed and see that the "Big Money" strategy is still the benchmark and that people have 'diversified' it to be Big Money + Smithy, etc.
Long and short, Dominion was and forever shall be ruined for me.
Meh, I just don't play that way.
Thanks guys! Lots of fun again this year. Also looking forward to a series of games and stories about Cthulu’s annoying younger brother, “Keith-ulu”. 😂
I'm with Mike that Tremors is an amazingly smart movie, in spite of the corniness. Oft underrated gem.
I love Zee's constant need to push Abyss. It's fun and I'd always be down to play it. Idk if I'd put it that high but I love how much he loves it.
Where was Dwellings of Eldervale on the people's choice? Did I miss it? And boy did Mike scare me, putting Merchant's Cove #3... Thankfully he cane back to his sense with his #1 choice ;)
SQT is a pretty cool acronym. I can't get behind the "ratcheting" term though
So many games you folks have convinced me that I need! I think I align most with Mike's tastes, but you all had some interesting picks. Thanks for another great year of top 100!
Zee, a big fan of Cathala : death may die!
Crossovers with my personal 2022 Top 250 list: 19 crossovers with Zee, 26 crossovers with Mike, 30 crossovers with Tom, and a whopping 51 crossovers with The People.
Fabulous ! In French 😍
Wonderlands War & Flamecraft just a flash in the pan? 😢
Its crazy how different taste we have when it comes to the board games. My top 20 (no TCGs):
1.Talisman 4th Revised Edition
2. Eldritch Horror
3. Betrayal at the Baldur's Gate
4. Twilight Imperium 4th Edition
5. Eclipse Second Dawn
6. Nemesis Lockdown
7. Villainous
8. Court of the Dead
9. Small World of Warcraft
10. Descent Legends of the Dark
11. Cthulhu Wars
12. Blood Rage
13. Cyclades
14. Scythe
15. Siege of Rundar
16. Mansion of Madness
17. Star Trek Ascendancy
18. Stratego
19. WoW Wrath Of The Lich King Pandemic
20. Clank!
Mike said, “this is a ratchet game.” 😂
Thanks for over a decade of great content! Zee is clearly my guy (but hide those feet):
-7 Wonders Duel
-Caper Europe
-Abyss (I prefer Abyss: Conspiracy)
But I'm with Tom on Cosmic Encounter & Dominion and share the people's love of Gloomhaven, Dune Imperium...My takeaway from this entire list is that I need to play Cthulhu: Death May Die.
Hilarious!!
Between wingspan and everdell which one would any recommend?
How frequently does Mike play Dwellings? It's replayability after trying every faction is incredibly thin. I'm surprised that it's still up there!
You have draft mode, new tiles, tactic tokens, mercinaries.... Replayability in Dwellings is fine
Pretty painful to watch a live stream after with the superchats
Zee 1:30:38-1:30:40 "I'm trying so seed discord!"
I see you Hail Eris!
Why aren't they all barefoot? 🤔
Great countdown. My problem is that most of the top rated games are way too heavy. In my circle of family and friends, everyone hates the part where we read over the rules. If the rules take over 30 min, its almost assured disaster. if you play once a week, and you have 30+ games, by the time you get back to that game, you forgot most the rules. On the other hand, I cant understand why games like Ticket To Ride, Carcassone and Azul are even on the list. Those games bore me to tears are like Milton Bradley games.
Based on this coundown, I am going to consider Dominion and Quacks next, because I have to choose easy to explain games. My family HATEs 7 Wonders. They get so lost on how to get a strategy that they just flop and go all Military, which is super lame, so despite the high praise, I cant go buy 7 Wonders Duel. Also, my family cant make it though Pandemic w/o getting bored so I dont think they would make it through the Legacy ones. In both those games, I have to basically tell them how to play their round, and that annoys me to pieces.
Everdell amd Root look good to me, but the rule set will never go over with my peers; too complex. Wingspan... its birds... I just dont know anyone who wants to play a game based on bird watching.
Of the 20-30 games we have that all have a low difficulty rating, Marvel Legendary, KoT, and Thats So Clever! get the most play. And my top solatire games are Pathfinder, LOTR LCG, and Legendary.
Overall, usually I like Zee's picks because he plays so much solitaire, but this time Mike has the most interesting games for me. Thanks!
Where was Star Trek Ascendency?!? That's gotta be one someone's top 100.
Wingspan is fine. The one issue I have is that when I play board games with my friends, I want to play *with them*, not just sit around the same table playing a game.
Don't get me wrong, I like solo games and play solo quite often, but when it's game night it's kinda disappointing playing a game that feels exactly the same as playing solo.
I love wingspan, but any game where everyone has to be able to read something in the middle of the table, and most likely it's only facing one person correctly, just never works out so well. There will always be people half standing up and moving around trying to read the cards all game long. And those people are always at a disadvantage. I try to avoid games with reading involved, and this is a main reason why.
Played it once and never felt the need to play it again. It was ok.
That's the reason I don't like Race for the Galaxy despite the core being so good.
I love how random Mike's list is 😂 It just shows how big this hobby is, and you just like what you like and have fun!
The current superchat format is painful. Interrupting each other to say the names of people that nobody cares about is ruining the video. Have the spontaneous conversation about the games, and shout out at the end or something. I love these videos, but I’m considering leaving if this continues.
"Zee's foot reminds me of my Dad's foot. I love watching it" is already such an absolutely legendary comment. I tip my hat in wonder and thankfulness.
Was the best episode ever!
I had so much fun watching your Top 100, and I’ve purchased Dominion, Caper Europe and Trekking Through History because of it. Thank you! Can’t wait to play!
Thank you DT crew. Your top 100 is the Super Bowl of board games. I love watching the lists from all the other content creators, but you all are definitely the senior statesmen of this hobby.
Agree and love watching them
I can second that. This is the SB of Board Games for me too. I am sad I could not see it live.
Yep. Well said
Previous top 100s were part of what got me into/excited about boardgames. Now that I’ve played for a few years, I realize I have pretty different tastes from y’all and the games I bought based off those lists are no longer in my collection. But I still love these videos :)
Yeah, I had a similar journey. Though I think I'm 70% similar to Zee....but Tom is my guy when he's praising Dominion, Cosmic Encounter (and Heroscape in the past).
this exactly... but I find listening to these tells me what I'm possibly NOT going to like and to look in other directions.
Since your taste is different from Tom, Mike and Zee, what are some of your favorites?
I'm always excited to try something new😊
These Dice Tower Videos really helped me pick board games to try with my friends and family. I definitely chose some based on the reviews that didn't go over as well as I hoped with either of those play groups... but It wasn't because the games were bad... It was because I wasn't very good (yet) at understanding what types of games the different people I was playing with did or would enjoy. Now I have several different lists based on the different types of gamers I end up playing with, and I've arranged my collection accordingly.
Thank you so much Dice Tower for another excellent Top 100! Listened to every minute of it.
Zee needs to play Summoner Wars 2nd edition and Outlive again (I feel like he's said he wants to play it again every top 100 for the last 3 years). Tom needs to play 51st State again, and Mike needs to play Res Arcana again. I'd watch all of these!
Tom & Chris should do a tier list of Dominion. There are just too many expansions to get them all. I currently have Intrigue, Seaside and Prosperity. I have thought about getting others, but it is too hard to decide.
Hope you've got the Second Editions because the first editions of Seaside & Prosperity had a LOT of dud cards.
It's easier to say which expansions to stay away from (Alchemy & Nocturne) than the ones you need to buy. Don't overthink it and just focus on mechanisms you like. If you like duration cards, get some of the newer sets that have plenty of then. If you like Event cards, same principle applies. On the other hand, do you like tokens? Or do you find them annoying? That may help you pick your next expansion.
For example, I personally like Dark Ages & Adventures but they have some fiddly mechanisms, so for recommendations, I'd say you can't go wrong with Empires and everything after that.
My main issue is storage. I just don't have the space in my Dominion case for anymore cards.
@@Indubitably14 I did get the upgrade packs last year. My issue is also storage. I have those four in the base box. So tempted to get another four as the game is just pure deck building goodness. However I am still more than happy with what I have. Thanks for your input, much appreciated.
It's taken about six years, but I almost have all the expansions.
Great lists - my tastes almost 100% align with Mike…when he got to number 4…it all made sense…❤
I hope Dice Tower does another all-time best co-ops episode
They recently did
@@leosalcedo3384 Thanks!
Thank you Dice Tower for a very interesting and extremely well done Top 100. It's the highlight of UA-cam board game videos each year. The only problem is that it always costs me money, because you identify a few games I can't live without! 😂😀🙂
Great to see Dominion at Tom’s #2. With the new expansions recently, Dominion has greatly risen in my own personal rankings.
I don't get the terraforming mars love. I refuse to play it because it's hideous. I played ares expeditions which is supposed to be streamlined, it was pretty meh.
Instead of "ratchet system", howabout "leapfrog". In leapfrog when you jump over the kids to the front you need to stay there until everyone in turn leaps over you. Doesn't account for leaping further ahead, but-
the list of the list, from the board game channel of all board game channels
Caverna improved Agricola in the same way safety scissors improved cutting.
lol hahaha
I'm surprised seeing Zee's number 3 as Cthulhu DMD, because I've just watched his review of the game the other day (I think he gave it a 7?), said it's luck heavy and that the environment is too small.
I'd love to hear what changed for him since then because I'm interested in buying this one.
idk about him but I have always liked DMD. The luck does impact my desire to play more (I haven't picked it up in a while) and each scenario / big baddie kinda gets mechanically stale (not thematically stale).
However, the dynamics of each character's abilities and utility are super interesting to me and my friend. We play a 4 player game, each of us piloting two characters, and treat it more along the lines of a "Party Builder" concept. There's so many characters that we've still barely covered the basis.
So while the core gameplay loop may be a 7 out of 10, the strategic depth pregame (character selection) and the enjoyment of seeing it flesh out (pun intended) is what does it for me.
He mentioned some 1 or 2 lists ago when it showed up on Mike's list.
I'd assume it's because of the new content that has been released for it.
Woo team Dwellings #1 game! Go Mike! Now I have to try that mobile market game....I hate everything you said about it but maybe like you, id like it lol. Also I tested Andromeda's edge and I'm backing it all in and loved it. Its different enough to enjoy it. Its heavier than Dwellings. Know that even knowing a Dwelling well, you will need 1-2 games to wrap your head around andromeda's edge...DESPITE having many similar mechanism. So yah. But its REALLY GOOD lol.
I agree with Mike. The endless "what game am I talking about" convo that happens before finally mentioning the name of the game is too much sometimes. Just tell me the game and then talk about it!
I love the chemistry between you guys! 🥰
This year's top 100 was awesome!
Ares Expedition > Terraforming Mars
I honestly don’t get the love for wingspan. I thought it was meh lol
Very good lists. Enjoyed watching it. Marvel Champions, Gloomhaven, Summoner Wars and Dominion are also in my top 10. Dune Imperium, Dwellings of Eldervale and Massive Darkness 2 are quite high up in my ratings too.
Doesn't "of All time" also include the future?
Great to see Dominion back so high on Tom’s list. I love deckbuilding and tried and like a lot different deck builder like Thunderstorm, Aeon’s End, Clank, Heroes Realm, Star Realm, Ascension but still love the original and think the market of Dominion is better than a random cycling offering to lay out a strategie and follow that.
But Dune Imperium beats it for my number one
Dominion is not fun anymore, it's boring.
This series is the first time I feel Mike has reached the level of camaraderie with Tom and Zee that Sam had.
Mike is so articulate though I love it
RIP Serge Laget 😞! Brillant designer of NIDAVELLIR ❤
I can’t work out the lyrics for the mike DiLisio song. Can someone please put me out of my misery and post them?
In the video description of today's list.
Love these lists! Thank you Dice Tower
That said - the super chat shoutouts are super distracting from the fun dialogue that Tom normally brings with the other 2 and makes the video unnecessarily long.
That'll never change. These people are paying decent coin for those shoutouts.
Love these top 100s! Usually I skim through them, but this year I decided to watch them all the way through. I was not disappointed!
One game I am disappointed didn't make anyone's list was Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective. It was mentioned, but man that game deserves a spot in someone's list! Also, would be curious to see what everyone thinks about Blood on the Clocktower.
Thanks for all you guys do!
I really like your banter and discussion, but the constant shoutouts borderline ruined the whole thing for me. :-/
Mikes list just fits my play style in many ways. My top 10:
1. Dwellings of Eldervale
2. Spirit Island
3. Too Many Bones
4. Brass Birmingham
5. Cthulhu death may die
6. Raiders of the North Sea
7. Circadians First Light
8. Kanban EV
9. Aeons end legacy of Gravehold
10. Gaia Project
Usually I like Fridays but this Friday means the 2 most entertaining weeks in board game media have come to an end.
No Arkham Horror 2nd edition?! This is blasphemous!!! :D
But for realsies, love that game big time.
It's out of print
@@danacoleman4007 Is that one of the requirements for their list?
Streaming these is obviously profitable, but it tanks the quality dramatically
The cartoony marvel united funko pop look kills the game for me. I can't buy it lol
Top 10!! some of the rankings hurt my soul but i made it through lol. fun to see how people view these differently
Caper: Europe is awesome
excellent banter gentlemen. lots of LOL moment there.
Bummed I didn’t get my people’s choice votes in on time this year, but as always, love this time of year and watching all your lists! My personal top 10 for solidarity:
10. Radlands
9. Cosmic Encounter
8. Sleeping Gods
7. Star Wars Rebellion
6. Marvel United
5. Nemesis: Lockdown
4. Batman The Dark Knight Returns
3. burncycle
2. Dune Imperium
1. Marvel Champions
Interesting to see Radlands in a top10 list!
@@Anwar-AT I absolutely adore that game (obviously). I’m a sucker for post apocalyptic themes and that art style is to die for. The solo variant posted by One Stop Co-Op Shop went a long way for me too.
I actually didn't like Dune or Champions at allllll. Played both twice and never again
@@SporeVenom Subjectivity, I guess! I’m a big solo gamer and Champions is perfect for that imo, and Dune Imperium is such a great combination of mechanisms that somehow manage to perfectly capture the Dune theme to me! Solo mode doesn’t hurt for that one either. To each their own though.
@@adamwhite4858 right! I think our tastes are just really different, I strongly dislike solo games so that makes sense! The friends I played champions with as well said that 3 is generally gated amongst the community (which we played at), even with people who like the game
Thanks a lot for the passion you always put into your videos. Great watching them. Personally would be over the moon to own about 80% of these games, though I’m most excited to play Mind MGMT when it comes out in Spanish. Thanks again!
Viewer comment. I look forward to this top ten every year. So, I was disappointed at Tom not giving me his full attention, i.e., the note-taking and chatting with chat, lost me. So, bring me back some Tom-loving next year, please! Love your work, gang. Thank you for everything you do.
I can't wait for 51st state ultimate Ed to arrive! I haven't played it, but have wanted to for many years and decided to take the plunge on the ultimate edition. Not long to wait now :) excited that this is still Zee's #1
Just got the notification for delivery, really looking forward to it as well!
In the same boat, can’t wait to try it!
Sorry I missed the last half hour. Thank you Mike, Tom and Zee for all the lists. So great to see your presentations. 5 of 7 Uwe in the top 10 that is too many Uwe for me @Mikael Hansson 🙈. My top 3 are 1. Ark Nova, 2. Terraforming Mars, 3. Star Realms.
Great list. So many games selections that I sit and think "why didn't think of that?"
With you all the way Mike - Merchants Cove is fantastic production quality with a while ton of fun and variety through the factions, etc. Another game I can't wait for all the new content for! Fab ❤
It's really sad how many of these games I own and haven't played.
On the website zees list doesn't have CDMD in top 10
Wonder how Mike feels about Outlive Underwater?
Ark Nova is overrated
So happy to see Marvel United, Death May Die, and Spirit Island all in someone’s top 20 here. Those are my top three, right now.
Love these top 100's, but so bad for my pocketbook!
Love Wingspan. Never tire of playing and upgrading it.
Cthulhu Death May Die is such an absolute blast! Amazing game - really looking forward to all the new content ❤
Oh look, they like more heavy Euros/card games.. Who'd have thought it!? Watching through this years top 100 reminded me that I am an Ameritrasher. Has Roy got a top 100 list? Bet I'd get a lot more out of it!
Thanks for the great list series though.
We got rid of Ark Nova. The final round is so unsatisfying compared to TFM. In TFM, you get to spend everything at the end and it can be fun figuring out how to squeeze every last victory point out. The end of Ark Nova is less predictable as you can trigger it from a *loooonnng* way away with the right draw. And the way that the game design has you setting up to score every two or three rounds depending on your engine, there it is more likely than not you won’t be able to score anything when one of your opponents triggers the end.
For such a long game, with less synergy and more randomness in the draw than TFM, the unfulfilling end is a deal breaker. There is a 0% chance that we would table Ark Nova over TFM. Which is a bummer since I love the theme.
feel similarly about the few games of it I've had so far. the "have many animal-type" goals can favor a random player considerably. And some of them are so rare, like water or mountain animals. The personal player goals also feel super imbalanced, adding to the random feeling. Maybe it's just because i haven't played it a lot? But you draw a lot more cards in TM, and they overall feel more even. You also keep money for cards and can always sell them. Ark Nova you have very few cards, can't keep drawing if your draw is a dud, and don't have much to do with dead cards (unless you have that one board i guess)
@@themonsterkingr454 That was the other issue we had: such limited card draw for a game with so *many* unique cards. This results in a ton of randomness whether you can build an engine that you are trying for, whether you can sync with the different victory cards, etc.. Would be an okay game if it took half the time it does. But it simply cannot compete for table time with TFM and the other longer games that we have in our collection. (Also, it is painfully long at 3 players and simply DOA at 4 players.)
@@intrepidfool they had some good ideas in giving some late-game cards an early game ability as well, but some of them are just completely dead if you draw them in the wrong time. you can't hold on to a card for later either (like you could in TM!) because the break will take you down to 3 early, maybe 5 later
Mike looks so small when in between Tom and Zee.
I will refuse to play the Maximum Carnage expansion for Marvel United because the comic book story was just THAT BAD!
Great seeing different perspectives on all their top 100's. I'd say I align with Zee the most on his game choices. So when there is a game he has in his list, that I don't really know about, I will check it out and give it a try when the opportunity presents itself.
@Zee: Can you mix Pandemic Iberia together with other Expansions like On the Brink or In the Lab? Or is the original game only supposed to mix up with the expansions?
I've been recording these top 100's (and many top 10s) for several years now. I'm a game designer and get and play games to learn mechanisms and such. I have found that the games I got years ago, and still play (or plan to) aren't on your lists anymore--which is understandable as you have to keep up with new games being released. However, many others (including myself) cannot keep up with current gaming trends. A solution is to do a top 10 (or top 20/40) favorite games over a span of time (like 2015 to 2020). These lists would change over time but they might include several games that people still love and play, but have been replaced on the latest top 100 for whatever reason. Just an idea.
I'd like to apologise to mike. I made a tongue in cheek comment on the chat, and it could have been taken badly, I do not actually believe it to be true. Point of fact, his choices always work out better for my family. Sorry big guy! You are a legend and I salute you sir!