Sam, I backed Commissioned after seeing a video you did about it. I got a chance to try it with my parents (my dad is a preacher), and a couple other friends. We had a great time and ended up winning on our last possible action. It exceeded my expectations. Thanks for the recommendation.
I have been curious to play a good religiously themed game, it seems like there are so many out there where they've gotten their message across but didn't put the same effort into game mechanics. So Commissioned has moved onto my want-to-play list... thanks for the recommendation.
Those videos are so much more comfortable to watch in this natural and green setting than they were in the (probably windowless) gaming room. It just feels lively and more uplifting.
i love this natural green background - it makes you guys stand out from other channels and just feels warm and inviting - but you guys already are such a pleasure to watch
"This is the top 10, not the podcast, you need to listen, Okay?" ... "No, man. I'm just helping him out. Buddy, hey, you got to listen to us, we are not Eric Summerer." ... "Love you, Eric!" Zee always crack me up! XD
Spirit Island is a game that I've played 3 times this week so far, and it's surprisingly thematic through and through. Nothing pasted on, the theme is so well integrated with the mechanics, you can even consider it all the way to decision making. If you choose powers and actions that feel amazing and are thematic synergies, it will almost always be good actions. We won all 3 games on the turn we wouldn't be able to handle the invader turns, and everyone during the end game discussion/wind down pointed out the fun and thematic stuff our characters did. Love this game!
Vast: The Crystal Caverns is highly thematic. Each role you can play (knight, goblins, dragon, cave, thief, etc.) has a unique set of rules/mechanics + victory condition designed specifically to capture the theme/story for that role.
Great lists, much to agree with here. My personal top 10 games I own for theme. Arkham Horror LCG 10. Dead of Winter 9. Churchill 8. Star Wars Rebellion 7. Arkham Horror LCG 6. Agents of Smersh 5. War of the Ring 4. Battlestar Galactica 3. Android - Original not netrunner 2. Mansions of Madness 2.0 1. This War of Mine
I'm surprised Zee didn't mention Atlantis Rising. I can't imagine any other theme working with that system. K2 is another game I feel absolutely relies on its theme and brings that theme out incredibly well.
Great and useful list! Thanks, guys!One game that definitely deserves to be included is the highly thematic, and well made, pirate game, Merchants and Marauders.
I agree with quite a lot of your picks. I think you really missed one though and I kept waiting for it all of the time: Mice and Mystics. Could hardly think of a game which is more thematic and immersive. It just shines with its rich story, adorable characters and overall stunningly beautiful artwork.
Tales of the Arabian Nights has a solid theme. A lot of the best choices come out of the cultural perspective of the Arabian world in the source fiction (like punishing insolent beggars). Once while playing with a friend he was cast into a pit of bodies during a funerary rite for his wife. Looking at the list of choices, he chose "wait," saying "I've read Tales of the Arabian Nights. That's what I should do." Sure enough, it was the best choice.
How did Doomtown Reloaded not make this list? Colt Express and Dice Town over Doomtown? Maybe I'm just partial because I think that is such an underrated game.
Hi Sam, Tom and Zee. The world of board games has a strong cult of the new. I would really like to see a top 10 of great retro, nostalgic games from the eighties/nineties or even older (not the plain classic games like chess or poker, but innovative ideas, fun concepts from that time)
There is a reason for that though. Modern board games have legitimately gotten better. This is coming from someone who has fond memories of monsters like Advanced Civilization, who still loves Blood Bowl and Space Hulk, and whose sister bought him a copy of the old mass produced roll and move game "Go For Broke" cause it was one of my favorites as a kid.
I personally think you all missed Fresco. While I will admit that you can leave most, and maybe even all of the expansions out of it. The base game is wonderfully thematic. The bishop give you extra recognition (i.e. victory points) if you happen to paint the section where he is. The whole mixing paints have to be done to make logical color changes. The one theme miss is the rigid turn order. First market, then painting the fresco, then painting portraits, then mixing...when you really would want to be mixing before either of those. besides that I think the game delivers wonderfully on theme.
I love Eldritch Horror, but if we're going for Lovecraft I would say Mansions of Madness 2nd edition hits the theme better. Especially with the ambient sounds of the app blaring through your bluetooth speakers.
A Game of Thrones: The Board Game I find to be very thematic. On the face of it, it's an area control/conflict game. But really, it's a game about politicking and strategically making/breaking alliances. You are playing the Game of Thrones.
I think there needs to be a new category or term for the Eruo & American style hybrid games currently being released. I'd suggest "Amero" or "Eurothrash"/"Eurotrash").
I can't number my faves as my interests shift. Spirit Island is wonderful! Each spirit being unique but equally important and fun. Smiting and haunting is so much fun! Kingdom: Death Monster is weird and gruesome. It's above and beyond entertaining how something can die or be horrifically maimed. The lore is deep and cryptic. Mansions of Madness 2nd edition is old school horror. Running around gathering information and being hunted by unnatural things. Epic Spell Wars, oh the chaos! Dead of Winter full co-op is really nice with the crossroads cards adding flavor to the game. One game I don't like, This War of Mine, is very thick with theme.
I don't know how Twilight Imperium 3rd Edition didn't make Sam's list. Easily the most thematic game I've ever played. Every component represents something thematic. You are not playing an alien race, you ARE that race while you're playing. It can't make every list, but theme-tastic? That's an oversight.
Sam here...it wasn't an oversight. While I whole-heartedly agree that TI3 (and now TI4) is one of the best games ever to have been made, and concur that it is a heavily thematic game, the case could be made that (as with most 4X games) one could conceivably wrap any kind of conquest-oriented theme around it, and the game would be just as good. Those that enjoy space-themed games more might not be as enamored with it as they are now, just like those that don't care for space-themed games scratch their 4X itch with another choice. Believe me, I thought about it. It was not an oversight. Thanks for watching!
Conquest of Planet Earth was one of my earlier favorite games. Back when we had only ten games or so, we owned this one and it was easily third to fifth favorite for a while, even the competitive game. What I found ruined it for me was actually the expansion, adding in naval units or something that granted more victory points ruined what little ballance the game already had and made winning turn 1 far too possible, and the game has fallen off my top 50 list completely. If I were to play it again (which I kind of want to, I really used to love it), I may remove any expansion material save the new alien races.
I don't know if anyone else views it this way, but I always divorce the Setting from the Theme. Setting: Where the game takes place/Thing you're supposed to be doing. Theme: Do I "feel" like the person/thing I'm supposed to be/be doing? Examples: Marvel Legendary - Setting: Superheroes tackling a Villain in a comic/movie. - Theme: Do I feel like a super team battling a villain? Nope; I feel more like we're a group of comic writers trying to write a series by committee. I feel you can strip the setting from this game and it could be anywhere/anything. Eldritch Horror - Setting: 1920's Cthulhu madness. - Theme: Do I feel like a globe-trotting investigator stopping the madness from coming? Not really, but for the most part, yeah. I don't really feel like an explorer, but the encounter cards and the die rolls help me feel like I'm a part of the story.
For me, the mechanics and setting should reinforce the theme. It's weird, but as much as I don't like Marvel Legendary, I can't stop playing the Alien one, and the only change was that Alien gave me a Role. I feel like my friends and I really playing out the movies and I don't get that same feeling with Marvel.
I'm with Sam on this one. Having played both, "Rebellion" is infinitely better than "Queen's Gambit". Although the later is a good game, too, IMO there is no comparison regarding thematic application.
Having played Flash Point and Commissioned I have to say these games really are well integrated with their themes, and quite enjoyable cooperative games. Burgle bros., 1960 the making of a president, and Star Wars Rebellion are ones I would love to try, though aren't likely to be an option any time soon. Really love this list
If I had to take a stab at some games I'd say: Fury of Dracula Battlestar Galactica Level 7 [Omega Protocol] Legendary Encounters : Alien War of the Ring Gloomhaven Spirit Island Claustrophobia Dead Men Tell No Tales Last Night on Earth BGG's Thematic rankings are terrible. How is Pandemic Legacy more thematic than War of the Ring? Also Die rolls and flavor text with dice rolling don't make a thematic game in my opinion (cough, cough Eldritch horror)
Sam might be able to make a Top 10 Solo but since there's only like one game Tom has played solo in who knows how long, not possible for all 3. Tom has stated many, many times he does not play solo board games except in app form. If gaming alone he'd rather just play a video game like Civilization or X-Com.
They're not looking for theme, but for the game that integrated the theme the best. Like if you play a vampire game and the game makes you feel like a vampire. You're playing a tank game and you feel like a tank through the mechanics, that kind of thing.
Well it's a strait up re theming with the only thing being that there is an app involved now. I own mission to mars (not played yet) and i have owned robinson crusoe. The list specific say's or Tom mentioned it games you can't paste an other theme on. In this case robinson crusoe would be an invalid chooice..
whats different about it... Missions are reworked, actions with dice are the same. Workerplacement is the same concept, if you want to be sure just put 2 action pawns on it. If you want to explore further add more action discks. Solve problems and try to get the objective. Sorry man it's just a re theme with some adjustments here and there. Even the things if you play with fewer players are the same. You get extra action discks. Edit: Moral is the same, still need food is the same.
smolle You are trying to survive in both cases. Some mechanisms are used in both games, but a lot has been reworked in order to bring out the theme of specifically being on Mars. Calling it a pasted on theme means everything (minus the app) should work in Robinson Crusoe, and not everything does with the reworking.
No love for War of the Ring on a top 10 THEME list from ANYONE?! Not even an honorable mention!? I feel about as horrified and betrayed as Elrond must have when Isildur refused to throw the ring into Mt Doom! Me: "Cast it into the ! it!" Tom: (Entranced with his . Then, with menace and a slight smile whispers): "NO." Me: (Shouting, with disbelief and dismay): "TOOOOOOoooooooM!!!"
I agree. In fact these Top 10 lists are starting to be very predictive. There are games on the Top 100 on BGG much more themed but because those are not their favorite games, they will never be on any Top 10 list. It would be a good ideia to talk about those games.
Agreed. I enjoy the game a lot, but thematic? Nope. Any other theme could be slapped on there. And most mechanics don't connect with the theme specifically.
Betrayal at House on the Hill has a great B-movie theme going for it. It's so great, it often leaves you scratching your head and saying, "What? That doesn't make sense," just like a lot of actual B-movies!
actually there is a star ship themed variant. Space Alert : www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/38453/space-alert Although unlike Captain Sonar it isn't team vs team.
War of the Ring deserves to be on at least one of their lists (maybe not top 5, but definitely top 10). I'll chalk that up to personal game preferences and not how well the theme is experienced in the game's gameplay. I do appreciate the great variety of themes they all used in their lists.
I agree. I mentioned on BGG that very same thing. It is truly Lord of the Rings in a box. You guys should pretend you found it in a thrift store and do a segment on it. ;)
Trevin Taylor The Dead of Winter version has some similarities, but I wouldn't call it a reskin. It utilizes the system that Flick 'em Up uses is all. Just because a game can have a similar theme put on it (shootouts in both cases) doesn't mean the theme isn't fully integrated with the game.
MR.skwid 2 except that sounds awesome. A bakery where you throw the ingredients like an episode of I Love Lucy. I'd buy it. People throw pizza dough in the air. The Stooges threw pies. I think you stepped on your own (legitimate) point by making an awesome re theme. Totally serious here, if you have no interest in developing that idea, could I? I can see throwing specific ingredients to specific stations to complete specific recipes. I'd would be gameplay like flick'em, but with focus to goals rather than just player elimination. I think it could be fun. Maybe even a Hell's Kitchen theme where you're throwing the ingredients behind Gordon Ramsey's back to go faster under his high demands. You say "it's not a bakery", but it totally should be. I recent my request for the idea, as I will now just steal it. I like it too much to risk you saying no.
time stories tho!!! yassss robinson crusoe too..we've played a handful of times (it's a little bit of an intricate game) and we've played with jenny a couple of times and i would recommend to, it's cool. i agree on photosynthesis too, even though i'm still waiting to get it in the mail. i got it for my sis in law and to her theme is very important and catchy in a game, i can't wait. i got pandemic legacy 1 for my friends to play together like one year ago and we still need to sit there and actually play..cause we never feel like we're good enough, but i really want to! also i'd mention dominant species, am i right?
Sam, I backed Commissioned after seeing a video you did about it. I got a chance to try it with my parents (my dad is a preacher), and a couple other friends. We had a great time and ended up winning on our last possible action. It exceeded my expectations. Thanks for the recommendation.
Nathaniel Percell this is a very nice game indeed!
I have been curious to play a good religiously themed game, it seems like there are so many out there where they've gotten their message across but didn't put the same effort into game mechanics. So Commissioned has moved onto my want-to-play list... thanks for the recommendation.
Seafall... it takes so long to play you actually feel like you're on a slow boat trying to make it back to land...
Those videos are so much more comfortable to watch in this natural and green setting than they were in the (probably windowless) gaming room. It just feels lively and more uplifting.
Agreed.
I also agree, but I miss getting distracted by the game shelf. ADD needs more than just trees.
Hitchslapped it is indeed a huge improvement and a a great 'selling point' of these videos compared to videos of most other reviewers
+Kenneth Sollenberger
Like butterflies! Everyone loves butterflies!
I actually don't like butterflies. They are just glorified moths.
Captain Sonar as a restaurant theme, one chef, one sous chef, one cook, one waiter and one person to go get food?
i love this natural green background - it makes you guys stand out from other channels and just feels warm and inviting - but you guys already are such a pleasure to watch
"This is the top 10, not the podcast, you need to listen, Okay?"
...
"No, man. I'm just helping him out. Buddy, hey, you got to listen to us, we are not Eric Summerer."
...
"Love you, Eric!"
Zee always crack me up! XD
T.I.M.E. Stories is one of Sam's Theme-tastic games, eh? I'm pretty sure it's also one of his Themeless games on a different list.... Crazy man.
🤣37:17 Zee starts singing The Phantom Menace soundtrack. I just love the way these guys all play off of each other.
So glad you put Millennium Blades. Its super theme. My most played game in my small collection.
I really like Sam & Zee's #1 picks. Despite being a fun game, Dead Men Tell No Tales needs some love. Plus, who doesn't love Fury of Dracula 3rd Ed.
Spirit Island is a game that I've played 3 times this week so far, and it's surprisingly thematic through and through. Nothing pasted on, the theme is so well integrated with the mechanics, you can even consider it all the way to decision making. If you choose powers and actions that feel amazing and are thematic synergies, it will almost always be good actions. We won all 3 games on the turn we wouldn't be able to handle the invader turns, and everyone during the end game discussion/wind down pointed out the fun and thematic stuff our characters did. Love this game!
One of the best Top-Tens in a while. Lots of good discussion and several games that don't get mentioned much otherwise.
Vast: The Crystal Caverns is highly thematic. Each role you can play (knight, goblins, dragon, cave, thief, etc.) has a unique set of rules/mechanics + victory condition designed specifically to capture the theme/story for that role.
Great lists, much to agree with here. My personal top 10 games I own for theme.
Arkham Horror LCG
10. Dead of Winter
9. Churchill
8. Star Wars Rebellion
7. Arkham Horror LCG
6. Agents of Smersh
5. War of the Ring
4. Battlestar Galactica
3. Android - Original not netrunner
2. Mansions of Madness 2.0
1. This War of Mine
So glad this one was posted just today cause it prepares me for our game night tonight! Tom's number 3 had me cracking up so hard!
Great top 10 list guys! Always love the top 10 lists, but this one is thematically fantastic!
This list reminds me that theme in board games has come a long way in the last five years.
I'm surprised Zee didn't mention Atlantis Rising. I can't imagine any other theme working with that system. K2 is another game I feel absolutely relies on its theme and brings that theme out incredibly well.
Great and useful list! Thanks, guys!One game that definitely deserves to be included is the highly thematic, and well made, pirate game, Merchants and Marauders.
I agree with quite a lot of your picks. I think you really missed one though and I kept waiting for it all of the time: Mice and Mystics. Could hardly think of a game which is more thematic and immersive. It just shines with its rich story, adorable characters and overall stunningly beautiful artwork.
Tales of the Arabian Nights has a solid theme. A lot of the best choices come out of the cultural perspective of the Arabian world in the source fiction (like punishing insolent beggars). Once while playing with a friend he was cast into a pit of bodies during a funerary rite for his wife. Looking at the list of choices, he chose "wait," saying "I've read Tales of the Arabian Nights. That's what I should do." Sure enough, it was the best choice.
How did Doomtown Reloaded not make this list? Colt Express and Dice Town over Doomtown? Maybe I'm just partial because I think that is such an underrated game.
Sam is right about the Star Wars theme tho....
So has Captain Sonar pretty much completely obsoleted Space Alert!? Was a little surprised not to see it mentioned...
"Homeland" is extremely thematic.
Hi Sam, Tom and Zee. The world of board games has a strong cult of the new. I would really like to see a top 10 of great retro, nostalgic games from the eighties/nineties or even older (not the plain classic games like chess or poker, but innovative ideas, fun concepts from that time)
There is a reason for that though. Modern board games have legitimately gotten better. This is coming from someone who has fond memories of monsters like Advanced Civilization, who still loves Blood Bowl and Space Hulk, and whose sister bought him a copy of the old mass produced roll and move game "Go For Broke" cause it was one of my favorites as a kid.
Me just realising that Sam thinks TIME Stories is both Theme-tastic and Themeless at the same time 😮
I think Sushi Go! uses it's mechanics to perfectly reinforce it's theme and the theme there is so good that it's become my end all drafting game.
Battlestar Galactica got me into board gaming - Incredible game.
This was by far, the best backdrop they used in their videos
I read the title card as "Top 1 Theme-tastic Games" at first and wondered why the video was almost an hour long.
I personally think you all missed Fresco. While I will admit that you can leave most, and maybe even all of the expansions out of it. The base game is wonderfully thematic. The bishop give you extra recognition (i.e. victory points) if you happen to paint the section where he is. The whole mixing paints have to be done to make logical color changes. The one theme miss is the rigid turn order. First market, then painting the fresco, then painting portraits, then mixing...when you really would want to be mixing before either of those. besides that I think the game delivers wonderfully on theme.
I love Eldritch Horror, but if we're going for Lovecraft I would say Mansions of Madness 2nd edition hits the theme better. Especially with the ambient sounds of the app blaring through your bluetooth speakers.
I was surprised that Legendary Encounters Aliens didn't make Zee's list
Was hoping someone would mention Evolution, great game and very thematic.
Was actually waiting for Sam to say Twilight Imperium.
I totally thought Tom would say Carson City. I can't explain any part of that game without thematic integration! Good lists though!
A Game of Thrones: The Board Game I find to be very thematic. On the face of it, it's an area control/conflict game. But really, it's a game about politicking and strategically making/breaking alliances. You are playing the Game of Thrones.
Star Trek Fleet Captains! Tom has said '...a whole series of Star trek in a box!'
I think there needs to be a new category or term for the Eruo & American style hybrid games currently being released. I'd suggest "Amero" or "Eurothrash"/"Eurotrash").
Tom used to just call them Hybrids, but hasn't lately.
Jake Kamps what's wrong with Hybrid? It's the word you naturally used.
Surprised Sam didn't take this opportunity to get Blood Rage in (not a hater, love the game).
I can't number my faves as my interests shift.
Spirit Island is wonderful! Each spirit being unique but equally important and fun. Smiting and haunting is so much fun!
Kingdom: Death Monster is weird and gruesome. It's above and beyond entertaining how something can die or be horrifically maimed. The lore is deep and cryptic.
Mansions of Madness 2nd edition is old school horror. Running around gathering information and being hunted by unnatural things.
Epic Spell Wars, oh the chaos!
Dead of Winter full co-op is really nice with the crossroads cards adding flavor to the game.
One game I don't like, This War of Mine, is very thick with theme.
I don't know how Twilight Imperium 3rd Edition didn't make Sam's list.
Easily the most thematic game I've ever played. Every component represents something thematic. You are not playing an alien race, you ARE that race while you're playing.
It can't make every list, but theme-tastic? That's an oversight.
Sam here...it wasn't an oversight. While I whole-heartedly agree that TI3 (and now TI4) is one of the best games ever to have been made, and concur that it is a heavily thematic game, the case could be made that (as with most 4X games) one could conceivably wrap any kind of conquest-oriented theme around it, and the game would be just as good. Those that enjoy space-themed games more might not be as enamored with it as they are now, just like those that don't care for space-themed games scratch their 4X itch with another choice.
Believe me, I thought about it. It was not an oversight. Thanks for watching!
Conquest of Planet Earth was one of my earlier favorite games. Back when we had only ten games or so, we owned this one and it was easily third to fifth favorite for a while, even the competitive game. What I found ruined it for me was actually the expansion, adding in naval units or something that granted more victory points ruined what little ballance the game already had and made winning turn 1 far too possible, and the game has fallen off my top 50 list completely. If I were to play it again (which I kind of want to, I really used to love it), I may remove any expansion material save the new alien races.
I don't know if anyone else views it this way, but I always divorce the Setting from the Theme.
Setting: Where the game takes place/Thing you're supposed to be doing.
Theme: Do I "feel" like the person/thing I'm supposed to be/be doing?
Examples:
Marvel Legendary
- Setting: Superheroes tackling a Villain in a comic/movie.
- Theme: Do I feel like a super team battling a villain? Nope; I feel more like we're a group of comic writers trying to write a series by committee.
I feel you can strip the setting from this game and it could be anywhere/anything.
Eldritch Horror
- Setting: 1920's Cthulhu madness.
- Theme: Do I feel like a globe-trotting investigator stopping the madness from coming? Not really, but for the most part, yeah.
I don't really feel like an explorer, but the encounter cards and the die rolls help me feel like I'm a part of the story.
Chris Hanson I agree somewhat, but sometimes the people you are or what you're doing really are the theme
For me, the mechanics and setting should reinforce the theme.
It's weird, but as much as I don't like Marvel Legendary, I can't stop playing the Alien one, and the only change was that Alien gave me a Role.
I feel like my friends and I really playing out the movies and I don't get that same feeling with Marvel.
Are these lists still considered accurate if they wished they made a change during the actual filming of the video?
BigBryan if they really wished to change, they would have. They've done it before.
I'm with Sam on this one.
Having played both, "Rebellion" is infinitely better than "Queen's Gambit". Although the later is a good game, too, IMO there is no comparison regarding thematic application.
Earth Reborn and Doomtown Reloaded for me
what game that they are trying not to say when they are talking about galactica? #curious
where can one buy V-Commandos?
Having played Flash Point and Commissioned I have to say these games really are well integrated with their themes, and quite enjoyable cooperative games. Burgle bros., 1960 the making of a president, and Star Wars Rebellion are ones I would love to try, though aren't likely to be an option any time soon. Really love this list
Why no food-themed games?
And once again: Galaxy Defenders is much more like Xcom than L7 Omega Protocol. :)
I miss the trees
If I had to take a stab at some games I'd say:
Fury of Dracula
Battlestar Galactica
Level 7 [Omega Protocol]
Legendary Encounters : Alien
War of the Ring
Gloomhaven
Spirit Island
Claustrophobia
Dead Men Tell No Tales
Last Night on Earth
BGG's Thematic rankings are terrible. How is Pandemic Legacy more thematic than War of the Ring? Also Die rolls and flavor text with dice rolling don't make a thematic game in my opinion (cough, cough Eldritch horror)
K2 is my most thematic game.
could you do a top 10 of solo board games in some future
LightningBolt Zee did one by himself a while back but a full 3 man list would be cool.
Tom only plays 2 or 3 solo games. Zee has already done a top 10.
Sam might be able to make a Top 10 Solo but since there's only like one game Tom has played solo in who knows how long, not possible for all 3. Tom has stated many, many times he does not play solo board games except in app form. If gaming alone he'd rather just play a video game like Civilization or X-Com.
Strange you dont like Baltar, most interesting character on Battlestar Galactica series. Would be dull without him
The mechanics of Robinson Crusoe look really fun but the theme did nothing for me. Adventures on the Red Planet on the other hand... :)
I bought the game on theme and reputation alone. I had no idea how it played at the time.
Sam and Zee are total trolls on Tom's #3. Classic stuff.
Tom, you missed Time Stories AND Mansions of Madness? MoM is the best!
Fresco it has a great theme
Where would you go with a great idea for a board game, but you wouldn't consider yourself to be a good "game designer?"
Prison Break: Legacy would be amazing!!!
Doesn't every game have a theme? I mean other than gambling games and crossword puzzles, I dont understand this list to be honest.
They're not looking for theme, but for the game that integrated the theme the best. Like if you play a vampire game and the game makes you feel like a vampire. You're playing a tank game and you feel like a tank through the mechanics, that kind of thing.
How about a Top 10 Games for Pen and Paper Role Players?
Twilight Struggle or 1989.
Mysterium
No lord of the rings games from anyone. IN A THEME LIST.
Tired eyes.
Robinson crusoe just got rethemed to mission to mars.... So you don't think it's a good game (mission red planet) then ?
Looks more like a game of managing a ton of cubes to me :
You would be incorrect, then. You actually manage very few cubes typically.
Well it's a strait up re theming with the only thing being that there is an app involved now. I own mission to mars (not played yet) and i have owned robinson crusoe. The list specific say's or Tom mentioned it games you can't paste an other theme on. In this case robinson crusoe would be an invalid chooice..
whats different about it... Missions are reworked, actions with dice are the same. Workerplacement is the same concept, if you want to be sure just put 2 action pawns on it. If you want to explore further add more action discks. Solve problems and try to get the objective. Sorry man it's just a re theme with some adjustments here and there. Even the things if you play with fewer players are the same. You get extra action discks.
Edit: Moral is the same, still need food is the same.
smolle You are trying to survive in both cases. Some mechanisms are used in both games, but a lot has been reworked in order to bring out the theme of specifically being on Mars. Calling it a pasted on theme means everything (minus the app) should work in Robinson Crusoe, and not everything does with the reworking.
why do you guys always mention Battlestar, i find New Angeles a much better game in the same vein...
Gervasn I like 'em both, but semi-co-op is not a co-op/team game, and Battlestar is more thematic.
I really enjoyed this list. I think Viticulture should have been listed, but that's just my opinion. lol
How can I clip where Sam says TIME stories is high thematic and post it to their top 10 themeless games lol
No love for War of the Ring on a top 10 THEME list from ANYONE?! Not even an honorable mention!? I feel about as horrified and betrayed as Elrond must have when Isildur refused to throw the ring into Mt Doom!
Me: "Cast it into the ! it!"
Tom: (Entranced with his . Then, with menace and a slight smile whispers): "NO."
Me: (Shouting, with disbelief and dismay): "TOOOOOOoooooooM!!!"
Maybe they are keeping their secrets.
You guys need to do a list: Top 10 games we've never mentioned in any other list :)
rc7771 that would be a good top ten list and after that they can do top ten top ten lists
Actually, that's a very clever idea for a top10 list
rc7771 agree! Sam put always the same 25 games in these Top10...
I agree. In fact these Top 10 lists are starting to be very predictive.
There are games on the Top 100 on BGG much more themed but because those are not their favorite games, they will never be on any Top 10 list.
It would be a good ideia to talk about those games.
same 25 in the top 10....hmmmm
You can slap any theme on mission red planet. You could make it about kids going to school on school busses and take the best seats in class.
Agreed. I enjoy the game a lot, but thematic? Nope. Any other theme could be slapped on there. And most mechanics don't connect with the theme specifically.
Yeah I agree. I love the game, but its not super thematic. The these is great however.
I think Viticulture is pretty thematic to wine-making and a fantastic game imo.
I think this would be at the top of my list, it just works so well for me because of the theme.
Betrayal at House on the Hill has a great B-movie theme going for it. It's so great, it often leaves you scratching your head and saying, "What? That doesn't make sense," just like a lot of actual B-movies!
I guess in the sense that 95% of the time, b-movies are terrible.
In that case Betrayal perfectly captures it!
This episode had me laughing out loud a few times. The chemistry between you three is very natural and fun.
"They all died."
(literally immediately) "Good."
Zee is the greatest.
Captain Sonar would make an excellent Star Trek game, imo.
actually there is a star ship themed variant.
Space Alert : www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/38453/space-alert
Although unlike Captain Sonar it isn't team vs team.
I think MICE AND MYSTICS and DEAD OF WINTER all inhabit their themes really, really well.
I was really surprised Dead of Winter was not included here.
Love the backdrop of this Top 10!
I definitely think War of the Ring would be number 1 on my list...good selections though.
Raptor in my opinion has amazing Theme.
War of the Ring deserves to be on at least one of their lists (maybe not top 5, but definitely top 10). I'll chalk that up to personal game preferences and not how well the theme is experienced in the game's gameplay. I do appreciate the great variety of themes they all used in their lists.
We came here to say this exact thing! War of the Ring! It's Lord of the Rings in a box, I'm surprised Tom didn't put it on his list
Ditto. Needed to be on this list somewhere.
I agree. I mentioned on BGG that very same thing. It is truly Lord of the Rings in a box.
You guys should pretend you found it in a thrift store and do a segment on it. ;)
Probably because it is too heavy for them, it is quite a long game at around 2 -4 hours
Lol one of us will do a plant, and the other will come in 30 minutes later and "lo and behold!! War of the Ring at a Thrift Store!"
Dice town could be easy rethemed with a las vegas theme
future, post apocaliptic, fantasy...a lot of themes
Or a mafia theme ? Game really isn't thematic at all
guilhermebelmonte1 i
I definitely agree with Commissioned. Good pick Sam. Great theme in this game and so fun to play.
Zee: "They would be feasting on a great man"
Best roast ever.
I miss this backdrop
I love the theme in Bottom of the 9th. I realize that baseball isn't necessarily appealing to most of the world, but the theme really lifts the game.
41:33 Did Sam mean Scotland Yard? On the Underground is
about a lazy passenger - I don't think it's hidden-movement.
War od the Ring - theme and mechanics are inseparable
Oh, oh! Isn't Flick 'em up a theme-tastic game? :)
AlexeyTea the fact that it's coming out with a reskin says no.
Trevin Taylor yes but its still a shoot out.
its not like "quick we have to bake cakes by flicking disks
Trevin Taylor The Dead of Winter version has some similarities, but I wouldn't call it a reskin. It utilizes the system that Flick 'em Up uses is all. Just because a game can have a similar theme put on it (shootouts in both cases) doesn't mean the theme isn't fully integrated with the game.
MR.skwid 2 except that sounds awesome. A bakery where you throw the ingredients like an episode of I Love Lucy. I'd buy it. People throw pizza dough in the air. The Stooges threw pies. I think you stepped on your own (legitimate) point by making an awesome re theme. Totally serious here, if you have no interest in developing that idea, could I? I can see throwing specific ingredients to specific stations to complete specific recipes. I'd would be gameplay like flick'em, but with focus to goals rather than just player elimination. I think it could be fun. Maybe even a Hell's Kitchen theme where you're throwing the ingredients behind Gordon Ramsey's back to go faster under his high demands. You say "it's not a bakery", but it totally should be. I recent my request for the idea, as I will now just steal it. I like it too much to risk you saying no.
Was expecting War of the Ring somewhere. Interesting.
time stories tho!!! yassss
robinson crusoe too..we've played a handful of times (it's a little bit of an intricate game) and we've played with jenny a couple of times and i would recommend to, it's cool.
i agree on photosynthesis too, even though i'm still waiting to get it in the mail. i got it for my sis in law and to her theme is very important and catchy in a game, i can't wait.
i got pandemic legacy 1 for my friends to play together like one year ago and we still need to sit there and actually play..cause we never feel like we're good enough, but i really want to!
also i'd mention dominant species, am i right?
War of the Ring!!!
Secrets of the lost tomb oozes with theme. Do not forget to check out Secrets of the lost station at Gen Con and on KS.
When Tom said it's his Cthulhu game I thought it was a no-brainer it was Mansions of Madness 2nd edition. I laughed when Sam mentioned it. Good times.