Originally posted at www.throatpunchgames.com, a new idea everyday!
Everybody else gets to put out there top 10's, well, so do I! Qualifications are I had to review your game in 2014. Only 52 (wow, I play a lot of games!) were selected, and I narrowed it down to 10. Let's see if your favorites on the list.
10- Shadows of Malice-$50- Review here -http://throatpunchgames.com/2014/11/30/ring-side-report-board-game-review-of-shadows-of-malice/ It's not the prettiest one on the list, but it makes up for that in sheer effort. This game covers a ton of ground from world building to theme. It's completely random, but if you don't mind lots of dice rolling, it's a blast for a co-op game.
9-Terra Mystica-$80- Reviewed here- http://throatpunchgames.com/2014/04/09/ring-side-report-board-game-review-of-terra-mystica/ The first euro on the list. This is a fun game, but man is it deep. Think Mariana Trench deep. It's a fantasy game about terraforming, but worker placement and action selection blend together into a beautiful game. Also, you could beat someone to death with the components in the box-lots of wood pieces in this one for a great value.
8- Viva Java: The Coffee Game: The Dice Game- $30- http://throatpunchgames.com/2014/06...w-of-viva-java-the-coffee-game-the-dice-game/ And now the first family game on the list. This one is an extremely light game, but it's got a few sneaky elements of depth that will surprise you. It's quick, teaches in less than five minutes, and you can master this in 10 minutes. Quick fun.
7-Eminent Domain- $40- http://throatpunchgames.com/2014/05/05/ring-side-report-board-game-review-of-eminent-domain/ An awesome 4X game that is also a deck builder with a twist. Every action you take also gives your opponents the same action. That's a fun twist that blows Dominion out of the water for me.
6-Tiny Epic Kingdoms- $20- http://throatpunchgames.com/2014/10/22/ring-side-report-board-game-review-of-tiny-epic-kingdom/ How about a 4X game the fits in your pocket, plays in 45, and has more depth than most games out there? How about if that game costs about as much as a quarter of the other games out there? SOLD!
5-Firefly the Board Game- $60- http://throatpunchgames.com/2014/02/27/ring-side-report-board-game-review-of-firefly-the-board-game/ Take Shadows of Malice and wrap it in an IP I love. Give it awesome components, and you get this amazing game. Randomness can bite you in the butt hard core, but all American-style games like this have that problem.
4-Panamax- $50- http://throatpunchgames.com/2014/12/23/ring-side-report-board-game-review-of-panamax/ Ya, I know, it's a game about moving ships. That might seem boring, but honestly its one of the more impressive semi-cooperative games out there. You can't win unless you invest in the others. You can ship if you don't work together. Lots of tough choices have to be made to make this game work and for you to win. And that a fun brain buster of a game.
3-Sushi Go!- $13- http://throatpunchgames.com/2014/12/23/ring-side-report-board-game-review-of-sushi-go/ It's a drafting game about making the best sushi choices you can. It's quick, it's fun, and you don't need to be able to read to play. Family fun at its best!
2-Skull and Shackles Adventure Deck 2- Raiders of the Fever Sea- $20- http://throatpunchgames.com/2015/01...es-adventure-deck-2-raiders-of-the-fever-sea/ I love the Pathfinder Adventure card game, but I also think this is the best version of it out there. Simply put, you will feel like a pirate and an adventurer as you play this adventure deck.
And finally, NUMBER ONE...
1-Rococo- $60-http://throatpunchgames.com/2014/06/30/ring-side-report-board-review-of-rococo/ Yes, my favorite game of the year is a game about making frilly dresses. No, I don't have a problem with that. Take anything I said about any of the above Euro-style games out there and multiply it. This game has action selection, worker placement, multi-part economies, area control, deck building, multiple paths to victory, and the King of France! If you want a game where you can build the best strategy you can completely different every time, this is your game. I played this game by accident at Origins, but honestly, it's one of the best choices I've made all year.
Everybody else gets to put out there top 10's, well, so do I! Qualifications are I had to review your game in 2014. Only 52 (wow, I play a lot of games!) were selected, and I narrowed it down to 10. Let's see if your favorites on the list.
10- Shadows of Malice-$50- Review here -http://throatpunchgames.com/2014/11/30/ring-side-report-board-game-review-of-shadows-of-malice/ It's not the prettiest one on the list, but it makes up for that in sheer effort. This game covers a ton of ground from world building to theme. It's completely random, but if you don't mind lots of dice rolling, it's a blast for a co-op game.
9-Terra Mystica-$80- Reviewed here- http://throatpunchgames.com/2014/04/09/ring-side-report-board-game-review-of-terra-mystica/ The first euro on the list. This is a fun game, but man is it deep. Think Mariana Trench deep. It's a fantasy game about terraforming, but worker placement and action selection blend together into a beautiful game. Also, you could beat someone to death with the components in the box-lots of wood pieces in this one for a great value.
8- Viva Java: The Coffee Game: The Dice Game- $30- http://throatpunchgames.com/2014/06...w-of-viva-java-the-coffee-game-the-dice-game/ And now the first family game on the list. This one is an extremely light game, but it's got a few sneaky elements of depth that will surprise you. It's quick, teaches in less than five minutes, and you can master this in 10 minutes. Quick fun.
7-Eminent Domain- $40- http://throatpunchgames.com/2014/05/05/ring-side-report-board-game-review-of-eminent-domain/ An awesome 4X game that is also a deck builder with a twist. Every action you take also gives your opponents the same action. That's a fun twist that blows Dominion out of the water for me.
6-Tiny Epic Kingdoms- $20- http://throatpunchgames.com/2014/10/22/ring-side-report-board-game-review-of-tiny-epic-kingdom/ How about a 4X game the fits in your pocket, plays in 45, and has more depth than most games out there? How about if that game costs about as much as a quarter of the other games out there? SOLD!
5-Firefly the Board Game- $60- http://throatpunchgames.com/2014/02/27/ring-side-report-board-game-review-of-firefly-the-board-game/ Take Shadows of Malice and wrap it in an IP I love. Give it awesome components, and you get this amazing game. Randomness can bite you in the butt hard core, but all American-style games like this have that problem.
4-Panamax- $50- http://throatpunchgames.com/2014/12/23/ring-side-report-board-game-review-of-panamax/ Ya, I know, it's a game about moving ships. That might seem boring, but honestly its one of the more impressive semi-cooperative games out there. You can't win unless you invest in the others. You can ship if you don't work together. Lots of tough choices have to be made to make this game work and for you to win. And that a fun brain buster of a game.
3-Sushi Go!- $13- http://throatpunchgames.com/2014/12/23/ring-side-report-board-game-review-of-sushi-go/ It's a drafting game about making the best sushi choices you can. It's quick, it's fun, and you don't need to be able to read to play. Family fun at its best!
2-Skull and Shackles Adventure Deck 2- Raiders of the Fever Sea- $20- http://throatpunchgames.com/2015/01...es-adventure-deck-2-raiders-of-the-fever-sea/ I love the Pathfinder Adventure card game, but I also think this is the best version of it out there. Simply put, you will feel like a pirate and an adventurer as you play this adventure deck.
And finally, NUMBER ONE...
1-Rococo- $60-http://throatpunchgames.com/2014/06/30/ring-side-report-board-review-of-rococo/ Yes, my favorite game of the year is a game about making frilly dresses. No, I don't have a problem with that. Take anything I said about any of the above Euro-style games out there and multiply it. This game has action selection, worker placement, multi-part economies, area control, deck building, multiple paths to victory, and the King of France! If you want a game where you can build the best strategy you can completely different every time, this is your game. I played this game by accident at Origins, but honestly, it's one of the best choices I've made all year.
