It’s that time of the year again where I countdown my top ten games of the year and what a different kind of list it is this year. There is only one game that has been on the list previously with the rest all being picked up at different shows throughout the year. This year I have played a total of 51 different games with a lot being played more than once like D&D, Flip 7 and Wispwood. It was a tough list to write this year as I played so many good games and of course there are a few honourable mentions that didn’t make the final list.
The honourable mentions this year are games that have not previously appeared and are ones I have picked up this year. This year’s honourable mentions are in no particular order are:-
Autobahn,
Dawn of Ulos,
Tiny Epic Mechs,
Star Trek: Captain’s Chair,
Tinderblox,
Origin Story.
10 Tacta
I had never heard of this game until I was given a demo pack at UK Games Expo and saw it being played. I liked the look of it and how it played so I picked up a copy. I’ve played a few games of this now and even though it’s simple, you still need some strategy to get the most points.
9 Vantage
This idea of this game had me hooked from the start. It’s a choose your own adventure style sandbox game with over 1000 cards in the box and it weighs a lot. I picked it up from Airecon NW in August and carried it round Manchester and yes my arms were aching. I’ve not got it to the table much so far but I really enjoyed the idea of choosing cards to build a story of exploration to complete missions and objectives.
8 Scythe – The Rise of Fenris
The only game to appear multiple times on this list but with a twist. We started playing the Rise of Fenris campaign this year and it added so much more to the game with added tactics and objectives. I think Scythe in some form will always appear on this list as it is one of my all time favourite games. I can’t wait to play this again.
7 Kinfire Delve – Scorn’s Stockade
This was a little discovery I made at Airecon NW when I visited the Zatu Trade stand and had a demo game. I really enjoyed the gameplay and the artwork on the cards is amazing. I picked up one of the three available packs at the show and got another for Christmas. The only one I’ve beaten so far is the one I haven’t got!
6 Barbecubes
This is a bit of a different game for me, a dexterity game but I love it! All you do is use a tiny pair of tongs to put food on a barbecue without letting it drop off. I’ve introduced it to family, friends and even the children in Afterschool club and it’s been a big hit.
5 Flip 7
Another simple card game that has been so much fun to play with family and friends but has been extremely popular with the Afterschool club children as they always ask if I have it to play. I even got to meet the creator Eric Olsen when I went to Spiel in October
4 Heroes of Might and Magic III
As a fan of real-time strategy games, this one hits home beautifully. Based on the PC game of the same name, the solo campaign driven combat game has you completing objectives to retake the land from invaders. The combat system is fantastic and the gameplay makes you think and anticipate what the other players are going to do. Building your settlements and recruiting your army gives you the RTS feel on a board. The miniatures are also very detailed and the artwork is based on the PC game. There are expansions that add a fourth player and extra campaign scenarios giving this game replayability.
3 Fate of the Fellowship
One of the most hyped games at UK Games Expo and I couldn’t get a copy until, you guessed it, AireCon NW. This Lord of the Rings themed version of Pandemic lets you guide Frodo and chums across Middle Earth to destroy the One Ring whilst being chased by Ringwraiths. This game is so aesthetically pleasing and the centrepiece Barad Dur dice tower adds to it. I’ve even had the pleasure of meeting the designer Matt Leacock at UK Games Expo and Spiel this year.
2 Wispwood
I had only seen a little bit about Wispwood before going to Spiel and when I got there, it was a huge release. I picked it up on the first day and absolutely loved it. You are a cat collecting wisps and putting them in a grid using Tetris style patterns. There are certain scoring objectives to help you choose what wisps would be better to use to get the highest score. The art for the game is very nice and the piece glow under a UV light adding to the theme. It is a game that gets to the table more than most at the minute as the solo mode is easy to play.
1 SETI
My number one game of the year had to go to the biggest and most hyped game of the year SETI. This game is huge in so many ways especially on the tabletop. The premise is to look and explore space to find alien life through worker placement and card driven strategies. The Space Agencies expansion is a welcome addition as it adds more to the gameplay both in multiplayer and solo. The design is fantastic, the board is huge and the revolving sectors around the sun works so well in gameplay. This will be played a lot over the next few months as I haven’t managed to beat it yet.
So that’s my top ten of 2025! What will I pick up next year? What will make a reappearance on the list? Who knows?
Tabletop Tales 