The 6 best board games of the year so far (2024)

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The 6 best board games of the year so far (1) Photo: Stonemaier Games

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The year’s slow start gives you plenty of time to focus on these gems

By Charlie Theel

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The early portion of the year is always slow for tabletop releases. The deluge begins in the summer once convention season kicks off and then carries on through the holidays. Despite the transition period we’re now in, there has been a small collection of exciting new games that have emerged. These six titles contain innovative ideas, creative adaptations, or clever twists on existing systems.

This list is not ranked. Instead, titles are offered in alphabetical order.

Dune: War for Arrakis

The 6 best board games of the year so far (2) Image: CMON

Publisher CMON Games is best known for its enormous, sprawling miniatures games. Dune: War for Arrakis is no different, offering a two-hour epic battle for control of Arrakis. One player takes on the role of the Harkonnens, while the other wields the might of the Atreides. You will gather spice with harvesters, maneuver troops such as the Fremen and Sardaukar, and seek to fulfill ancient premonitions.

This game is highly asymmetrical, playing similarly to designers Marco Maggi and Francesco Nepitello’s previous board game, War of the Ring. Just like that Lord of the Rings epic, Dune: War for Arrakis is a rich and evocative experience that teases out dramatic moments that could have appeared in the book. While this is primarily a two-player game, it does support up to four players with a team format. This game has arrived at a perfect time, releasing in tandem with the fantastic new film and standing tall on the table like a Fremen atop Shai-Hulud.

Gloomhaven: Buttons & Bugs

Gloomhaven meets Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” is quite the pitch. In Gloomhaven: Buttons & Bugs, a single player controls a shrunken hero in search of a solution to their plight. The magical spell can only be removed by Hail, the Aesther recluse renowned for her exploits in the original Gloomhaven storyline. You will battle insects and obstacles along the way, ultimately either finding success and lifting the curse, or suffering defeat before you’ve had a chance to establish your heroic legacy.

This Gloomhaven spinoff was originally a fan-made print-’n-play called Gloomholdin’. It has been given further development and reworked into this new product, released officially by Cephalofair Games. It’s inexpensive, compact, and easy to get played as a result of being a dedicated solitaire experience. The fact that it’s able to broadly capture some of the Gloomhaven spirit is remarkable, and it’s quite an enjoyable play.

Gloomhaven: Buttons & Bugs

  • $20

Prices taken at time of publishing.

• 1 player, age 14+

• Playtime: 20-30 minutes

• Similar games: Legacy of Yu, One Deck Dungeon

Mythwind

Cooperative adventure game Mythwind is unusual in that it’s very laid-back and chill. Players work together to build a new town in the magical Mythwind Valley. Magical creatures, odd characters, and engaging story encounters litter the area, waiting to be discovered. The goal is to explore the surrounding countryside while also constructing the town. The player characters develop over time and become more proficient in their specific professions.

The central conceit of Mythwind is that it doesn’t properly end. Lacking a solidified finale, players can continue to play the game indefinitely. Eventually the content may be exhausted, but there is no hard cutoff or forced end time. The story elements interact with player discovery as well as the evolving town. Seasons and characters change over time, affording new quirks and touching moments. This is a game devoid of the typical pressure constraints, instead allowing you to mosey about at your leisure.

Mythwind

  • $110

Prices taken at time of publishing.

• 1-4 players, age 13+

• Playtime: 30-60 minutes

• Similar games: Lands of Galzyr, Stardew Valley: The Board Game

Spark Riders 3000

In Spark Riders 3000, up to four players become the crew of the Spark, an advanced spacecraft with sophisticated AI. You are tasked with traversing dangerous sectors and delivering cargo to the various corners of the galaxy. On your journey you will encounter aliens, pirates, and various phenomena. You will overcome these challenges through teamwork, conflict, and puzzle-solving.

Spark Riders 3000 is a cooperative adventure that blends tower defense with narrative and mystery. Much of the game is app-driven, as various encounters are thrown your way unexpectedly. At certain points in the game you will need to perform skill checks or make important decisions, each of which affects the flow of story and outcome of the challenge. This is a streamlined and efficient design that is easy to teach and internalize, but it offers a creative environment with an enticing underlying tension, as the application keeps you engaged and focused. It’s a very modern and exciting experience.

Spark Riders 3000

  • $48

Prices taken at time of publishing.

• 1-4 players, age 10+

• Playtime: 60-90 minutes

• Similar games: Space Alert, Galaxy Trucker

Star Wars: Unlimited

The 6 best board games of the year so far (7) Photo: Charlie Hall/Polygon

Star Wars: Unlimited is familiar. Instead of reaching for innovation, it marries concepts from several other collectible card games, applies the Star Wars license, and produces a very brisk head-to-head battler for both competitive and casual play. What is surprising about this new CCG is that it’s so damn good.

Make no mistake, this is not an overly deep or rich design. But for a 20-minute experience with virtually no waste of mechanisms or effort, it allows for creative deck building and subtle combinations. Even the prebuilt starter decks stand up to many plays. This is an exceedingly joyful card game that has blown up in popularity during its initial release, stealing much of Disney Lorcana’s thunder. While it may be difficult to find boosters right now, more product is coming, and we fully expect it to continue its steep ascent.

Star Wars: Unlimited - Spark of Rebellion Two-Player Starter

  • $35

Prices taken at time of publishing.

• 2 players, age 12+

• Playtime: 20 minutes

• Similar games: Magic: The Gathering, Disney Lorcana

Wyrmspan

It’s no surprise that the sequel to smash hit Wingspan is such a thoughtful and focused product. Wyrmspan trades out birds for dragons, putting players into the position of clearing out cave systems to house their mythical sanctuaries. The game plays very similarly to its predecessor, retaining the core system of drawing and playing cards to your personal board. Your creatures still lay eggs, provide special abilities when placed, and sometimes offer endgame scoring.

This new approach benefits players from top to bottom, and it all has to do with the sincerity given to its setting. It would be unfair to call it simply a reskin, as several of the systems have been tweaked in various ways to add light touches of narrative and environment. Clearing out caves via exploration, attending to the whims of the dragon guild, and raising little hatchlings all help to weave a larger narrative. The box even includes a separate reference manual detailing each of the fictional dragon species in the game. It’s wholly committed, and that attitude is expressed in the various aspects of gameplay.

You can read our full review of Wyrmspan here.

Wyrmspan

  • $65

Prices taken at time of publishing.

• 1-5 players, age 14+

• Playtime: 90 minutes

• Similar games: Wingspan, Ark Nova

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The 6 best board games of the year so far (2024)

FAQs

What is the number 1 best board game? ›

The best-selling board game of all time is chess. It has been one of the best board games to play around the world since it was first introduced in 1200 C.E. The total number of chess sets sold since the game's introduction is unknown, but more than three million sets are still sold yearly in the United States alone.

Which is the most popular board game in the world? ›

Monopoly is the best selling modern board game of all time, with 275 million copies sold. It has sold 1.83 times as many copies as Scrabble or Clue. 5 titles have sold in excess of 100 million titles (Monopoly, Scrabble, Clue, Battleship and Trivial Pursuit).

What is the longest board game ever played? ›

The Campaign for North Africa
DesignersRichard Berg
Publication1978
GenresMilitary simulation
Players2–10
Playing timeUp to 1,500 hours
3 more rows

What is the oldest board game? ›

Senet, found in Predynastic and First Dynasty burials of Egypt, c. 3500 BC and 3100 BC respectively, is the oldest board game known to have existed. Senet was pictured in a fresco painting found in Merknera's tomb (3300–2700 BC).

What is the most classic board game? ›

If you're trying to find the best and most popular board game in history, you may be surprised to learn that it's a contest between three classics: chess, Monopoly, or Backgammon. Backgammon is the oldest of the bunch, so wins in terms of stubborn longevity.

What is the rarest board game? ›

Here are the seven rarest boardgames of all time.
  • THE LANDLORD'S GAME FIRST EDITION. The Landlord's Game is the prototype for the modern-day Monopoly. ...
  • MONOPOLY – HANDMADE SET FROM 1933. ...
  • CHARLES HOLLANDER ROYAL DIAMOND CHESS SET. ...
  • CHARLES HOLLANDER BACKGAMMON. ...
  • JEWEL ROYAL CHESS SET.
Nov 1, 2020

What is the most sold board game of all time? ›

Highest Selling Board Games of All-Time
  • #8 - Battleship. ...
  • #7 - Trivial Pursuit. ...
  • #6 - Clue. ...
  • #5 - Scrabble. View this post on Instagram. ...
  • #4 - Monopoly. View this post on Instagram. ...
  • #3 - Backgammon. View this post on Instagram. ...
  • #2 - Checkers. View this post on Instagram. ...
  • #1 - CHESS! View this post on Instagram.
Jan 27, 2022

What is the most skillful board game? ›

  • Chess. Skills taught: Focus, concentration, planning, critical thinking, and good sportsmanship. ...
  • Monopoly. Skills taught: Money management, investing, buying and selling, cause and effect, and how to be financially responsible. ...
  • The Game of Life. ...
  • Settlers of Catan. ...
  • Kloo. ...
  • Chutes and Ladders.

What is the #1 popular game? ›

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG)

Looking purely at the number of active players worldwide, PUBG is comfortably at the top of the most popular games pile right now, with over 100 million gamers enjoying this Battle Royale classic.

What board game takes forever? ›

Monopoly is pretty notorious for being a long game, and while many families can sit through a playthrough in under two hours, there are plenty of examples online of people playing for days. The longest game of Monopoly took 1,680 hours to complete, which equates to 70 days!

Has anyone ever played all 162 games? ›

Following Freeman's first 162-game season in 2014, he did it again in 2018. Olson played 162 in 2022 and 2023, joined in 2022 by Dansby Swanson. "It's a mental commitment," said Swanson, now with the Chicago Cubs. "No matter how you feel, it's a commitment to play and perform each and every day.

What game is top 1? ›

Top 10 Most Popular Online Games in the World: 2024 Rankings...
  • Minecraft. ...
  • PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) ...
  • World of Warcraft (WoW) ...
  • Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) ...
  • Among Us. ...
  • Apex Legends. ...
  • Roblox. ...
  • Valorant.
Feb 28, 2024

Is there a 1% board game? ›

1% Club Board Game from IDEAL

Compete with 3-6 players to make it to the end of the quiz and answer a question only 1% of the country can get right. Win up to £100,000 in prize money by proving you're one of the top quizzers in the nation!

What is the best 5 player board game? ›

Funko Games Scream The Game Party Game Ages 13 and Up for 3-8 Players
  • board games. ticket to ride board game. pandemic board game.
  • gloomhaven. wingspan. catan.

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