Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Reflecting on Board Game Geek's Top 20 Strategy Games List (2022 Edition)

 Wow... So, over six years ago, I wrote a brief article reflecting on Board Game Geek's Top 20 Strategy Games list. At the time, Twilight Struggle had been dethroned by Pandemic: Legacy as the number 1 game, and many other upstarts had infiltrated the list. This time, I'm going to comment on each game. I have not yet played many of them, so my comments shall be steeped in hearsay, a modicum of ignorance, and some degree of snarkiness. Here goes...

1) Gloomhaven: this one is too large, too expansive, and too expensive for me to consider. I own enough games to dissuade me from purchasing this because I want to play the games I own. If I only owned, say, 10 games, though, I'd buy this one. I buy into the hype that this faux dungeon crawler is the best game of its kind.

2) Brass: Birmingham: this one looks like a lot of fun - a real brain burner. Unfortunately, I would have very few people interested in playing this one with me.

3) Pandemic Legacy: meh. I like Pandemic, and I loathe games that require me to deface or destroy components. That's my opinion, and I'm in the United States, where speech is still (somewhat) free.

4) Twilight Imperium, Fourth Edition: like Gloomhaven, I have too many games to justify this purchase, but, boy, am I tempted! Besides, I own Star Trek: Ascendancy, and I have yet to bring that to the table.

5) Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion: very tempting! More condensed Gloomhaven at $40? That's a bargain.

6) Terraforming Mars: ugly card art is very dissuasive. Ares Expedition was a huge improvement in that regard, but I have enough card-driven world builders to cause me to pass on this one.

7) Gaia Project: this one is hugely tempting. Sadly, I have few opponents to play this one and it's a bit too abstract (with a pasted-on theme) to consider it.

8) Through the Ages: I own Nations and like how civilization building is condensed to three hours. If I had the 4-6 hours to play one game, I'd think about Through the Ages.

9) Great Western Trail: I own this one. It's a keeper and strongly recommended - a blend of deck-building (though not primarily so), hand management, point-to-point movement, and (dare I say) racing (at least in the latter part of the game). This is in the right spot on the list.

10) Spirit Island: I don't know much about it except the theme, which didn't excite me. Moving on.

11) Twilight Struggle: it should be top 5, period. Read any review about it and you'll read why.

12) Dune: Imperium: I own this and its expansion (Rise of Ix). It's super fun as a SOLO game, and I can't wait to play it with people. I also can't stop buying third-party components to beautify it. I'm not sure if it should be 11 on this list; it's definitely top 30.

13) Scythe: it masquerades as a "dudes on a map" game, but it boils down to efficiency and resource management. The first 15 turns feel slow and deliberate, but things can escalate quickly. The theme is gorgeous, but somewhat pasted on. I own this and two of its expansions. Scythe could be top 8.

14) Brass: Lancashire: looks awesome; seems deliciously complex. Once again, though, I don't have an audience for this one.

15) Castles of Burgundy: what can be said about this one? I own and love it, even though it's as ugly as other games from its time. Stefan Feld performed some serious alchemy to create this gem.

16) Eclipse: Second Dawn of the Galaxy: if this were even possible to acquire at a decent price in the U.S., I'd break my own acquisition guidelines and buy it! The second iteration is lovely and the game trays look stellar (pun intended)! It's shorter and more Euro-like than Twilight Imperium.

17) A Feast for Odin: I'd love to acquire this one, but I have vowed to sell another Uwe Rosenberg game before I purchase a new one. Hmm... I still think Glass Road is Rosenberg's masterpiece.

18) Concordia: if it weren't for having to "seek the favor of gods," I'd jump at this one. It replaces a few games on my shelf, conceivably. (Update: upon further examination, I chose to buy this one. The "seeking the favor of the gods" aspect is nothing but set collection. No worshiping here.)

19) Terra Mystica: I don't like the theme, and I'd rather get Gaia Project, anyway.

20) 7 Wonders Duel: I may be ignorant about this one, but really?! It's number 20 on the Strategy list?

The also-rans at 21-25 include Orleans, Wingspan, Barrage, Food Chain Magnate, and Viticulture - all great titles to be sure. I wouldn't put Wingspan so high up on the Strategy list, but I can definitely declare that it's one of my personal top 15 games. Also, Food Chain Magnate should be much higher, maybe top 10; because it's somewhat expensive for what you get (the art, though cute and cheeky, doesn't justify the cost) and not easy to acquire, I'm sure many folks have not had a chance to play. Like an independent dramatic film that receives an Oscar nomination, only a small market has truly gotten to appreciate it.

Here are a few more thoughts I have about other games on the list:

  • Lost Ruins of Arnak is an awesomely designed and beautiful game, but it shouldn't be on the Strategy list at 28.
  • Caverna is at 35 and Agricola is at 43... Way too low for either title.
  • Puerto Rico is a personal favorite, and I have no problem with it at 39. It hasn't aged that well; there are many more excellent strategy games.
  • Tzolk'in is at 46, but should be higher. It's a worker placement game that rewards patience; you pull your workers too early and you miss out on better goods or benefits. Plus, you have to think turns ahead to anticipate when you would need those better items.
  • Le Havre should be higher up the list than 49, though some have said that it's a solved game (steel strategy?)
  • Power Grid at 51... Hmm, sure.
  • Mombasa (at 66) has slid down about 30 places compared to a few years ago, but (outside of the theme) this game is a gem.
  • I'm willing to accept 7 Wonders at 73 on this list. It's my go-to Next Step game.
  • Isn't Trajan just too clunky (compared to games now) to be at 80?
  • Wow, Watergate is at 95...
  • Glass Road, Lewis & Clark, and Robinson Crusoe belong in the top 100.
  • Two-player Carcassonne with the base set only is supremely strategic; it would be top 20 easy.

That's it for my opinions. What are your thoughts?