Contents
- Top 10 rating according to KP
- What other board games are worth paying attention to?
- How to choose a board game
Although in the modern world, various ways of leisure at the computer are becoming more common, whether it be online games or strategies and shooters, board games are still one of the most popular leisure activities for a friendly company on a weekend evening. Today KP will talk about the best board games of 2021.
The choice of a board game for gatherings with friends is not such an obvious thing as it might seem at first glance. There are a great many options for games and mechanics, and it can be difficult even for an experienced person to figure them out right away.
Board games are the oldest form of entertainment, however, this industry does not stand still and is constantly striving to offer the player something new. Games are divided into many types according to such parameters as: the type of items used, the number of players, the level of cooperation, dynamics, and so on.
It is worth paying attention to the level of complexity and dynamics of the game, which is directly related to the characters and hobbies of the players. Some people like slow, turn-based games with advanced strategic and tactical planning, others prefer more dynamic entertainment or games with a role-playing element and deep immersion in the setting.
Top 10 rating according to KP
Editor’s Choice
1. “Jenga” by Hasbro
A time-tested classic. Jenga is an extremely simple game with a very low barrier to entry for new players. The rules are simple: from the same wooden bars (there are options with plastic bars, but they are less convenient) a tower is formed, then the players take turns pulling out the bars from its base and rearranging them to the top of the tower until it collapses. The one who brought down the tower is out. A decent game for a small group of friends who don’t want to bother with complicated rules.
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2. “Rick and Morty: Blow it all up” from Hobby World
An extremely successful board game based on the super popular animated series. This game organically absorbed the spirit of the franchise about the adventures of a downtrodden boy and his brilliant grandfather, an alcoholic scientist. The essence of the game is completely dictated by the cartoon series of the same name (recommended for viewing for the uninitiated before getting to know the game). The players must figure out, by manipulating the action cards, which of the characters represented is a friend and which is an alien parasite. There are two modes: normal, in which players work together, gradually shooting off parasites. And an advanced one that immediately turns the process into a kind of legendary “Mafia”, when each player takes on the role of a character, and the rest of the players must not only deal with friends and parasites already on the table, but also try to find out which of them is theirs or stranger. One of the bestsellers of the 2020-2021 season, the game is great for groups of 4 or more.
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3. Star Wars: Uprising by Hobby World
After the transfer of rights to Star Wars in the hands of Disney, everything related to this franchise received a rebirth. Board games are no exception. A large-scale and truly addictive game for fans of the saga and lovers of multi-level planning. Rebellion appeared in 2018, however, is still one of the top sellers among premium board games. Players will lead one of the factions – the Galactic Empire or the Rebel Alliance. During really long games (up to 240 minutes!) players will fight for control over the planets and their orbits, build ground bases and space stations, recruit soldiers and equipment, build ships and various types of weapons, actively use the game bonuses of the Dark and Light side of the Force. A game for small groups of experienced players.
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What other board games are worth paying attention to?
4. “Cluedo: Sherlock Edition” by Hasbro
Cluedo is a classic American detective game created in 1948, unfamiliar to domestic players. Players take on the role of several characters, and a murder situation is formed by random selection. Players must find out who, what and where committed the crime, collecting clues and clues every turn. It is not surprising that over the years a great many variants of this game have been produced in the setting of famous detective films and series. The successful British series Sherlock merged perfectly with the game mechanics of Cluedo, and in this form this game first hit the market (those in the know may recall the unlicensed adaptation of Theft, but it doesn’t count). Features and various “chips” of the series and its characters were successfully integrated into the game, and the scenario for the “cases” that the players investigate is formed from the plots present in Sherlock. An exciting game for fans of the detective genre.
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5. «Colt Express» by Asmodee
Board game in the style of the Wild West. Players will have to divide the responsibilities among themselves to rob the train and not get caught by the sheriff. Gameplay is shaped by the use of action cards by players to access loot or “gunfights” with the sheriff and his deputies. A fairly fast and easy-to-learn dynamic game that will go well with a dashing cowboy mood.
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6. «One» от Mattel
Extremely easy to learn card game. The goal of the game is to prevent other players from keeping all the cards by laying them out with the same color or image as the last one. Various tricks and “dirty tricks” are used, determined by the abilities of different cards. This game is a great option for people just starting to get acquainted with the world of board games.
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7. “War of the Ring” by GAGA.RU
Another challenging strategy game. Players will have to take control of the armies of the free peoples (the people of Rohan, Gondor, the dwarves of Moria or the elves of Rivendell) or the orcs of Mordor and Isengard from the cult fantasy saga “The Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien. Each faction has its own unique abilities. The game is asymmetric in nature, that is, participants start with different starting indicators and each achieves victory in their own unique way. A beautiful and high-quality game for fans of Tolkien’s world.
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8. Explosive Kittens by Hobby World
A simple and frankly frivolous game that makes fun of many features of the “tabletop”. “Explosive Kittens” was created by a non-professional, and the first money for their publication was collected on the well-known Kickstarter platform. The essence of the game is extremely simple. Players have several action cards in their hand. From the deck in the center of the table, they draw other cards, among which there are “explosive kittens”, by drawing this card the player is eliminated. The winner is the one who never “exploded”.
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9. “Through the Ages: A New History of Civilization” by GAGA.RU
Game in the conditions of various historical epochs. Taking control of one of the nations, the player will have to determine the social system, the features of the economic and political system, declare wars, make peace, develop science, etc. Each choice has its consequences, each political or economic system adopted by the player for his people has a lot of advantages and disadvantages.
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10. “Munchkin” from Hobby World
Another classic “table” in our top. The game is the progenitor of so many modern board games. The aim of the game is to get to the treasure, as the game progresses, players collect various magical items of clothing that give special abilities and potions by “knocking down” doors and defeating the monsters hiding behind them, all this is used against other players to slow down their progress.
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How to choose a board game
With practical advice on choosing the best board game, the owner of a wonderful comic book and gift shop will help us “Comics House” Anna Shiryaeva. The main thing in this process is the pleasure from the process itself.
Who will play
First of all, it is necessary to proceed from the number of players, their passions, education. By law, publishers cannot sell board games that are not age-labeled. It is quite easy to help adults choose the appropriate option according to the principle “The older, the more difficult.”
For parties – we take it easier
For parties with strong drinks, it is better to use simple and compact card games. They are cheaper, so losing them is not so a pity and they are mastered faster.
Don’t forget about the theme
Fans of some specific TV series, movies or franchises will be fine with themed games, even if they do not understand all the subtleties, people will be pleased to play in their favorite scenery. Also, such a game can be a great addition to a theme party.
Expensive gift editions
As a gift for an experienced player, expensive “premium” games are quite suitable. Such a pleasure will cost from 5-6 thousand, but it will bring a lot of pleasure to connoisseurs. Figures in such games are made of high-quality plastic, and most importantly, there is the possibility of customization (coloring and designing figures), which can grow into a full-fledged new hobby.
All the best for guests
For those who like to gather guests often, games for erudition or with elements of physical activity (for example, the famous Twister) are suitable. As a rule, such games belong to the middle price category. Having saved up 4-5 such games, you will have every opportunity to constantly offer guests interesting and not boring entertainment.
Children’s desktops
It is worth paying attention to such a niche product as board games for the little ones. When choosing such games, you should look at the quality and size of the figures, their colorfulness, and the simplicity of the rules. Most often, successful examples of children’s board games combine the qualities of a board game and an ordinary children’s toy.