The Best Board Games of 2010

What were the best new board games of 2010?

Now that 2010 is fading into the distant past, it’s time to take a look at which new board games and card games that were published in 2010 are the best of the bunch. With hundreds of new board games and card games published each year, it’s not an easy task. And even though we love games, there’s no way we’re going to play every game available.

In fact, we’re only going to play a very small fraction of the board games out there. And chances are that the same applies to you. You may only pick up a few new games for your family this whole year.

That’s why it’s great to have sources to turn to that can help you narrow down your selection of great games to play. One of the best sources we turn to for finding out about board games is Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com). But with over 50,000 games in the BGG database, going through them can still be a daunting task.

You’re in luck then that each year The Dice Tower compiles a condensed list of the best games of the year.

The Dice Tower Annual List
For those that aren’t familiar with The Dice Tower, it’s a weekly podcast that covers the board game industry – from gaming news and reviews of new games to gaming topics and a wide range of Top 10 lists. They also create hundreds of video reviews of new games every year to help you find games that you’ll enjoy.

And every summer, with the help of game reviewers worldwide, they compile and publish the best games of the year in various categories. Thus, the annual Dice Tower “best” list isn’t just their personal opinions, but rather a combined effort of a multitude of game reviewers around the world.

But The Dice Tower doesn’t stop there. They also publish the list of nominees so you can see the list of which games are in contention – giving you an even broader perspective of fantastic games.

The Dice Tower Nominations for 2010

Game of the Year:
7 Wonders
Alien Frontiers
Dominant Species
Fresco
Merchants and Marauders

Best Family Game:
Forbidden Island
Nuns on the Run
Wits and Wagers Family
Wok Star
Zombie Dice

Best Party / Word Game:
Prolix
The Resistance
Telestrations
Wits and Wagers Family
Zombie Dice

Most Innovative Game:
7 Wonders
Catacombs
Innovation
String Railways
Wok Star

Best War Game:
Commands and Colors: Napoleonics
Hornet Leader
Labyrinth
Phantom Leader
Washington’s War

Best Game Expansion:
Cosmic Incursion – Cosmic Encounter
Doomgate Legion – Thunderstone
Dixit 2 – Dixit
Prosperity – Dominion
Wrath of the Elements – Thunderstone

Best Game Reprint:
Code 777
Dungeonquest
Survive: Escape from Atlantis
Triumvirate
War of the Ring: Collector’s Edition

Best Game Designer:
Antoine Bauza – 7 Wonders
Tory Niemann – Alien Frontiers
Ryan Amos / Marc Kelsey / Aron West – Catacombs
Crhstiain Marcussen – Merchants and Marauders
Tim Fowers – Wok Star

Best Game Artwork:
7 Wonders
Fresco
Isla Dorado
Merchants and Marauders
Thunderstone: Wrath of the Elements

Best Game Production:
Dust Tactics
Earth Reborn
Horus Heresy
Merchants and Marauders
Runewars

Best Small Publisher:
Clever Mojo Games – Alien Frontiers
Gary Games – Ascension
Sand of Time – Catacombs
Asmadi Games – Innovation
Sirlin Games – Puzzle Strike

Why does it take until the summer of 2011 to find out the best games of 2010?
Because a lot of games just won’t stand the test of time. Some games get a lot of hype when they first come out. But after a while, and after many people have had a chance to play it a number of times, the novelty wears off and it turns out that they aren’t really great games. So a true test of great games are those that continue to get repeated plays and get stronger as they go.

We know which games we’re hoping to see at the top of the list when awards are given in a few months. How about you? Which board games and card games do you think are the best of 2010?