My Top 10 games of 2015

Last year, I gave you my top 20. This year, 10 is all you get. I wanted to see what the list would look like if I forced myself to make some decisions. And since I didn't look at last year's list when I made this one, certain things simply moved up or fell off. The way my heart was motivated this year was a combination of how easy it was to teach to new players and how much fun I have playing them. There's lots of shake up this year so let's get right to it.

10. Legends of Andor
Cost: Mid $20-$45
Complexity: Mid
Components: Whoa
Chrono: 60ish mins
​This is a great cooperative game that has you playing the typical tropes of any good dungeon crawl trying to puzzle your way through different scenarios. The art is amazing and bits are fantastic quality and the gameplay is pretty simple to grasp. This game has been much higher on my list for the past few years, but lack of expansion support has really hampered my feelings towards it. English expansions are supposedly coming out soon, so it may get a bit higher next year again.

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9. Jamaica
Cost: Mid $20-$45
Complexity: Low
Components: Bunch
Chrono: 30-60mins
Race your pirate ship around the island and grab loot as you go. The artwork is delightful and the card driven movement makes this simple and fun to play. Component quality is very good and you can even enjoy making a panorama with your cards when it's all over.

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8. Mage Knight
Cost: High > $45
Complexity: Mid-High
Components: Whoa
Chrono: 60+ mins
​A new entry on the list; one I've been eyeballing for a while and now have two solo plays under my belt. This game is a virtual cornucopia of mechanisms- dice rolling, deck building, exploration, pre-painted minis, scenario driven gameplay, etc. Even though I've only got 2 plays under the belt, this is something I can't wait to get back to the table. 

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7. DC Deckbuilding
Cost: Mid $20-$45
Complexity: Low
Components: Little
Chrono: 60ish mins
In years past, DC has shared it's spot with the Marvel Legendary. As of this year, I have finally come to the decision that I like DC better. It just gets to our table way more often (more than 3x as much). Great card game with plenty of expansions and variations to play the game. The base game box is kind of empty to start with, but it can accommodate just about everything that is now currently printed. The mechanisms are simple to grasp and, even after several expansions, the key vocabulary hasn't changed much so that adding those expansions won't have you running to the rule book each time you play.

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6. Adventurers: The Pyramid of Horus
Cost: Mid $20-$45
Complexity: Mid
Components: Bunch
Chrono: 30-60mins
A Ritz Household favorite! If we have you over, we will probably make you play. Push your luck as you raid the mummies' tomb. Don't dawdle too long or you could be trapped in there with them for the rest of eternity. I still would recommend either purchasing the painted minis separately or give a whirl painting the pieces yourself if you are the crafty type. If not, thankfully, they include snap on colored bases to help distinguish who is who.

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Honorable Mentions
They didn't make the list, but you should give them a whirl: Twilight Imperium 3 (8 hours long), War of the Ring (out of print and 4 hours long). Hoplomachus (too difficult to get a copy of- only available through their website chiptheorygames.com). All three are absolutely terrific games and if you have the opportunity, play them or get them! And the one that just missed the list... Discoveries, a dice rolling worker placement game set in the travels and adventures of Lewis and Clark. STUNNING artwork.

5. Bang the Dice Game
Cost: Low <$20
Complexity: Low
Components: Little
Chrono: about 30 mins 
This is a raucous dice rolling game. If you can play Yahtzee, you can play this game. I'm always a fan of spaghetti westerns and this delivers in spades. Hidden roles and unique special abilities makes this game a fun party style game. The only downside is that every once in a while, with 6 or more players, someone can be eliminated before they ever get a turn. But the game is over so fast, that there is always another game after that one, and another one after that, and another...

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4. Dead of Winter
Cost: High > $45
Complexity: Mid-High
Components: Whoa
Chrono: 60+ mins
Up 4 spots from last year, this is a semi-cooperative zombie game where someone might be a betrayer. The things that I pointed out last year that are still standouts: a) the art work is not overly gross, b) the cards have a little icon on the bottom of some of the cards that note which aren't appropriate for younger players, and c) They give long and short versions of the scenarios to play through. They also just released a companion app that will read those cards aloud for you. It's a buck, but I think well worth it.
House Rule: After playing 10 times this year, I would say playing with 5 or more players tends to increase player downtime considerably. Either avoid it or be up front about it and allow people to get up from the table every once in a while.

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3. Pandemic
Cost: Mid $20- $45
Complexity: Mid
Components: Bunch
Chrono: 30-60 mins
In this cooperative thriller, you are trying to save the world from several diseases that are striking all at once! Move yourself around the board to wipe out pockets of virus and use interactive set collection to develop cures. Quick and easy to learn. I would also argue that the expansions don't add much to this game. Keep it simple with just the base set. On another note, they just came out with a new edition called Pandemic Legacy in which the game itself changes as you play one game to the next. So in essence, after 2 or 3 games, your copy would not play the same as my copy of the game. First reactions on the internet are very favorable for this newest edition. 

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2. Colt Express
Cost: Mid $20- $45
Complexity: Low
Components: Bunch
Chrono: 30-60 mins
This is a great spaghetti western themed game. You're train robbers trying to loot the passengers and get the best of one another. You use programmed movement to run along the train, punch and shoot other players, and snatch up the loot. This is a VERY FUN game. Every time I've played it, everyone at the table turns around and plays another game right after it. I listed components as Bunch because there is a bit of work on the front end constructing the train cars, but it is a one time activity and after that you can just jump right into the action. 
House Rule: The character Doc is a little over powered with his extra card each turn, so I would let younger players have him or keep him in the box until he is absolutely needed. 

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1. Robinson Crusoe
Cost: High > $45
Complexity: High
Components: Whoa
Chrono: 60ish mins
For all the same reasons as last year: This is a fantastic game! It is difficult and heavy, and you will lose more than you win! Set your workers to work hunting beasts, gathering resources, building necessary tools, exploring the island, and more. Depending how you go about accomplishing those things, you may not succeed, but it will only make you more determined. Use your special powers by spending determination tokens to get a slight edge toward achieving your goals. Robinson Crusoe is simply dripping with theme! The board looks great and there are lots of bits and pieces. There are several different scenarios to play through and so many cards to setup with that the replay-ability is extremely high. And best of all... the creator has released a blank scenario so you can write your own if you wish! I am almost finished with my own personal scenario: Island of Misfit Toys. I've spent quite some time, effort, and resources to upgrading my copy of this game and if you every are over to the house and want to try something a little more difficult, just ask; I'll have it out and on the table in a heartbeat!

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