Golden Geek Awards 2015!

The geeks have spoken! Board Game Geeks annual awards ceremony has just finished in which games are both nominated and voted on by the world wide community of board gamers. Who are the lucky winners!? Who are the disappointed runners up!? How much are we going to whine about the selections!? Read on to find out!

 

Board Game of the Year – Pandemic Legacy: Season 1

Pandemic what? I’ve not come across this before. Number 1 on Board Game Geek you say? Well I guess that explains it! Seriously though I don’t think anyone thought this wasn’t going to happen and it deserves it in my opinion.

Runners Up – Codenames, 7 Wonders: Duel

2-Player Game – 7 Wonders: Duel

7 Wonders, wait I’ve heard of those! I certainly didn’t get the hype for this game when it was released but then I’m not a rabid fan of 7 Wonders (it’s a very good game it just never set my world on fire). Tides of Time is still higher on my ‘to play’ list but I think I had better add 7 Wonders: Duel to it as well!

Runners Up – Tides of Time, Baseball Highlights: 2045

 

Artwork & Presentation – Mysterium

A well deserved win here! Even if I don’t like the ghostly art vibe as much as the simpler old mansion style of the original release (Tajemnicze Domostwo). The dream cards are as beautiful as ever and the new components included in the Western release (especially the ghost player screen) are fantastic.

Runners Up – T.I.M.E Stories, Above and Below

 

Card Game – 7 Wonders: Duel

It’s a duel and it has won two awards…! Seriously though, to take overall card game as well as the 2-player award shows that I really need to play this game! (Although secretly I’m still more interested in The Grizzled and Arboretum… why am I so anti-7 Wonders Duel hype?? This is weird)
Runners Up – The Grizzled, Arboretum

 

Expansion – Ticket to Ride Map Collection: Volume 5 – United Kingdom & Pennsylvania

It’s difficult to get excited about expansions if you’ve not played the base game (no don’t look at my shelves of Kickstarter games! I’m a reformed man I swear!) but I’ve actually played all of these base games! But none of the expansions :/ That said, the huge popularity of Ticket to Ride leaves me unsurprised, particularly here in the UK where a UK map always captures our imagination.

Runners Up – Roll for the Galaxy: Ambition, Five Tribes: The Artisans of Naqala

 

Family Game – Codenames

I’ve had so much fun with Codenames! You can find my review here and some stories of Chris’ more epic games here. I even managed to play it with my Mum, who never plays board games, so I don’t think I could possibly agree more with this award!

Runner Ups – Mysterium, Between Two Cities

 

Innovative – Pandemic Legacy: Season 1

Ok. I’m not standing for this one! Given that Pandemic Legacy is based off of both Pandemic and Risk Legacy I cannot describe it as more innovative than the runners up. It represents a significant evolution of the concepts laid down in Risk Legacy, and it is a fantastic achievement and a great game, but is it a true innovation? From my perspective either of 504 or T.I.M.E. Stories represent more innovative concepts, even if they might not be better games (I can’t speak to this… yet).

Runners Up – 504, T.I.M.E Stories

 

Party Game – Codenames

Hell yes! Although I’m surprised Spyfall didn’t make the cut.

Runners Up – Mysterium, Flick ’em Up!

 

Print & Play – Dune: The Dice Game

Print & Play games are an avenue I have not yet explored, although I recall Deep Space D-6 running a successful Kickstarter last year. Sadly, I expect Dune: The Dice Game may struggle to get a release given the Dune license is so inaccessible. Perhaps a re-theme could be possible?

Runners Up – Deep Space D-6, Beyond Baker Street

 

Solo Game – Tiny Epic Galaxies

Fascinating. Much like last years win by Imperial Settlers, the solo game winner does not go to a dedicated solo game. I wonder if this is because Tiny Epic Galaxies is more widespread.

Runners Up – Hostage Negotiator, Baseball Highlights: 2045

 

Strategy Game – Pandemic Legacy: Season 1

Ok Pandemic Legacy! We get it, you’re awesome, geez.

Runners Up – 7 Wonders: Duel, The Voyages of Marco Polo

 

Thematic Game – Pandemic Legacy: Season 1

I said we get it!

Runners Up – T.I.M.E Stories, Blood Rage

 

Wargame – Churchill

Ah war games, a mysterious yet intriguing place that due to the low player counts typically involved, have not been a genre I’ve had chance to explore. However, Churchill is not a traditional wargame, instead an exploration of the political wranglings between the allied powers leading up to the end of WW2. Definitely a fascinating slice of history I know tragically little about. I need to find two opponents and a day to give this one a shot.

Runners Up – Triumph & Tragedy, The U.S. Civil War

 

Once again I have managed to play far too few of these (3/8, although if I count awards I hit a much higher percentage…). The best thing about these awards is it focuses my to play list for the next couple of months nicely!

How well did the winners match with your expectations/votes? Any games you feel missed out on an award? Share your thoughts in the comments!