Top 10 Games of 2017 I Still Want to Play

As hard as I try each year to play all the big releases, it is always a Sisyphean task. As I did last year, here are the games from 2017 that the world says are great, and I wish I could play!

The order of this list was determined by their order in the Board Game Geek rankings. I simply worked from top to “bottom” (as far as I could be bothered to go!) through the 2017 releases and picked out the games that I’m still most interested in trying. I also highlight a few honorary mentions and, even further down, discuss some of the popular games that I’m less interested in (and why!) If you have any thoughts or questions on my choices, drop me a question in the comments!

7th Continent

This is a shocking entry for me because… well… because it’s sat on my shelves at home! And has been since the Kickstarter fulfilled last year! This neglect is not because I don’t want to play it, far from it! Rather that I hope to try it with my wife as it seems like the kind of game we might enjoy together. But that has had to wait until we finish Pandemic Legacy S2, which is still waiting to be finished because real life is so busy! A tragic victim of circumstances this one.

Spirit Island

The most thematically interesting co-op in years, coupled to a deep, varied, complex mechanical system? That’s a recipe for awesomeness make no mistake! Didn’t have the money for the Kickstarter at the time though and it’s not the cheapest game to pick up at retail. One day I’ll get to incinerate some colonists.

Charterstone

Charterstone got a bit of a mixed reception from critics but having always at least enjoyed Stonemaier Games previous releases, this was always on my list to try. The Legacy elements are even more exciting to me but also the main challenge in getting it played. A regular group is needed and that is difficult for me to arrange.

Near and Far

Another Kickstarter that escaped me! Near and Far looked fascinating, especially the wonderful ring binder of maps. I did eventually get to try out a ring binder map system with Stuffed Fables but Near and Far absolutely retains its appeal. Again, the campaign system is both incredibly appealing and a potentially major road block to me experiencing it.

Sagrada

Sagrada is the pretty little dice game that could! It’s shiny, colourful spreads of dice popping up all over social media since its release. I’d love to get in a play of this cute dice puzzle and seeing as how I know at least two people with a copy, that really ought to be something I could organise at some point!

Magic Maze

Such an intriguing game! Especially after it’s Spiel des Jahres nomination. I do like this genre of restricted communication co-ops, so the big red marker of “Do the Move! No! The Right Move!” just sounds hilarious to me.

Quest for El Dorado

The other Spiel des Jahres nominee from last year. This one took a little while to make the distribution jump into English and, as such, was another very good family weight game that slipped buy me in the rush. I’m a big fan of deck building, so experiencing the Reiner Knizia deck builder is high on my list… as you can see!

Heaven & Ale

Not attending Essen last year has made it that much harder to try the big Euro releases and while I’ve managed to try a fair number now, Heaven & Ale is one that is still on the to-do list. Especially after its recent Kennerspiel nomination! Plus, you know, ale brewing monks, what’s not to love?

Nusfjord

Another big Euro release, one that was even on my Top 10 of Essen list last year! Nusfjord is Uwe Rosenberg’s latest big worker placement game and while it took me a long time to finally try a Rosenberg, I’m now very much on board with trying as many more of his games as I can. Even if this one does smell a bit fishy…

Legacy of Dragonholt

I’m technically jumping a long way down the BGG rankings to get to this one, but that’s only because BGG occasionally lets its ignorant underbelly get in the way of things. Legacy of Dragonholt is a wonderful premise with a wonderful focus on diverse and interesting characters. It’s story first, and I would really like to experience it!

Honourable Mentions

These are all highly rated games that I’m certainly curious to play, but probably won’t prioritise.

Twilight Imperium 4th Edition – I’ve played 3rd Edition so I’ve kind of mostly played it, but I also haven’t, strictly speaking…

Mythic Battles Pantheon – massive plastic miniatures? Yes please! Fairly clever system? Even better.

Queendomino – loved Kingdomino. Curious to try this sequel.

Fox in the Forest – super clever, small card games are hard to say no to.

Downforce – just sounds like really great fun.

London 2nd Edition – a classic game, now available in a stunning production.

Lords of Hellas – see Mythic Battles Pantheon.

Wasteland Express Delivery Service – the theme puts this on the edge of disinterest for me but I’ve heard enough good things to tempt me, especially as a good pick up and deliver is a relatively rare occasion.

Fog of Love – such a fascinating game! I’m not entirely sure who I would ever want to play it with though, which is the only reason it’s not in the top list!

Top Games I Don’t Mind Missing

There are always more games than you can play, so a line has to be drawn somewhere. These are the other highly rated games that I’m ok with not playing. That’s not to say I couldn’t be convinced, but I’m not hunting these down.

Dinosaur Island

Is it the psychedelic colour scheme? The somewhat generic worker placement? The now impossible to get hold of custom dino meeples? I’m not sure, but I have plenty of worker placement games in my history, I simply don’t need more unless they do something properly interesting.

Too Many Bones

I have felt continually confused as to what this game is and why it’s so highly rated. That’s probably laziness on my part. 

Photosynthesis

While still as beautiful as ever it was, I’ve read so much about Photosynthesis when it was hot that, now, I’m just not that excited for it.

Bunny Kingdom

Another game I’ve heard good things about but has always been just outside my sphere of interest and, given the list I already have to work through, it doesn’t seem worth dragging in for the sake of it.

Sword & Sorcery

What is this game? I have never even heard of this game!

Caverna Cave vs Cave

Caverna is great! But I really don’t need a two player version of it when I just don’t have the space or time to play two player games that often.

Massive Darkness

Fantasy Zombicide is just not of interest. I had my time with Zombicide, I enjoyed it well enough! But I don’t need more of it.

Outlive

I’m not that into post apocalypse games in general, they are all a bit too stuck in the 80s artistically. Outlive might well be one of the better ones, but I’m still ok letting it pass me by.

5 Minute Dungeon

I don’t need more dungeon crawlers in my life and ‘5 Minute’ games need to be kind of special to really get my attention.

Legend of the 5 Rings

Lifestyle games like LCGs are always going to be a tough sell for me, and a heavy complex one doubly so. Legend of the 5 Rings is just not a business I need to get into.

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What games did you miss out on a ways back and wish you could catch up on!?