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%name%
The 50 Best (or Most Popular) Board Game Designers according to BGG - 2007 Edition
Tom Vasel
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Each January, I make a geeklist, using the ratings on BGG to determine who was the (subjective) best board game designer.

Some criteria/disclaimers for the list...

1.) I used a simple formula - I took the sum total of all the ratings for all games and expansions that the designer had on boardgamegeek, and found the average. This list is in the order of the highest average rating, and descending.

2.) To make the list, a designer had to have
- at least 2750 total rankings
- more than one game (or one variation of a game). This canceled out William Attia (Caylus), Jay Tummelson (St. Petersburg), Bernard Tavitian (Blokus), Laurent Lavaur and Eric Randall (Formula De), and Emiliano Sciarra (Bang!)

3.) It took me a bit to gather all this information together, with the great help of Matthew Gray, so some of the information has already changed slightly - but not enough to drastically change my numbers.

4.) When I ranked the designers for each of the three statistics, I only ranked them against the fifty-seven designers who met the criteria. Starting in 2006, the list has been capped at 50 designers, although any designer who meets the criteria will still count for ranking purposes. This year, seven designers missed the list. They are: Tom Jolly (# 51), Paul Peterson (# 52), James Ernest (# 53), Alex Randolph (# 54), Todd Breitenstein (# 55), Steve Jackson (# 56), and Andrew Looney (# 57).

5.) I've also listed the top-rated game of each designer (the one pictured in most cases), their lowest rated game, and the game that has generated the most exposure (i.e. has the most ratings.) This year, I decided to drop expansions and variations from this - so you'll see their top rated GAME.

6.) For any game to make the highest, most played, etc. - they must have at least thirty ratings. (I'm using normal ratings, not Baynesian)

7.) Yes, I'm using expansions. I think they're worth of addition - and therefore added in their ratings, etc.

8.) I've included the numbers from 2006 (in which there were 53 designers included), 2005 (in which there was 37 designers included), and 2004 (in which there was 32 designers). If a designer has no stats for those years, then this is the first year they've made the list.

All statistics on this list are as of January, 2007

Comments on 2007 ratings as a whole...
- I think that EVERY designer on this list is fantastic, and has done a great job. Let's not get hung up on if a designer is # 12 or # 13, it's not that big a deal.
- I think the influence of "American" games is stronger here on the 'Geek than people realize. Just look at the jumps some of the designers of these games have taken!
- I know that practically no one agrees with me on my method - and that's fine! But regardless of what you think, I do think that this is a neat snapshot of the last four years, and I look forward to seeing how it progresses in the future.
- Thank you to Matthew Gray, who allowed me to bug him to gather up some of this info.
- I apologize to all those folk whose favorite designer is lower than they wished. I have no agenda here, just using the same system as the past four years. Some designers (like Keyartes) will probably not make the cut next year, unless they start producing new games.

Oh, and Happy New Year!
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1. Board Game: Puerto Rico [Average Rating:8.26 Overall Rank:3]
Tom Vasel
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Andreas Seyfarth

<b>Average Rating:</b>
2007 - 8.01 (# 1)
2006 - 8.14 (# 1)
2005 - 8.26 (# 1)
2004 - 8.49 (# 1)

<b>Total Ratings</b>
2007 - 14511 (# 7)
2006 - 8541 (# 9)
2005 - 4787 (# 11)
2004 - 1753 (# 19)

<b>Total BGG Listings:</b>
2007 - 10 (# 52)
2006 - 8 (# 51)
2005 - 8 (# 36)
2004 - 5 (# 31)

<b>Highest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Puerto Rico - 8.52
2006 - Puerto Rico - 8.62
2005 - Puerto Rico - 8.75
2004 - Puerto Rico - 8.93

<b>Lowest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Waldmeister - 6.04
2006 - Waldmeister - 6.00
2005 - Waldmeister - 5.99
2004 - Waldmesiter - 5.81

<b>Most rated game:</b>
2007 - Puerto Rico - 7469
2006 - Puerto Rico - 5069
2005 - Puerto Rico - 3047
2004 - Puerto Rico - 1395
 
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2. Board Game: El Grande [Average Rating:7.89 Overall Rank:14]
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Richard Ulrich

<b>Average Rating:</b>
2007 - 7.93 (# 2)
2006 - 7.92 (# 2)
2005 - 7.92 (# 2)
2004 - 7.91 (# 2)

<b>Total Ratings</b>
2007 - 8609 (# 23)
2006 - 6230 (# 18)
2005 - 4243 (# 15)
2004 - 2379 (# 13)

<b>Total BGG Listings:</b>
2007 - 15 (# 44)
2006 - 14 (# 40)
2005 - 14 (# 29)
2004 - 11 (# 27)

<b>Highest Rated Game</b>
2007 - El Grande - 8.14
2006 - Princes of Florence - 8.17
2005 - Princes of Florence - 8.21
2004 - Princes of Florence - 8.19

<b>Lowest Rated Game</b>
2007 - El Caballero - 6.83
2006 - El Grande: Grandissimo - 6.72
2005 - Hot Dog - 5.37
2004 - El Caballero - 6.88

<b>Most rated game:</b>
2007 - El Grande - 3497
2006 - El Grande - 2405
2005 - El Grande - 1653
2004 - El Grande - 893
 
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Interesting how Seyfarth's average rating has dropped each year, while Ulrich has stayed steady.
 
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  • Posted Thu Jan 4, 2007 2:07 am
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Randy C
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Not really that interesting. Releasing more games each year means that relatively fewer of the ratings being used for Seyfarth's average come from Puerto Rico.
 
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  • Posted Thu Jan 4, 2007 3:17 am
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Stephen Smith
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Talk about riding coattails. Of the 15 items attributed to Richard Ulrich, only three are not shared with Wolfgang Kramer:

Pfad-Finder
Kreuzfahrt
Fischerspiel

These three games have a total of three ratings among them. I think i'll pass on anything he designs by himself.

Pair him with Kramer, though, and the chances for somthing good drastically improve. Still, of the remaining eight actual games, virtually all of the ratings come from four of them (with expansions to El Grande).
 
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  • Posted Thu Jan 4, 2007 7:51 am
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My theory is that people are confusing Richard Ulrich with Lars Ulrich, drummer for Metallica, thus inflating his ratings.
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  • Posted Thu Jan 4, 2007 2:57 pm
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3. Board Game: War of the Ring: Battles of the Third Age [Average Rating:8.19 Unranked] [Average Rating:8.19 Unranked]
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Francesco Nepitello, Marco Maggi, and Robert Di Meglio

<b>Average Rating:</b>
2007 - 7.85 (# 3)
2006 - NA
2005 - NA
2004 - NA

<b>Total Ratings</b>
2007 - 3108 (# 52)
2006 - NA
2005 - NA
2004 - NA

<b>Total BGG Listings:</b>
2007 - 9 (# 54)
2006 - NA
2005 - NA
2004 - NA

<b>Highest Rated Game</b>
2007 - War of the Ring: Battles of the 3rd Age - 8.56
2006 - NA
2005 - NA
2004 - NA

<b>Lowest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Hector and Achilles - 6.1
2006 - NA
2005 - NA
2004 - NA

<b>Most rated game:</b>
2007 - War of the Ring - 2261
2006 - NA
2005 - NA
2004 - NA
 
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4. Board Game: Advanced Civilization [Average Rating:7.97 Unranked] [Average Rating:7.97 Unranked]
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Francis Tresham

<b>Average Rating:</b>
2007 - 7.57 (# 4)
2006 - 7.54 (# 3)
2005 - 7.51 (# 5)
2004 - 7.45 (# 5)

<b>Total Ratings</b>
2007 - 5015 (# 36)
2006 - 3932 (# 33)
2005 - 2774 (# 25)
2004 - 1824 (# 18)

<b>Total BGG Listings:</b>
2007 - 28 (# 23)
2006 - 27 (# 21)
2005 - 14 (# 29)
2004 - 12 (# 26)

<b>Highest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Advanced Civilization - 7.86
2006 - Revolution: the Dutch Revolt - 7.86
2005 - Revolution: the Dutch Revolt - 8.5
2004 - Advanced Civilization - 7.79

<b>Lowest Rated Game</b>
2007 - 1829 Mainline - 6.37
2006 - Spanish Main - 6.36
2005 - 1825 - 6.05
2004 - 1825 - 5.66

<b>Most rated game:</b>
2007 - Civilization - 1779
2006 - Civilization - 1356
2005 - Civilization - 740
2004 - Civilization - 609
 
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5. Board Game: YINSH [Average Rating:7.68 Overall Rank:65]
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Kris Burm

<b>Average Rating:</b>
2007 - 7.461 (# 5)
2006 - 7.51 (# 4)
2005 - NA
2004 - NA

<b>Total Ratings</b>
2007 - 4894 (# 38)
2006 - 3340 (# 36)
2005 - NA
2004 - NA

<b>Total BGG Listings:</b>
2007 - 22 (# 30)
2006 - 21 (# 27)
2005 - NA
2004 - NA

<b>Highest Rated Game</b>
2007 - YINSH - 7.91
2006 - YINSH - 7.97
2005 - NA
2004 - NA

<b>Lowest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Balanx - 5.42
2006 - DiceMaster: Doom Cubes - 5.35
2005 - NA
2004 - NA

<b>Most rated game:</b>
2007 - YINSH - 1038
2006 - DVONN - 761
2005 - NA
2004 - NA
 
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6. Board Game: Power Grid [Average Rating:8.09 Overall Rank:5]
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Friedemann Friese

<b>Average Rating:</b>
2007 - 7.46 (# 6)
2006 - 7.37 (# 7)
2005 - 7.24 (# 13)
2004 - NA

<b>Total Ratings</b>
2007 - 9032 (# 19)
2006 - 5108 (# 26)
2005 - 2513 (# 27)
2004 - NA

<b>Total BGG Listings:</b>
2007 - 25 (# 27)
2006 - 19 (# 31)
2005 - 15 (# 27)
2004 - NA

<b>Highest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Power Grid - 8.24
2006 - Power Grid: Italy/France - 8.25
2005 - Power Grid - 8.15
2004 - NA

<b>Lowest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Paarazzo - 5.45
2006 - Paparazzo - 5.75
2005 - Landlord - 5.86
2004 - NA

<b>Most rated game:</b>
2007 - Power Grid - 3825
2006 - Power Grid - 2108
2005 - Power Grid - 833
2004 - NA
 
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7. Board Game: Goa [Average Rating:7.75 Overall Rank:28]
Tom Vasel
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Rudiger Dorn

<b>Average Rating:</b>
2007 - 7.44 (# 7)
2006 - 7.48 (# 5)
2005 - NA
2004 - NA

<b>Total Ratings</b>
2007 - 7778 (# 28)
2006 - 4834 (# 29)
2005 - NA
2004 - NA

<b>Total BGG Listings:</b>
2007 - 17 (# 42)
2006 - 13 (# 42)
2005 - NA
2004 - NA

<b>Highest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Goa - 7.95
2006 - Goa - 7.97
2005 - NA
2004 - NA

<b>Lowest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Ex Und Hopp - 5.6
2006 - Ex Und Hopp - 5.58
2005 - NA
2004 - NA

<b>Most rated game:</b>
2007 - Goa - 2152
2006 - Goa - 1447
2005 - NA
2004 - NA
 
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8. Board Game: BattleLore [Average Rating:7.55 Overall Rank:73]
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Richard Borg

<b>Average Rating:</b>
2007 - 7.41 (# 8)
2006 - 7.25 (# 15)
2005 - 7.30 (# 9)
2004 - 7.22 (# 12)

<b>Total Ratings</b>
2007 - 13779 (# 9)
2006 - 7900 (# 12)
2005 - 4748 (# 13)
2004 - 2175 (# 14)

<b>Total BGG Listings:</b>
2007 - 36 (# 17)
2006 - 28 (# 20)
2005 - 20 (# 19)
2004 - 13 (# 23)

<b>Highest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Battlelore - 8.51
2006 - Memoir '44: Eastern Front - 8.29
2005 - Memoir '44 - 8.09
2004 - Battle Cry - 7.73

<b>Lowest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Warriors - 5.23
2006 - Warriors - 5.44
2005 - Pig Pile - 5.82
2004 - Pig Pile - 5.82

<b>Most rated game:</b>
2007 - Memoir '44 - 3460
2006 - Memoir '44 - 2034
2005 - Battle Cry - 898
2004 - Battle Cry - 543
 
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9. Board Game: Age of Steam [Average Rating:7.83 Overall Rank:22]
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Martin Wallace

<b>Average Rating:</b>
2007 - 7.39 (# 9)
2006 - 7.36 (# 8)
2005 - 7.46 (# 6)
2004 - 7.29 (# 8)

<b>Total Ratings</b>
2007 - 11985 (# 12)
2006 - 6338 (# 17)
2005 - 3281 (# 21)
2004 - 1304 (# 25)

<b>Total BGG Listings:</b>
2007 - 43 (# 11)
2006 - 39 (# 11)
2005 - 36 (# 10)
2004 - 24 (# 10)

<b>Highest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Age of Steam - 8.06
2006 - Age of Steam, Expansion # 1 - 8.29
2005 - Age of Steam, Expansion # 1 - 8.3
2004 - Age of Steam, Expansion # 1 - 8.55

<b>Lowest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Secret of the Tombs - 4.62
2006 - Secret of the Tombs - 4.94
2005 - Secret of the Tombs - 5.00
2004 - WeiBe Lotus, de - 5.96

<b>Most rated game:</b>
2007 - Age of Steam - 1819
2006 - Age of Steam - 1216
2005 - Age of Steam - 699
2004 - Age of Steam - 374
 
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10. Board Game: Reef Encounter [Average Rating:7.27 Overall Rank:180]
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Richard Breese

<b>Average Rating:</b>
2007 - 7.37 (# 10)
2006 - 7.3 (# 10)
2005 - NA
2004 - NA

<b>Total Ratings</b>
2007 - 3578 (# 47)
2006 - 2028 (# 53)
2005 - NA
2004 - NA

<b>Total BGG Listings:</b>
2007 - 11 (# 48)
2006 - 9 (# 50)
2005 - NA
2004 - NA

<b>Highest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Reef Encounter - 7.69
2006 - Reef Encounter - 7.79
2005 - NA
2004 - NA

<b>Lowest Rated Game</b>
2006 - Keytown - 6.13
2006 - Keytown - 6.13
2005 - NA
2004 - NA

<b>Most rated game:</b>
2007 - Aladdin's Dragons - 1255
2006 - Aladdin's Dragons - 963
2005 - NA
2004 - NA
 
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11. Board Game: Carcassonne: The City [Average Rating:7.31 Overall Rank:192]
Tom Vasel
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Klaus-Jurgen Wrede

<b>Average Rating:</b>
2007 - 7.36 (# 11)
2006 - 7.48 (# 5)
2005 - 7.61 (# 4)
2004 - 7.85 (# 3)

<b>Total Ratings</b>
2007 - 27313 (# 4)
2006 - 15292 (# 5)
2005 - 8406 (# 5)
2004 - 3604 (# 6)

<b>Total BGG Listings:</b>
2007 - 25 (# 27)
2006 - 17 (# 39)
2005 - 13 (# 32)
2004 - 9 (# 29)

<b>Highest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Carcassonne: the City - 7.61
2006 - Carcassonne: the City - 7.74
2005 - Carcassonne: Inns and Cathedrals - 7.61
2004 - Carcassonne: Inns and Cathedrals - 7.85

<b>Lowest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Dragonriders - 5.33
2006 - Dragonriders - 5.25
2005 - Krone & Schwert - 6.28
2004 - Krone & Schwert

<b>Most rated game:</b>
2007 - Carcassonne - 8166
2006 - Carcassonne - 5443
2005 - Carcassonne - 3346
2004 - Carcassonne - 1717
 
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12. Board Game: The Settlers of Catan [Average Rating:7.51 Overall Rank:79]
Tom Vasel
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Klaus Teuber

<b>Average Rating:</b>
2007 - 7.29 (# 12)
2006 - 7.33 (# 9)
2005 - 7.42 (# 7)
2004 - 7.49 (# 4)

<b>Total Ratings</b>
2007 - 35309 (# 2)
2006 - 24560 (# 2)
2005 - 15618 (# 2)
2004 - 8361 (# 2)

<b>Total BGG Listings:</b>
2007 - 73 (# 9)
2006 - 71 (# 8)
2005 - 53 (# 8)
2004 - 44 (# 8)

<b>Highest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Settlers of Catan - 7.81
2006 - Settlers of Catan: 3D version - 8.71
2005 - Das Wassar - 8.07
2004 - Das Wassar - 8.63

<b>Lowest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Kids of Catan - 5.64
2006 - Gallop Royal - 5.61
2005 - Fette Bauche - 5.33
2004 - Chip Chip Hurrah - 5.63

<b>Most rated game:</b>
2007 - Settlers of Catan - 8631
2006 - Settlers of Catan - 5854
2005 - Settlers of Catan - 3585
2004 - Settlers of Catan - 1740
 
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13. Board Game: Twilight Imperium (third edition) [Average Rating:7.82 Overall Rank:26]
Tom Vasel
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Christian Petersen

<b>Average Rating:</b>
2007 - 7.28 (# 13)
2006 - 7.27 (# 12)
2005 - 6.64 (# 32)
2004 - NA

<b>Total Ratings</b>
2007 - 7870 (# 26)
2006 - 4889 (# 27)
2005 - 2523 (# 26)
2004 - NA

<b>Total BGG Listings:</b>
2007 - 37 (# 15)
2006 - 31 (# 14)
2005 - 29 (# 11)
2004 - NA

<b>Highest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Twilight Imperium, 3rd Edition - 7.88
2006 - A Game of Thrones: Clash of Kings - 8.21
2005 - Twilight Imperium, 3rd Edition - 8.78
2004 - NA

<b>Lowest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Diskwars: Legend of the 5 Rings - 4.83
2006 - Diskwars: Legend of the 5 Rings - 4.96
2005 - Diskwars: Legend of the 5 Rings - 4.78
2004 - NA

<b>Most rated game:</b>
2007 - A Game of Thrones - 2067
2006 - A Game of Thrones - 1383
2005 - A Game of Thrones - 785
2004 - NA
 
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14. Board Game: Dune [Average Rating:7.63 Overall Rank:88]
Tom Vasel
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Bill Eberle, Jack Kittredge, Peter Olotka

<b>Average Rating:</b>
2007 = 7.27 (# 14)
2006 - 7.26 (# 14)
2005 - 7.29 (# 11)
2004 - 7.32 (# 7)

<b>Total Ratings</b>
2007 - 4417 (# 43)
2006 - 3569 (# 35)
2005 - 2504 (# 28)
2004 - 1585 (# 21)

<b>Total BGG Listings:</b>
2007 - 21 (# 33)
2006 - 21 (# 27)
2005 - 20 (# 19)
2004 - 19 (# 15)

<b>Highest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Dune - 7.75
2006 - Cosmic Encounter, Expansion # 1 - 8.22
2005 - Cosmic Encounter, Expansion # 1 - 8.23
2004 - Cosmic Encounter, Expansion # 4 - 7.32

<b>Lowest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Hoax - 5.95
2006 - Dune: the Duel - 5.13
2005 - Dune: the Duel - 5.29
2004 - Dune: the Duel - 5.03

<b>Most rated game:</b>
2007 - Cosmic Encounter - 2081
2006 - Cosmic Encounter - 1614
2005 - Cosmic Encounter - 1152
2004 - Cosmic Encounter - 750
 
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15. Board Game: El Grande [Average Rating:7.89 Overall Rank:14]
Tom Vasel
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Wolfgang Kramer

<b>Average Rating:</b>
2007 - 7.26 (# 15)
2006 - 7.29 (# 11)
2005 - 7.31 (# 8)
2004 - 7.36 (# 6)

<b>Total Ratings</b>
2007 - 30013 (# 3)
2006 - 20567 (# 3)
2005 - 13335 (# 3)
2004 - 7553 (# 3)

<b>Total BGG Listings:</b>
2007 - 121 (# 3)
2006 - 103 (# 3)
2005 - 92 (# 3)
2004 - 78 (# 2)

<b>Highest Rated Game</b>
2007 - El Grande - 8.14
2006 - Princes of Florence - 8.17
2005 - Princes of Florence - 8.21
2004 - Princes of Florence - 8.19

<b>Lowest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Jump - 5.1
2006 - Nizza - 4.4
2005 - Nizza - 4.39
2004 - Im 7 Himmel - 5.2

<b>Most rated game:</b>
2007 - El Grande - 3497
2006 - El Grande - 2405
2005 - El Grande - 1653
2004 - El Grande - 893
 
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16. Board Game: Vinci [Average Rating:7.24 Overall Rank:217]
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Philippe Keyartes

<b>Average Rating:</b>
2007 - 7.24 (# 16)
2006 - 7.25 (# 15)
2005 - NA
2004 - NA

<b>Total Ratings</b>
2007 - 2950 (# 56)
2006 - 2181 (# 52)
2005 - NA
2004 - NA

<b>Total BGG Listings:</b>
2007 - 3 (# 57)
2006 - 3 (# 53)
2005 - NA
2004 - NA

<b>Highest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Vinci - 7.4
2006 - Vinci 7.39
2005 - NA
2004 - NA

<b>Lowest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Evo - 7.09
2006 - Evo - 7.13
2005 - NA
2004 - NA

<b>Most rated game:</b>
2007 - Vinci - 1471
2006 - Evo - 1140
2005 - NA
2004 - NA
 
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Sean Brown
United States
Carrollton
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Philippe Keyaerts actually, but that's a tough spell, so we won't make you walk the plank arrrh
 
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  • Posted Fri Jan 5, 2007 2:23 am
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17. Board Game: Tigris & Euphrates [Average Rating:7.89 Overall Rank:15]
Tom Vasel
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Reiner Knizia

<b>Average Rating:</b>
2007 - 7.23 (# 17)
2006 - 7.27 (# 12)
2005 - 7.64 (# 3)
2004 - 7.29 (# 8)

<b>Total Ratings</b>
2007 - 72357 (# 1)
2006 - 46873 (# 1)
2005 - 26876 (# 1)
2004 - 14853 (# 1)

<b>Total BGG Listings:</b>
2007 - 219 (# 1)
2006 - 184 (# 1)
2005 - 139 (# 1)
2004 - 110 (# 1)

<b>Highest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Tigris and Euphrates - 8.28
2006 - Tigris and Euphrates - 8.37
2005 - Tigris and Euphrates - 8.46
2004 - Tigris and Euphrates - 8.53

<b>Lowest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Monkey Madness - 4.47
2006 - Vegas - 4.66
2005 - Vegas - 4.84
2004 - Dark Side - 5.2

<b>Most rated game:</b>
2007 - Lost Cities - 4613
2006 - Tigris and Euphrates - 3222
2005 - Tigris and Euphrates - 1961
2004 - Tigris and Euphrates - 987
 
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Jamie Beu
United States
Orlando
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Interesting that Reiner Knizia is down at #17. Then again, when you're averaging ratings from 200+ games vs. 10-25 games for most of those in the Top 16, I guess that's pretty impressive. surprise
 
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  • Posted Fri Jan 5, 2007 8:54 pm
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Kevin H
China
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Yeah, BGG's "favourite designer", Seyfarth...has 10 games published (and a few of those are expansions).

Knizia published TWENTY-EIGHT GAMES LAST YEAR... surprise

This list is really more about consistency I think. Say there's a big movie studio that puts out 20 movies every year...10 classics, and another 10 stinkers. Compare that to a studio that puts out 1 movie a year and it's always good.

Seyfarth:
Puerto Rico
San Juan
Thurn & Taxis
Manhattan

vs.

Knizia:
Tigris & Euphrates
Ra
Taj Mahal
Modern Art
Samurai
Amun-Re
Lord of the Rings - The Confrontation
Through the Desert
Ingenious
Battle Line
Hollywood Blockbuster
Lost Cities
Carcassonne - The Castle
Medici
Blue Moon City

...and that's just his games from the top 100

Average of Knizia's top 10 games = 7.65

Average of Seyfarth's 8 games = 6.12

How, can you really, compare someone who designs a game every 2 years...to someone that designs 26 every year?
1 
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  • Posted Fri Jan 5, 2007 10:22 pm
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18. Board Game: Maharaja: The Game of Palace Building in India [Average Rating:7.27 Overall Rank:185]
Tom Vasel
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Michael Kiesling

<b>Average Rating:</b>
2007 - 7.21 (# 18)
2006 - 7.25 (# 15)
2005 - 7.30 (# 9)
2004 - 7.27 (# 10)

<b>Total Ratings</b>
2007 - 10852 (# 14)
2006 - 7237 (# 14)
2005 - 4456 (# 14)
2004 - 2515 (# 12)

<b>Total BGG Listings:</b>
2007 - 20 (# 34)
2006 - 18 (# 34)
2005 - 15 (# 27)
2004 - 13 (# 23)

<b>Highest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Maharaja - 7.61
2006 - Maharaja - 7.71
2005 - Haste Worte - 7.93
2004 - Haste Worte - 7.52

<b>Lowest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Jump - 5.1
2006 - Jump - 5.18
2005 - Zundstoff - 4.33
2004 - Evergreen - 5.44

<b>Most rated game:</b>
2007 - Tikal - 2915
2006 - Tikal - 2009
2005 - Tikal - 1365
2004 - Tikal - 873
 
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19. Board Game: Descent: Journeys in the Dark [Average Rating:7.54 Overall Rank:77]
Tom Vasel
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Kevin Wilson

<b>Average Rating:</b>
2007 - 7.2 (# 19)
2006 - 7.09 (# 24)
2005 - NA
2004 - NA

<b>Total Ratings</b>
2007 - 6706 (# 30)
2006 - 2633 (# 46)
2005 - NA
2004 - NA

<b>Total BGG Listings:</b>
2007 - 18 (# 40)
2006 - 11 (# 43)
2005 - NA
2004 - NA

<b>Highest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Descent: Journeys in the Dark - 7.55
2006 - Descent: Journeys in the Dark - 7.86
2005 - NA
2004 - NA

<b>Lowest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Magdar - 5.45
2006 - Magdar - 5.5
2005 - NA
2004 - NA

<b>Most rated game:</b>
2007 - Arkham Horror - 1787
2006 - Arkham Horror - 728
2005 - NA
2004 - NA
 
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20. Board Game: Netrunner [Average Rating:7.48 Overall Rank:209]
Tom Vasel
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Richard Garfield

<b>Average Rating:</b>
2007 - 7.197 - (# 20)
2006 - 7.23 (# 19)
2005 - 7.21 (# 15)
2004 - 7.17 (# 14)

<b>Total Ratings</b>
2007 - 11372 (# 13)
2006 - 8184 (# 10)
2005 - 5448 (# 9)
2004 - 3281 (# 7)

<b>Total BGG Listings:</b>
2007 - 20 (# 34)
2006 - 19 (# 31)
2005 - 16 (# 25)
2004 - 16 (# 20)

<b>Highest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Netrunner - 7.48
2006 - Roborally: Armed and Dangerous - 7.85
2005 - Roborally: Armed and Dangerous - 7.85
2004 - Roborally: Armed and Dagnerous - 7.85

<b>Lowest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Rocketville - 4.64
2006 - Portal - 5.80
2005 - Portal - 5.77
2004 - SW: TCG - 5.31

<b>Most rated game:</b>
2007 - Roborally - 3315
2006 - Roborally - 2158
2005 - Magic: the Gathering - 1317
2004 - Magic: the Gathering - 746
 
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21. Board Game: Star Wars: The Queen's Gambit [Average Rating:7.51 Overall Rank:196]
Tom Vasel
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Rob Daviau

<b>Average Rating:</b>
2007 - 7.18 (# 21)
2006 - 7.17 (# 20)
2005 - 7.19 (# 16)
2004 - 7.14 (# 15)

<b>Total Ratings</b>
2007 - 8768 (# 22)
2006 - 5532 (# 24)
2005 - 2778 (# 24)
2004 - 1235 (# 26)

<b>Total BGG Listings:</b>
2007 - 30 (# 22)
2006 - 18 (# 34)
2005 - 10 (# 33)
2004 - 6 (# 30)

<b>Highest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Star Wars: Queen's Gambit - 7.42
2006 - Heroscape Expansion Set: Orm's Return - 8.10
2005 - Heroscape - 7.79
2004 - Star Wars: Queen's Gambit - 7.50

<b>Lowest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Game of Life: A Jedi's Path - 5.15
2006 - Game of Life: A Jedi's Path - 5.12
2005 - Game of Life: A Jedi's Path - 5.6
2004 - Game of Life: A Jedi's Path - 5.32

<b>Most rated game:</b>
2007 - Heroscape - 2022
2006 - Heroscape - 1253
2005 - Risk 2210 - 651
2004 - Risk 2210 - 317
 
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22. Board Game: Shogun [Average Rating:7.70 Overall Rank:42]
Tom Vasel
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Dirk Henn

<b>Average Rating:</b>
2007 - 7.17 (# 22)
2006 - 7.25 (# 15)
2005 - 7.27 (# 12)
2004 - 7.24 (# 11)

<b>Total Ratings</b>
2007 - 9273 (# 18)
2006 - 5839 (# 22)
2005 - 3371 (# 20)
2004 - 1553 (# 22)

<b>Total BGG Listings:</b>
2007 - 24 (# 29)
2006 - 22 (# 26)
2005 - 20 (# 19)
2004 - 28 (# 17)

<b>Highest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Shogun - 8.28
2006 - Wallenstein - 8.08
2005 - Wallenstein - 8.12
2004 - Wallenstein - 8.02

<b>Lowest Rated Game</b>
2007 - The Gardens of Alhambra - 6.17
2006 - Garten der Alhambra, Die - 6.15
2005 - Carat - 6.14
2004 - Yukon Company - 5.58

<b>Most rated game:</b>
2007 - Alhambra - 3291
2006 - Alhambra - 2038
2005 - Alhambra - 1001
2004 - Metro - 311
 
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23. Board Game: Ticket to Ride: Märklin Edition [Average Rating:7.41 Overall Rank:113]
Tom Vasel
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Alan Moon

<b>Average Rating:</b>
2007 - 7.12 (# 23)
2006 - 7.10 (# 23)
2005 - 7.04 (# 19)
2004 - 6.89 (# 22)

<b>Total Ratings</b>
2007 - 25471 (# 5)
2006 - 16811 (# 4)
2005 - 9439 (# 4)
2004 - 4743 (# 4)

<b>Total BGG Listings:</b>
2007 - 68 (# 10)
2006 - 66 (# 10)
2005 - 62 (# 6)
2004 - 49 (# 7)

<b>Highest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Ticket to Ride: Marklin - 7.81
2006 - Ticket to Ride: Europe - 7.88
2005 - Ticket to Ride - 7.9
2004 - Union Pacific - 7.74

<b>Lowest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Knights of the Rainbow - 4.71
2006 - Knights of the Rainbow - 4.68
2005 - NA
2004 - NA

<b>Most rated game:</b>
2007 - Ticket to Ride - 5219
2006 - Ticket to Ride - 3386
2005 - Ticket to Ride - 1618
2004 - Elfenland - 608
 
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24. Board Game: Attika [Average Rating:7.08 Overall Rank:252]
Tom Vasel
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Marce-Andre Casasola Merkle

<b>Average Rating:</b>
2007 - 7.11 (# 24)
2006 - 7.17 (# 21)
2005 - 7.23 (# 14)
2004 - NA

<b>Total Ratings</b>
2007 - 4910 (# 37)
2006 - 3244 (# 38)
2005 - 1947 (# 33)
2004 - NA

<b>Total BGG Listings:</b>
2007 - 13 (# 45)
2006 - 10 (# 45)
2005 - 10 (# 33)
2004 - NA

<b>Highest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Attika - 7.35
2006 - Attika - 7.44
2005 - Attika - 7.58
2004 - NA

<b>Lowest Rated Game</b>
2007 - Liftoff - 5.32
2006 - Liftoff - 5.41
2005 - Bakerstreet - 5.99
2004 - NA

<b>Most rated game:</b>
2007 - Attika - 2251
2006 - Attika - 1619
2005 - Attika - 953
2004 - NA
 
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25. Board Game: Advanced Squad Leader [Average Rating:7.91 Overall Rank:60]
Tom Vasel
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Don Greenwood

Average Rating:
2007 - 7.1 (# 25)
2006 - 7.01 (# 28)
2005 - 6.91 (# 23)
2004 - 6.77 (# 26)

Total Ratings
2007 - 7812 (# 27)
2006 - 6109 (# 19)
2005 - 3688 (# 19)
2004 - 1942 (# 15)

Total BGG Listings:
2007 - 22 (# 30)
2006 - 24 (# 24)
2005 - 23 (# 17)
2004 - 21 (# 11)

Highest Rated Game
2007 - Advanced Squad Leader - 7.93
2006 - Gung Ho: Module for ASL - 8.54
2005 - Gung Ho: Module for ASL - 8.94
2004 - Rise and Decline of the Third Reich - 7.57

Lowest Rated Game
2007 - Basketball Strategy - 4.95
2006 - Basketball Strategy - 5.11
2005 - Basketball Strategy - 5.08
2004 - Basketball Strategy - 5.23

Most rated game:
2007 - Colossal Arena - 1813
2006 - Colossal Arena - 1258
2005 - Colossal Arena - 628
2004 - Age of Renaissance - 359
 
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20 comments [Hide]
Post Comment
mrbass
United States
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Nevada
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I prefer more crap games designed if the end result is more great games if that makes sense. In other words, this list knocks those who crank out tons of games as it's inevitable that not all can be classics. Using this definition one would look at list and say well that designer put out crap so avoid at all costs games by said designer.

Why punish a designer by designer a crap game that they were commissioned to do if there heart wasn't into it. It happens all the time and many publishers just want to slap the designer's name on it.

My definition of Best Board Game Designer is this:

Ignore any crap games by designer then just take top 5 or top 10 games from designers and see whose on top.
 
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  • Posted Thu Jan 4, 2007 1:19 am
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Nate Merchant
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New York
New York
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Quote:
Anyway, he's on this list. Anyone on this list is a great designer! Just because someone isn't # 1 is not strike against them!


Not all, Tom, not all. You are confusing popularity with greatness.

Joel Shumacher has directed some popular movies in his day. Is he therefore a great director?
 
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  • Posted Fri Jan 5, 2007 8:26 pm
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Kevin H
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If you wanted to know who the most popular director is, you would look at box office and video receipts.

If you wanted to see who the most popular designer is, the best way I can think of doing that is adding up all of the "games owned" for each designer.

I'm willing to bet Knizia would top that list too.

If you wanted to find out who the most consistent is, something like this list would do fine.

If you wanted to find out who the "best" designer is, I would look at the # of games in the top 10/25/50/100. And Knizia would win that too. Or you could pick a cut...and average out each designer's top 5 or 10 games's bayesian rating. But looking at the list of top games is easier.
 
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  • Posted Fri Jan 5, 2007 11:04 pm
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Gudjon Torfi Sigurdsson
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Quote:
Not all, Tom, not all. You are confusing popularity with greatness.

Joel Shumacher has directed some popular movies in his day. Is he therefore a great director?


Tsk tsk, don't be a snob
 
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  • Posted Sat Jan 6, 2007 9:44 pm
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Herb
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Considering the many suggestions for alternate methods proposed by the fine geeks here, I would expect that we will be seeing several other top designer geek lists in the next couple days.
 
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  • Posted Sun Jan 7, 2007 6:01 am
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