-
Caroline BlackUnited Kingdom
Braintree
Essex
Tigger playing Agricola. He lost!
-
I never really been one for game rankings. I buy games based on the themes and mechanics I like, not how highly ranked they are. I only own nine games in the top one hundred. That out of a collection of a hundred games.
My highest ranked game is The Castles of Burgundy at 15. I love this game. It’s so elegant. I didn’t buy it for the longest time as the art is so drab. I like how you can build a strategy around one of the knowledge tiles. This is one of my most played games.:strip_icc()/pic4249708.jpg)
The next game I own is Concordia. This is my most recent purchase. I bought it because I found it cheap in Amazon and it has been recommended so many times. Whist it is OK I doubt whether I will keep it in the longer term although I am waiting for the solo option to be released before I make that decision. Sometimes my favourite games take a while to grow on me. I didn’t really appreciate The Castles of Burgundy until I have played it a few times.:strip_icc()/pic2529616.jpg)
The third game is Wingspan at twenty. What can I say? I have written about this game at length. It’s a great game and my most played and most blinged out. It’s not without it faults. But it deserves it place in the top twenty. It’s already sold over 700,000 copies. Which is amazing.
My next game is Viticulture Essential Edition. Again this was a slow burner for me. I’ve only played it a few times but it is growing on me. I own the meeplesource upgraded workers and I am tempted by the Meeplesource wine bottles. I’ve got to say I was a little disappointed by this game when I first got it but it’s nice to have a game in my collection that plays well at higher player counts.:strip_icc()/pic6107945.jpg)
Caverna: The Cave Farmers is next up at thirty. I much prefer Agricola which I sold as I struggled to get it to the table. My family found the feeding too onerous. Caverna’s a better game for newbies but it’s not very interesting solo.
I still regularly play Agricola on the app. I expect I will reacquire it at some point. The Agricola start player pawn was my suggestion for an upgrade in the recent Meeplesource upgrade Kickstarter. I wish this would come to Yucata as the problem with both Caverna and Agricola is the upkeep each round. But Agricola should be in the top twenty. Indeed Agricola appears twice in the top one hundred at 32 and 74. I wonder what it would be if they were combined?
I used to own the revised addition but I much prefer the decks of the first edition.
Next is Everdell at 31 which is a fantastic game and in my top ten. I’ve played this a few times solo and multiplayer. It’s a fairly recent purchase bought towards the end of the first lockdown. I love the art and recently backed the newest expansions on Kickstarter.:strip_icc()/pic5380849.jpg)
I then have a big gap to Clans of Caledonia at 46. I still not sure about this and might let it go. It’s always okay but it outstays it’s well as is a bit, um boring.
I then have another big gap to Keyflower at 75. It’s a complete crime this game is 75. When I bought it was forty. This game has it all. It scales well. It has a decent amount of player interaction and you can get a bit of an engine going. This should be top twenty. I suppose at some point they will do a deluxe edition with all the promos.:strip_icc()/pic5726031.jpg)
At 78 is Architects of the West Kingdom. This is a well designed smooth game. But somehow I never really want to play it and I am not sure why. It has a good solo option. I love the victory point track. I need to play this dome more. I am on the fence about the rest of the West Kingdom trilogy.
There are a couple of games that I am really shocked are not in the top one hundred. Istanbul is the most noticeable absentee. This used to be just within the top one hundred. I loved this game from the first play and it’s what I call a bomb proof game. Always plays well.
The Isle of Cats is another game that should be in the top one hundred and indeed looks like it’s heading that way. Card drafting and tile laying is such a good combination.
I have three games that I used to own which are in the top one hundred. Firstly Five Tribes. I quite like this but I find it a bit of brain burner. I never seem to be able to plan ahead in this game. I play by assessing what are the available moves on my turn and just working out the best move at the time./pic6108100.jpg)
I also used to own Power Grid. I quite like it. It features auctions and market places which I like. But again it wasn’t getting played so it had to go. I sort of regret it now. I love the sort of retro vibe it has.:strip_icc()/pic1329648.jpg)
I used to own Terraforming Mars. I got rid of it firstly because so many other people own it. Secondly it’s so fiddly and someone always sends their cubes playing. But mostly I got rid of it I was so tired of it. You would have to do a lot of persuading to get me to play this again.
There are two or three games on my wish list that are in the top one hundred. Grand Austria Hotel and Lorenzo il Magnifico Both of these are awesome. Also I am really enjoying Underwater Cities.
The Dyslexic Gamer
A blog about Euro’s with wonderful art and components
Archive for Rankings and ratings
21
Comments
Mon Apr 12, 2021 9:03 pm
- [+] Dice rolls
-
Caroline BlackUnited Kingdom
Braintree
Essex
Tigger playing Agricola. He lost!
-
Back on the 31st July 2020 during those halcyon days when we were allowed to have contact with people outside our household, I put my neck on the block and identified some games I thought would rise through the rankings. So how did I do and where are my top picks now?
The Isle of Cats was at 226 back then. Now it’s at 108 so a solid pick for my first one. There have been so many polyomino games but this has a little bit more to it. I really like the card drafting and a mix of cards that give long term goals as well as play anytime cards. I’ve been thinking about getting an insert for this. It’s also provided one of the best images so far this year!:strip_icc()/pic5980713.jpg)
Ecosystem was 4484 and is now 3826. To be honest I thought it would have done a bit better. I really like the artwork and the gameplay is solid although I am not sure about the two player variant. I still think there’s scope for this to rise further./pic4944962.jpg)
Little Town has also been steadily rising, it was 1378 back in July and now 1111. This is just such a good game and I am seeing it on more and more people’s geek lists. I predicted top 500 for this which I don’t think it will achieve now. Which is a pity. I’d love an expansion for this or even just being able to get the promo.
It’s no coincidence that most of the top rated games have expansions and constant support from the publishers and designers. You need to create that buzz otherwise they just become lost in the plethora of new releases.:strip_icc()/pic5336229.jpg)
I predicted Miyabi would be held back with it drab art and being released by HABA but my faith is restored. I said good games will always rise and is has. Now 1916 up from 2635. I’m impressed. This is such a clever game. No need for an expansion for this game, it’s got tonnes of replayability. This is going to continue to rise. This has got to be a top one thousand game.:strip_icc()/pic5599846.jpg)
Draftosaurus has had two expansions since I predicted top 500 for this. Up from 843 it’s gone up to 656 and seems almost constantly sold out. I still haven’t managed to get either of the expansions. Just a bit worried this a trying to turn this cute filler into a proper board game. Don’t! I love it for what is is. No need for needless bloat.:strip_icc()/pic5555728.jpg)
PARKS was 267 and was a pretty sure bet as PARKS: Nightfall Expansion was already in the pipeline when I predicted top two hundred. Now 132 this has still got scope to go higher. This games got the whole package. Wonderful art, great gameplay, gorgeous components. What’s not to like?
Cat Lady had just broken in to the top one thousand and now stands at 940. A steady increase rather than a meteoric rise. Perhaps with Calico and The Isle of Cats we have had enough cats? It’s now got a solo option and but can’t help feeling that the expansion hasn’t done this any favours.:strip_icc()/pic5839321.jpg)
Wingspan had just got into the top twenty back in July and it’s still there at 20. I think it’s too light to make it much further. But it still regularly tops the most played geek list. This was on eleven thousand people’s wish lists and now on thirteen thousand wish lists. I still maintain this is set to become one a classic games along the lines of Ticket to Ride or Carcassonne.I masterclass in how to promote a game and keep it relevant. Now with glittery eggs.
I predicted the Kickstarter for Terraforming Mars would cement its position and sure enough it’s still sitting proud at number 4. I have never understood the love this and much prefer Underwater Cities. This is currently 41 and I would predict it will rise by a couple more spaces. The serious bling in the BGG store and it’s popularity on Yucata will ensure its continued popularity. This game has a wonderful sense of escalation and you really feel like you are achieving things.:strip_icc()/pic5524093.jpg)
Abandon All Artichokes was ranked 5475 and is now 2940. A huge rise although it had only been recently published. This is a cool little deck deconstruction game which I really like.
I think all the decent games on Yucata and other gaming websites will see their rankings rise it stay steady. I said back in July that Euro’s feel a bit on the wane to me and I still think that’s true. I feel like we have seen it all before.
To me there didn’t seem to be, much in the way a great new games last year. Or perhaps I am becoming more selective? Obsession continues to shine. Currently 497. I expect this to rise further especially with the excellent addition of Obsession: Upstairs, Downstairs.:strip_icc()/pic6030317.jpg)
Other top picks would be High Rise. I can’t believe I am the only person who thinks this is excellent. Currently 3683 this has got to go higher. Calico currently 319 will also go higher. Another pick from 2020 would be Honey Buzz 1326.
It’s hard to take a game published in 2015 and give it a new lease of life. But I do think Grand Austria Hotel: Let's Waltz! might do it. A modest rise from 97 for this one.
Viticulture Essential Edition, again from 2015, has fallen slightly from its peak and is now at 23. Is there life in the old dog? Will the new expansion see it rise? I doubt it but happy to be proved wrong.
I sort of get a sense of pride when my favourite games rise. It’s lovely to decide to purchase a game lower down the rankings and watch it rise as other people discover it. But by definition if all these games have risen there must be games that are slipping down the rankings. So I might explore these as well.
So what is your top pick to watch out for?
Mon Mar 8, 2021 4:54 am
- [+] Dice rolls
-
Caroline BlackUnited Kingdom
Braintree
Essex
Tigger playing Agricola. He lost!
-
I think we are all aware of the limitations of the ranking system on BGG. But having said that it does reflect in general terms how popular a game is. With thousands of games being produced each year, even really good games get pushed out of the top 1000. Even though I only have a small collection by BGG standards, I have quite a few out of the top one thousand. 29 out of 94. Some of them, are just fantastic. So here are my favourites
Fjords (1423), Is a nice little two player area control game. It been out of print for ages but it’s coming to Kickstarter this year.
:strip_icc()/pic5723038.jpg)
Miyabi (1967), finally seems to be getting some attention. I’ve recently seen some reviews and it’s beginning to enter a few top 20’s and 50’s. This is by Michael Kiesling for heavens sake. Such a cool game. If you like Kingdomino you have to get this.
High Rise is (3757) and a 9 for me. I just don’t understand why this doesn’t get more love. By the same designer as The Networks this is a solid game but for some reason, even with a glowing review from Tom Vasel this game hasn’t created much hype.
Actually there is something really nice about discovering a game like this. Whilst I want to shout about it, I feel lucky to have discovered it. From a designers prospective I don’t know what you do. Perhaps make it available on one of the on line gaming sites?
I am hoping when the second Kickstarter delivers it will get a bit more traction. This is the game we are going to play first when lock down ends.:strip_icc()/pic5624350.jpg)
Little Town (1132) always appears on these lists. Finally it seems to be steadily rising over 1000 spaces since I bought it. As more people play this it will rise further.
Castles of Caladale is one of my lowest at 3541 and will never leave my collection. I love a the art in this. To win you have to keep rearranging your castle. It’s almost like a real time game. It’s always really tight as well. I picked mine up in The Works for £8.:strip_icc()/pic5966777.jpg)
Warsaw: City of Ruins (1110) is just outside the top one thousand and always features on these types of lists. Relaunched with new art could see this do really well. Great game that will never leave my collection.:strip_icc()/pic3167068.jpg)
Era of Kingdoms (4378) is pretty much unknown but plays similar to 7 Wonders. I really like the art and sense of escalation. It has some nice player positive interaction and a solid solo option.:strip_icc()/pic5978733.jpg)
It is criminal that Elevenses is ranked 3592. I just can’t believe it. This is sharp little game. I can only think it is the theme that is holding this back. Oh and the pink box. If this was re-themed to be about zombies this would easily be top 1000. As it is a love the charming theme and art and cut throat gameplay.:strip_icc()/pic2093487.jpg)
Recently I also picked up Fire in the Library Wow! Really impressed. Currently ranked at 4499 but I suspect not for long.:strip_icc()/pic5978736.jpg)
Fri Feb 12, 2021 3:25 am
- [+] Dice rolls
-
Caroline BlackUnited Kingdom
Braintree
Essex
Tigger playing Agricola. He lost!
-
The top fifty list by ranking on BGG seems to be dominated by heavier games such as Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization (4.7), Gloomhaven (3.8) and Twilight Struggle (3.5) They are heavier games that take longer to play. I guess if you invest 3 hours playing a game your going to rate it pretty highly. Also deeper games are likely to have more replayability and take longer to master.
The higher rated games seem also to be the more expensive games. Again I would argue you are more likely to rate a game highly if you paid a lot for it.
Pandemic Legacy: Season 1 seems to be the only game that bucks the trend, with a weight of less than 3.:strip_icc()/pic4627365.jpg)
I don’t know how rankings on BGG are determined. But there are clearly games that have more owners (for example Carcassonne, Puerto Rico or Agricola).
I’ve got to say the rankings don’t tie up with my own rankings. They don’t tie up with what is see being played at the large board game club I am a member of. They are predominately light games.
It always amazes me some of the games that are played regularly that I think are rubbish like Cards Against Humanity or Exploding Kittens. While I have come to enjoy social deduction games like Secret Hitler occasionally, but its not a game I want to play over and over.
There is also always a game of Catan which is also a game I just don’t get the love for. Other popular games include Splendor, Sushi Go! and Ticket to Ride: Europe. There is a group that play Terraforming Mars literally every week. So coming back to rankings perhaps there is something in it after all?
Something that always baffles me is why so many gamers aren’t members of BGG. I guess amongst my friends it’s to be expected as it’s a US site but it’s such a fantastic resource it seems a shame. And I guess this is the crux of it. The majority of members of BGG are not your typically lightweight gamer.
So is it more difficult for lighter (weight less than 3) games to break into the top ten? Wingspan got lots of hype, highly rated but struggled to break into the top 20.:strip_icc()/pic4670164.jpg)
Are there any games, which in your opinion are massively lower in the ranks than they should be? For me it would be Keyflower It was a sad day when this dropped out of the top 50. Also Everdell. Such a great game but only just inside the top fifty.:strip_icc()/pic2197837.png)
The Isle of Cats is steadily rising through the ranks and is now 226. My beloved Little Town is now 1382.:strip_icc()/pic5494138.jpg)
Not that that is to be sniffed at. After all with over 100,000 board games even being in the top 1000 represents the very best of the best.
It also baffles me that different editions of the same game aren’t combined into one entry. Would Agricola or Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition be much higher if they were? Other games like Snowdonia and Snowdonia: Deluxe Master Set seem to be aggregated together.
My lowest ranked game is Traintopia in the 6000’s but then this is a fairly new game and Era of Kingdoms languishing in the 4000./pic5552813.jpg)
Yesterday my copy of The One Hundred Torii (rank 5390) turned up after being on order for 4 months. This game has great art by Vincent Dutrait and is a nice production with silk screened meeples. I’ve only played this solo so far but I’ve been impressed. Nice little network building game with some tricky decisions.:strip_icc()/pic5552182.jpg)
I will enjoy watching it rise through the rankings but like the majority of games it will be forgotten in a couple of years time. Perhaps there are just too many games? Even a good game will struggle to make the top 1000.
Tue Jul 28, 2020 6:06 am
- [+] Dice rolls
