20 Most Anticipated Board Games of 2014 - NOMINATIONS ARE CLOSED
-
Nominations, and voting are now closed.
The final results can be found here.
There can be onlyonetwenty!
Back for a fifth year...
Status updates:
Alphabetical listing of nominations
15 Minute Status Updates and Trends
Yet another year has once again come and gone... actually five now since I started the Most Anticipated of 20xx.
20 Most Desired Reprints of 2014
To run in conjunction with the 20 Most Anticipated Games of 2014 I started a reprint wishlist competition where you can add all those out-of-print grail games that you wish you could add to this list.
Where the 2013 favorites are now.
Last year's winner, Lords of Waterdeep: Scoundrels of Skullport is just now gaining traction in the BGG rankings, and the runner-up Kingdom Death: Monster has been delayed and is once more in the voting, along with Race for the Galaxy: Alien Artifacts if it doesn't make it out by the end of the year. I'm sure there are many that would have preferred they were ineligible for this year's competition, because that would mean they would have them in their hands.
A number of the "20 most" from last year are climbing steadily up the BGG rankings, namely Bora Bora which is up to 108 as of this writing. Where There Is Discord: War in the South Atlantic is at #64 in the war game rankings, along with The Guns of Gettysburg at #120.
There are other notable finalists that were in the running for the top 20 and are rating highly after release. These include Kemet, 1775: Rebellion, Rialto, Viticulture, and Caverna: The Cave Farmers.
Kickstarter's influence on anticipated games.
Kickstarter was in its infancy when I started the Most Anticipated series, and last year was perhaps the first that had a significant impact on the nominations. This year, Kickstarter's influence is once again undeniable, but expected. After all, who would back a project and not excitedly anticipate its release?
Most of the bigger publishers will still hold their cards close until Essen next year, but there are still a number of great non-Kickstarter titles to look forward to.
Without further ado nominations are once again open nominations in this very in-formal and un-official contest to determine the 20 Most Anticipated Games of 2014.
Key Dates:
Nominations Open: Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Nominations Close: Thursday, January 2, 2014
Voting Begins: Friday, January 3, 2014
Voting Ends: Saturday, January 18, 2014
Nominating your most anticipated.
As always, if a game you're anticipating the release in 2014 is not on the list feel free to add it. Game designers and publishers are encouraged to nominate their own games by adding them to the list. Don't be humble and wait for someone else to do it. See the notes below for adding games. As in past years, this will be a two-stage process... a nominations phase and a final voting phase.
New this year. Adding category nominations.
I've updated the scripts that generate the categories. If you think a particular game should be in a category, you can add it in a comment using the category notation below, such as [category]wargame[/category]. If your comment has 5 or more thumbs the category will be added to the nomination.
Campaigning for your favorites
Go for it. If you're a publisher, designer, or designer's mom don't hesitate to campaign for your favorites. Bribing voters is fine too. Pretty much anything goes as long as kittens, puppies and small children aren't injured. We have to draw the line somewhere.
Nominations
To nominate a game add it to this geeklist with one or more categories using the category tags below. Please add a short note stating why it is anticipated that the game will ship in 2014. Feel free to suggest new categories.
Nomination name
Nominations may not have a BGG entry yet, or you may want to change the nomination name to indicate a specific edition.
To do so, put the nomination name inside of altname tags such as:
[altname]Favorite game - Unnamed expansion[/altname]
To second a nomination thumb its entry.
The top 50 nominations will be entered into the final vote for the top 20.
Nomination Categories:
Categories will be changed based on the nominations, but tentatively these are the categories I expect us to have. Feel free to nominate a game for multiple categories. Some of the categories may be combined or eliminated if there aren't enough nominations in the category.
* Original / Innovative [category]original[/category] 15 min status updates
* Reprint [category]reprint[/category] 15 min status updates
* Expansion [category]expansion[/category] 15 min status updates
* Cooperative [category]cooperative[/category] 15 min status updates
* Solitaire [category]solitaire[/category] 15 min status updates
* Strategy [category]strategy[/category] 15 min status updates
* Thematic [category]thematic[/category] 15 min status updates
* Wargame [category]wargame[/category] 15 min status updates
* Abstract [category]abstract[/category] 15 min status updates
* Family & Children's [category]family[/category] 15 min status updates
* Party [category]party[/category] 15 min status updates
* Train [category]train[/category] 15 min status updates
* Economic [category]economic[/category] 15 min status updates
* Historical [category]historical[/category] 15 min status updates
* Political [category]political[/category] 15 min status updates
* Science Fiction [category]scifi[/category] 15 min status updates
* Horror [category]horror[/category] 15 min status updates
* Fantasy [category]fantasy[/category] 15 min status updates
* 4x - Explore, Expand, Exploit, Exterminate [category]4x[/category] 15 min status updates
* American West [category]american west[/category] 15 min status updates
* Sports [category]sports[/category] 15 min status updates
* Novel-based [category]novel[/category] 15 min status updates
* Print & Play [category]pnp[/category] 15 min status updates
Eligibility
Any newly available game or expansion is eligible if it is reasonably expected to ship in 2014. I know, "reasonably" is a fuzzy word... cest la vie.
Voting
At the conclusion of nominations I will create a poll with the top 50 nominations.
Reprints vs. new editions
Reprints of already released games are not eligible, but new editions are. As with many things in the gaming industry this isn't a crisp line as to how many changes are necessary to distinguish a reprint from a new edition, but several factors to consider are artwork and components.
When nominating a new edition, mention why you think this one is different from the previous edition (not necessarily in detail, something as short as "new components" is sufficient).
Long out-of-print reprints
I would prefer to include games that have been generally unavailable for several years and are receiving a reprint. Again, this is a bit of a fuzzy area, but as an example, if Warhammer Quest or Hero Quest were to be reprinted without changes they would be eligible.
Multiple releases
It is not uncommon for a game printing to have multiple release editions for the EU and US markets (such as Mayfair/Lookout Games and JKLM/Z-Man). Many games are released and available at Essen and then (sometimes much later) released in the US with great anticipation.
For many, I think the "buzz" surrounding an Essen release combined with the general unavailability heightens the anticipation.
I would prefer to include these releases and let the voting determine how anticipant people are.
Limited initial release
I would also prefer to include games that had a limited initial release and are preparing for a full re-release. Again, this will be a grey area, but one example I would point to is the approach that Treefrog, Winsome, GMT and other publishers take with typically small pre-order releases that sell out quickly and receive a reprint if they perceive that the game was well received.
What is a small or limited release? Again, another gray area that we'll have to deal with as it comes up, as I'm sure a small release for Hasbro is quite different for a small release from most publishers here on BoardGameGeek.
This would also include games that might have had reviewer copies released, but are not yet generally available for purchase.
Other
If the particular game is part of a series (such as the Call of Cthulhu: The Card Game) I may combine multiple nominations into one entry for final voting if it appears as if the series is anticipated rather than a specific release in the series (this was done for the Dominion expansions in 2010).
Also, if there isn't any justification for why a particular game is anticipated to ship in 2014 I may remove it from final voting. The only reason I state this is to separate anticipated 2014 releases from wishlist items. Yes, it would be nice if Hasbro/Avalon Hill reprinted Star Wars: The Queen's Gambit but at this point I don't believe there is any reason to anticipate a 2014 release.
However, in this respect I would prefer to be inclusive rather than exclusive.
Anything else??? We'll wing it... After all, this is just for fun.
2013 Results
For anyone feeling a bit nostalgic, here are the results and nominations from last year:
Final Results
Final Results: 20 Most Anticipated Games of 2013
Final Results: 15 Most Anticipated Strategy Games of 2013
Final Results: 15 Most Anticipated Thematic Games of 2013
Final Results: 10 Most Anticipated Wargames of 2013
Final Results: 10 Most Anticipated Party, Family, & Children's Games of 2013
Final Results: Most Anticipated Train Games of 2013
Final Results: 10 Most Anticipated Economic Games of 2013
Final Results: 10 Most Anticipated Historical & Political Games of 2013
Final Results: 10 Most Anticipated Sci-Fi & Horror Games of 2013
Final Results: 10 Most Anticipated Fantasy Games of 2013
Final Results: 15 Most Anticipated Original/Innovative Games of 2013
Final Results: 10 Most Anticipated Reprints of 2013
Final Results: 10 Most Anticipated Expansions of 2013
Final Results: Most Anticipated Abstract Games of 2013
Final Results: 10 Most Anticipated Solitaire Games of 2013
Final Results: 15 Most Anticipated "Best of the Rest" Games of 2013
Voting
Nominations
2012 Results
Final Results
[RESULTS] 20 Most Anticipated Games of 2012
[RESULTS] Most Anticipated Games of 2012 - SCI-FI
[RESULTS] Most Anticipated Games of 2012 - FANTASY / MEDIEVAL
[RESULTS] Most Anticipated Games of 2012 - WARGAME
[RESULTS] Most Anticipated Games of 2012 - HORROR
[RESULTS] Most Anticipated Games of 2012 - ABSTRACT
[RESULTS] Most Anticipated Games of 2012 - TRAIN
[RESULTS] Most Anticipated Games of 2012 - ECONOMIC
[RESULTS] Most Anticipated Games of 2012 - HISTORICAL
[RESULTS] Most Anticipated Games of 2012 - POLITICAL
[RESULTS] Most Anticipated Games of 2012 - DICE
[RESULTS] Most Anticipated Games of 2012 - SPORTS
[RESULTS] Most Anticipated Games of 2012 - COOPERATIVE
[RESULTS] Most Anticipated Games of 2012 - BEST OF THE REST
[RESULTS] Most Anticipated Games of 2012 - ORIGINAL
[RESULTS] Most Anticipated Games of 2012 - REPRINT
[RESULTS] Most Anticipated Games of 2012 - EXPANSION
Voting
Nominations
2011 Results
[POLLS] Most Anticipated Games of 2011 - VOTING IS CLOSED
[RESULTS] 20 Most Anticipated Games of 2011
[RESULTS] Most Anticipated Games of 2011 - ORIGINAL GAME
[RESULTS] Most Anticipated Games of 2011 - EXPANSION
[RESULTS] Most Anticipated Games of 2011 - TRAIN
[RESULTS] Most Anticipated Games of 2011 - ECONOMIC
[RESULTS] Most Anticipated Games of 2011 - HISTORICAL & POLITICAL
[RESULTS] Most Anticipated Games of 2011 - FAMILY, PARTY, WORD & ABSTRACT
[RESULTS] Most Anticipated Games of 2011 - SCI-FI & HORROR
[RESULTS] Most Anticipated Games of 2011 - FANTASY
[RESULTS] Most Anticipated Games of 2011 - WARGAME
[RESULTS] Most Anticipated Games of 2011 - SPORT SIMULATION
[RESULTS] Most Anticipated Games of 2011 - THE BEST OF THE REST
Voting
Nominations
2010 Results
Twenty Most Anticipated Games of 2010 - Final Vote Results
Most Anticipated TRAIN Games of 2010 - Results
Most Anticipated ECONOMIC Games of 2010 - Results
Most Anticipated HISTORICAL Games of 2010 - Results
Most Anticipated POLITICAL Games of 2010 - Results
Most Anticipated HORROR Games of 2010 - Results
Most Anticipated SCIENCE FICTION Games of 2010 - Results
Most Anticipated FANTASY Games of 2010 - Results
Most Anticipated WARGAMES of 2010 - Results
Most Anticipated EXPANSIONS of 2010 - Results
Most Anticipated PRINT & PLAY Games of 2010
Nominations & Voting
-
- Edited Thu Jan 23, 2014 1:00 am
- Posted Tue Nov 12, 2013 6:30 pm
- [+] Dice rolls