The 50 most historically and culturally significant games published since 1800 - my take
Joe Huber
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Erik Arneson recently published an article (http://boardgames.about.com/cs/gamehistories/a/timeline.htm) with the same title as this list, which I think is rather a strong attempt at a tricky subject. Much as I like Erik's list, I don't agree with it entirely; I thought about posting thoughts somewhere, but realized that it was probably more useful to just create a geeklist.

For other discussion here, see http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/139207

Fire away...
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1. Board Game: Poker [Average Rating:6.72 Overall Rank:1041]
Board Game: Poker
Joe Huber
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Westborough
Massachusetts
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Year: 1810
On Erik's list?: No

I suspect Erik didn't consider the game, since it clearly belongs - assuming the 1810 date given on BGG is correct.
 
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2. Board Game: Skat [Average Rating:7.25 Overall Rank:1899]
Board Game: Skat
Joe Huber
(huber)

Westborough
Massachusetts
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Year: 1810
On Erik's list?: No

Again, another game I'm surprised Erik didn't include. Actually, Erik's list _is_ biased away from card games - but I don't believe that's a proper choice. Two ways to tell the importance of a card game playable with standard cards is the availability of custom cards and the amount of literature devoted to the game; on both counts, Skat's a clear choice. One of the games on this list I haven't played but would really like to.
 
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3. Board Game: The von Reisswitz Kriegsspiel: The Prussian Army Wargame [Average Rating:8.24 Overall Rank:10325]
Board Game: The von Reisswitz Kriegsspiel: The Prussian Army Wargame
Joe Huber
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Westborough
Massachusetts
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Year: 1824
On Erik's list: Yes
 
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4. Board Game: The Mansion of Happiness [Average Rating:4.50 Unranked]
Board Game: The Mansion of Happiness
Joe Huber
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Westborough
Massachusetts
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Year: 1843
On Erik's list: Yes
 
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5. Board Game: Euchre [Average Rating:6.80 Overall Rank:1613]
Board Game: Euchre
Joe Huber
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Westborough
Massachusetts
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Year: 1848
On Erik's list: No

Another card game that retains a large following more than 150 years later.
 
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6. Board Game: The Game of Life [Average Rating:4.30 Overall Rank:20526]
Board Game: The Checkered Game of Life
Joe Huber
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Westborough
Massachusetts
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Microbadge: 'blank'
Year: 1860
On Erik's list: Yes
 
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7. Board Game: The Game of Authors [Average Rating:4.49 Overall Rank:20324]
Board Game: The Game of Authors
Joe Huber
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Westborough
Massachusetts
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Year: 1861
On Erik's list: Honorable mention
 
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8. Board Game: Crokinole [Average Rating:7.91 Overall Rank:68]
Board Game: Crokinole
Joe Huber
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Westborough
Massachusetts
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Year: 1876
On Erik's list: Yes
 
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9. Board Game: Tiddledy Winks [Average Rating:3.95 Overall Rank:20490]
Board Game: Tiddledy Winks
Joe Huber
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Westborough
Massachusetts
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Year: 1888
On Erik's list: Yes
 
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10. Board Game: 500 [Average Rating:6.92 Overall Rank:3597]
Board Game: 500
Joe Huber
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Westborough
Massachusetts
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Year: 1904
On Erik's list: No

The odd game to have been specifically released to the public domain, 500 remains a key game in many parts of the world - and in many forms.
 
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11. Board Game: Pit [Average Rating:6.39 Overall Rank:1684]
Board Game: Pit
Joe Huber
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Westborough
Massachusetts
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Year: 1904
On Erik's list: Yes
 
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12. Board Game: Little Wars [Average Rating:6.99 Overall Rank:10365]
Board Game: Little Wars
Joe Huber
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Westborough
Massachusetts
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Year: 1913
On Erik's list: Honorable Mention
 
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13. Board Game: Bridge [Average Rating:7.45 Overall Rank:709]
Board Game: Bridge
Joe Huber
(huber)

Westborough
Massachusetts
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Year: 1925
On Erik's list: Honorable mention

It's been argued that not including this on his primary list was Erik's largest omission, and I'm not inclined to disagree.
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14. Board Game: Battleship [Average Rating:4.65 Overall Rank:20512]
Board Game: Battleship
Joe Huber
(huber)

Westborough
Massachusetts
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Year: 1931
On Erik's list: Honorable mention
 
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15. Board Game: Anagrams [Average Rating:6.67 Overall Rank:10237]
Board Game: Anagrams
Joe Huber
(huber)

Westborough
Massachusetts
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Year: 1934
On Erik's list: No

In a sense, the first big word game - and one that continues to be popular in many forms.
 
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16. Board Game: Monopoly [Average Rating:4.38 Overall Rank:20525]
Board Game: Monopoly
Joe Huber
(huber)

Westborough
Massachusetts
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Year: 1935
On Erik's list: Yes
 
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17. Board Game: Canasta [Average Rating:6.39 Overall Rank:3278]
Board Game: Canasta
Joe Huber
(huber)

Westborough
Massachusetts
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Year: 1939
On Erik's list: Honorable Mention
 
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18. Board Game: Clue [Average Rating:5.67 Overall Rank:8777]
Board Game: Clue
Joe Huber
(huber)

Westborough
Massachusetts
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Microbadge: 'blank'
Year: 1946
On Erik's list: Yes
 
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19. Board Game: Stratego [Average Rating:6.09 Overall Rank:2593]
Board Game: Stratego
Joe Huber
(huber)

Westborough
Massachusetts
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Microbadge: 'blank'
Year: 1947
On Erik's list: Honorable mention
 
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20. Board Game: Scrabble [Average Rating:6.28 Overall Rank:1822] [Average Rating:6.28 Unranked]
Board Game: Scrabble
Joe Huber
(huber)

Westborough
Massachusetts
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Microbadge: 'blank'
Year: 1948
On Erik's list: Yes
 
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21. Board Game: Candy Land [Average Rating:3.18 Overall Rank:20530]
Board Game: Candy Land
Joe Huber
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Westborough
Massachusetts
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Microbadge: 'blank'
Year: 1949
On Erik's list: Yes
 
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22. Board Game: APBA Pro Baseball [Average Rating:7.01 Overall Rank:5076]
Board Game: APBA Pro Baseball
Joe Huber
(huber)

Westborough
Massachusetts
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Microbadge: 'blank'
Year: 1951
On Erik's list: Yes
 
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23. Board Game: Blockhead! [Average Rating:5.42 Overall Rank:18806]
Board Game: Blockhead!
Joe Huber
(huber)

Westborough
Massachusetts
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Microbadge: 'blank'
Year: 1954
On Erik's list: No

Stacking games are a popular category of game to this day.
 
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24. Board Game: Rack-O [Average Rating:5.76 Overall Rank:6322]
Board Game: Rack-O
Joe Huber
(huber)

Westborough
Massachusetts
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Microbadge: 'blank'
Year: 1956
On Erik's list: No

It's amazing how many games owe something to Rack-O; 10 Days in the USA and Pyramiden des Jaguar are direct, recent descendants.
 
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25. Board Game: Eleusis [Average Rating:7.38 Overall Rank:4966]
Board Game: Eleusis
Joe Huber
(huber)

Westborough
Massachusetts
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Microbadge: 'blank'
Year: 1956
On Erik's list: No

One of the more interesting and innovative games, and a stated inspiration for Zendo.
 
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