2013 Top 42 List Final Part (7-1)

Welcome back to my Top 42 list. We're at that happy and sad spot known as  the end.  To go back and see where game ranked, you can check out parts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

These 7 games are the games I truly enjoy playing.  If I had to only own 7 games, I would be happy playing only these games for a long time.

#7 Star Trek: Fleet Captains  No Change
Each time I play this game, I feel like I'm in Star Trek.  The game is a bit long, which keeps it from moving up higher on my list.  There are a lot of nuances to the gameplay, which serve as a hindrance to new players.  Also, each faction truly plays differently than the others.  The Federation need to go exploring, while the Klingons focus a lot on combat.  The Romulans mess with things using infiltrators, and deception to accomplish their objectives.  This is the game for Star Trek fans.  There's a good deal to learn, but it is well worth the effort.

#6 Battlestar Galactica Down 1
Keeping in theme, this is the game for anyone who's a fan of Battlestar Galactica.  More than any other game I've ever played, this captures the tension of the show while making a fun and challenging game of it.  2012 was the first year I haven't played a game of BSG since I acquired it, but I still enjoy the game.  My group that enjoys BSG has long since dispersed, so my playing has been shifted to forum games and Vassel.  Not bad ways to play, but it lacks a lot of the tension and suspicion, and without those things, BSG just doesn't feel like the same game.



#5 Star Wars: X-Wing New
I'll admit it, I'm obsessing over this game.  The miniatures are amazing, as evidenced in my review.  The game feels quick, even when it goes for well over an hour.  Rounds rarely take longer than 5 minutes, even with a lot of combat going on.  It is a miniatures game, so it gets pricey, $15 per ship MSRP, around $10 online.  With that under consideration, the game is totally worth it if you have people to play with.  I rarely play this with just one other person, instead we like to do 4-6 people battles.  It keeps everyone involved, and gives it more of a true space fight feeling.  The only thing that would make the game better are more scenarios, but hopefully those are coming in Wave 3.  I'd also love to see a Campaign Book eventually, but those are things that would make a great game even better.

#4 Dominion Down 2

Dominion dropped because I think I've out played it.  This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I just don't enjoy it the same way these days.  Playing with the new cards from Dark Ages provides a good challenge, since I haven't overplayed the cards.  One of the other reasons Dominion moved down is that I don't get to play it very often in person.  Most people haven't played as much as I have, so it leads to games that are less fun.  I've had some great games of Dominion against a lot of people, but at this point, it's not something I pull out often.  I'll play it with anyone who wants to play, but I find myself suggesting it less and less.


#3 7 Wonders  Up 1
Big credit to gamenight for moving this up.  I really like the versatility of 7 Wonders. It handles up to 3-7 in roughly the same amount of time.  Just a little extra for everyone to decide on their card play each turn, but that's very minimal.  There are a few different strategies to take in the game, and I've seen them all work.  I've seen new players do extremely well in the game, not always come in first, but finish in the top half.  Most people I've played with like the game enough to want to play in the future.



#2 Ticket to Ride  Up 1

The more I thought about games, the more Ticket to Ride kept coming up.  With the new expansion maps, there are so many ways to play TtR and have it feel different each time.  Having only 3 options on your turn keeps things simple enough while providing a lot of choices.  Most of the time you want to get more cards, but deciding when to play cards is a key to the game.  There's a fair bit of luck in TtR, but that's one of the things that makes it great.  It's a game I really can play with anyone, since it's not overly complicated to teach.



#1 Cosmic Encounter  No Change
No surprise that this keeps the #1 slot.  Honestly, I don't see it going anywhere soon, but I'm always open to something overtaking it.  For the groups I have right now, this is the game we all love to play.  For me, this is what a boardgame should be.  There's great player interaction, loads of variety, controlled chaos, the ability for players to mess with each other, and memorable games.  I can't deny that it takes awhile to learn Cosmic.  You'll spend the first game just learning all the phases and what everyone can actually do.  The next few you'll finally see the powers interact, and realize that you shouldn't invite everyone to ally all the time.  Then, one time, it will click.  You'll see the game come together, powers, flares, other variants, and it will make sense.  You may not win that game, you may take 50 games before you win one, but eventually you will realize that Cosmic isn't so much about winning as it is having a good time conquering the galaxy with friends and foes alike.

2013 Top 42 Part 5 (14-8)

Welcome back to my Top 42 list. We're almost to the end.  For part four, click here.
These are all truly great games in my opinion.  They are games I can play with a lot of different people, and I almost always enjoy playing.  The order is hard to distinguish at this stage, but I've done my best.

#14 Rattus  Down 5
Rattus, still one of my favorite games.  So why did it move down?  Well, other games just jumped ahead of it because I've gotten to play them more often.  Rattus is great with people who know the game, but it's sometimes hard to teach it well.  It has the variable power mechanic that I really enjoy exploring.  With 2 expansions for Rattus, and the ability to play with up to 6 people, I think I have everything I'll ever need to enjoy this game time after time.


#13 Pandemic No Change
For reference, this is with the expansion.  Without the expansion, I don't think Pandemic is on this list.  I know this isn't everyone's cup of tea, but, in the world of pure co-op games, Pandemic is my favorite.  Other games may have more enjoyable themes, or deeper strategies, but there is just something about the struggle in Pandemic.  There are so many times where I want just one more action to do something, or when I say "If only I was the _."  The game presents a lot of different options, allows for a good amount of group think to tackle problems, and presents new challenges and opportunities with each set of player abilities.

#12 Dixit No Change
Dixit, the game that thrives on creativity, keen observation, and nifty clue telling.  Dixit is the gamers' Apples to Apples, with a bit more variety.  There are times when I don't like Dixit, but there are times I have a blast with it.  It does take a group who's willing to get into the details of the cards, but if you have a couple of people, the rest catch on quickly.  I had a chance to play this with 9 people, and it was fantastic. In fact, best game of Dixit I have ever played.





#11 Roll Through the Ages  Up 4
Civilization building with dice.  The game really fills a niche for me. It's simple enough to play just about any time, yet it has enough depth to keep me coming back to play.  There are some issues in 3-4 player games if a player or two can consistently roll 3 skulls, making their opponents lose points, but that's just something you have to try to account for.  Anytime a game uses dice, there are going to be issues with randomness.  Trying to make the most out of what you roll is a vital skill in those circumstances.  Still, it's almost impossible to beat someone who rolls exactly what they need every time.  Overall, I enjoy the civ-building aspect. The dice keep the game at a manageable timeframe.  I'd like to see some expansions (official or unofficial) that add to the scope of the game.

#10 For Sale  Up 12
For Sale has been played several times this past year.  It's frequently requested at game night, which is a great thing.  The auction aspect of the game presents players with many options, though you can get put in a bad spot.  Still, the game plays out in two phases, which makes it easy to learn, quick to play, and a neat little auction game while trying to make the best of what you have.



#9 Incan Gold  Up 1
I had a hard time deciding between Incan Gold and Shadows. I really wanted to call a tie for 8th, but like Baseball, there are no ties in game rankings.  I have nothing but good things to say about this game.  There are a lot of things it isn't, but they don't matter.  It's a great push your luck game. You have to try to read your opponents and make decisions based on what you think they're going to do, and then get frustrated when you're wrong.  With even slightly competitive people, the game becomes amazing as some root for treasure, while others root for the trap to end things.  It plays well with 4-8 players which is rare, and most of the time, people want to play again.

#8 Shadows Over Camelot  No Change

Shadows holds the number 8 spot due mostly to nostalgia.  I'm currently a bit burnt out on the game, but I have a lot of fun memories with the game.  The possibility of a traitor can make the game more tense than Battlestar, because you're never really sure how many people are working against you.  Shadows is a tough enough game to win even without a traitor, I'm often surprised that we can win a game when there is a traitor.  There's a decent amount of luck to the game, and a lot depends on how well the traitor can gain the trust of the group.  Still, the game results in stories told months after the fact.

2013 Top 42 Part 4 (21-15)

Welcome back to my Top 42 list. We're halfway home!  For part three, click here.

#21 Eminent Domain  Down 15

Eminent Domain made a big splash late last year, but as I've played it more, it's lost a bit of the luster.  I enjoy the game for the options it provides, and the variety of strategies players can take to win.  At this point, the game needs an expansion.  I'd love to see some more uses for the ships and resources, maybe a new card type, and a bunch of new technologies.  Since the game is made a lot better with a variety of options, I'm all for seeing more of them.


#20 Tsuro New
Well, no surprise that my most played game in 2012 makes this list.  Tsuro has become the game that I can pull out and play with anyone.  I was able to play with my gaming family over Thanksgiving, including a 6 year old niece of theirs and their HS daughter who never plays games.  Helps that they both made it to the final 3 in an 8 player game.  Tsuro isn't the most complicated of games, nor is it the most strategic.  It is a tactical game, and it's quick.  I've never had a game last more than about 20 minutes, and that's perfect for what Tsuro is.


#19 This Game is Bonkers Up 9
I know this game is silly, and it's not really a gamer's game, but I have fun time playing it, and that's what games are about.  It's all about rolling, moving, and doing what the spot says, but the spots continue to move your piece around the board, and you get to place new tiles on spots to do different things.  This isn't a game I want to play all the time, but I always have a fun time playing it, and that's the best reason to play a game, and think highly of it.


#18 Small World  No Change

Small World is one of those games that I always enjoy when I play it, but I don't want to play it often.  I think it suffers from iPad play, since I don't have to worry about all the setup, clean-up, and token management when I play that way.  It's not the best of 3 player games, but around here, there's 3 of us who like it.  That leaves it for when people come in from out of town to play it, which doesn't happen often.  Still, a game I enjoy, a game that has a lot of interesting combinations, and a game that always provides a challenge.


#17 Catacombs  Down 3
I still think Catacombs is one of the most innovative games I own.  It's dropped a bit because it's a little too long for what it is as a game.  I think it's a very enjoyable experience, but I'd like to turn it into a campaign where we can play a couple rooms at a time and then put it away.  Perhaps that's a 2013 project for me.  I've always liked the dungeon crawl aspect of games, but all the specifics of combat and exploration tend to bog them down.  Catacombs boils combat down to did the attacker touch the defender or not, throws in a few special abilities, and then adds in some cool weapons and treasures that players can buy.

#16 Fleet  New
Fleet, in a way, is Deadliest Catch the Card Game.  No, it's not licensed, but the game is all about getting licenses to launch boats, using those boats to go fishing, and turning everything in to victory points.  There are so many different ways to try to win at Fleet.  Each license has it's own ability that makes it seem really powerful.  Some are more subtle than others, but I've seen every type of strategy do well in the game.  I have the Kickstarter expansion, which added some special captains, as well as some bonus license cards to the game.  I think they're a huge plus to the game, but even without them, I still enjoy what Fleet has to offer.  I sure hope this is a game I play a lot more.  It gives me a similar feel to Race for the Galaxy without using as many symbols, hence why Fleet is on this list, and Race for the Galaxy fell off.


#15 Can't Stop  New

Can't Stop should have been on this list last year.  It got lost in the shuffle that happened due to my computer getting stolen.  I forgot about the game since I don't actually own it.  Can't Stop is a very simple dice game.  Roll 4 dice, make 2 pairs, and move the markers up on the board.  The trick, you can only have 3 markers on your turn.  If you ever roll dice that don't combine to one of your numbers, you bust.  At any point you can stop, but there is no glory in stopping.  You're trying to move your markers up to claim a number. You only need 3 2's or 12's, but you need 13 7's in order to take it.  Be the first to claim 3 numbers and you win.  It's not complicated, but it's a great game to get people involved, and actively rooting against you in good fun.  I always have a blast playing Can't Stop.

2013 Top 42 Part 3 (28-22)

Welcome back to my Top 42 list. For part two, click here

#28 Wits and Wagers  Down 3
Wits and Wagers is staying fairly stable.  I think it's a great party game depending on the group.  I actually have a lot of good times playing with my immediate family, including a couple of plays right after midnight on New Years.  The variety of question topics makes for an interesting game, and gives almost anyone a chance to win.  I really think that the party version of the game is the best edition, though I'm biased since I was a playtester for it.  If you have anyone who is a trivia buff, Wits and Wagers is a great game to try with them.



#27 1960: The Making of the President Down 7
And now for the last of the 2 player exclusive games.  Even though I haven't played 1960 in awhile, I like what the game is.  I think there's good strategic choices to make, but also a lot of tactical adjustments that players have to adapt to.  It's a game with interesting choices about a very close election.  Even though the cards are mostly the same, how they get played, and how they shape the landscape of the electorate keeps the game fresh and challenging.


#26 Flash Point: Fire Rescue New
Flash Point has become my group's go-to co-op game.  I still rank a few higher than it, but Flash Point is here to stay, and is on the rise.  Most games have a tension to them, which is only made deeper by the theme.  Trying to save people from a burning building is one of the best themes for a co-op.  I personally enjoy being the truck driver so I can use the deck gun.  I once played a game using that and the Captain and never entered the building.  I think Flash Point is a harder game with less people, which is the inverse of what I'm used to with Pandemic.  This is a good co-op game, and probably the best co-op for family gaming.



#25 Settlers of Catan  Down 9
Catan, a game I love, a game that suffers from never playing it.  I give kudos to Rose who plays with me online enough to keep this game fresh.  These days it seems like I get to play Catan once, maybe twice per year, and honestly, I'm ok with that.  I think Catan is showing it's age a bit, but it's still a really enjoyable game.  To me, there are better games out there, but I will always play a game of Catan.


#24 Carcassonne  Down 5

Another game that I just don't get to play enough.  I played it one time in 2012, and that wasn't even with my own set.  I think the main issue is the farmer rules.  I know they're a vital part to the game, but they're something that swings  so many points, and if people don't understand that, they're in for a shock at the end.  I still like the building aspect of the game, I think it makes it really easy to get in to the game, and know what's going on.

#23 No Thanks!  Up 18
The big move up goes to No Thanks!  Yes, it's a game with cards and chips. Yes, it's a "filler" game.  Yes, there's a lot of luck to the game.  That's exactly why I like the game.  It's simple to teach, has that luck of the draw element, and it plays quickly.  It's become a gamenight staple while we wait for people to show up.  It's a nice way to get people into a game, and it has some strategy to it.  It may not be the perfect game, but it's a great part of any collection, and one I play often.




#22 Forbidden Island  Down 11
What Flash Point has gained in popularity, Forbidden Island has lost.  I still enjoy Forbidden Island, especially on the iPad, but it doesn't get to the table very often.  One thing I have noticed is that Forbidden Island can fall victim to the one player plays for everyone notion.  I don't know that it's a bad thing, since this game is targeted for families, but for more serious gamers, this isn't the best co-op.  Still, with the right group, the treasure gathering is fun, as is trying not to drown.  It's a very light-hearted theme, which keeps the game fun for children of all ages.

2013 Top 42 Part 2 (35-29)

Welcome back to my Top 42 list. For part one, click here

#35 Kingsburg  Down 8
Kingsburg is another victim of lack of plays, but I also think the game is starting to show it's age.  I still like rolling dice and deciding what to do with them, but it seems like most people play the same strategies every time, even with the expansion.  I think I'd like to play it more with less than 5 people, as I think that would free up the board a bit and give people more variety in the ways they can play.  It is still a fun game for people who like dice as well as some strategy.  I'm still up to play Kingsburg just about any time, since it is



#34 Black Friday New

The first, and only, of the games introduced to me from the weekly gamenight.  That's not to say that other games have been bad, but Black Friday stands above a lot of them.  Black Friday is a stock market game, with a fair bit of math, but not so much that it makes your head hurt.  The game is really about knowing when to buy stock, and when to sell.  It's about managing your money to be able to buy silver(the victory condition) at the right time for the right price. Players have to work together to drive up/down the price of stocks, but there's always the luck of the draw when it comes to market adjustments.


#33 Space Hulk: Death Angel The Card Game Down 16
This is the biggest drop that managed to stay on the list.  It's been hurt by some better co-ops coming into play, but more on those later.  It's also not a theme that everyone enjoys, so it's hard to pull out frequently.  I still enjoy the challenge that Space Hulk presents, but it's a game that I have to be in the right mood to play, and that mood doesn't strike often with the right group.




#32 Lost Cities  New
This is the first of the two player exclusive games on the list.  It's also a classic card game that's been around since 1999, but I didn't get a chance to play it until this past summer.  I've only played a handful of times, but there are a lot of interesting choices to make for a little card game.  There are risk-reward elements to the game, as well as a good deal of interaction with your opponent.  Well, interaction might be a bit strong, but you do have to evaluate what your opponent is doing, and plan your card discards accordingly.  All in all, a quick two player game that is easy to get into, and fun to play.



#31 Ultimate Werewolf  Down 10

As I was looking at the movement from last year to this, Ultimate Werewolf was the big shock.  I don't like this game any less than I did last year, yet it dropped down 10 spots.  I think I had it a bit overrated last year, and some more time to think it over is brought it to a more stable spot.  It's a really fun group game, but I struggle to have the right group for the game.  Still, with the right group, this game is a blast, and a unique social psychology experiment.  Perhaps I'm hurt by often wearing a red shirt, and the Star Trek notion does the rest of the work.

#30 Scary Tales  New
For what is essentially a dice game, Scary Tales is a good deal of fun.  It isn't very strategic, instead it falls into the tactics genre.  It's not a very good game with two, but with 3-5 people it's a neat game to spend about 30 minutes playing.  I really like it at the end of a game night to finish things off, and have some fun rolling dice.  The theme is easy to get into, even if it's not immersive.  It's probably not going to be anyone's favorite game, but I have a lot of fun playing it.





#29 Risk Legacy  Down 6
Yes, this is still Risk, and yes, it is still not Risk.  Legacy still offers a lot of variety to normal Risk.  The packets change the game in really interesting ways that make all players adapt.  The reason it's dropped is because we haven't been able to play it as much as I would like, which leads to about 15 minutes of rules refreshing.  Also, it seems like people are settling into their comfort areas after 5 plays, but I have high hopes that a packet or tray will change that up.  This is still the best way to play Risk, but it is still Risk.  The dice determine a lot, but solid tactical play is rewarded as well.

2013 Top 42 List Intro and 42-36

Welcome to my top 42 games list as of the start of 2013.  Since I have last year's list to compare with, I'll be talking about the changes in positions. There are 9 games new to the list, meaning 9 games fell off the list, and a whopping 20 games moved down, but more on that later.

I plan on making two posts per week for the Top 42 list, one on Tuesday and one on Friday, so tune in often.  For games that were on the list last year, I'm not going to talk much about their gameplay, but rather about why they moved up or down.


#42 The Game of Life: Jedi's Path  Down 7
Yes, Star Wars Life is still clinging to a spot on this list.  It's not a perfect game, but it actually works for a themed mass market game.  There are actual choices to be made in game play.  I don't pull this out often, but I try to play it once in a while, and I would much rather play this than regular "Life."


#41 Say Anything Down 3
Say Anything just got bumped by some games I felt were better.  I like the game as a party experience, but I don't get to play many party games.  It's rare that I have 5-7 people who like party games, so this doesn't get played often, but I'm glad to have it around.


#40 Colossal Arena  Down 4
I still like Colossal Arena.  The monster powers are fun to try to use well, the strategy in how to maximize your cards the right way is deep, and the politicking with fellow players to not kill your monster is a lot of fun or agony, depending on what happens.


#39 Formula D  Down 9
A great racing game than I can actually get my parents to play.  There are a lot of choices to make during the game, but not so many that it feels overwhelming.  The game really does feel like a race, though not at the same speed.  I've seen come from behind wins, and the leader crash out in the 2nd to last corner.  You never know what's going to happen, and that makes it fun to play.


#38 Seasons  New
The first new game to the list.  This was a 2012 Secret Santa gift, and what a success.  The game has multiple paths to victory, a great combination of luck and skill, and a lot of ways to adapt to what other players do.  This is a drafting game. First cards are drafted at the start of the game, and players create 3 hands of 3 cards, one for each year.  Every round, dice are rolled, and players pick one to use this turn. Dice give you energy, summoning points, crystals(VPs), the ability to change energy into points, or a new card.  Most of the time you'll draft a die to help yourself, but sometimes you'll take one just so the next player doesn't get it.  Cards let you do special things, but they require energy and summoning points to bring in to play.  The game has a lot of built in balance in terms of what you can and cannot do.


#37 Tiki Topple  Down 13
Tiki Topple has a special place in my gaming heart, but other games are starting to replace it.  Part of this is due to my sister having it with her at school, so I don't really get to play it, but also because the game need light hearted people to play it.  If it's taken too seriously, it isn't as much fun.


#36 Power Grid  Down 5
Down due to lack of play.  I enjoy Power Grid, but to others in my game group, it's too much like work, which is fair since one works in the power industry.  Power Grid does have some potential problems with money if you don't know how to plan for the end game.  At that point, you can get passed by and left behind by someone who knows how to work the end of the game.  This isn't the most enjoyable experience for new players, so I can't blame people for having a sour taste.

Top 42 Final Part (3-1)

Well, not bad for a 3 week journey, especially compared to the 3 month journey that was the Dice Tower top 100.  It's been fun working through the list, and I hope to have fun doing it again next year.

For those who know me well, the top 3 are no surprise.  I will say that the top 2 are likely to be fixed for years to come, but Fleet Captains is the one I can see taking over #2, and maybe someday #1.
As always, my list is my own, and I know it doesn't appeal to everyone, but you should know my work well enough by now to know that I am fair in my assessments, and that these games are truly great ones which I fully believe I'll be playing in 5 years and longer.

#3 Ticket to Ride
For more details on Ticket, check out my review.  Ticket to Ride is a great family game.  It's my go-to game for my immediate and extended family, it gets played about every other time at my gaming family, and it's a lot of fun.  I love working out the best route, then reworking it as I get blocked off.  It can be frustrating at times, but winning or losing this doesn't really bother me, so long as we all had a good time.  I've played every official map in existence so far except for India, but that's going to happen soon.  I've even tried Dice and Alvin and Dexter.  The only thing I haven't played bearing the Ticket name is the card game, but what's the point in that?  Sure there's luck in Ticket, but the game is very strategic, and perfect for the time length.  Like I said in my review, I'm a sucker for trains, I had birthday parties at the train museum, I own a Lionel train set.  Ticket is a great fit with that theme, and a classic that every hobby gamer should either own or at least have the ability to play occasionally.

#2 Dominion

Here's a game I haven't talked about much on the blog.  I've spent more hours playing Dominion than just about all my other games combined.  Now, that has to do with playing on BSW and now Isotropic, and those sites account for ~3000 plays.  I'm also organizing a tournament online for friends, so if you're interested send me an e-mail at bitsofboardgames@gmail.com and let me know.  For those of you who don't know Dominion, it's a card game where all players start with a basic deck which they use to buy better money and action cards to help them buy better victory cards.  Some games are short, ~15 minutes, some are long ~1.5 hours (that's my longest, not a usual thing) but most games are fun.  The random set-up of possible action cards make the game different, and I like to think that 1 different card can change the way a specific game would play out.  Dominion started the whole "deck building" fad, and with the expansions still coming it doesn't look like it's stopping anytime soon.  It's a great blend of strategy and luck; luck from shuffling, strategy from purchases, but strategy usually wins out. I'm always happy to teach this online, just look for me on dominion.isotropic.org I play under the SN mathguy89.

#1 Cosmic Encounter

Big shock here for people who know me, or anyone who read the Cosmic review I wrote really early on.  For me, this is what a boardgame should be.  There's great player interaction, loads of variety, controlled chaos, the ability for players to mess with each other, and memorable games.  I can't deny that it takes awhile to learn Cosmic.  You'll spend the first game just learning all the phases and what everyone can actually do.  The next few you'll finally see the powers interact, and realize that you shouldn't invite everyone to ally all the time.  Then, one time, it will click.  You'll see the game come together, powers, flares, other variants, and it will make sense.  You may not win that game, you may take 50 games before you win one, but eventually you will realize that Cosmic isn't so much about winning as it is having a good time conquering the galaxy with friends and foes alike.

I'm currently in a forum game on BGG, and while it looks like I have no shot at winning, I'm still having fun and it was a great way to test out two new powers before they're printed.  This is the game I look forward to playing. This is the game I read news articles about to find any hint of new expansions.  This is the game I'm helping to develop the fan expansion set. For all those reasons, I can't put any game ahead of Cosmic, and I don't actually know of a game that could beat it when I really think long and hard.  Sure, I play other games more often, but I've had a Cosmic only game day multiple times, and that doesn't happen with other games.

Wrap-up
First, it was a lot of fun making this list.
Second, it was a lot of work making this list.
I hope you've enjoyed reading my explanations and little talks about why each game is where it is.  I can already tell that there's going to be movement next year, since I'm really just getting into the swing of my main gaming time.

Comment as to what you liked, what you didn't like, etc about this list.
Also feel free to post your own top 3-5 games as a comment here.

Top 42 Part 6 (7-4)

Woo! Top 7. It's been a fun ride so far and I think it will be even better next year since we'll get comparisons to this year.

#7 Star Trek Fleet Captains

I never thought that two plays would make a game jump this high on my list.  Maybe it's a desire for wanting great games, maybe I'm colored by the newness of the game, but I can see myself playing this a lot for a long time.  The Star Trek theme is incorporated wonderfully. Everything from the ships to the encounter cards and the locations are directly out of Star Trek.  There's a lot of room for expansions, both in the federation fleet as well as other races from the show.  This game is perfect for Star Trek fans.  I can't speak to it's enjoyability if you don't know Trek, but the game mechanics seem to be solid.  There are many paths to victory for each side from scientific achievements to military conquest.  The game plays fairly quickly once you understand the rules, which does take awhile, but gameplay seems to speed up as it progresses, and the endgame seems to hit just as things are getting interesting.  I've only played with the recommended point count, but there's always the ability to undertake a longer game.

#6 Eminent Domain

I recently reviewed Eminent Domain, so the details are there so I'll make this quick.  I enjoy playing Eminent Domain, and I think with an expansion it could move into my top 5.  I love the diverse strategies possible in Em-Do, and the way a player has the follow or dissent option on other player's turns is brilliant.  It's quick to play and fairly different every time you play.  It's one game I want to play more as a 2 player for the longer strategies, but it's fun as a 3 or 4 player game.  Plus having friends start this whole "I'm going to warfare your (fill in the blank) has become an iconic phrase between us, and it's good fun to have those inside jokes.  TMG did an amazing job with the entire Kickstarter campaign, and it is a game I probably would have paid more, but I'm glad I got a bargain.   As a final note, it's really cool to see your name in print, even if it is only at the Silver Supporter level.

#5 Battlestar Galactica
Here's another one I've reviewed, so I'll keep it short again.  This is an amazing game with the right group of people.  The theme is once again dripping through the game.  I often feel like the series is happening as we play, watching the cylon fleet jump in by surprise and change the flow of things is great fun.  Watching morale drop is frightening for the players.  I wish there was a way to not know how many cylons were possible, since once they're known the tension tends to evaporate.  Still, there's a lot of fun here.  It would be higher if the the playtime was a bit shorter, and if I played more in real life instead of only forum games these days.

#4 7 Wonders

I was tempted to put this at #7 just for the pun, but 7 Wonders has moved up a lot in the last few months.  It's not the easiest game to learn, but the effort is worth it.  We're still at the point where we have to look up symbols, especially on the leaders, but it's getting easier.  I'm planning on a full review soon, but that's going to take a new camera, so I won't go into tons of specifics here.  I enjoy that the interaction in the game is only with your immediate neighbors.  It makes the game scale from 3 to 7 players withe ease, and you can almost ignore the strategies of your non-neighbors.  I think my favorite wonder to play is Babylon, though that probably has to do with the fact that I built a model of them in 6th grade, plus I always like to take the science route. The great thing is the lack of a completely dominant strategy.  If one person seems to be running away with things, others can always throw out the cards they need, or use them as wonder build markers.  The gameplay is pretty quick, the variety is excellent, and the huge player range is rather nice to have.  For all those reasons, 7 Wonders comes in at #4.

Top 42 Part 5 (14-8)

Welcome to the top 14.  Now that the Super Bowl is over, it's time for some game talk.
Any of these 7 games could be anywhere on this list for me, but I tried to order them in terms of what would I like to play the most if I had the right group, right play time, etc.

#14 Catacombs

Catacombs is a dungeon crawl as the name suggests, but has a huge twist.  There are no dice, no combat charts, simply flicking.  That's right, you flick your hero at the monsters, or monsters at the heroes if your the game master.  Every hero has a special ability, which is further enhanced by artifacts available for purchase at your friendly neighborhood gift shop.   This game is highly innovative in the way it takes a dungeon crawl and simplifies it with the flicking mechanic.  Sure, it's hard to remember where pieces flew off the board, or to check if that piece really did hit that other piece, but that's what cameras are for, especially if they have slow motion or frame by frame replay. (You think I'm joking, but I'm not.  We've actually gone that far.)  I enjoy playing either side in Catacombs, and while the GM has a lot more to work with, the heroes generally have a fighting chance.  Sometimes it takes too long for what it is, but I enjoy playing and having a flicking good time.

 #13 Pandemic
My thoughts on Pandemic have been fairly well expressed on this blog.  If you haven't read the review on it, go take a look.  I really enjoy the puzzle aspect of Pandemic.  Now puzzle doesn't mean that there's only one right way to win the game, but rather that each piece gives a clue as to what's next.  It's a hard co-op where the board can beat you fairly easily, yet almost every game is winnable.  It's a great challenge, and a great way to see how people think and work together.  You simply have to make good use of the player abilities, else you are doomed to fail.  At this point, I never play without the expansion for the game because the additional powers make it more interesting, the new special event cards add variety, and the different ways to play the game add new challenges.  Pandemic would be ok without the expansion, probably in the 20s for me, but with the expansion it makes #13, with potential to climb.

 #12 Dixit
When I first heard about Dixit, I was skeptical at best.  I'm not a very creative person when it comes to words, as you may realize from reading my articles, but the artwork intrigued me.  There was so much depth to the pictures, and now so much variety due to ~250 cards.  This is perhaps a better Apples to Apples because it gives players freedom, and it has a better structure for scoring points.  Dixit shot up my list because of the people I played with. It's an experience game, made amazing or meh by the people who play.  At school I had many well read friends who could pull references that I knew nothing about.  Some people may get frustrated by that aspect, but I learned things, and eventually gained a good guessing instinct for the cards.  There's a very subtle line between realization and giving away the answer to other people, because the storyteller is trying to get someone but not everyone to guess their card, but if everyone or no one gets it right, the storyteller gets no points, and everyone else scores.  Dixit is a lot of fun, and if you have a group that likes Apples to Apples or storytelling, this is definitely worth a look.

#11 Forbidden Island
Here's another game that I've talked about a lot, and you'll notice the distinction between Forbidden Island and Pandemic isn't great.  Simply put, I've played Forbidden Island more frequently as of late, and had better success teaching new players the game.  I love the artwork and the near constant tension that everything has to be taken care of, else we could lose at any moment feeling.  Seriously, the best thing I can say about this game is that unless you absolutely hate co-op games, you won't be disappointed with this as compared to the money it costs you.  At worst you'll be able to give it as a gift to someone who will like it.

#10 Incan Gold
This is an intriguing press-your-luck game.  The goal is to get more treasure from the temple in 5 rounds than your opponents.  Now, you might think all you have to do is stay longer than them, but knowing when to stop is the key to this game.  Each round, a card is turned over, revealing either treasure or a trap.  A single trap acts a warning, but a duplicate triggers the trap sending everyone away empty handed.  There are 5 different traps, so it's possible that nothing will spring until the sixth trap.  The revealed treasure is split evenly between remaining players, with leftovers going on the card. The leftovers are given away to players when they run, so knowing when to run is a key aspect.  If you stay too long you may get nothing, but if you run too soon you'll be greatly outscored by your opponents.  I've had many good times with this game.  Everyone seems to understand it, though silly mistakes will be made, it's short enough, ~20 minutes, to play more than once.

#9 Rattus
Not to be confused with Ratatouille, the beloved Pixar film, this game features rats in the black plague timeframe.   Now, if you're skeptical of the theme, don't worry too much, the game doesn't really involve rats, just some rat tokens.  The goal of Rattus is to have the most cubes on the board at the end of the game, but this is easier said than done.  On your turn you can take a power card, each one has a symbol on it which will come into play later.  Then you place cubes in one region equal to the number of rat tokens there.  Then you move the plague piece into an adjacent region, place one or two rat tokens in adjacent regions, and finally you resolve the plague by looking at the total number of cubes in the area, comparing it with the token, then causing player powers, the majority owner or all players to lose a cube.  This goes on until there are either no rat tokens left, or one player gets all 20 of their cubes on the board.  It's a fun back-and-forth amongst powers, with players taking your power sometimes.  You want the powers to do extra things, but the powers also cause you to lose more cubes, so it's a tough balance.  If you can get past the theme, Rattus is an enjoyable strategy game with some luck mixed in.

#8 Shadows Over Camelot
Shadows is one of the earlier co-op games, but it took me awhile to get around to playing it.  I personally love the theme, come on, it's Arthurian Legend.  I think the knights of the round table was the first real fantasy that I enjoyed, plus the Stargate-SG1 use of things helped keep my interest in the mythos.  Each player plays a knight of Camelot, or King Arthur.  Every knight has a special power which helps good defeat evil, but the twist to the game is that one knight may be working against the others.  It took my 45 games to finally act as the traitor, though not all of those were games where a traitor was possible.  There are multiple quests that the knights have to work on together in order to succeed.  Knights can purse the Holy Grail or Excalibur, fight the Black Knight, the Picts or Saxons, the treacherous Lancelot or the fearsome dragon.  There are a lot of things to do, and the key to Shadows is managing what you can and can't do, letting things fail, and trying to win things at the right time.  I've spent many good hours trying to figure out and then defeat the traitors to Camelot, as well as direct the knights.  I've had more fun watching seemingly innocent people (MY SISTER!) play the deepest hidden traitor act, and completely bamboozle the knights.  The one thing I've yet to see is King Arthur turn traitor, but I know it will happen eventually.

Just one more week to get through this list.
I apologize for the lack of other articles, but without a digital camera I'm kinda stuck on reviews.  I've been writing a few, but other life events also slow things down.  I'm trying to keep things going, so a big thank-you to everyone sticking with me and here's to better things ahead!