BoardGameGeek top 100 board games

What you should know before using that list as buying advice: it reflects the taste of people who play a lot of games. They are not the same people as a family that puts something on the table three times a year. As a result, the list leans towards heavier games, longer playing times and thicker rulebooks.

That does not make it any less valuable, but it is worth knowing. A game that ranks high here is almost certainly well made. Whether it suits your table is another question.

This board game list is not a top 10 for beginners

If you are looking for a starting point, this is not the right place. For that question we have a separate board game top 10, put together around what works for someone who is just starting out.

Use this list instead when you already own a few games and want to know what the next step is. Or when you are looking for something to disappear into for a whole evening.

Where best to start in this list

Three titles in this category are the most accessible. Cascadia plays with one to four players and can be explained in a quarter of an hour: you place tiles and animals so that they score points. Harmonies works in a similar way and is just as relaxed.

Heat: Pedal to the Metal is the third, for one to six players. A car race in which you manage your gears; it plays faster than the box suggests and works with a big group.

Want to dive straight into the heavy stuff? Then Dune: Imperium and Scythe are the best-known names we have in the shop. Looking for something that runs over several evenings? Then Gloomhaven Jaws of the Lion is the entry point to that series: a campaign for one to four players, with a box that will keep you busy for months.

Why not all hundred are here

Two reasons. The first is practical: part of that list never comes out in Dutch, and part of it has not been reprinted for years.

The second is a choice. We do not put something in the shop because a list says it is good. What you find here, we have played ourselves or hear back from customers as something that keeps coming back to the table. The standards we use are set out in our main board games category.

Frequently asked questions

How often does the BoardGameGeek top 100 change? Constantly, because every new vote counts. In practice the top 20 shifts slowly and the bottom of the list moves month by month. That is why we do not mention positions in this text; they would be out of date within a few weeks.

Does a high ranking on this list guarantee I will enjoy the game? No. It guarantees that lots of dedicated players think it is good. So always look at the number of players, the age and how much time you have as well. Those three say more about your evening than any ranking.

Where can I find a list of board games for beginners? In our board game top 10. It is built the other way round: from easy to a bit heavier, with who each game is for.

What do terms like deck-builder and worker placement mean? We explain that in types of board games. Handy if you are reading through this list and tripping over the jargon.