All games of the "Hunter & Cron Patreon Award 2018" list 🇩🇪 2026
We have clearly listed and compared the list with all games of the audience award "Hunter & Cron🇩🇪 2018". In 2018, unlike 2017, the award was no longer given in 17 different categories, but only 10. For each category, 10 games were nominated by Hunter & Cron – the audience or Patreon supporters then voted for their favorites.
The Hunter & Cron Patreon Award 2018 Winners
- Best Family Game: Azul
- Best Children's Game: Rhino Hero: Super Battle
- Best Two-Person Game: Arkham Horror: The Card Game
- Best Real-Time Game: EXIT – The Game
- Best Dexterity Game: Rollet
- Best Party Game: Tempel des Schreckens
- Best Cooperative Game: Pandemic Legacy: Season 2
- Best Themed Game: Arkham Horror: The Card Game
- Best Connoisseur Game: Charterstone
- Best Expert Game: Gaia Project
2 YouTube videos for nominations & announcement of winners
Audience Award instead of Critics Award
Unlike the Spiel des Jahres Award, the "Hunter & Cron Award🇩🇪" is not chosen by critics but by an audience – namely the Patreon Supporters of the channel. For the 2017 cohort (Hunter & Cron Patreon Award 2018), this was 366 eligible voters on the cutoff date of Jan. 1, 2018.
Who are Hunter & Cron anyway?
Hunter & Cron are german board game enthusiasts and started a YouTube channel in late 2013 where they shared their joy. Both live in Berlin 🇩🇪, are in a relationship and each have a son and a daughter. In the meantime, more than 1,000 videos have been created – and more than just the two of them can be seen on the channel. The channel is one of the main influencers among board game connoisseurs & experts in Germany.
Cron then announced a longer break in early 2021. Since then, Hunter continues the channel for now under the name "Hunter & Friends".
All further "Hunter & Cron Award" years
The Hunter & Cron Award has been awarded since 2017. Until 2019, it was still called the Hunter & Cron Patreon Award. We have listed for you both across all years and separately by year, you can find the year overview at the bottom of the page.
More info can be found on the official website of the "Hunter & Cron Awards".
List with all games that won the Hunter & Cron Patreon Award🇩🇪 2018
-
Codenames: Duet
All details & ratingEmbark on a collaborative journey of espionage in Codenames Duet, where the familiar elements of Codenames persist – providing one-word clues to unveil your agents among those on the table. This time, however, you and your teammate work together to uncover all your agents, adding a thrilling cooperative dimension to the challenge. The mystery of not knowing your agents from the outset adds an intriguing layer to the mission, raising questions that even Congressional investigators might ponder later!
2 15–30 min 11+ Immediately playable+ 3 € above the best price19 € at Amazon*Video reviews 1 -
Azul
All details & ratingAzul is a tile-laying game inspired by Portuguese azulejos: as artisans, players draft colored tiles from suppliers and place them in patterns to decorate the walls of the Royal Palace of Evora, scoring points for clever arrangements.
2–4 30–45 min 8+ Easy to learnVideo reviews 1 -
Rhino Hero: Super Battle
All details & ratingRhino Hero: Super Battle is a captivating 3D stacking game that sees the return of Rhino Hero, this time joined by fellow super-heroes Giraffe Boy, Big E., and Batguin. Players engage in an exciting challenge of building a wobbly skyscraper while navigating fierce battles among these charismatic characters. The game adds an extra layer of fun with the presence of mischievous spider monkeys that players must contend with during their skyscraper construction and superhero battles.
2–4 10–20 min 5+ Immediately playable+ 6 € above the best price26 € at Amazon*Video reviews 1 -
The Quest for El Dorado
All details & ratingThe Quest for El Dorado is a strategic and adventurous board game that immerses players in the exciting journey of discovering the legendary city of gold, El Dorado. Set in the lush South American jungles, this game combines deck-building and racing elements, challenging players to be both cunning and quick.
2–4 30–60 min 10+ Easy to learn+ 18 € above the best price50 € at Amazon*Video reviews 1 -
Tempel des Schreckens
All details & ratingYou have finally reached the Temple of Secrets, filled with immense gold treasures. However, you must navigate the treacherous Temple Guardians who hide among the adventurers, seeking to mislead you to protect their riches. It's a fast-paced bluffing game where trust is uncertain, and danger lurks behind every chamber.
3–10 15 min 8+ Immediately playable+ 2 € above the best price9 € at Amazon*Video reviews 1 -
Onitama
All details & ratingImmerse yourself in the world of Onitama, a dynamic two-player abstract game offering perfect information and a randomized starting setup on a 5x5 board. Both participants begin the game with five pawns each, strategically placing the main pawn at the board's center.
2 15–20 min 10+ Easy to learn+ 2 € above the best price25 € at Amazon* -
5-Minute Dungeon
All details & rating5-Minute Dungeon is a fast-paced, cooperative, real-time card game that challenges players to escape a dungeon within a five-minute time limit. The game is characterized by its intense pace and the need for quick thinking and effective teamwork.
2–5 5–30 min 8+ Immediately playable+ 1 € above the best price21 € at Amazon* -
Mutabo
All details & ratingPlayers create a sentence using two cards: one for the beginning and one for the end of the sentence. The paper is then passed left, where the next player draws what they see, hides the original sentence, and continues the process. The game ends when the papers are full, and players can vote on the funniest sentences for additional scoring.
3–6 25–45 min 12+ Immediately playable -
Clank!: A Deck-Building Adventure
All details & ratingClank!: A Deck-Building Adventure is an exciting board game where players become daring thieves, sneaking into a dragon's lair to steal artifacts while avoiding making noise to prevent waking the dragon.
2–4 30–60 min 12+ Easy to learn -
When I Dream
All details & ratingWhen I Dream is a whimsical and imaginative board game that delves into the world of dreams, blending elements of storytelling, deduction, and teamwork in a playful setting.
4–10 20–40 min 8+ Immediately playable+ 4 € above the best price19 € at Amazon*Video reviews 1 -
Happy Salmon
All details & ratingHappy Salmon is a delightfully simple and frenetic card game that promises loads of laughter and fast-paced fun. With no turns and rapid-fire gameplay, it's perfect for parties and family gatherings.
3–8 2 min 6+ Immediately playable -
The Game: Face to Face
All details & rating"Face to Face" offers similar gameplay to its predecessor, where players must place their hand cards in ascending and descending stacks. Now, it’s a two-player competition where each player races to discard their cards first. Though aiming for individual victory, players inevitably have to assist their opponent along the way.
2 20 min 8+ Immediately playable -
Memoarrr!
All details & ratingPlayers need the power of memory and a bit of pirate luck to escape Captain Goldfish's island before the lava engulfs them in the game. They reveal locations connected to the last shown spot, but making a wrong connection eliminates them from the round. The last remaining pirate claims a valuable treasure, with each round building on previously gathered information for a chance at victory. Advanced players can utilize special actions triggered by connected locations for an even more exciting experience.
2–4 10–20 min 8+ Immediately playable -
Fugitive
All details & ratingFugitive is a tense, fast-paced two-player card game set in the thrilling universe of Burgle Bros. In this game, one player assumes the role of a fugitive on the run, while the other takes on the role of a relentless agent on the fugitive’s trail. The game involves a strategic cat-and-mouse chase where the fugitive must reach their goal without getting caught.
2 5–20 min 10+ Easy to learnVideo reviews 1 -
Dice Forge
All details & ratingEmbark on a heroic journey in Dice Forge, where the gods extend an invitation to heaven for the hero who can conquer their rivals. Your courage and wit will be crucial as you harness divine dice to collect resources on the path to victory.
2–4 45 min 10+ Easy to learnVideo reviews 1 -
Dragon's Breath
All details & ratingDuring an expedition, the dragon children Mira, Feo, Luna, and Diego discover a sparkling treasure: a pillar of ice filled with glittering stones. Unable to carry it back to their cave, they decide to melt it with the help of their father, who breathes fire to melt the ice, allowing them to collect the precious stones. Players aim to gather the most sparkling stones for their cave by selecting tiles, lifting ice rings, and collecting the fallen gems.
2–4 15–20 min 5+ Immediately playable -
Flip Ships
All details & ratingA raid has begun with a mothership appearing out of nowhere, casting a giant shadow over the city. As pilots launch their ships to defend the planet, they must courageously fight against the onslaught, facing explosions and taking hits without giving up. Players take on the role of brave pilots in a cooperative skill game, defending their home against waves of attacking forces.
1–4 30–45 min 8+ Immediately playable -
Magic Maze
All details & ratingMagic Maze presents an unconventional and exhilarating cooperative gaming experience where players embody a mage, a warrior, an elf, and a dwarf. Stripped of their possessions, this diverse group embarks on a unique adventure: robbing the local Magic Maze shopping mall to gather equipment for their next quest.
1–8 15 min 8+ Easy to learn+ 3 € above the best price29 € at Amazon*Video reviews 2 -
Bonk
2017 Edition
All details & ratingPlayers aim to roll steel balls down a slide to knock a wooden ball into the opponent's goal in a fast-paced, team-based competition. Each team protects their own goal while trying to score points by getting the wooden ball into the other team's net. The first team to score five points wins, and play involves quick rounds with a unique board design that influences gameplay.
2–4 10 min 8+ Immediately playable -
Unlock!: Heroic Adventures
All details & ratingUnlock!: Heroic Adventures brings the excitement and challenge of escape rooms into your home with a card game that is both cooperative and imaginative. This set includes three unique scenarios, each offering a distinct adventure that requires players to solve puzzles, discover objects, and crack codes to progress through the story. Utilizing a simple yet engaging system, along with a companion app for clues and timing, players are drawn into thrilling narratives that test their problem-solving skills and teamwork.
1–6 60 min 10+ Easy to learn -
Déjà Vu
All details & ratingForgetting something seen only seconds ago is one experience, while recalling something that never happened is the opposite. In Déjà Vu, players react to cards as they appear, trying to grab repeating items.
2–6 15 min 8+ Immediately playable -
Majesty: For the Realm
All details & ratingMajesty: For the Realm is a strategic board game set in the Middle Ages, where players vie for the crown by building the most prosperous domain. The game revolves around recruiting a variety of characters from the medieval society, each contributing to the growth and wealth of your kingdom in different ways. Players must make tactical decisions to assemble the most effective combination of subjects to outmaneuver their rivals and claim supremacy.
2–4 20–30 min 7+ Easy to learn -
Facecards
All details & ratingPlayers try to find common themes within pairs of cards. One player selects cards that represent various animals, people, and objects, aiming to establish a shared theme for each. Points are awarded for correct theme selections, and the player with the highest score after several rounds wins.
3–7 20 min 10+ Immediately playable -
Ubongo! Junior 3-D
All details & ratingPlayers compete simultaneously to fill their game board as quickly as possible with 3D blocks. No space can remain uncovered, and nothing may extend beyond the edges. After 90 seconds, players measure their towers against a giraffe to see how many gems they've earned, aiming to collect the most gems.
1–4 5+ Immediately playable+ 13 € above the best price39 € at Amazon*Video reviews 1 -
The Lost Expedition
All details & ratingThe Lost Expedition is a gripping survival game that takes you on a perilous journey through the Amazon jungle, following in the footsteps of the legendary explorer Percy Fawcett. The goal is not only to trace Fawcett's path but more importantly, to emerge alive with the ultimate treasure: your life.
1–5 30–50 min 14+ Easy to learn -
Queendomino
All details & ratingQueendomino is a standalone board game that builds upon the concepts introduced in Kingdomino. It offers a more complex and strategic experience, allowing players to create their kingdoms with an added layer of depth.
2–4 25 min 8+ Easy to learn -
Tokyo Highway
2016 Edition
All details & ratingPlayers compete to place all their cars on the highway by first constructing roadways using the included cylinders. They build pillars of varying heights and connect them with roads, ensuring to cross their opponent's paths for scoring. The first player to place all ten cars wins, while constructing rules and penalties add strategic depth to the gameplay.
2 30–50 min 8+ Immediately playable -
Karuba Junior
All details & ratingPlayers work together in a tile-laying adventure to help three brave explorers search for treasures in the jungle of Karuba Island. They must strategically place the path tiles to reach all the treasures before the pirates invade. Cooperation and careful navigation are key to outsmarting the pirates and avoiding tigers that block the paths.
1–4 5–10 min 4+ Immediately playable -
Exit: The Game – The Abandoned Cabin
All details & ratingExit: The Game – The Abandoned Cabin plunges players into an immersive escape room experience in the form of a board game. Trapped in a cabin with barred windows and a locked door, players must rely on their collective wits to find a way out.
1–6 60–120 min 12+ Medium complexity+ 6 € above the best price13 € at Amazon* -
Rajas of the Ganges
All details & ratingRajas of the Ganges is a strategy board game set in 16th century India, during the rise of the Great Mogul Empire. Players take on the roles of influential nobles, striving to transform their estates into prosperous provinces.
2–4 45–75 min 12+ Medium complexity+ 3 € above the best price46 € at Amazon* -
Kitchen Rush
All details & ratingKitchen Rush immerses players in the bustling atmosphere of a newly inherited restaurant aiming for success. This innovative, real-time, cooperative board game captures the essence of kitchen management through a unique worker placement mechanism that uses hourglasses as workers.
1–4 30–45 min 12+ Easy to learn+ 6 € above the best price40 € at Amazon*Video reviews 1 -
Pandemic Legacy: Season 2
All details & ratingPandemic Legacy: Season 2 is an epic, cooperative board game that continues the narrative and innovative gameplay of its predecessor. This game is set in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity struggles to survive after a devastating plague. It offers a unique gaming experience, where players' decisions and actions have long-lasting consequences, making each playthrough distinct.
2–4 60 min 14+ Medium complexityVideo reviews 1 -
Gloomhaven
All details & ratingGloomhaven is a Euro-inspired tactical combat game set in a persistent and evolving world. Players assume the roles of adventurers, each with unique skills and motives, as they explore dungeons, ruins, and engage in cooperative battles against automated monsters.
1–4 60–120 min 14+ For connoisseurs+ 37 € above the best price180 € at Amazon*Video reviews 2 -
Fast Forward: FEAR
All details & ratingAre you afraid of ghosts, or do you face the danger and scare your opponents? It is a fast-paced card management game centered around ghost hunting.
2–5 15 min 8+ Immediately playable+ 3 € above the best price14 € at Amazon* -
The Godfather: Corleone's Empire
All details & ratingThe Godfather: Corleone's Empire is a standalone big box board game designed by Eric Lang, renowned for his "dudes on a map" games. In Lang's words, this game can be described as "thugs on a map." It delivers a streamlined, confrontational worker placement experience filled with intrigue and criminal activities. Players assume the roles of rival mafia families, competing for economic control over the organized crime networks of New York City. Deploy your thugs, don, wife, and heir on the board, extort businesses, and engage in turf wars to establish dominance.
2–5 60–90 min 14+ Medium complexity -
Fast Forward: FORTRESS
All details & ratingA large fortress looms in the distance, and it must be yours! Accept the challenge to conquer the fortress and outsmart your friends to become the dominant ruler of the kingdom. Players start a Fast Forward game without reading the rulebook beforehand, discovering the rules as they play through a pre-sorted deck of cards. It takes twelve games to fully explore the system, after which it can be reset for the same or different groups.
2–4 15 min 10+ Immediately playable+ 5 € above the best price16 € at Amazon* -
A Tale of Pirates
All details & ratingPut on your captain's hat and navigate the 3D pirate ship in this unique cooperative real-time game. Players aim to be crowned Admiral of the Black by completing various dangerous scenarios quickly. An innovative feature allows players to use their own 30-second sand timer as their character, placing it on the ship to perform actions while managing time effectively.
2–4 30 min 8+ Easy to learn -
The Legend of the Wendigo
All details & ratingYoung squirrel scouts gather around the fire to hear the troop leader tell the terrifying legend of the Wendigo, a creature with a heart of ice. The legend tells of a spirit that roams the forest, attacking anyone who dares to utter its name.
2–6 10 min 6+ Immediately playableVideo reviews 1 -
Arkham Horror: The Card Game
All details & ratingArkham Horror: The Card Game is a Lovecraftian horror card game that blends role-playing and card game elements. Set in the eerie town of Arkham, players face mysterious, monstrous, and maddening challenges.
1–2 60–120 min 14+ For connoisseursVideo reviews 1 -
Photosynthesis
All details & ratingPhotosynthesis is a green strategy board game where players engage in the growth and development of a forest. The game revolves around the central theme of photosynthesis, the process by which trees and plants use sunlight to produce energy.
2–4 30–60 min 10+ Easy to learnVideo reviews 2 -
Nusfjord
All details & ratingNusfjord is a captivating strategy board game set in the serene fishing village of Nusfjord in the Lofoten archipelago of Norway. Players take on the roles of fishing company owners during a time when the industry was thriving, aiming to develop the harbor and the surrounding area.
1–5 20–100 min 12+ Medium complexity -
13 Days: The Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962
All details & rating13 Days: The Cuban Missile Crisis is a tense, strategic two-player game set during the critical moments of the Cuban Missile Crisis. It captures the high-stakes Cold War atmosphere, offering a rich thematic experience in just 45 minutes. The game challenges players to navigate complex dilemmas, such as choosing between gaining prestige or risking global nuclear war, and strategically managing their hand of cards to outmaneuver their opponent.
2 45 min 10+ Easy to learn -
Mag-O-Mag
All details & ratingMag-O-Mag features an innovative vertical holder with interchangeable game boards and magnetic game pieces, allowing players to engage in three fun, action-packed games. Each game is played in teams, with one player controlling a guiding magnet on the back of the board while the other moves the game magnet on the front, requiring effective communication to successfully complete challenges without dropping the magnet or misplacing it. The games focus on speed, precision, and treasure hunting, with players aiming to navigate tracks quickly, complete golf holes with minimal strokes, and collect as many gems as possible within a time limit.
2–4 30 min 8+ Immediately playable+ 17 € above the best price34 € at Amazon*Video reviews 1 -
Chickyboom
All details & ratingChickens hang around on a colorful wooden bar, but if one decides to leave, the whole bar will wobble. Collect as many chickens, hay bales, and wagon wheels as possible before the bar tips over. Different weights correspond to different point values, and the player with the highest score wins. Choosing a heavier piece earns more points but increases the risk of tipping the bar, leading to a five-point deduction if it falls.
2–4 10 min 4+ Immediately playable -
Schüttel's
All details & ratingPlayers engage in a game of luck and skill, using a magical cup to unleash dizzying gnomes. As wizards, they must outsmart lazy bakers and sleepy carpenters to make business thrive. However, if the gnome-shaking goes awry, they may face ridicule and penalties from their opponents.
2–6 30 min 8+ Immediately playable -
Captain Silver
All details & ratingPlayers take on the role of pirates in a challenge posed by Captain Silver. They must feel and grab the correct pirate item from their bag to score treasures. Collect gold coins and sail to the treasure island, but only the fastest and most skillful pirate will win Captain Silver's treasure challenge!
2–4 20 min 6+ Immediately playableVideo reviews 1 -
Clans of Caledonia
All details & ratingEmbark on a captivating journey to 19th-century Scotland in Clans of Caledonia, where the winds of change sweep across the Scottish landscape. As the country transitions from agriculture to industrialization, historic clans play a pivotal role in shaping its destiny. Against this backdrop, players take on the mantle of clan leaders, each with unique abilities, competing to thrive in this era of economic transformation. The game unfolds as a strategic dance of production, trade, and export, with the coveted Scottish whisky at the center of economic endeavors. Now, let's delve into the intricacies of gameplay that define this immersive economic board game.
1–4 30–120 min 12+ Medium complexity -
Archery Dice
All details & ratingPlayers flick dice from the top of a tower to land them on targets placed on the board. The player with the highest number on a target claims it at the end of the round, unless another player knocks them off first. Players can also challenge each other to reclaim dice if they land on the same space. The first player to claim four targets wins the game!
2–6 15 min 7+ Immediately playable -
Yokohama
All details & ratingIn Yokohama, set during the Meiji era's transformative period, you step into the role of a merchant in the rapidly modernizing city of Yokohama. As the city evolves from a quaint fishing village into a bustling trade hub, you are at the forefront, capitalizing on this economic boom.
2–4 90 min 14+ Medium complexity -
Sushi War: All You Can Hit!
All details & ratingPlayers must create a column of 4 or 5 dice representing different sushi ingredients. They prepare recipes shown on a card in the center of the table. The unique aspect of the game is that all players use two chopsticks to perform all actions, and they can also roll the dice to build another column.
2–5 20–45 min 7+ Immediately playable -
Dr. Microbe
All details & ratingPlayers must quickly acquire the necessary microbes in Dr. Microbe. Each round starts with a challenge card indicating a combination of microbes and possibly a superbug. Using tweezers, players place the correct microbes in their petri dish while ensuring the superbug has a different shape and color from the other microbes. The first to fill their dish correctly claims the challenge card, and the first to collect five cards wins.
2–4 15 min 8+ Immediately playable -
Escape Room: The Game
All details & ratingEscape Room: The Game brings the thrill of escape room challenges right into your living room. It includes four unique 60-minute puzzles that test various problem-solving skills. Players work together to decipher clues ranging from images to maps, under the pressure of a ticking timer. The game's centerpiece, the Chrono Decoder, adds a real sense of urgency with its countdown and sound effects. Whether you're defusing a bomb or escaping prison, the game provides a mix of tension and teamwork.
3–5 60 min 16+ Easy to learn -
Spirit Island
All details & ratingWelcome to the captivating world of Spirit Island, where the distant echoes of magic still hold sway. In this immersive cooperative board game, players are entrusted with the crucial task of defending their island paradise from the relentless onslaught of colonizing Invaders. The spirits of the land, each possessing unique elemental powers, unite to thwart the advance of those who seek to conquer and despoil. As the colonial empires expand, the islanders and the very earth itself rise in defense. Harness the power of the spirits, strategize with your fellow players, and fight back against the encroaching Invaders to protect the island's mystical heart.
1–4 90–120 min 13+ For connoisseurs+ 5 € above the best price58 € at Amazon* -
This War of Mine: The Board Game
All details & ratingThis War Of Mine: The Board Game is a profound tabletop adaptation of the acclaimed video game, capturing the harrowing experiences of civilians in a war-torn city. It's a game that delves deep into the survival narrative, emphasizing the human aspect of war and the tough decisions that come with it.
1–6 45–120 min 18+ Medium complexity+ 10 € above the best price62 € at Amazon* -
Worm Party
All details & ratingPlayers try to escape Charly the chicken's snacks by hiding their worm-like fingers under the correct mounds. It's a fun and engaging game of stealth and strategy.
2–4 20 min 5+ Immediately playable -
Game of Quotes: Verrückte Zitate
All details & ratingPlayers must determine who did not say various quotes, including humorous ones like "For every complex problem, there is a clear, simple answer... and wrong," and "The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains." In each round, players select a quote and attribute it to a false source. Funny combinations earn points, and the player with the most points wins.
3–6 30 min 12+ Immediately playable4 € below the next retailer6 € at Amazon* -
Professor Evil and The Citadel of Time
All details & ratingProfessor Evil has a time machine and has stolen the best historical artifacts from the past and future. Your team is tasked with confiscating these items and returning them to their rightful place in time. You must infiltrate the mansion and escape with four items before Professor Evil can hide them from you.
2–4 30–45 min 8+ Easy to learn -
Charterstone
All details & ratingCharterstone invites players into the Kingdom of Greengully, where they are tasked with building a new village as part of a grand decree by the Forever King. This competitive legacy game evolves with each play, offering a unique and enduring experience.
1–6 45–75 min 14+ Medium complexity -
Heaven & Ale
All details & ratingHeaven & Ale is a strategic board game set in the intriguing world of monastic brewing. Players take on the roles of monks in charge of ancient monasteries, tasked with brewing high-quality beer. The game combines resource management, timing, and competitive elements, challenging players to skillfully balance the upgrading of their monastery's garden with the efficient harvesting of resources necessary for brewing.
2–4 60–90 min 12+ Medium complexity -
Caverna: The Cave Farmers
All details & ratingCaverna: The Cave Farmers is a worker-placement board game that builds upon the mechanics of its predecessor, Agricola. It combines farming and cave dwelling themes, where players manage a dwarf family and their expanding homestead.
1–7 30–210 min 12+ For connoisseurs5 € below the next retailer77 € at Amazon* -
Pioneers
All details & ratingPlayers attempt to settle cities depicted on the board with their pioneers and transport them via wagons. Each pioneer has a specific profession and can only settle in a city where their skills are needed. After placing all pioneers in a wagon, the controlling player earns money and victory points, while also constructing roads between cities to expand their network and earn from other players using their roads. At the end, players gain additional victory points based on the size of their largest connected road network, determining the winner.
2–4 60 min 8+ Easy to learn -
Who Should We Eat?
All details & ratingAfter a mysterious plane crash, players are part of a group of survivors stranded on a deserted island. They must pool their resources to build a raft large enough for escape, but food is scarce, and desperation grows. As survival instincts kick in, the struggle leads to a chilling choice: resorting to cannibalism, while an unsettling supernatural presence looms, ensuring they never leave the island.
4–10 30 min 14+ Easy to learn -
Mountains of Madness
All details & ratingMountains of Madness is a cooperative board game that plunges players into the chilling depths of H.P. Lovecraft's imagination, specifically inspired by his novel of the same name. Set in the unforgiving and mysterious landscape of Antarctica in 1931, players lead a scientific expedition to explore a newly discovered mountain range. However, as they ascend to the highest peaks, they encounter not only physical challenges but also unforeseen horrors that threaten their sanity and cohesion as a team.
3–5 60–90 min 12+ Easy to learnVideo reviews 2 -
Flick 'em Up!: Dead of Winter
All details & ratingPlayers face off against zombies in a skill-based game where they must use tools creatively to eliminate the undead while avoiding being overwhelmed. Form a group of ten survivors based on the bestselling game and explore the city through ten scenarios. Beware, even the slightest noise can attract the zombies, especially with the new and terrifying zombie tower looming over you!
1–10 30–45 min 8+ Easy to learn -
Gaia Project
All details & ratingGaia Project is a strategy game that builds upon the success of its predecessor, Terra Mystica, offering a complex and immersive experience in a sci-fi setting. Players lead factions on a quest to expand and develop their presence across different types of planets.
1–4 60–150 min 12+ For connoisseurs+ 4 € above the best price52 € at Amazon* -
Calimala
All details & ratingPlayers become cloth merchants in medieval Florence, assigning trusted employees to various streets to perform actions. These actions allow them to produce and deliver fabrics while contributing to the construction and decoration of buildings throughout the city. As players advance their employees and trigger scoring phases, the game offers variability with changing action spaces and secret objectives.
2–5 75 min 10+ Medium complexity -
Viral
All details & ratingViral is an intriguing and competitive board game that thrusts players into the microscopic world of viruses vying for dominance within a human body. Designed for 2-5 players, Viral combines strategic card play, area control mechanics, and a dose of biological warfare to create a unique gaming experience that is both educational and entertaining.
1–5 60–90 min 12+ Medium complexity -
Sebastian Fitzek Safehouse
All details & ratingA terrible event has occurred at a mid-range hotel in the harbor district, and the perpetrator is hot on the heels of witnesses. Players must work together to reach the safehouse before time runs out, navigating through a thrilling chase across five game cards designed like a book. The game features three difficulty levels and includes the option to play the original music from the Sebastian Fitzek anniversary show by scanning a QR code.
2–4 30 min 12+ Easy to learn+ 2 € above the best price26 € at Amazon* -
Altiplano
All details & ratingAltiplano, a bag-building game set in the Andes' highlands, invites players into a world of strategic resource management and production. Reminiscent of Orléans, it challenges players to optimize their resource gathering and utilization in a competitive environment where efficient production can lead to victory.
2–5 60–120 min 12+ Medium complexityVideo reviews 1 -
Time Arena
All details & ratingThrough relentless wars for control, the Time Lords have jeopardized the source of immortality. To prevent its depletion and their own downfall, they created the Time Arena, a sacred place where they summon the spirits of ancient warriors or fighters from distant galaxies to battle. Players control four fighters in a confrontation to destroy the opponent's totem within a strict five-minute time limit.
2–4 3–10 min 10+ Easy to learn -
Catacombs & Castles
All details & ratingPlayers form teams of heroes, either from the "Catacombs" or "Castles," and compete against each other. The game is a quick introduction to the Catacombs world and its mechanics, featuring simplified gameplay and new elements. It accommodates up to eight players in competitive mode and up to four in cooperative mode, and is compatible with the third edition of Catacombs.
2–8 30–60 min 14+ Easy to learn -
Gentes
All details & ratingGentes is a compelling civilization-themed board game that introduces players to an innovative timing mechanism, challenging them to strategically develop their ancient people. Set in the Mediterranean, players aim to expand their influence by constructing monuments and founding or colonizing new cities. The game spans six rounds, broken into three eras, where players manage their actions through a unique time track system on their personal player mats. This system, coupled with a variety of available actions, requires players to carefully plan their moves and manage resources to maximize their civilization's growth and achieve victory.
1–4 90 min 12+ Medium complexityVideo reviews 1 -
Lisboa
All details & ratingLisboa is a complex strategy board game centered around the historical event of rebuilding Lisbon after the catastrophic earthquake of 1755. Players take on the roles of members of the nobility, collaborating with architects and influential figures to reconstruct and develop the city.
1–4 60–120 min 12+ For experts -
Get a Grip: The No Thumbs Challenge Game
All details & ratingPlayers must complete tasks dictated by revealed challenges while their thumbs are bound to their palms. Adults face an additional challenge as two extra fingers are tied, while children can use all four fingers excluding their thumbs. Tasks can include drawing, sculpting with clay, or spinning a coin like a top, and players are timed to assess performance, with the winner collecting cards. The first to collect three cards wins the game.
3–10 8+ Immediately playable+ 3 € above the best price7 € at Amazon* -
Chimera Station
All details & ratingChimera Station introduces a novel and inventive twist to the worker placement genre with its concept of customizable workers, setting it apart in the realm of board games. This game blends strategy, resource management, and a touch of biology-themed science fiction to create a unique gaming experience.
2–4 60–90 min 13+ Medium complexityVideo reviews 1 -
Otys
All details & ratingIn the mid-22nd century, rising waters engulf the last remaining land surfaces after 300 years of dormancy. Settlements must stay above sea level, and players must rescue remnants of past civilization to ensure humanity's future.
1–4 60 min 14+ Medium complexity -
InBetween
All details & ratingPlayers compete in a tug-of-war between the human and creative dimensions, aiming to either protect or consume the inhabitants of Upsideville. One player seeks to pull the residents deeper into the creature's dimension, while the other works to enhance their safety in the human realm. Victory can be achieved through various paths, either by drawing enough characters into a dimension or by elevating awareness to influence the game's outcome.
2 20–40 min 12+ Medium complexity -
Cry Havoc
All details & ratingCry Havoc is a captivating and intense card-driven war game that thrusts players into a brutal science fiction setting. This asymmetric, area control game stands out for its deep strategy and unique faction play. Each player takes command of one of four distinct factions, each boasting its own set of abilities and units, which adds to the game's rich strategic depth.
2–4 60–120 min 10+ Medium complexity -
Game of Thrones: The Iron Throne
All details & ratingPlayers command one of the Great Houses of Westeros, using iconic characters in epic battles and strategic planning. They negotiate, bluff, and form temporary alliances while competing for influence and ultimately the Iron Throne. Each round resolves encounters between two players, with opportunities for subterfuge and shifting loyalties that can change the outcome of the game. Winning enough encounters while managing alliances may lead to seizing the throne itself.
3–5 30–60 min 18+ Medium complexity -
Vengeance: The Axe forgets, the Tree remembers
All details & ratingPlayers assume the role of a hero who has been beaten and tortured by one or more of the game's four gangs. Victory is achieved by building up the hero, scouting gang hideouts to locate the villains responsible for the wrongs, and taking bloody revenge through action-packed combat sequences that involve dice-based puzzles.
1–4 30–120 min 14+ Medium complexity -
New Angeles
All details & ratingNew Angeles is a deeply strategic board game set in the vibrant and tumultuous universe of the future, where players take on the roles of powerful megacorps vying for dominance in the largest, richest, and most diverse city on Earth. With the backdrop of groundbreaking technological advancements and the critical Space Elevator connecting Earth to Luna's valuable Helium-3 deposits, the stage is set for a game of cunning negotiation, temporary alliances, and ruthless competition for financial supremacy.
4–6 120–240 min 14+ Medium complexity -
Sword & Sorcery
All details & ratingSword & Sorcery is an epic fantasy cooperative board game that blends rich storytelling with tactical combat. Designed for 1-5 players, this game sets you on a heroic quest against evil forces, driven by a game system that controls the adversaries.
1–5 60–90 min 12+ For connoisseurs+ 8 € above the best price82 € at Amazon*Video reviews 2 -
Rob 'n Run
All details & ratingPlayers cooperate as 2-5 thieves. One player assumes the role of "The Boss" each round, providing clues to the others about the tools needed to crack safes. Steal the gold and reach the airport without getting caught, all while feeling the police hot on your tail.
2–5 45–60 min 10+ Medium complexity -
Fast Forward: FLEE
All details & rating"Quick, we need to escape!" you say to your companions. "THE MONSTER is at the door! Look for help in every direction, as you never know where it might be!" Can your team survive long enough to complete all chapters of this thrilling story?
1–4 75–90 min 12+ Easy to learn+ 1 € above the best price12 € at Amazon* -
The King's Will
All details & ratingPlayers must uncover the victory point conditions while making decisions about their individual scoring. Set in 962 AD during Otto the Great's reign, players take on the roles of dukes as the king visits their palaces. They aim to discover the king's current wishes and earn his favor while expanding their duchies. Each game features different victory conditions that players must discover, ensuring a unique experience every time.
2–4 50–90 min 10+ Medium complexity -
Legend of the Five Rings: The Card Game
All details & ratingLegend of the Five Rings: The Card Game transports players into the mythical realm of Rokugan, a world steeped in the traditions of samurai, mystics, and divine creatures, where honor dictates every action. As a Living Card Game (LCG), it offers a dynamic experience within this richly crafted setting, enabling players to construct and modify their decks from a core set and expand their strategies with fixed card packs.
2 45–90 min 14+ For connoisseurs -
Floh am Po
All details & ratingPlayers engage in a holiday-themed roll and movement game for kids, where fleas cling to the fur of large wooden dogs. Each player has their own dog and aims to reach the finish line first, with more fleas increasing a dog's speed. Players roll colored dice, hoping to have fleas jump from other dogs to their own. Expanded rules are also included.
2–4 15 min 4+ Immediately playable -
Agra
All details & ratingSet in Agra, India in the year 1572, players take on the role of ambitious landowners eager to gain prestige and wealth during Akbar the Great's 30th birthday celebration. Cultivating cotton and turmeric, and managing a profitable sandstone quarry, they trade and refine their goods to impress dignitaries en route to the capital. However, rivals are also vying for favor, making cunning strategy essential as the celebration approaches.
2–4 90–120 min 12+ For connoisseurs -
Noria
All details & ratingA new era is on the horizon, and players must lead their flourishing trade empire to prosperity. Discover flying islands, buy ships, and build factories while investing in prestigious projects. The innovative "wheel building" mechanism features action wheels with adjustable rings, allowing players to optimize their actions by acquiring new discs and manipulating their choices.
2–4 70–120 min 12+ For connoisseurs+ 10 € above the best price34 € at Amazon*
Frequently asked questions
Which game ranks first on this list?
Codenames: Duet currently tops our list. The ranking is derived from player community ratings and is recalculated continuously.
How many players do the games on this list support?
Most games on this list support 2 to 4 players. The exact player count is listed with each game.
What age are these games suitable for?
Publisher age recommendations on this list start at 4 years. Each game carries its own age rating.
How long does a game take?
A typical game takes about 30 to 45 minutes. Each game's playing time is listed individually.
Didn't find the game you were looking for?
We're positive that you'll find it in one of our other lists! To make the search easier for you, we split our website into different categories. The following board game categories will help you find the right list: