The best games from Justin Gary 🇺🇸👨 2025
Looking for a really good game from game designer Justin Gary 👨? Then we have just the thing: the list with the best Justin Gary games 2025.
Who is Justin Gary anyway?
Justin Gary has been professionally designing dice, card & board games since 2004. The game designer hails from the USA🇺🇸, was born in 1980 and currently lives in San Diego, California, USA🇺🇸.
Gary's first published game he was involved in "World of Warcraft Miniatures Game" was released in 2008. However, he was hired by Upper Deck Entertainment back in 2004, so he has been designing games for over 21 years professionally. His first game was "Ascension" in 2010. Famous Gary games include the Ascension series, Betrayal at House on the Hill: Widow's Walk & Shards of Infinity.
Highly successful Magic: The Gathering player
Before his career as a game developer, Justin Gary was a very successful Magic: The Gathering player - even professionally from 1997 to 2003. In 1997 at the age of 17 he became US Junior Champion right away. Gery paid his way through his studies at Dartmouth College with Magic. His most notable finish is his win at Pro Tour Houston in 2002.
Time with Upper Deck Entertainment
Then in November 2004, Gary started working at Upper Deck Entertainment, helping with the development of various games. In 2007 he even became product manager. The only game he is credited with developing was World of Warcraft Miniatures Game.
At the end of 2008 he finished his work at Upper Deck.
2 years "break" until the foundation of his own game company
In 2010, Gary finally founded Gary Games - which was renamed "Stone Blade Entertainment" later that year. In August 2010, the first product, Ascension: Chronicle of the Godslayer, was unveiled - which hit like a bomb. Several Kickstarter campaigns followed.
How good are "Justin Gary" games?
There are 4 games by Justin Gary in our Top1000 games list, making Gary the #61 best game author out of a total of 708 authors in our database.
More information about Gary
More information about Gary can be found on:
- Gary's BGG profile
- Gary's Twitter feed
- Justin Gary's Facebook page
- Gary's LinkedIn profile
- Justin Gary's YouTube Channel
- official Justin Gary website
- english Wikipedia entry for Justin Gary
List of best games by Justin Gary 2025
In this list we have listed the best board games that Justin Gary either designed himself - or was involved in designing.
Unfortunately, not all of Justin Gary's games are currently available. In the following list you can find all dice, board & card games by Justin Gary that you can buy 2025:
Ascension: Year Five Collector's Edition
More details for Ascension: Year Five Collector's EditionThis is the fifth edition of the Collector's Edition of Ascension. It includes the base set along with the expansions Dreamscape and War of Shadows, plus all promo cards released during the fifth year. Players can utilize Insight to access Dreamscape and then engage in the War of Shadows, leveraging the powers of day and night. The game features high-quality components and comes in a full-color tin with a travel box for easy organization and transport.
- 1 - 4 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Easy to learn
Ascension: Year Four Collector's Edition
More details for Ascension: Year Four Collector's EditionThe Collector's Edition of the fourth year includes Realms Unraveled and Dawn of Champions, along with two copies of the promo cards from this year. It features 100% foil cards, a foil game board, a portable storage box, dividers, and an honor pouch.
- 1 - 4 Players
- 30 Minutes
- Easy to learn
Ascension: Deckbuilding Game
Ascension: Deckbuilding Game, initially released as Ascension: Chronicle of the Godslayer, is a fast-paced card game that combines strategic deck-building with dynamic gameplay, created by renowned Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour champions.
Nominated for 3 awards.
More details for Ascension: Deckbuilding Game- 1 - 4 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Easy to learn
Ascension: Deliverance
More details for Ascension: DeliveranceThe world of dreams has turned into a living nightmare in this game. Players must harness the energy needed to close the portal to the dreamscape and restore order. The introduction of the Dreamseeker card offers additional insights, while Phantasma cards allow players to activate their effects from the center row. Players can also acquire dream monsters after defeating them by paying their insight cost. Familiar faces from earlier sets return with Transform cards that evolve into more powerful versions when their costs are met.
- 1 - 4 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Easy to learn
Ascension: Return of the Fallen
Ascension: Return of the Fallen enriches the Ascension universe with new strategic layers and expands the original deck-building game into a more dynamic and potentially complex battleground. Whether facing the god Samael in an epic showdown or adapting to the whims of fate, players are invited to explore new strategies and tactics in their quest for dominance.
Nominated for 1 award.
More details for Ascension: Return of the Fallen- 1 - 2 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Easy to learn
Ascension: Delirium
More details for Ascension: DeliriumA new portal to the Dreamscape has opened! The world of Vigil is distorted by dreams, and nightmares come to life. In Ascension: Delirium, players harness the power of the Dreamborn to combat the forces of Delirium and save the realm.
- 1 - 4 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Easy to learn
Ascension X: War of Shadows
More details for Ascension X: War of ShadowsThe theme revolves around the ongoing conflict between the forces of light and darkness vying for control over New Vigil. This struggle directly influences gameplay, as the balance between the two powers can grant players additional abilities during night and day. A new category of heroes and constructs is introduced, featuring powerful cards that require players to use both types of game resources to acquire them.
- 2 - 4 Players
- 30 - 45 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Easy to learn
Ascension: Realms Unraveled
More details for Ascension: Realms UnraveledPlayers build decks by acquiring cards from a central pool and adding them to their discard pile for later use. Creatures also appear in the pool, providing opportunities to gain victory points and other advantages, such as removing less useful cards from their deck. The game ends when all victory points are claimed or the shared deck is depleted. This standalone game for 2-4 players, which can also be played solo, serves as an expansion compatible with other titles in the series, allowing up to six players. The introduction of heroes from multiple factions and the "Multi-Unite" mechanism rewards players who use multiple heroes from the same faction, while the "Transform" mechanism allows players to upgrade their cards into more powerful versions throughout the game.
- 1 - 4 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Easy to learn
Ascension: Immortal Heroes
More details for Ascension: Immortal HeroesAscension: Immortal Heroes is an expansion for Gary Games' standalone expansion Ascension: Storm of Souls, and it can also be played as a standalone game for two players. Players aim to use the power of heroes from the past with new soul gem cards to stop the rebel god Kythis from advancing his crazy rise to divinity. Like other Ascension titles, Immortal Heroes is a deck-building game where players acquire cards from a central pool to add to their decks while battling creatures and other challenges in the shared space. Both acquired cards and defeated creatures earn points for the players.
- 1 - 2 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Easy to learn
Ascension: Storm of Souls
Ascension: Storm of Souls embarks players on an epic journey in the aftermath of Samael's fall, where chaos reigns supreme across Vigil. This expansion for the renowned deck-building game Ascension introduces players to a world grappling with the unleashed forces of Samael's demise, offering new challenges and opportunities to explore.
Nominated for 1 award.
More details for Ascension: Storm of Souls- 1 - 4 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Easy to learn
Ascension: Year One Collector's Edition
More details for Ascension: Year One Collector's EditionGather your heroes and constructs to stylishly battle the fallen god Samael and his minions. All 346 cards feature updated frames with high-quality foil effects. This set serves as a perfect centerpiece for any collection, containing multiple expansions and the entire first year of promo cards. It is playable as a standalone game for 1-6 players and is fully compatible with other expansions.
- 1 - 6 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Easy to learn
Ascension: Skulls & Sails
More details for Ascension: Skulls & SailsThe Age of Sails has reached New Vigil. The tropical lands surrounding the Valley of the Ancients are near, offering enough gold to make one a king, along with the legendary Command Crystals, rumored to grant control over land, sea, and sky.
- 2 - 4 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Easy to learn
Ascension: Gift of the Elements
More details for Ascension: Gift of the Elements"Gift of the Elements" is the eleventh standalone game in the series but can be combined with other titles for up to six players. It reintroduces events from previous expansions that influence gameplay immediately, allowing players to acquire these events and transform them into powerful hero cards. The set introduces two new mechanics: Infest, which allows players to disrupt an opponent's deck, and Empower, which grants players the ability to banish played cards for added strategy.
- 1 - 4 Players
- 30 - 60 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Easy to learn
Ascension: Dreamscape
More details for Ascension: DreamscapePlayers build decks by spending runes to acquire more powerful cards. The game offers a dynamic experience that requires players to adapt their strategies. The latest installment introduces the Insight resource, allowing access to exclusive Dream cards and powerful Vision cards.
- 1 - 4 Players
- 30 - 60 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Easy to learn
Ascension: Apprentice Edition
More details for Ascension: Apprentice EditionThe game features a 110-card set designed for two players as an entry-level experience in deck-building. All cards have new frames to help distinguish heroes from constructs, and different colors signify initial, middle, and always-available cards for easier sorting at the end. The set includes new artwork for many cards along with updated versions of old favorites. Players spend runes to acquire more powerful cards while defeating monsters to earn honor, with victory points awarded through various means.
- 2 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Easy to learn
Ascension: Rise of Vigil
More details for Ascension: Rise of VigilPlayers acquire cards from a central pool in this deck-building game and use them to enhance their decks. They can also battle creatures to gain victory points and other advantages, such as removing less useful cards from their decks. The game ends when all victory points are claimed or the shared deck is exhausted. New treasure cards introduce energy that players can use to activate special powers on certain cards.
- 2 - 4 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Easy to learn
Ascension: Darkness Unleashed
More details for Ascension: Darkness UnleashedAscension: Darkness Unleashed is a standalone game for two players and can also be combined with other Ascension games. It introduces "Dark Energy Shards," which allow players to draw a new card while providing energy for other cards. The set includes new energy cards, heroes, constructs, and monsters that can transform into more powerful versions of themselves, and players receive honor based on the active card version in their deck at the game's end.
- 1 - 2 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Easy to learn
Ascension: Valley of the Ancients
More details for Ascension: Valley of the AncientsPlayers spend runes to acquire more powerful cards for their deck in this card game. The aim is to earn the most honor points by acquiring cards and defeating monsters. In the Valley of the Ancients expansion, players compete for control of three powerful temple cards, gathering keystones to help in their quest or to steal from opponents.
- 1 - 4 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Easy to learn
Ascension: Year Three Collector's Edition
More details for Ascension: Year Three Collector's EditionEnjoy the fan-favorite sets released in the third year with the "Year Three Collector's Edition"! All 378 cards feature updated frames and high-quality foil finishes. This edition includes "Rise of Vigil," "Darkness Unleashed," all the promo cards from the third year, and a PlayDek promo pack, with premium components and storage options. It can be played as a standalone game for 1-6 players and is fully compatible with other expansions.
- 1 - 6 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Ascension: Dawn of Champions
More details for Ascension: Dawn of ChampionsOnce six realms existed, but now only one remains: New Vigil. Players take on the role of their faction's Champion to lead them to victory in a world of new alliances and old enemies. The game features new Champion cards for faction leaders to build their reputation and unlock powerful cards and effects, along with new multi-faction cards, including constructs and monsters. It can be played as a standalone game or combined with other expansions in the series.
- 1 - 4 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Easy to learn
Ascension: Year Two Collector's Edition
More details for Ascension: Year Two Collector's EditionA follow-up to the "Ascension: Year One Collector's Edition," this version includes foil editions of every card from "Sturm der Seelen" and "Unsterbliche Helden," along with the associated promo cards. Each Collector's Edition is packaged in a metal box and features a special game board.
- 1 - 6 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Medium difficulty
World of Warcraft: Miniatures Game
More details for World of Warcraft: Miniatures GameThe miniatures game features characters from all classes available in World of Warcraft, including notable heroes like Thrall, Leeroy Jenkins, Tyrande Whisperwind, and Arugal. Players can engage in various styles, such as skirmishes with one to five characters or cooperative and competitive play in an automated dungeon.
- 2 Players
- 45 Minutes
- Easy to learn
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