The 59 favorite games of Matt from SU&SD 2026

Monikers is a lively and entertaining party game inspired by the classic public domain game Celebrities. It is designed for players who enjoy guessing games and offers a fun challenge through a series of rounds where the methods of clue-giving evolve and become more restrictive.

In Love Letter, you must compete with other suitors to deliver a romantic letter to Princess Annette, who has secluded herself in the palace.

Skull is a pure bluffing game: players lay face-down cards of roses and skulls, then bid on how many they can flip without hitting a skull. Two successful challenges win the game — a steady poker face does the rest.

Engage in the riveting team-based challenge of Decrypto, where players strive to correctly interpret coded messages from their teammates while unraveling the intercepted codes of the opposing team.

Become a cunning charlatan or a quack doctor in the whimsical world of The Quacks of Quedlinburg. In this quirky board game, each player concocts their own secret brew, one ingredient at a time. But beware, for a careless addition could spoil the entire mixture!

The Resistance: Avalon is a standalone game set in the legendary world of King Arthur, combining the mechanics of secret identities and deduction found in The Resistance with a thematic backdrop of Arthurian legend and the struggle between good and evil.

Insider is a unique board game that offers a fresh and engaging experience for players. With its distinctive gameplay and innovative mechanics, it stands out in the world of board games.

One Night Ultimate Werewolf is a dynamic and fast-paced game for 3-10 players that brings the excitement and deduction of werewolf stories to your tabletop. This game is all about quick thinking, bluffing, and trying to outsmart your friends.

Coup is a strategic bluffing game set in an Italian city-state. Players, as heads of rival families, seek to outmaneuver and eliminate others to be the last one standing. Influence is key, represented by face-down character cards, each offering unique powers.

Pictomania turns the conventional drawing game on its head by combining drawing and guessing into simultaneous, frenetic action. This game, perfect for those who pride themselves on either their quick sketching or sharp guessing skills, ensures a level playing field and promises high energy from start to finish. Over five rounds, players are challenged to draw a word or phrase indicated by randomly assigned cards while also guessing what their opponents are drawing to earn points. Missteps can lead to becoming the round's "black sheep," affecting scores negatively, making each stroke and guess a calculated risk.

The Game is a cooperative card game that challenges players to strategically discard all 98 cards onto four piles. It requires careful planning and teamwork, with a hint of luck, to achieve victory.

Sheriff of Nottingham is an engaging board game of bluffing, bribery, and negotiation set in the medieval town of Nottingham.

Mysterium is a cooperative mystery-solving game set in the 1920s, where players take on the roles of mediums trying to solve a murder at a Scottish mansion, guided by a ghost who communicates through visions.

Pandemic is a highly acclaimed cooperative board game where players take on the roles of disease-fighting specialists. Their mission is to contain and cure four deadly diseases that have broken out across the globe. The game is set on a board depicting major world population centers and requires players to strategize and work together to manage the outbreaks and develop cures before the diseases spiral out of control.

Funemployed is a card-based party game where players compete to land jobs. They apply for real positions like astronaut, lawyer, or priest while claiming absurd qualifications, such as being able to talk to pandas. Players must creatively present their qualifications in a role-playing manner, aiming to convince others that they are the best fit for the job.

Machi Koro is a light and fast-paced city-building board game, where players take on the role of mayor of a small town, striving to develop it into a thriving city.

Burgle Bros. is a cooperative heist game where 1 to 4 players team up as a crew of burglars attempting to pull off a daring robbery in a highly secure, multi-level building.

Paperback is an innovative board game that combines word-building with deck-building mechanics. Players take on the roles of paperback authors striving to complete various genres of novels, blending strategic card play with linguistic creativity.

Embark on a captivating journey through Victorian London alongside the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders & Other Cases. This immersive and challenging game allows you to step into the shoes of a detective, matching wits with Holmes himself.

Inis invites players to immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of Celtic history and lore, vying for the esteemed title of King of the Island. Rooted in strategic depth and Celtic mythology, the game offers a unique blend of victory conditions and gameplay dynamics.

The Taverns of Tiefenthal is a strategic and immersive board game that transports players to a bustling village tavern, where they must attract guests and manage resources to become the most successful establishment in Tiefenthal.

Pandemic 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.

Gloomhaven 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.

Star Wars: Imperial Assault is a captivating strategy board game that brings the iconic Star Wars universe to life through tactical combat and missions. Designed for two to five players, the game offers a dual experience: a campaign game and a skirmish game.

Arkham 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.

Kemet is a strategy board game set in ancient Egypt, where players command Egyptian tribes and harness the powers of gods to earn victory points through battles and territorial control.

Bargain Quest offers a unique blend of adventure and economics where 2-6 players become shopkeepers in a fantasy town teeming with monsters and brave heroes. Your goal is to entice heroes into your shop, outfit them for battle, and then reap the rewards as they defeat threats to the town. This game cleverly combines strategy, draft mechanics, and player interaction in a competitive quest for wealth and prestige.

Players find themselves isolated in enemy territory, striking at the heart of hostile facilities and sabotaging their most strategic secret projects. They take on the role of the stealthiest heroes of World War II, conducting outstanding operations to undermine the enemy using cunning, speed, and self-control. The expansion introduces new terrains, characters with unique abilities, and the option to destroy targets remotely while facing elite paratroopers.

KeyForge: Call of the Archons is a groundbreaking card game from the mind of Richard Garfield, offering a unique experience where each deck is one-of-a-kind. In this game, traditional deckbuilding and boosters are replaced by a world of endless discovery and strategic depth.

Keyflower is a strategic board game designed for 2-6 players that spans over four rounds, each representing a different season: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The game combines elements of auction, tile placement, and resource management set in a medieval world. Players start with a "home" tile and a team of workers, using them to bid for new tiles, gather resources, and build their village.

Last Will is a unique board game that flips traditional gaming objectives on its head. In this game, players compete to squander an inheritance the fastest, following the peculiar will of a rich uncle who believes that the best way to enjoy wealth is to spend it lavishly.

Arctic Scavengers plunges players into a frozen post-apocalyptic future where survival is the only goal. As the leader of a tribe of survivors, you are tasked with gathering resources, recruiting mercenaries, and expanding your tribe amidst the harsh realities of a new ice age. This deck-building game for up to five players emphasizes strategic resource management, player interaction, and direct conflict, offering a unique blend of tactics and bluffing to outmaneuver your opponents and ensure the prosperity of your tribe.

In the enchanting world of Alchemists, two to four aspiring alchemists engage in a spirited competition to unearth the secrets of their mystical art. Points, the coveted currency of success, can be acquired through various means, but the pinnacle lies in the publication of accurate theories—a challenge that adds a layer of complexity to the pursuit.