The 59 favorite games of Matt from SU&SD 2025

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.

Embark on a journey of bluffing and suspense with Skull & Roses. This game is the epitome of strategic cunning, where every move unfolds in the minds of the players. Each participant starts by placing a face-down card, gradually revealing them one by one. The thrill escalates as players confidently claim the ability to uncover cards adorned only with roses. But beware, as opponents can challenge and bid to reveal even more cards. The highest bidder must then courageously unveil the specified number, hoping for a bed of roses and not the dreaded skull. Successfully navigating this bluffing showdown requires a poker face and unwavering eye contact, with victory hinging on two successful challenges.

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.

Railroad Ink: Deep Blue Edition is a captivating multiplayer puzzle game that combines strategy and luck to create a unique gaming experience.

Bärenpark is a charming and strategic board game that invites players to delve into the world of bear parks. Your task is to construct a visually appealing and efficiently designed bear park.

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.

Railroad Ink: Blazing Red Edition is a dynamic and engaging multiplayer puzzle game where players aim to build the most efficient transportation network. The game revolves around connecting as many exits as possible on individual erasable boards using routes determined by dice rolls. Strategic planning is key, as players must balance the desire to expand their network with the risk of leaving routes incomplete.

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.

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.

Two Rooms and a Boom is an exhilarating social deduction and hidden role party game designed for six or more players. The game divides players into two teams, the Red Team and the Blue Team, each with a critical role: the President for the Blue Team and the Bomber for the Red Team. Players are split between two separate playing areas, representing two rooms, where the strategic interplay and deception unfold.

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.

Cosmic Encounter: Cosmic Incursion is the first expansion for the Fantasy Flight Games edition of Cosmic Encounter, enriching the game with twenty new alien races and enabling up to six players to engage in the cosmic fray. This expansion not only reintroduces classics from the game's storied history but also adds never-before-seen aliens, each with unique strategies and powers.

Arboretum invites 2-4 players, aged 10 and up, to embark on a strategic journey of set collection, tile-laying, and hand management, creating picturesque garden paths within a concise 25-minute playtime.

Brass: Birmingham is an economic strategy game and a sequel to the 2007 game Brass. It immerses players in the world of industrial revolution entrepreneurs in Birmingham between 1770-1870.

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.

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.

The expansion introduces three separate modules that can be used individually or with the base game. One module features new gates that can mix with the existing ones, while another allows players to add Grizzly bears, requiring an extra park section to accommodate them. The third module includes single-rail tiles that start at ten points but lose value as they are added, and players must strategically place pillars to support them.

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.

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.

Cosmic Encounter is an iconic board game that combines elements of strategy, diplomacy, and unique alien powers, set in a dynamic universe of shifting alliances and interstellar conflict.

Sheriff von Nottingham: Merry Men includes five modules that can be added to the base game, as well as the option to include a sixth player. The modules introduce elements like additional deputy sheriffs, new illegal goods called "merry men," and bonus cards that reward players for successfully smuggling certain items. Furthermore, players must contend with law cards that impose new rules and special orders that offer rewards for combining legal and illegal goods in one bag.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Lords of Vegas is a dynamic board game where players take on the roles of developers in a growing Nevada city, aiming to build the most profitable casinos along "The Strip." Starting with mere parking lots, players strategize to expand, reorganize, and gamble their way to success, aiming to score the most points by owning the most lucrative casinos and appointing the best bosses.

Not Alone is an immersive, asymmetrical card game set in the 25th century on the mysterious planet Artemia. It features a thrilling chase between one player, the Creature, and the rest of the players, known as the Hunted, who are shipwrecked explorers.

Mascarade is a bluffing and strategy card game that revolves around hidden identities and tactical actions. Players engage in a masquerade, taking on various roles to gain coins and outwit their opponents.

Twenty new alien races explode onto the scene in Cosmic Conflict! Players face the treacherous friendliness of the Empath, are confused by the antics of the Mad, and rage as their planets are stolen by the Claw.

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.

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.

Pandemic: In the Lab is the second expansion for the popular cooperative game Pandemic, introducing a unique laboratory setting where players engage in scientific research to find cures for diseases. This expansion adds a new layer of strategy and thematic depth, requiring the base game to play, and in some cases, the first expansion, Pandemic: On the Brink.

Condottiere is a strategic game set in 13th century Italy, a period marked by flourishing trade and frequent conflicts among city-states. The game revolves around the theme of mercenary leaders, known as Condottieri, who were hired to fight for different city-states.

The fifth expansion set for the Fantasy Flight Games version of Cosmic Encounter, Cosmic Dominion, was uniquely designed and developed by the fan community over nearly two years. It introduces 30 new aliens, featuring classic favorites and a variety of new alien powers from numerous fan designers. The set also includes a brand-new reward game that can be played alone or combined with Cosmic Incursion, along with special ship markers for various variants, some of which are detailed in the rulebook.

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.

Cosmic Alliance, the third expansion set for the Fantasy Flight version of Cosmic Encounter, introduces 20 alien races that will explode onto your table. Players face the terrifying Gorgon, wonder at the riddle of the Schizoids, and feel outdated before the bionics of the Cyborgs.

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.

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.

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.

Victory depends on your actions! V-Commandos is a cooperative board game set in World War II. Players can choose a pre-generated mission or create their own by combining objective cards, forming a team from famous Allied corps like U.S. Raiders and British SAS.

In this expansion, players collaborate with European resistance movements during World War II to pressure the enemy and prepare for final victory. Players become the stealthiest heroes, executing precise operations to undermine the opposition using secrecy, speed, and self-discipline. The expansion introduces new terrain, characters with unique abilities, and an array of events and challenges, enhancing the experience with additional tactics and strategies.

Reiner Knizia's Tigris & Euphrates is a highly regarded strategy board game, often considered his masterpiece. It's set in the ancient fertile crescent and involves building civilizations through strategic tile placement.

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.

Cosmic Storm is the fourth expansion for FFG's version of Cosmic Encounter, introducing twenty-five new alien races that spread across the cosmos. Players must guard against the trickster with sticky fingers and marvel at the immense appetite of the Mouth.

Forbidden Stars sets players in the midst of the galactic turmoil surrounding the newly accessible Herakon Cluster. In this strategy game, up to four players command powerful factions, including the Ultramarines, Eldar, Evil Sunz Ork clan, and Chaos Space Marines, each with unique play styles and objectives. The goal is clear: dominate the sector and outmaneuver your opponents in a universe where victory is as coveted as it is hard-fought.

Altiplano, 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.

Players are introduced to a dynamic galaxy that is ever-changing, teeming with new star systems and extraordinary alien species. In Cosmic Eons, an expansion for Cosmic Encounter, players can now encounter fresh aliens with unique abilities, along with a new variant called "Hidden Alliances." This allows players to unveil their alliances simultaneously, altering both the gameplay experience and strategy in the galaxy.

Lowlands is a captivating board game that seamlessly blends strategic farming with cooperative dike-building to protect against floods. Players are thrust into a challenging environment where the balance between individual prosperity and community welfare is key. Here's a closer look at its gameplay, strategy, and thematic integration.

The unusual and asymmetric game immerses players in a world of glamour. In teams of two, one playing a man and the other a woman, they strive to create the most beautiful and famous couple attending a grand ball. Each team has unique action cards, and the more the players embody their characters—flirtatious, fashion-obsessed ladies and wealthy, arrogant gentlemen—the more entertaining and explosive the game becomes!

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.

Pipeline is a strategy board game set in a world where the oil industry has been privatized, and players take on the role of companies seeking to capitalize on this new opportunity.