The best games from Paul Peterson 👨 2025

Looking for a really good game from game designer Paul Peterson 👨? Then we have just the thing: the list with the best Paul Peterson games 2025.

Who is Paul Peterson anyway?

Paul Peterson has been designing dice, card & board games since 1995. The game designer currently lives in Seattle, USA 🇺🇸.

Peterson's first game was the "Dark Sovereigns" expansion for Vampire: The Eternal Struggle. This he developed in 1995 - so he's been designing games for over 30 years of games. Famous Peterson games include Guillotine & Smash-Up-series.

Beginning of his career

Paul Peterson began his career as a game designer at Wizards of the Coast working on Magic: the Gathering, Pokémon, and his card game Guillotine. Since then, he has moved between the worlds of electronic games and board games. His repertoire ranges from a massively multiplayer role-playing game (MMORPG) to a virtual world for girls to a poker chip collecting game. He also drives a really swanky Mustang.

How good are "Paul Peterson" games?

There are 8 games by Paul Peterson in our Top1000 games list, making Peterson the #22 best game author out of a total of 708 authors in our database.

More information about Peterson

More information about Peterson can be found on:

List of best games by Paul Peterson 2025

In this list we have listed the best board games that Paul Peterson either designed himself - or was involved in designing.

Unfortunately, not all of Paul Peterson's games are currently available. In the following list you can find all dice, board & card games by Paul Peterson that you can buy 2025:

This list was last updated on March 19, 2025. We compared 34 board games for this list and selected the top 26. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. Guillotine

    All details for the board game Guillotine and similar games

    Kingdom Builder is a strategic board game where players shape their domains by building settlements, with the ultimate goal of earning the most gold by the end of the game.

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    More details for Guillotine
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  2. Smash Up: It's Your Fault!

    All details for the board game Smash Up: It's Your Fault! and similar games

    Players choose from four winning factions in Smash Up: It's Your Fault! The selected factions are Sharks, Superheroes, Mythical Greeks, and Dragons, along with a bonus faction called "Shark Delivery System." This game involves a fun process where players worldwide contributed to the selection.

    More details for Smash Up: It's Your Fault!
    • 2 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  3. Smash Up: Awesome Level 9000

    All details for the board game Smash Up: Awesome Level 9000 and similar games

    Smash Up: Awesome Level 9000, also known as Smash Up II, is an exciting expansion to the Smash Up base game, introducing four new factions and eight new bases. This expansion not only adds variety but also brings unique combinations and fresh strategic layers to the already dynamic gameplay of Smash Up.

    More details for Smash Up: Awesome Level 9000
    • 2 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  4. Pairs

    All details for the board game Pairs and similar games

    Paaranoia is a game where players aim to avoid pairs of cards. Using a deck of 55 cards, players are dealt one card and must decide whether to draw again or risk losing the round. If they draw a matching card, they incur penalty points and the game continues until someone exceeds a predefined threshold of penalty points and loses. Various versions of the game feature different artwork and some include unique rules related to their themes.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Pairs
    • 2 - 8 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • Immediately playable
  5. Smash Up: Pretty Pretty Smash Up

    All details for the board game Smash Up: Pretty Pretty Smash Up and similar games

    Pretty Pretty Smash Up is an expansion for the popular card game Smash Up, introducing a whimsical and sweet twist to the classic base-smashing gameplay. This expansion adds four new factions: Kitty Cats, Princesses, Fairies, and Mythic Horses, each with their unique abilities and strategies. The Kitty Cats can charm their way into controlling enemy minions, while the Princesses use their regal influence to command the battlefield. Fairies offer a variety of tactical choices with their magical mischief, and the Mythic Horses bring a powerful group dynamic to the fight.

    More details for Smash Up: Pretty Pretty Smash Up
    • 2 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  6. Smash Up: Monster Smash

    All details for the board game Smash Up: Monster Smash and similar games

    Smash Up: Monster Smash adds a thrilling twist to the Smash Up universe with its inclusion of four new, terrifying factions: vampires, mad scientists, werewolves, and giant ants. This expansion not only enriches the game's thematic diversity but also introduces unique mechanics that reflect the iconic abilities and lore associated with each monster genre.

    More details for Smash Up: Monster Smash
    • 2 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  7. Smash Up: Science Fiction Double Feature

    All details for the board game Smash Up: Science Fiction Double Feature and similar games

    Smash Up: Science Fiction Double Feature expands the universe of Smash Up with four new, out-of-this-world factions, each bringing unique gameplay mechanics to the table. This expansion allows for a fresh mix-and-match experience with the original game or stands alone as a two-player showdown.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Smash Up: Science Fiction Double Feature
    • 2 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  8. Smash Up

    All details for the board game Smash Up and similar games

    Smash Up is a unique and engaging "shufflebuilding" game where players combine two distinct factions, each with a 20-card deck, into a single 40-card deck. The game is known for its quirky and diverse factions, each with its own unique mechanics and gameplay style.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

    More details for Smash Up
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  9. Smash Up: Cease and Desist

    All details for the board game Smash Up: Cease and Desist and similar games

    Smash Up: Forgotten Heroes can be played as a two-player game or combined with other Smash Up titles, allowing up to four players to compete for control of the bases. It includes four factions – Astroknights, Changerbots, Star Roamers, and Ignobles – each with 22 cards. Players mix two factions together, regardless of whether they are from this set or another Smash Up title, and then start the game.

    More details for Smash Up: Cease and Desist
    • 2 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  10. Smash Up: Oops, You Did It Again

    All details for the board game Smash Up: Oops, You Did It Again and similar games

    Smash Up: Adventurous Legends is a standalone game for two players that can also serve as an expansion for other Smash Up titles. The four factions included in this set are Vikings, Cowboys, Samurai, and Egyptians.

    More details for Smash Up: Oops, You Did It Again
    • 2 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  11. Smash Up: What Were We Thinking?

    All details for the board game Smash Up: What Were We Thinking? and similar games

    Never be fooled by a sweet face; behind that cuddly smile lurks a beating! If you survive the onslaught of teddy bears, you'll encounter rockstars, grandmas, and explorers – seriously, what were we thinking? This expansion brings back the wild randomness of the early days of the game, allowing you to pit zombie rockstars against explorer dinosaurs or time-traveling grandmas against teddy bear vampires. Your wildest dreams can finally come true!

    More details for Smash Up: What Were We Thinking?
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  12. Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords – Base Set

    All details for the board game Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords – Base Set and similar games

    Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords – Base Set is a cooperative strategy card game set in the Pathfinder universe. Players embark on a fantasy adventure, facing various challenges and evolving their characters throughout the game.

    Nominated for 8 awards and won 1.

    More details for Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords – Base Set
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  13. Smash Up: Big in Japan

    All details for the board game Smash Up: Big in Japan and similar games

    Smash Up: Big in Japan introduces the most adorable base-bashing you've ever seen, featuring four factions inspired by Japanese pop culture. These include anime fighters, cute collectible creatures that are definitely not Pokémon, colorful warriors that are in no way Power Rangers, and Godzilla.

    More details for Smash Up: Big in Japan
    • 2 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  14. Unexploded Cow

    All details for the board game Unexploded Cow and similar games

    Europe, summer 1997. You and your creative friends have stumbled upon two problems with one common solution: mad cow disease in England and unexploded bombs in France. By herding your cows through France and releasing them behind the Cordon Rouge, you aim to get rich, all while dodging Greenpeace.

    More details for Unexploded Cow
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 25 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  15. Smash Up: That '70s Expansion

    All details for the board game Smash Up: That '70s Expansion and similar games

    Smash Up: The Wild 70s is a standalone game for two players that can also be used as an expansion for other Smash Up titles. The four factions included in this set are truckers, vigilantes, disco dancers, and kung-fu fighters.

    More details for Smash Up: That '70s Expansion
    • 2 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  16. Smash Up: The Obligatory Cthulhu Set

    All details for the board game Smash Up: The Obligatory Cthulhu Set and similar games

    Smash Up: The Obligatory Cthulhu Set dives into the deep, dark corners of the Cthulhu mythos, bringing a tentacle-filled twist to the Smash Up universe. This expansion pack is a love letter to H.P. Lovecraft's work, integrating iconic elements of the Cthulhu lore into the chaotic and strategic card game where different factions vie for dominance.

    More details for Smash Up: The Obligatory Cthulhu Set
    • 2 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  17. Smash Up: World Tour – International Incident

    All details for the board game Smash Up: World Tour – International Incident and similar games

    Join the Smash Up World Tour! "Resistance is Futile" kicks off a year-long journey to explore cool heroes from diverse cultures. This first World Tour set introduces fantastic factions like the Luchadores, Mounties, Musketeers, and Sumo Wrestlers, each bringing unique abilities to the battle for the bases.

    More details for Smash Up: World Tour – International Incident
    • 2 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  18. Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Mummy's Mask – Base Set

    All details for the board game Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Mummy's Mask – Base Set and similar games

    On the brink of discovery, the ancient lands of Osirion are shrouded in the sands of time, concealing secrets and immense riches beneath the sunburned surface. As modern Osirion opens its tombs to outsiders for the first time in centuries, lost treasures and dark mysteries resurface. A group of heroes must confront terrible guardians, malevolent cults, and the burning desert sands to prevent the rebirth of an ancient tyrant.

    More details for Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Mummy's Mask – Base Set
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 120 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  19. Running with the Bulls

    All details for the board game Running with the Bulls and similar games

    Get ready for the craziest vacation ever! A herd of mischievous bulls has taken over the picturesque town of El Toro, and players must outmaneuver them to reach fabulous coastal destinations. Use a handful of dice as runners and play cards to roll again or influence opponents' runners while trying to avoid the bulls that are chasing you.

    More details for Running with the Bulls
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 40 - 60 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  20. Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Skull & Shackles – Base Set

    All details for the board game Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Skull & Shackles – Base Set and similar games

    Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Skull & Shackles – Base Set launches players into a daring high-seas adventure, embodying pirates and outlaws in the notorious island chain known as the Shackles. This cooperative card game is set in the popular Pathfinder universe and builds upon the mechanics introduced in the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game series.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Skull & Shackles – Base Set
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  21. Smash Up: Munchkin

    All details for the board game Smash Up: Munchkin and similar games

    Players combine two twenty-card decks from different factions to create a forty-card deck and compete to destroy more bases than their opponents. Each faction adds unique powers and mechanics, making every combination an exciting experience. The game features base cards with varying challenges and abilities, and players score points based on their standings when a base is destroyed.

    More details for Smash Up: Munchkin
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  22. Smash Up: World Tour – Culture Shock

    All details for the board game Smash Up: World Tour – Culture Shock and similar games

    The world tour continues! To explore every continent, five factions are included for a whole lot of fun at the price of four.

    More details for Smash Up: World Tour – Culture Shock
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  23. Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Wrath of the Righteous – Base Set

    All details for the board game Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Wrath of the Righteous – Base Set and similar games

    The Abyss awaits! When the city of Kenabres is overrun by a horde of demons, only you can save the world. In this epic adventure path, players journey into the Abyss to battle the malevolent minions of the demon lord Deskari, evolving into mythical heroes who can face the greatest legends of Golarion.

    More details for Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Wrath of the Righteous – Base Set
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 120 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  24. Clout Fantasy

    All details for the board game Clout Fantasy and similar games

    Players have a stack of chips, each with hit points ranging from 0 to 6. They must form a stack of 15 chips without exceeding a certain number of Clout points. Players take turns throwing the chips into the play area, with different effects triggered by how the chips land. Some chips have abilities like protection or poisoning, while others can weaken opponents or enhance nearby chips. After all chips are played, players count up their remaining chips and score extra points for proximity to others, with the player holding the most Clout points declared the winner.

    More details for Clout Fantasy
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  25. The Ninth World: A Skillbuilding Game for Numenera

    All details for the board game The Ninth World: A Skillbuilding Game for Numenera and similar games

    The Ninth World is a card game for 1 to 5 players that can be played competitively, cooperatively, or solo. Players assume the roles of a Nano, Jack, or Glaive, each described by an adjective, a noun, and a verb phrase. Characters explore the realm of the Steadfast or venture into the mysterious lands beyond, making strategic decisions to spend their skills wisely while competing for valuable cards. In cooperative mode, players work together against creatures threatening the city, while in solo mode, one must face the challenges alone.

    More details for The Ninth World: A Skillbuilding Game for Numenera
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  26. Apocrypha Adventure Card Game: Box One – The World

    All details for the board game Apocrypha Adventure Card Game: Box One – The World and similar games

    Players can engage in the Apocrypha adventure card game cooperatively or with a game master in a role-playing format. Set in a world on the brink of an apocalypse, players encounter monsters visible only to their characters. The game features a rich narrative, deck-building mechanics, and character development, where players unlock fragmented memories that grant new powers. Each mission presents unique challenges and objectives, often involving the pursuit of hidden threats. The base box includes 584 cards, dice, rulebooks, and character tokens, with expansions adding further content and complexity.

    More details for Apocrypha Adventure Card Game: Box One – The World
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Hard to learn

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