The best games released in 2002πŸ“† 2025

Looking for a really good game from the year 2002? Then we have just the thing for you: our recommendation list with the best board games that were newly released in 2002.

More lists from similar periods

A list with the best games from other years can be found at the end of the page.

In addition, we have created several more lists of card & board game awards:

List of the best new games releases in 2002:

This list was last updated on March 19, 2025. We compared 141 board games for this list and selected the top 10. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. Viva Topo!

    All details for the board game Viva Topo! and similar games

    Players guide their mice from the starting point to various goals, with farther goals offering more cheese as points. A cat chases the mice, removing them from the game if caught. Movement is determined by a die, with the added twist that rolls of "1" also move the cat, creating a risk-reward balance as players try to outpace the feline and gather cheese.

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 3.

    ⭐️ Kinderspiel des Jahres 2003

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kinderspiel des Jahres 2003

    More details for Viva Topo!
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 20 - 30 Minutes
    • 4+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  2. Carcassonne: Hunters and Gatherers

    All details for the board game Carcassonne: Hunters and Gatherers and similar games

    Carcassonne: Hunters and Gatherers is a standalone game in the Carcassonne series, transporting players to the Stone Age. This version maintains the essence of the original Carcassonne game but introduces new thematic elements and rules suitable for this prehistoric setting.

    Nominated for 4 awards.

    More details for Carcassonne: Hunters and Gatherers
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 35 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  3. Puerto Rico

    All details for the board game Puerto Rico and similar games

    Puerto Rico is a strategy game where players become colonial governors in Puerto Rico, aiming to earn victory points through trade and construction.

    Nominated for 13 awards and won 9.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2002

    More details for Puerto Rico
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 90 - 150 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  4. 10 Days in Europe

    All details for the board game 10 Days in Europe and similar games

    Explore Europe in this exciting travel game where finding the right path is key to success. Players strategically exchange cards to create a continuous route through land, water, or air. The first to meet the travel requirements with all ten game pieces wins.

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kinderspiel des Jahres 2003

    More details for 10 Days in Europe
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 20 - 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for 10 Days in Europe

    • YouTube Review for the game "10 Days in Europe" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  5. The Ladybug's Costume Party

    All details for the board game The Ladybug's Costume Party and similar games

    In each round, players spin the spinner on the board. If it points to one of the eight ladybugs, the player can move that ladybug to visit others. Each ladybug figure has a magnet in its nose, allowing them to swap places if they "like" each other. If they do not get along, the turn ends. Once a ladybug collects five different colored points, it is ready for the ball and is removed from the game. Players win when all ladybugs are ready. If the spinner lands on a smaller leaf, the player cannot move ladybugs and must advance ants instead. If all seven ants board the ship, the players lose.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

    ⭐️ Kinderspiel des Jahres 2002

    More details for The Ladybug's Costume Party
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 20 - 30 Minutes
    • 4+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  6. Attribute

    All details for the board game Attribute and similar games

    Players try to guess the opinions of others on chosen topics. Each player holds four attribute cards and a red or green sheep card. One player selects a topic, and those with green sheep play matching attributes while those with red sheep play non-matching ones. All cards are revealed at once, and players aim to beat a matching attribute card from another green sheep player to earn points.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Attribute
    • 3 - 8 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  7. BANG!

    All details for the board game BANG! and similar games

    BANG! is a fast-paced card game that simulates a Wild West shootout, where players take on hidden roles with different objectives and engage in strategic gunplay.

    Nominated for 9 awards and won 2.

    More details for BANG!
    • 4 - 7 Players
    • 20 - 40 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  8. The Bucket King

    All details for the board game The Bucket King and similar games

    A card game with an unusual scoring system involves players using sets of animal cards to knock over opponents' bucket pyramids. Each player starts with 12 cards from five colors, numbered 1-8, and must strategically attack or defend against opponents' moves.

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    More details for The Bucket King
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  9. Odin's Ravens

    All details for the board game Odin's Ravens and similar games

    Odin's Ravens is a strategic two-player card game where participants embody Hugin and Munin, Odin's ravens, in a race across Midgard. Utilizing a unique deck of cards, players navigate a track of landscape cards, aiming to outmaneuver their opponent through clever use of their cards and special actions provided by Odin (or Loki in the Osprey Edition) cards.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Odin's Ravens
    • 2 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  10. Wheedle

    All details for the board game Wheedle and similar games

    GmbH & Co.KG has two main strategies: persuading through flattery or cunning, and buying shares to make deals. It is a fast-paced stock trading game where 4-6 players compete for control of a company. Players engage in simultaneous trading to achieve majorities in different stocks, and the game ends when a player controls a majority of stock types, leading to a scoring round.

    More details for Wheedle
    • 4 - 6 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 9+ years old
    • Immediately playable

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: