The best games released in 2011๐Ÿ“† 2024

Looking for a really good game from the year 2011? Then we have just the thing for you: our recommendation list with the best board games that were newly released in 2011.

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 2011:

This list was last updated on February 25, 2024. We compared 300 board games for this list and selected the top 30. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. Dixit: Odyssey

    All details for the board game Dixit: Odyssey and similar games

    Dixit Odyssey combines the essence of a standalone game and an expansion for the award-winning Dixit by Jean-Louis Roubira, renowned for winning Germany's Spiel des Jahres award in 2010.

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 3.

    More details for Dixit: Odyssey
    • 3 - 12 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    ๐Ÿ”ฅ Great price!24โ‚ฌ atAmazon.de*
  2. Skull

    All details for the board game Skull and similar games

    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.

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 2.

    More details for Skull
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 15 - 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Skull

    • YouTube Review for the game "Skull" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Skull" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  3. A Fake Artist Goes to New York

    All details for the board game A Fake Artist Goes to New York and similar games

    A Fake Artist Goes to New York is a creative and social party game that combines elements of drawing, deduction, and bluffing. It's designed for 5-10 players and offers a unique gameplay experience full of laughter and intrigue.

    More details for A Fake Artist Goes to New York
    • 5 - 10 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  4. Rhino Hero

    All details for the board game Rhino Hero and similar games

    Rhino Hero is a dexterity-based card game that combines elements of building and strategy. Players take turns constructing a skyscraper with walls and roof cards, while moving a heroic rhino figurine up the building.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Rhino Hero
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 5 - 15 Minutes
    • 5+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  5. King of Tokyo

    All details for the board game King of Tokyo and similar games

    King of Tokyo is a game where players take on the roles of mutant monsters, robots, and aliens, all competing to become the sole King of Tokyo.

    Nominated for 19 awards and won 7.

    More details for King of Tokyo
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    ๐Ÿ”ฅ Great price!27โ‚ฌ atAmazon.de*
  6. Pictomania

    All details for the board game Pictomania and similar games

    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.

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    More details for Pictomania
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 25 Minutes
    • 9+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  7. The Castles of Burgundy

    All details for the board game The Castles of Burgundy and similar games

    The Castles of Burgundy is set in the medieval Burgundy region of France, where players assume the roles of aristocrats seeking to expand their princedoms. The game revolves around building settlements, constructing castles, engaging in river trade, mining for silver, and utilizing travelers' knowledge.

    Nominated for 8 awards and won 2.

    More details for The Castles of Burgundy
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 90 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for The Castles of Burgundy

    • YouTube Review for the game "The Castles of Burgundy" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  8. Tales & Games: The Hare & the Tortoise

    All details for the board game Tales & Games: The Hare & the Tortoise and similar games

    The Hare & the Tortoise offers a unique spin on the classic fable through a card-driven betting game where players wager on the outcomes of an animal race. This game combines strategy, luck, and deduction as players manage their hands and place their bets on various creatures, each with distinct movement abilities influenced by the cards played.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

    More details for Tales & Games: The Hare & the Tortoise
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 15 - 20 Minutes
    • 7+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  9. Timeline: Events

    All details for the board game Timeline: Events and similar games

    Timeline: Events is an engaging card game that challenges players' knowledge of historical events. The game is straightforward yet captivating, requiring players to correctly place cards in chronological order based on the events they depict.

    More details for Timeline: Events
    • 2 - 8 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  10. Takenoko

    All details for the board game Takenoko and similar games

    Takenoko is a charming board game set in the Japanese Imperial court, revolving around the care of a giant panda gifted by the Chinese Emperor. Players, as court members, are tasked with managing a bamboo garden for the panda.

    Nominated for 17 awards and won 7.

    More details for Takenoko
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Takenoko

    • YouTube Review for the game "Takenoko" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  11. Sekigahara: The Unification of Japan

    All details for the board game Sekigahara: The Unification of Japan and similar games

    Sekigahara: The Unification of Japan is a strategic war game for two players, allowing them to relive the pivotal battle of Sekigahara in 1600, which unified Japan under the Tokugawa shogunate for over 250 years. Players take on the roles of either Ishida Mitsunari, defending the rightful heir, or Tokugawa Ieyasu, the most powerful daimyo, as they gather armies from their allies, all the while questioning their loyalty. With no use of dice, the game emphasizes strategy and loyalty through card mechanics, where cards are essential for motivating armies to fight. Loyalty is a fluctuating resource, represented by hand size, and battles involve deploying hidden units based on loyalty, with the potential for defections. The game aims to provide a historically accurate experience within a concise and intuitive set of rules, focusing on strategic deployment and the significance of loyalty without relying on luck to determine outcomes.

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 2.

    More details for Sekigahara: The Unification of Japan
    • 2 Players
    • 180 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  12. Animal Upon Animal: Crest Climbers

    All details for the board game Animal Upon Animal: Crest Climbers and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 4+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  13. Blood Bowl: Team Manager โ€“ The Card Game

    All details for the board game Blood Bowl: Team Manager โ€“ The Card Game and similar games

    Blood Bowl: Team Manager - The Card Game offers a thrilling and competitive card game experience, combining elements of fantasy, sports, and strategic gameplay. It's an action-packed game where players manage teams in a brutal, fantastical sports league.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

    More details for Blood Bowl: Team Manager โ€“ The Card Game
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  14. Rory's Story Cubes: Voyages

    All details for the board game Rory's Story Cubes: Voyages and similar games
    • 1 - 12 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  15. Flash Point: Fire Rescue

    All details for the board game Flash Point: Fire Rescue and similar games

    Flash Point: Fire Rescue immerses players in the high-stakes role of firefighters, tasked with rescuing victims from a blazing building. This cooperative board game challenges players to strategize, take risks, and work as a unified team to avert disaster.

    Nominated for 4 awards.

    More details for Flash Point: Fire Rescue
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    ๐Ÿ‘ Good price!35โ‚ฌ atAmazon.de*

    Video reviews for Flash Point: Fire Rescue

    • YouTube Review for the game "Flash Point: Fire Rescue" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  16. Discworld: Ankh-Morpork

    All details for the board game Discworld: Ankh-Morpork and similar games

    Discworld: Ankh-Morpork is a board game designed by Martin Wallace and Treefrog Games, set in the imaginative universe of Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, specifically in its largest city-state, Ankh-Morpork. The game captures the essence of the Discworld novels with its thematic elements and diverse characters.

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 1.

    More details for Discworld: Ankh-Morpork
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 11+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  17. Cheating Moth

    All details for the board game Cheating Moth and similar games

    Cheating Moth is a mischievously fun card game where cheating isn't just allowed, it's necessary to win! Players aim to get rid of all their cards, but traditional card play is only part of the strategy. You'll also need to cleverly cheat by secretly dropping cards without getting caught. Each round begins with players holding eight cards and trying to play a card onto the discard pile that is exactly one number higher or lower than the top card. But here's the twist: certain cards, like the Cheating Moth cards, can't be discarded normally and must be slyly disposed of through cheating.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 2.

    More details for Cheating Moth
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 7+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    ๐Ÿ‘ Good price!9โ‚ฌ atAmazon.de*
  18. Friday

    All details for the board game Friday and similar games

    Friday, part of Friedemann Friese's Freitag-Project Series, unfolds the tale of Robinson Crusoe and his loyal partner, Friday. Stepping into Friday's shoes, players navigate the challenges of Robinson's arrival on the island, disrupting your peaceful existence. The objective is clear: assist Robinson in surviving the island and prepare him for a showdown with incoming pirates.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Friday
    • 1 Players
    • 25 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  19. Summoner Wars: Master Set

    All details for the board game Summoner Wars: Master Set and similar games

    Summoner Wars: Master Set is a tactical card game that combines elements of strategy and fantasy. Players take on the roles of powerful Summoners, each harnessing the power of mysterious stones to lead their factions to victory in the war-torn world of Itharia.

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    More details for Summoner Wars: Master Set
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 9+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  20. BraveRats

    All details for the board game BraveRats and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    More details for BraveRats
    • 2 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  21. Saboteur Gold

    All details for the board game Saboteur Gold and similar games
    • 2 - 12 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  22. Schnappt Hubi!

    All details for the board game Schnappt Hubi! and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    โญ๏ธ Kinderspiel des Jahres 2012

    More details for Schnappt Hubi!
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 5+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    ๐Ÿ‘ Good price!37โ‚ฌ atAmazon.de*
  23. Ultimate Warriorz

    All details for the board game Ultimate Warriorz and similar games
    • 2 - 8 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  24. 12 Days

    All details for the board game 12 Days and similar games
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  25. Kingdom Builder

    All details for the board game Kingdom Builder 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 12 awards and won 2.

    โญ๏ธ Spiel des Jahres 2012

    ๐Ÿ”ฅ Deal: 19% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!

    More details for Kingdom Builder
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    ๐Ÿ”ฅ Great price!34โ‚ฌ atAmazon.de*
  26. Dungeon Fighter

    All details for the board game Dungeon Fighter and similar games

    Dungeon Fighter is a whimsical and cooperative board game where players embark on an adventurous journey into a fantasy dungeon filled with danger and humor. As heroes, they delve into a multi-tiered dungeon, facing various monsters, including classic mythical creatures like Medusa, the Minotaur, and dragons, while searching for treasure and acquiring magical items.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Dungeon Fighter
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  27. Dungeon Raiders

    All details for the board game Dungeon Raiders and similar games

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

    More details for Dungeon Raiders
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 20 - 60 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Dungeon Raiders

    • YouTube Review for the game "Dungeon Raiders" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  28. Panic on Wall Street!

    All details for the board game Panic on Wall Street! and similar games
    • 3 - 11 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  29. Da ist der Wurm drin

    All details for the board game Da ist der Wurm drin and similar games

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 2.

    โญ๏ธ Kinderspiel des Jahres 2011

    More details for Da ist der Wurm drin
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 15 - 20 Minutes
    • 4+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  30. Ascension: Return of the Fallen

    All details for the board game Ascension: Return of the Fallen and similar games

    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

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: