Board gaming is a diverse hobby with games designed to appeal to players of different skill levels, tastes and interests. From classic strategy to deep space exploration, there’s a game for everyone. And, with new releases arriving all the time, it’s important to have a wide variety of games in your collection. That’s why, every year, the American Tabletop Association (ATTA) votes for its Best Games. This year’s winners were announced this week, and they include a mix of both old and new games.
One of the older titles, Quoridor is an abstract game with a deceptively simple concept. Each player starts with a single pawn and a set of ten walls, and on each turn they can move or place a wall, with the goal being to get their pawn to the opposite side of the board. This is a great mind burner and can be played by three to eight players.
From designer Uwe Mohn, this is the latest in his line of polyomino games and it’s a winner. It’s a race to fill your zoo, and there’s plenty of satisfaction in moving an elephant around a rondel or claiming the perfect-shaped pen for a kangaroo.
A deckbuilder with a difference, Wingspan lets you manage a bird sanctuary by collecting bird cards and placing them in your personal habitats on your player board. The more you have, the more attractive your zoo will be to visitors and conservation projects. This is a game that’s already a winner at the BGG awards and it was also released this year in digital form by Monster Couch.