In 2025, I played 172 different games. Within those 172 games, I spent a total of 648 hours playing them. I know that’s more than the average person, but I run a review website and I just love playing games! It’s worth remembering that many of these were smaller games you can play a lot in a short time. Of course, not every game was new that year, but about 35% of them were. With so many games, it’s hard to pick a top ten. So, this year, I decided to share ten of my favorites, not necessarily the absolute top ten. Each game would certainly be high on my list if I were ranking them. But they are here because I felt they were the best for a special reason. Okay, here we go!
Best Game of the Year 2025 – Kinfire Council
You can read our full review of Kinfire Council here.
I really love this game. It looks beautiful, plays very smoothly, and is full of constant, interesting, important, and very smart choices. It has stayed fun after many times playing it and with different numbers of players. It plays quite differently with just two players. It changes a good bit, but not in a bad way, just different. And I think that helps keep it fresh and exciting.
It can take a bit longer to learn than other similar games, with many things to look at and understand. This is common with games where you place workers in different spots. You need to know all the choices to understand the game, and a new player will have a hard time against someone who has played more. But besides that, this game brings me pure joy and truly deserves its spot as my Whatboardgame game of the year for 2025.
Best Co-operative Game 2025 – Corps of Discovery
You can read our full review of Corps of Discovery here.
The feeling of adventure in this game is amazing, mixed with a constant feeling of suspense and really fun conversations around the table. As a game for two players working together, I absolutely love it. Every choice feels important, and right from the very first turn, there’s a real rush to get exactly what you need, even though you start with almost no information. You only know where the main goal is, and that’s it. Very quickly, though, you start to build a shared picture of the map in your mind, and the talks about how to reach your goal are what truly make this game special.
Because of that, playing it alone doesn’t quite work for me, even though Boardgame Geek says this is the best way to play. I still enjoy it, and I can see why some people like it, especially players who enjoy quiet, thinking puzzles. However, so much of the fun comes from talking through ideas and working together to figure out where things might be. I miss that teamwork too much when I play by myself. For me, this is a game that really shines when played with others, and because of that, it’s my favorite co-operative game of 2025.
Most Innovative Game 2025 – Vantage
You can read our full review of Vantage here.
Like many big projects of this kind, Vantage has had its share of people who didn’t like it, as well as those who loved it. Personally, I can understand both the good and bad comments. However, I find myself agreeing that this game is a stroke of genius. The size, the big plans, and the sheer effort of the person who made it to create such a huge, surprising, enjoyable, and smooth experience deserve a lot of praise.
Each game feels different, and it only takes a few moments to get this big, heavy box to the table and start playing. Some games finish in just a few turns, for better or worse, while others can go on for hours. Some of this is out of your hands, but as you get to know the game better, you can start to guide and change the kind of game you want to play. The feeling of adventure, discovery, and excitement is what makes me want to come back again and again. I want to learn everything this game has to offer and find every hidden secret. This could very well make it one of the games I play the most in the years to come.
Best Table Presence 2025 – Cretaceous Rails
You can read our full review of Cretaceous Rails here.
Just look at it! Little plastic Dinosaurs and trains! What more could you want?
It’s bright, colorful, and starts like this! Instead of building it up, you actually take it apart and add it to your own player board. So, every game of Cretaceous Rails begins with this lively plastic display, making everyone nearby want to join in and play!
The game itself is also incredibly fun. It mixes different game ideas to create a game where you get points in many ways, feeling like an arcade game that’s fun, but with smart planning and a clear setup at its heart. It’s truly a wonderful experience, and every time I teach it to new players, they first think it looks a bit silly and “just a bunch of toys!”. But once they start playing, they feel the excitement and challenge in every turn. And by the end, they are upset about how much the game costs to buy because they want it! There’s a cheaper version without the cool dinosaur models, but they are such a joy that if you want this game, maybe think about selling a few other games you don’t play much and get the full version. It’s not always worth it to get the most fancy version of a game, but here I feel it is! Enjoy, my friends! This game truly deserves to be Whatboardgame’s best table presence for 2025.
Best Expansion 2025 – Kavango Lodges
You can read our full review of Kavango Lodges here.
I love Kavango. It’s a simple but really fun game that always hits the spot. There were a few small problems with it, though, that I felt kept it from being truly great. Lodges fixes all of them!
Because of this, this expansion is something I absolutely must have and deserves to be Whatboardgame’s Expansion of the Year for 2025. If you own the main game, you should definitely get this. If placing cards in the main game felt unimportant to you, give this a try; it solves that problem so simply and adds a delightful extra twist you will love.
It’s a fantastic product from an amazing team, who always do great work. The experience is also incredibly enjoyable. It’s easy to teach, a lot of fun to play, and stays good after many times playing, as two and a half years of playing with this box have shown me. I first played this in September 2023, and I still love it now. The expansion just adds that little bit more fun, fixes the main problems in the original game, and makes me want to come back to this game again and again. When I have 40 minutes and want something easy but with some thinking, this is often my choice, and the expansion made that happen. So, this truly deserves to be my Whatboardgame expansion of the year for 2025.
Best Two-Player Game 2025 – The White Castle
You can read our full review of The White Castle here.
This game is a true masterpiece. It’s a game that makes you think hard, but it’s also very easy to play. It’s a game that is simple to learn but hard to master. It’s a game that is fast to play but full of deep choices. It’s a game that is small but feels big. It’s a game that is very clever and makes you want to play it again and again.
It’s a game that has a lot of replay value, meaning you can play it many times and it will always feel fresh. It’s a game that is very well made, with good quality pieces. It’s a game that is very fun to play, and it’s a game that I highly recommend. It’s a game that is very deserving of being my Whatboardgame two-player game of the year for 2025.
Best Solo Game 2025 – Legacy of Yu
You can read our full review of Legacy of Yu here.
This game is a real challenge, but in a good way. It’s a game that makes you think, and it’s a game that makes you feel like you’re really achieving something when you win. It’s a game that is very well designed, and it’s a game that is very fun to play alone. It’s a game that is very deserving of being my Whatboardgame solo game of the year for 2025.
Best Family Game 2025 – Faraway
You can read our full review of Faraway here.
This game is a lot of fun for the whole family. It’s easy to learn, and it’s a game that everyone can enjoy. It’s a game that is very colorful and has nice pictures. It’s a game that is very deserving of being my Whatboardgame family game of the year for 2025.
Best Small Box Game 2025 – Sky Team
You can read our full review of Sky Team here.
This game comes in a small box, but it’s packed with a lot of fun. It’s a game that is easy to take with you, and it’s a game that you can play quickly. It’s a game that is very clever and makes you think. It’s a game that is very deserving of being my Whatboardgame small box game of the year for 2025.
Best Card Game 2025 – Earth
You can read our full review of Earth here.
This game is a fantastic card game. It’s a game that has a lot of different cards, and it’s a game that makes you think about how to use them best. It’s a game that is very pretty to look at, and it’s a game that is very fun to play. It’s a game that is very deserving of being my Whatboardgame card game of the year for 2025.
Best Roll & Write Game 2025 – Twilight Inscription
You can read our full review of Twilight Inscription here.
This game is a great roll and write game. It’s a game where you roll dice and then write on your paper. It’s a game that has a lot of choices, and it’s a game that makes you think. It’s a game that is very fun to play, and it’s a game that is very deserving of being my Whatboardgame roll and write game of the year for 2025.
Best Solo Game of All Time – Hadrian’s Wall
You can read our full review of Hadrian’s Wall here.
This game is my favorite solo game ever. It’s a game that you can play by yourself, and it’s a game that is very challenging and rewarding. It’s a game that has a lot of different things to do, and it’s a game that makes you feel like you’re building something great. It’s a game that is very deserving of being my Whatboardgame solo game of all time.
