6 ms·

Actually, the best board game of 2017 was Kingdomino.[0] It's a good lightweight euro, easy to learn but decent strategy for those who want it. Arranging domin

Actually, the best board game of 2017 was Kingdomino.[0] It's a good lightweight euro, easy to learn but decent strategy for those who want it. Arranging dominos in a 5x5 grid is harder than it should be, when you're trying to maximize points one domino at a time. I start off with a great plan, but by the end: d'oh, last one won't fit! [0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiel_des_Jahres#2017_awards https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiel_des_Jahres#2017_awards

cthulhujr 9y ago
This is a far better authority on tabletop gaming than Vox in the OP. Also not super impressed with: > Fog of Love is available exclusively from Walmart for some reason
- 2muchcoffeeman 9y ago
  It should still be taken with a grain of salt. E.g Istanbul beat Concordia. I have both games. Istanbul is good. But Concordia is a modern classic. Not all of the good games in 2017 necessarily even qualify for the Spiel des Jahres or the Kennerspiel des Jahres. E.g. Gloomhaven, 7th Continent.
  - labster 9y ago
    Right. I enjoy Istanbul, but for the most part, it seems like you just pick one or two economic engines as soon as you see the board layout, and then work on the one that has the least competitors on a given turn. The strategy changes enough between turns to make it fun, but not enough to make it one of the greats. SdJ isn't always right, but still a better choice for best game of the year than J. Random Blogger's pick.
    - tormeh 9y ago
      Agreed. When I started out getting a gaming collection, I read about the winners and recommends of SdJ, and picked among those. Ended up with 7 Wonders, Codenames, Dixit and Spyfall. Got to say it gives you some perspective on Risk and Monopoly.
hkmurakami 9y ago
Yep what I thought after reading the article was, best board game of v2017 voted on by a panel of authorities in the field, or the best board game according to a random writer?
- ZenoArrow 9y ago
  The more interesting question is why should you value the opinion of a panel more than an individual? Is the writer not entitled to an opinion on the best board game of 2017 just because a group chose something else? Also, one should consider group dynamics. Who's to say if everyone on that panel valued the game that won equally? Perhaps they all had their personal favourites, but chose a different game as it was the least contentious. All you can really say about a decision made by a panel is that it was the best decision they could make on aggregate, not that it was a true reflection of individual preferences. All that aside, "best game of 2017" is really just "best game I played in 2017". I honestly don't know when we're collectively going to grow past handling subjective comments in an objective way, but I hope its soon.
scbrg 9y ago
Nitpick: While Kingdomino is a great game, and was awarded Spiel des Jares 2017 it is from 2016. Spiel des Jares (obviously) awards games from the previous year.
- snarf21 9y ago
  Not being pedantic but my understanding is that Spiel des Jares rules are for games that become available in Germany in the past 12 months. It is used as a global best game award now but it started as an award for the best new games in available Germany.
  - louisswiss 9y ago
    It is 'Spiel des Jahres' (not 'Jares'). Translation is 'game of the year'.
    - labster 9y ago
      He said he wasn't being pedantic, and now look what you've done. :) Spiel des Jahres is a prize for Germany in the same way the Nobel Prize is for Sweden.
snarf21 9y ago
For the past number of years they have split the awards into another category. Kingdomino won the category best described as family game and Exit - The Game won the category for complex game.

cthulhujr 9y ago

This is a far better authority on tabletop gaming than Vox in the OP. Also not super impressed with: > Fog of Love is available exclusively from Walmart for some reason

2muchcoffeeman 9y ago
It should still be taken with a grain of salt. E.g Istanbul beat Concordia. I have both games. Istanbul is good. But Concordia is a modern classic. Not all of the good games in 2017 necessarily even qualify for the Spiel des Jahres or the Kennerspiel des Jahres. E.g. Gloomhaven, 7th Continent.
- labster 9y ago
  Right. I enjoy Istanbul, but for the most part, it seems like you just pick one or two economic engines as soon as you see the board layout, and then work on the one that has the least competitors on a given turn. The strategy changes enough between turns to make it fun, but not enough to make it one of the greats. SdJ isn't always right, but still a better choice for best game of the year than J. Random Blogger's pick.
  - tormeh 9y ago
    Agreed. When I started out getting a gaming collection, I read about the winners and recommends of SdJ, and picked among those. Ended up with 7 Wonders, Codenames, Dixit and Spyfall. Got to say it gives you some perspective on Risk and Monopoly.

hkmurakami 9y ago

Yep what I thought after reading the article was, best board game of v2017 voted on by a panel of authorities in the field, or the best board game according to a random writer?

ZenoArrow 9y ago
The more interesting question is why should you value the opinion of a panel more than an individual? Is the writer not entitled to an opinion on the best board game of 2017 just because a group chose something else? Also, one should consider group dynamics. Who's to say if everyone on that panel valued the game that won equally? Perhaps they all had their personal favourites, but chose a different game as it was the least contentious. All you can really say about a decision made by a panel is that it was the best decision they could make on aggregate, not that it was a true reflection of individual preferences. All that aside, "best game of 2017" is really just "best game I played in 2017". I honestly don't know when we're collectively going to grow past handling subjective comments in an objective way, but I hope its soon.

scbrg 9y ago

Nitpick: While Kingdomino is a great game, and was awarded Spiel des Jares 2017 it is from 2016. Spiel des Jares (obviously) awards games from the previous year.

snarf21 9y ago
Not being pedantic but my understanding is that Spiel des Jares rules are for games that become available in Germany in the past 12 months. It is used as a global best game award now but it started as an award for the best new games in available Germany.
- louisswiss 9y ago
  It is 'Spiel des Jahres' (not 'Jares'). Translation is 'game of the year'.
  - labster 9y ago
    He said he wasn't being pedantic, and now look what you've done. :) Spiel des Jahres is a prize for Germany in the same way the Nobel Prize is for Sweden.

snarf21 9y ago

For the past number of years they have split the awards into another category. Kingdomino won the category best described as family game and Exit - The Game won the category for complex game.