2025: Recap of Gaming, Part 1

We are really milking these lists, but they are just so fun to look back at what caught our eyes this year. 2025 was a spectacular year of gaming, and these categories really got us digging deep into what games stood out. Without further ado, please enjoy Part 1 of our 2025 Recap of Gaming!

Game That Surprised You the Most

Jess: Artistry by Dux Sominum Games — While Dux Somnium Games are gorgeous, they are a little hit or miss for me. Artistry blew me away with its simple grace. I’ve been calling it “Better Azul.”

Sarah: Feed the Kraken by Outset Games — In all the times I played it, I never drew the Cultist card. I mean, I crocheted a kraken and fondly named him Atlan, so that feels like an oversight by the Old Ones.

Rick: Artistry by Dux Sominum Games — Sure, it’s pretty, but it was a lot more thinky than I expected.

Kaleb: Thirsty Sword lesbians! A table top focused so much on being vulnerable and open was delightful to experience. A freeing experience to step into the shoes of a character that has been invited to express their feelings.

Saunsu: Fountains by the Op — This was my biggest surprise, because I knew people who had taken part in the playtesting and said it seemed to fall short on its delivery.

Nathen: The Gang by Kosmos — I like poker. I like cooperative games. Never in a million years would I have anticipated the union of two disparate game concepts coming together in such a clever and challenging way.

Game that You FINALLY Played

Rick: Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring by Z-Man Games — Being both a fan of the Lord of the Rings and of Pandemic, this has been on my radar for a while. It was nice to get it played.

Kaleb: Just One by Repos Production — A game where players only can say one word to get the person in the hot seat to guess what their mystery word is. 

Nathen: Here to Slay by Unstable Games. I know, I know, everyone loves this one. I just hadn’t had a chance to sit down and give it a shot. I definitely see the appeal of the fast paced boss battling card game!

Jess: Tend by IV Studio — It came out in October and I played it in December, so I guess that’s not too long of a wait. But, boy did it feel like it! This is the granddaddy of all roll and write games. Plenty to get lost in. Huge replayability. Big fan!

Saunsu: FoxPaw by Godot Games — It has a fun Harry Potter Hogwarts vibe, but needs serious work on the rulebook.

Game the BROKE Your Brain

Saunsu: Daitoshi by Devir Games. I enjoy the game now that I understand it, but the flow of the rulebook made it far more confusing then it had to be.

Jess: Time to Panic by IV Studio — This punishing puzzle of a game had us racking our brains in the best possible way! The first time we played, we were solidly terrible! Second time, much better! Third time, we got cocky and made it harder…. And paid for it.

Nathen: My mind is a steel trap, incapable of being broken. (*author’s note: This seems to check out.)

Kaleb: The one that’s all on the ocean with little islands to conquer and blah blah blah. 

Rick: Pergola by Rebel Studio — I cannot say for certain if I get this yet even after multiple plays both it the physical version or Board Game Arena.

Meanest Game

Jess: Moon Colony Bloodbath by Rio Grande Game — The point of this game is to be the last one standing, and we are dropping like flies. The game itself is mean, and your fellow players aren’t doing much to ease that sting either. Good thing we can give as good as we get :). 

Rick: Oh My Pigeons by Ravensburger — Della (Sarah’s daughter) was SO mean to me when we played this.

Saunsu: Castle Raisers by Wonderful World Board Games — This was the meanest game, and really drives home the fact that the joy you find in a game is reliant on who you are playing with.

Nathen: Uno No Mercy — Gather around a few pints with a few friends and tear your hair out at this absolutely brutal rendition of Uno.

Game You Could NOT Stop Talking About

Saunsu: Nana Toridori by Kids Table Board Games — I just can’t stop recommending it because of the colorful art, and I just love the game.

Sarah: Deep Regrets by Tettix Games. I never shutup about this one. 

Kaleb: Flamecraft Duals by Cardboard Alchemy — A two-player travel-friendly game of pattern-making and quick, puzzly fun! You will meet the artisan dragons again with new powers.

Rick: Galactic Cruise by Kinsen Key Games — I will always like a big meaty euro game, but this one also has strong thematic ties to its mechanism. 

Nathen: Rabbit Rabbit by Pink Tiger Games — I recommended Rabbit Rabbit a ton to people as an interesting two-player game. It’s a trivia game about superstitions from around the world and I found it to be a great icebreaker.

Jess: Destinies by Lucky Duck Games — In this story-style game, you are attempting to fulfill your character’s destiny before the other players. This takes map exploration, sweet talking the villagers, and good rolls to finish first. The cooperative version, Dark Quarter, is high on my list to try!

“One More Time” Games

Jess: Deep Sea Endeavor by Grand Gamer Guild — While this game isn’t cooperative, you are exploring and uncovering the seas together. Each chapter of the game changing it to keep it fresh. Every game feels fast. I don’t think I’ve ever played just one game of it.

Sarah: Knarr by Pandasaurus — It plays fairly quickly, but has enough strategy to make it interesting. I always want to go again.

Nathen: Planet Unknown by Adam’s Apple Games. It’s a straight forward tile drafting and placing game but it plays quickly and it can be addictive trying to perfect your tile placement for optimum points!

Rick: The Hobbit There and Back Again by Office Dog — Again with Tolkien, but in a roll and write. Need to go back and finish the story.

Saunsu: Guild of Merchant Explorers by AEG — I just can’t get enough whether in person or on Board Game Arena.

Kaleb: Scattegories — Love it. Always will. Love a letter dice.

Game that Made You Laugh the Hardest

Saunsu: Snorta by Mattel — It’s just hilariously Moo-arvelous. I laughed so hard I almost peed my pants.

Kaleb: Headbanz — Love a guessing game and a timer. 

Jess: Gimme That from Dolphin Hat Games — This games demands attention from everyone playing it, and, honestly, everyone else in the room too. Players are yelling, pounding on the table, high fiving, and cackling. We played this at a convention and caused quite the scene!

Nathen: Divorced Dads TCG — It takes a special type of person that should exist only in theory and turn it into an actual working product. This meme-centric trading card game features cards like “Lawn Mower” and “Prostate Exam” that you use to out play your opponent.

Sarah: Diagnos This by Thrilly Games — It’s not family-friendly and super not PC, but it is incredibly funny.

Rick: Nightshift by Exotic Cancer — Yes, we all laughed at this, but the less said the better (there could be young ’uns about).

Best Theme and Mechanic Integration

Rick: Galactic Cruise by Kinson Key Games

Nathen: Luthier by Paverson Games — This heavy euro style game pits players acting as competing “composers” building their musical careers. The game has a novel mechanic revolving around a type of “blind bet” to determine which player gets priority for any given action location.

Saunsu: Tea Witches by The Op — Everything about the game draws you in.

Jess: Abomination by Plaid Hat Games — You are set in Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein, tasked with making a companion for the monster. Using your workers, you go around the city to collect bodies to harvest, whether through shovel, hospital snagging, or dastardly means. Use dice to throw the switch to bring life to your creation. It’s so gross and so good.

Best Game for 2 Players

Sarah: Solstis by Lumberjack Studios — The art is serene and the gameplay is simple and elegant.

Rick: Flamecraft Duals by Cardboard Alchemy — An interesting take on a two player version of Flamecraft. 

Jess: Lord of the Rings Duel from Repos Productions — 7 Wonders Duel has been one of my favorite 2-player games for so long. So, when I heard about the revamp with a dose of LotR, I was skeptical. But, wow, did they knock this one out of the park!

Saunsu: Flamecraft Duals by Cardboard Alchemy — I just love the simplicity and unexpected strategy to the game.

Nathen: Tag Team by Scorpion Masque — This extremely fast-paced combat game pits a team of two fictional characters against each other in combat. The wacky characters and different combinations provide lots of replayability.

Best for Bigger Groups

Rick: 7 Wonders Dice by Repos Production — A streamlined version of Seven Wonders that I might even be able to get certain friends to play.

Kaleb: Dungeons and Dragons!

Nathen: Coup by Indie — I know it’s older but we introduced it to the kids during boardgame day camp and they absolutely loved it. It’s hard to go wrong with a social deduction game for big groups.

Saunsu: Flip 7 by The Op — They just nailed it with this one. It flies right off the shelf every time.

Jess: Feed the Kraken by Outset Games — This one plays with 5-11 players. It’s social deduction the board game! 

What are your games of 2025 in these categories? Stay tuned for Part 2!