2025: Recap of Gaming, Part 2
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 2 of our 2025 Recap of Gaming! You’ll find Part 1 here.
Best Gateway Game
Jess: I Made You a Mixtape by Massive Asterik — I thought this game would be just a silly niche game. And while it doesn’t take itself seriously at all, there is a good game there for all abilities!
Rick: Echoes of Time by Cranio Creations — This tableau builder has great art and a simple rule set.
Saunsu: Quacks by CMYK — It’s perfect introduction to the gaming hobby.
Nathen: Santa’s Workshop by Elf Creek Games. The beginner version of the game is an ultra-lightweight worker placement game that can introduce anyone to that type of mechanic. And once you’re ready you can play the advanced rules which provides a solid worker placement experience.
Sarah: Panda Royale by Last Night Games — This dice-drafting game involves rolling colorful dice and occasionally stealing them from other people. It’s addictive and could easily entrance newcomers.
Best Cooperative Game
Rick: Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring by Z-Man Games —
Sarah: Spotlight by Horrible Guild Games — It’s just a great “Where’s Waldo?” type game for the whole family. It’s cooperative, but if that’s not your thing, you can make it competitive.
Kaleb: Beacon Patrol by Pandasaurus Games — Beacon Patrol is a cooperative and relaxing tile laying exploration game. Play as captains of the Coast Guard, navigating the coast of the North Sea.
Nathen: Tessaract by Smirk & Dagger Games. I love this game. It’s like Pandemic and Yahtzee had a sweet little baby. It’s challenging in all the right ways.
Jess: The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship from Z-Man Games — Pandemic gets a LotR makeover! Players control two Fellowship members each, so you have more player agency than traditional Pandemic versions. This game is thematic, it’s punishing, and it’s awesome. It’s no surprise it sold out everywhere so quickly.
Saunsu: Lord of the Rings Fate of the Fellowship by Z-Man Games — If I have to work cooperatively with others, this one packs the best team experience.
Best Expansion
Saunsu: Coffee Rush: Piece of Cake by Korea Board Games — It really added to the game and you can’t help but fall in love with the adorable mini cake components.
Jess: Fliptoons by Thunderworks Games — The Big Button mini expansion is an auto-add to every game we play. It helps undo the raw hand fate has dealt you.
Nathen: Tir Na Nog Beasts and Burdens by Grand Gamers Guild — This expansion for Tir Na Nog introduces a whopping 5 modifications that can be played independently or all together with the base game. It creates a much more complex environment for an otherwise straightforward drafting tableau builder.
Kaleb: Catan. More spaces, resources, and more fun!
Rick: Earth Abundance by Inside Up Games — This expansion adds some interesting changes to the game play with improved interactions and card churn.
Sarah: Citizens of the Spark play mat by Thunderworks Games — Does a play mat count? Because the play mat for Citizens of the Spark is EVERYTHING.
Best Table Presence
Jess: Tea Witches by The Op — I don’t think we’ve played this game yet and not had people stop and ask what we are playing while the ooh and aah.
Rick: Crafting the Cosmos by Office Dog — With the box bottom used as the game board and the funky star peg things, it looks nice on the tabletop.
Saunsu: Wonderland’s War by Druid City Games — Between the art on the box and the visual on the table, you cannot help but stop to look.
Nathen: Artistry: Jewelry Box Edition by Dux Somnium Games — This is just an absolutely stunning example of a premium version of a game. Every aspect of quality is cranked up to 11. It is as much an art object as the game itself references.
Sarah: Bloomchasers by Evan and Josh’s Very Special Games Company — Bloomchasers stands out for its 3D tree, on which players place flowers. The more players, the more colorful the tree. It’s delightfully eye-catching.
Best Box Cover
Saunsu: Orloj by Perro Loko Games — The box just catches the eye and you can’t help but want to open the box.
Kaleb: Flamecraft by Cardboard Alchemy — Being a little village of precious dragons sounds delightful! Gorgeous art!
Rick: Galactic Cruise by Kinsen Key Games — Again, I like this game, like, a lot.
Nathen: Origin Story by Stonemaier Games — I mean… did you see it? Done by Clémentine Campardou (aka Blue), her watercolor super heroes are simply sublime.
Jess: Tir na NOg by Grand Gamers Guild — Steeped in Celtic mythology and lore, this game couldn’t be more gorgeous if it tried!
Sarah: Tea Witches by The Op Games — I believe there exists a nerdy photo of me holding Tea Witches like a gleeful little goblin for a reason.
Best Feel Good Game
Jess: Pergola by Rebel Studio — You are creating a beautiful backyard oasis, complete with flowers, bugs, lanterns, and leaves. It is cozy and beautiful.
Nathen: Root RPG — The art style from Root lends itself well to cute animals beating up baddies in this unbearably adorable TTRPG.
Rick: A Place for All My Books by Smirk & Dagger Games — Having to recharge my social batteries appeals to the introvert in me.
Saunsu: Pergola by Rebel Studio — It’s just so cozy, fun, and relaxing.
Sarah: Evergreen by Horrible Guild — Drafting and planting trees into different little biomes made me feel good. Plus the trees are so cute!
Best Production Quality
Saunsu: Galactic Cruise by Kinson Key Games — From the box insert to the game itself, they nailed it 100%.
Jess: Galactic Cruise by Kinson Key Games — This game comes with a “Welcome Packet” complete with lanyard and name badge. There is so much well-thought out touches before you even start playing.
Nathen: Galactic Cruise by Kinson Key Games — I haven’t had a chance to set it up on a table yet, but holy moly does it look like Kinson Key Games took their sweet time making a quality board game with that one. Looking forward to actually getting a chance to play it!
Rick: Tend by IV Studio — IV Studio games always have great production, but the amount of stuff in this stuff is unreal.
Sarah: Artistry by Dux Somnium — Artistry’s name suits it. Every component feels crafted with care.
Best for Non-Gamers
Rick: Nanatoridori by Kids Table Board Games — This shedding card games is quick palette cleanser that easy to teach.
Nathen: Flip 7 — The Op — Seriously this is a game for just about anyone. It takes 3 seconds to learn and you’ll be laughing (and cursing) all night long.
Saunsu: Panda Royale by Last Light Games — It’s one that is easy to hand to people looking for something fun, but requires minimal knowledge of gaming to read the rules and play.
Jess: Book Club/Movie Night from AllPlay — I love this one as a restaurant or car-ride game. You are working together to come up with the book or movie that best fits the categories you’ve flipped over. This one is great for kids or adults too.
Sarah: Soda Jerk by AllPlay — Soda Jerk is a simple hand management game with pretty art, and it moves quickly. Perfect for your friends and family who have been dragged into yet another game with you.
Game that Grew On You
Rick: Chemical Overload by Rebirth Games — A deck building game where the new cards go to the top of your, yes sir’ee.
Jess: Tiletum by Board & Dice — I had heard this game was fun, but the art and name didn’t really catch my attention. When we did get it to the table, holy crap, that was awesome! Let’s play again! It blends most of the mechanisms that I love and I enjoyed every minute of it.
Saunsu: 3 Chapters by Amigo Games — I’m not a fan of trick-taking, but I really enjoyed the unusual concept utilized in this particular trick-taking game.
Nathen: Twinkle Twinkle by AllPlay — It’s a cute tile placing game with simple mechanics. Perfect for a lazy afternoon.
Sarah: Ruins by AllPlay — The first time I played, it was a two-player game. It’s way better with more people.
What are your games of 2025 in these categories?
