2016 was 10 years ago as I write this in early 2026, but yet some of these games have remained as steadfast as any good friends should. From deck builders to a new dawn of dominos, we’ll be coating down the top 5 games from 2016!
5. Clank! A Deck-Building Adventure
Enter the fantasy world of Clank! Where the never-seen-before crossover of dungeon crawling and deck building made a treasure that would last. Games that have since been inspired by this classic include the Indiana Jones-themed Lost Ruins of Arnak. Where manging fear and fighting monsters is part of its story. Equally, the board game epic of the film Dune: Imperium has echoes of what Clank! started.
Clank! It remains a great foundation for a mechanic regardless of the theme. From space to time travel and even luck-based gameplay, it all began here. Dominion was a staple before this game’s adventurous elements took over. These original card-building mechanics now featured a board cubes and dragons!
There is now a legacy mode, underwater adventures, and Egyptian mummies to slay. But this Renegade Game Studios title is a classic for a reason. As you sneak past enemies, claim treasure as your own – each game offers its own story. In the end, you’ll die trying or return as the conqueror of lairs. Either way, keep the noise to a minimum and danger at bay!
4. Kingdomino
If you were to guess how old the game of dominoes is, what would you say? Perhaps 50, 60, or even 80 years? Well, think again because dominoes has been around for well over a century. Its randomised tiles and strategic gameplay have made it a joy for all ages. For a game that was to use this original design, it had to have the same impact. Great for kids and intriguing for adults.
This game was just so fantastic that in 2017, Kingdomino won the Spiel des Jahres, which is for the best game for families and children. Not bad for a hundred-year-old concept. At its heart, you’re a puzzler filling a 5x5 grid kingdom with tiles. Plus, mix in a little drafting, and you have an unknown strategic element to wrestle with.
From Kingdomino has come an app with animations of water, sand, and shore. Plus, the heavier and expansive Queendomino. Additionally, the mechanic of choosing first but placing last was popularised by Kingdomino. A gameplay element which we take for granted in many games across the field today. Kingdomino might be simple, but this kingdom has stood the test of time.
3. A Feast For Odin
Polyominos so tasty you could eat them! A Feast for Odin takes a mechanic from a designer famed for his simplistic Patchwork quilts. Blending worker placement made famous in his Agricola, there are more actions in this game than any other Euro rival.
The ultimate freedom discovery game, A Feast for Odin in its entity has never been copied. But the elements of building, farming, gathering, and working. You can be anything you want in A Feast for Odin with multiple paths to the highest scoring victory.
With the important Norwegians this game has stayed as a top 200 feature for many years. Played over seven rounds, you start with a negative score as you try to cover those spaces with food, goods, and luxuries. As you gain an additional Viking each round, this one really gathers momentum as the game draws closer to its ending. Plus, the upgrading of tiles into bigger and better points is a wonderful system of brilliance.
It is a rewarding and well-with while game. The teach is massive – just send new player the PDF. But it has and always will have players raising their glasses in gratitude.
2. Scythe
Two names you cannot live without in the gaming world is Jamey Stonemaier and his self-titled publishers. The alternative history hit Scythe has had players placed giants mechs in this area control game.
Scythe is more than your typical war game though; with beautiful painted art this game has story and design etched into its core. One of the top 100 games of BoardGameGeek, this game has swift turns and even swifter battles. Games scale well with up to five players present and many worlds and expansions to explore in 3 official add-ons to choose from to add to the core game.
The game’s popularity has spawned a children’s offshoot, standalone additions and even the option to paint and decorate its elaborate mechs. It seamlessly integrates all these elements. It’s not just abstract turns tacked onto a good mechanic; every action feels like fighting in a 1920s war zone. This is possibly one of the best games from Stonemaier’s copybook, considering the many options it really is a game that has many more years in the Top 100.
1. Terraforming Mars
Welcome to the mega corporations that are now in charge of mars. From placing water and forests, to playing epic card combos you’ll never have the same experience twice. Terraforming Mars is a heavy Euro that has since spawned many games that have been seen as copies or been influenced by this space epic.
Push you cubes in various elements to build and yield from your engine. At it’s hard Terraforming Mars is a card driven game. In classic style you’re in a race towards the end game being triggered. Games either speed along quickly or take a slower place, based on the starting cards chosen. Prelude is now considered standard alongside the main game deck for the diversity and interest it offers.
Advance those elements crucial to the plants’ habitability; it is a great game of mastery. While cards may seem random, as players improve, so does their vision for completion. Knowing the deck and the best cards for combos is as much of the game.
You can enjoy Terraforming Mars in so many forms, even beyond the board. It is an exceptional game with a high skill ceiling. Blending a fantastic theme with excellent mechanics.
Conclusion
Each of these titles represents a unique high point in board game design. They provide experiences that suit different moods, ranging from the light tile-laying of Kingdomino to the complex strategy of A Feast for Odin. If you want the story-driven tension of Scythe, the competitive deck-building speed of Clank!, or the captivating engine-building of Terraforming Mars, these games have earned their reputation as "modern classics."
They remain as fresh and engaging today as they did when they were first released. Together, they set a high standard for today’s hobby. They show that the best games are not just for playing; they are systems to explore, expand, and master over a lifetime.
