2017 was a year in which our community of tabletop game was blessed. From the tiles of Azul to the scenarios of Gloomhaven, 2017 offered us longstanding favourites. In this blog we’ll be counting down the top 5 games of that amazing year:
5. Clans of Caledonia
With a choice of 9 clans to choose from these highland themed game offers players a vast array of choices. From butter production to sea faring traders you really can be anything your heart desires. With asymmetric powers you and your opponents will be seeing who comes out on top of this mighty Euro.
Featuring a modular board with a general market and covering 5 rounds, Clans of Caldonia right in the heart of 19th centaury Scotland. With vast differences from game to game, players have long raved about the different clans. With a lack of luck within games, this one is for those who love to refine their tactics. With humble beginnings as a farmer over the course of game, you’ll be building an industrial empire!
Managing imports and exports as well as contracts (which are hard to come by) the winner will be the person who has played the best. No random luck or silly game breaking mechanics, it is a pure and simple engine builder. Player interactions are excellently integrated into Clans of Caldonia. Neighbouring bonuses and being the first to pass create numerous opportunities for outwitting others.
4. Azul
No board game collection is complete without Azul. Such is the impact and brilliance of the Portuguese tile-laying game. While simple to learn – and therefore the ultimate gateway game. Azul is still one of the most contested and competitive games. Additionally, you can now see Azul popping up in high streets and alongside the classics you played as a child.
Azul is brilliant with plastic pieces that feel oh so good to hold, shake, stack, and place. Azul now has many different additions to its roaster, including a dual version, which is the most recent iteration of the series.
I remember buying Azul from a local game store in-between the Christmas and New Year period. The joy of abstract game captivated our household, and nothing could dethrone this mighty game. It was our most played and spawned the many more additions to our collection.
Azul is loved by everyone that encounters it. It is a great hobbyist game, fantastic for friends who come for dinner. Azul is everyone’s game. A great production with even better gameplay. Exactly how a game should be.
3. Great Western Trail
Cowboys sojourning across the mid-west? Yes please! Heard cattle as you venture into the world of hand management and expanding boards. As you begin a game, the landscape is empty, untouched. But as you sell cattle and make a profit more business open for your benefit. The limitation of moving in a loop has made this game meaty and satisfying to solve.
Alexander Pfister has crafted a modern masterpiece. Great Western Trail has since spawned a 2021 update. With new artwork and alternative locations, he is indeed deemed one of the greats of this time. Logical and variety galore you’ll never play the same game twice! Great Western Trail has since added trains to further expand the world.
With a long-playing time, this game hasn’t deterred players over the years. In fact, Great Western Trail is a real thinker. With plenty of decisions and options, this game is expansive as it is deep in strategy. Little did the world know in those sleepy days in 2017 that a real masterpiece had been released, all about cows too.
2. Spirit Island
Drive away the colonizers of your untouched island. Spirit Island might seem like the opposite gameplay to Catan but in fact there is more here than meets the eye. In Spirit Island you are part of a magical island where forest spirits still hold sway. The conflict unfolds as invaders attempt to exploit your beautiful land, reminiscent of past colonial powers. Your task is to collaborate with the island’s inhabitants to destroy the invaders’ settlements and instil fear, forcing them to flee.
Spirit Island is a crunchy strategic game that demands hand management, area control and simultaneous turns. Each spirit offers unique cheering powers, allowing players to counter their opponents effectively. Each round begins with an invasion phase, where invaders arrive through a predictable deck. This predictability lets you anticipate their settlement construction and plan your attacks accordingly. Some powers may act sooner than others, while others occur after invaders’ actions, necessitating strategic planning. You must think critically about when to strike. As your presence grows and your game knowledge expands, you’ll earn tokens on the map, unlocking additional energy and abilities for your character.
1. Gloomhaven
A legacy game offers a unique experience where you and your friends create a personalised story over many sessions. Gloomhaven, a long-standing favourite on BoardGameGeek, transports you to a grimy fantasy world as mercenaries seeking payment.
The game’s scale is impressive: the 9 kg box contains 95 unique scenarios, forming a vast campaign. You’ll apply permanent stickers to the map, uncover secret envelopes and eventually retire your characters to unlock new ones.
Unlike traditional dice-rolling, Gloomhaven employs a brilliant dual-action card system. Each turn, you play two cards, pairing the “top” action of one (usually an attack) with the “bottom” action of the other (usually movement). Your hand also represents your life force; once your cards are depleted, your mercenary is out of the fight. Instead of relying solely on luck, you draw cards from a personal modifier deck that you “thin” and enhance as you level up. This meaty strategic masterpiece remains a titan of the hobby today.
Conclusion:
Whether you’re defending the shores of Spirit Island or navigating the shadows of Gloomhaven, you’re not just playing a game; you’re experiencing the pinnacle of a design revolution. This year demonstrated board games’ unparalleled potential as the ultimate medium for storytelling and strategy.
