2025 was an interesting year for board games, impacted by a range of factors, including the tariffs that started in April, the shift in crowdfunding volume, and the continued contraction of the industry. That said, there were still some amazing games, and we’re excited to share our favorites from the year.
The nominees are:
Best Digital Implementation: Cascadia, Frosthaven, Kingdomino, BGArena: Concordia, Carson City
Best Family Game: Toy Battle, Hot Streak, Magical Athlete, A Place for All My Books, The Hobbit: There and Back Again, Flamecraft Duals
Best Strategy Game: Galactic Cruise, Star Trek: Captain’s Chair, Ayar: Children of the Sun, Emberheart, Critter Kitchen, Luthier, Molly House
Best Overlooked Gem: Wroth, Tax the Rich, Origin Story, Beyond the Horizon, Mesos
Best Crowdfunding Campaign: Sweet Lands, Raas: A Dance of Love, Obsession Rules Compendium, Victorian Big Box, and Playmat, Dogs of War, Cozy Cat Cafe
Best Cooperative Game: The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship, The Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Era, Arydia: The Paths We Dare Tread, Corps of Discovery: A Game Set in the World of Manifest Destiny
Best 2.0 Release: Finspan, Star Wars: Battle of Hoth, Star Trek: Captain’s Chair, Magical Athlete, Sanctuary, Railroad Tiles
Best Solo Game: Vantage, Star Trek: Captain’s Chair, The Anarchy, The Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Era, Unstoppable
Best Expansion: Lost Ruins of Arnak: Twisted Paths, SETI: Space Agencies, Sea Salt & Paper: Extra Pepper, Clans of Caledonia: Industria, Twilight Imperium: Thunder’s Edge
Game of the Year: Star Trek: Captain’s Chair, Ayar: Children of the Sun, The Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Era, The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship, Shackleton Base, Galactic Cruise, Toy Battle, Biome, Stupor Mundi
Listen to the full Awards Ceremony on Episode 560 of the podcast here or view the winners below:
Best Digital Implementation: Cascadia (Direwolf Digital)
Best Family Game: Flamecraft Duals (Cardboad Alchemy)
Best Strategy Game: Ayar: Children of the Sun (Osprey Games)
Best Overlooked Gem: Tax the Rich (Alion – by Dr Ø)
Best Kickstarter: Obsession Rules Compendium, Victorian Big Box, and Playmat (Kayenta Games)
Best Cooperative Game: Corps of Discovery: A Game Set in the World of Manifest Destiny (Off the Page Games)
Best 2.0 Release: Star Trek: Captain’s Chair (WizKids)
Best Solo Game: The Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Era (Chip Theory Games)
Best Expansion: SETI: Space Agencies (CGE)
Game of the Year: Star Trek: Captain’s Chair (WizKids)
