Dear game lovers, The new top 50 has been put online. The game database, which I maintain since mid 2002, contains 3623 games (many new games thanks to the fare in Essen). A game can only be taken into account if it has at least 3 ratings. The ratings come from 27 internet sources: The websources A game can only be taken into account if it has at least 3 ratings. The ratings come from the following 27 internet sources: Internet Top 100, Board Game Geek (USA), Spielphase, Siegpunkt, Ausgepackt, Holgs Spieleteufel, Games we Play, Spielbox, Spieletreff, Hall9000, Spielonaut, Westpark, Michas Spiel, Spiele-Truhe, Boardgame, Goodgameguide (GER), Spieletest (AUS), Spellengek & Spel a/d Maas, Hieke's Anderspel (NL) Jeux2Rody, Ludo le Gars, Ludigaume, Moissy Cramayel (FRA), La Tana dei Goblin (ITA) Vlaams Spellenarchief, Speelduivel, My personal ratings (BEL) One new source: "the goodgameguide website": http://www.goodgameguide.de/ This amounts to exactly 1683 games with 3 or more ratings. The top 50 doesn't contain expansions anymore as you cannot play those games without the basic game. That's why "Die Siedler von Catan: Die Städte und Ritter /Steden en Ridders" dropped out of the top 5. San Juan is number 3, after Puerto Rico (number 1) and Euphrat & Tigris (number 2) Two new games in the top 50: Caylus and Oltremare. One re-entry: Zicke Zacke Hühnerkacke (Jakkiebak! Kippenkak!).16. Caylus (2005): Very good new game for 2-5 players (published by Ystari Games). This game gets very good reviews and could be considered as a potential new number 1.
47. Oltremare (2004): Published by 'Mind the Move' in 2004 but now republished by Amigo. This nautical trading game can be played with 2-5 players
| Position | Last position | Game | Publisher | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Puerto Rico | Alea | 2002 |
| 2 | 2 | Euphrat & Tigris | Hans im Glück | 1997 |
| 3 | 6 | San Juan/ Puerto Rico Kartenspiel | Alea | 2004 |
| 4 | 3 | Die Fürsten von Florenz | Alea | 2000 |
| 5 | 4 | Yinsh | Don & Co | 2003 |
| 6 | 7 | El Grande | Hans im Glück | 1995 |
| 7 | 8 | Die Siedler von Catan | Kosmos | 1995 |
Good expansions: Die Städte & Ritter (Steden en Ridders) - Seefahrer (Zeevaarders) - Das Buch zum spielen | ||||
| 8 | 9 | Der Herr der Ringe: Der Ringkrieg/ War of the Ring | Phalanx Games, Fantasy Flight Games | 2004 |
| 9 | 10 | Die Siedler von Catan: Card game + expansions | Kosmos | 1996 |
| 10 | 14 | Keythedral | R & D-Games, Pro Ludo | 2002 |
| 11 | 11 | Torres | FX Games/ Ravensburger | 1999 |
| 12 | 12 | Medina | Hans im Glück | 2001 |
| 13 | 13 | Java | Ravensburger | 2000 |
| 14 | 16 | Funkenschlag/ Power Grid | 2F- Spiele | 2001 |
| 15 | 17 | Goa | Hans im Glück | 2004 |
| 16 |  |
Caylus | Ystari Games | 2005 |
| 17 | 18 | Blokus | Sekkoia | 2000 |
| 18 | 21 | Ohne Furcht und Adel/ Machiavelli/ Citadels | Hans Im Glück | 2000 |
|
Good expansion: Die Dunklen Lande/ The Dark City/ Donkere landen | ||||
| 19 | 19 | Rush Hour | Binary Arts | 1996 |
| 20 | 15 | Louis XIV - Ränkespiele am Hofe des Sonnenkönigs | Alea | 2004 |
| 21 | 22 | Löwenherz | Goldsieber/ Kosmos | 1997 |
| 22 | 20 | Magic the Gathering/ Magic die Zusammenkunft | Amigo/ WOTC | 1990 |
| 23 | 23 | Raja: Palastbau in Indien/ Maharadja | Phalanx Games | 2004 |
| 24 | 26 | Die Händler von Genua | Alea | 2001 |
| 25 | 25 | Serenissima /Méditerranée | Descartes | 1996 |
| 26 | 37 | Carcassonne | Hans im Glück | 2000 |
|
Good expansion: Händler und Baumeister/ Builders and Traders/ Kooplieden en Bouwmeesters | ||||
| 27 | 28 | Schatten über Camelot/ Shadows over Camelot | Days of Wonder | 2005 |
| 28 | 27 | Go | 3M, Ishi, ... | 1973 |
| 29 | 39 | Age of Steam | Warfrog/Winsome Games | 2002 |
| 30 | 32 | Sankt Petersburg | Hans im Glück | 2004 |
| 31 | 31 | Ursuppe | Doris & Frank | 1997 |
| 32 | 29 | Tikal | Ravensburger | 1999 |
| 33 | 47 | Die Werwölfe von Düsterwald/ De weerwolven van Wakkerdam | Asmodée/ 999 Games | 2002 |
| 34 | 33 | Die Macher | Hans im Glück, Moskito | 1997 |
| 35 | 35 | Tadsch Mahal | Alea | 2000 |
| 36 | RE |
Zicke Zacke Hühnerkacke/ Jakkiebak! Kippenkak! | Zoch | 1998 |
| 37 | 34 | Middle Earth: the Wizards | Iron Crown Enterprises/ Queen Games | 1995 |
| 38 | 36 | Roads and Boats | Splotter Spellen | 1999 |
| 39 | 30 | Santiago | Amigo | 2003 |
| 40 | 38 | Einfach Genial/ Genius | Kosmos | 2004 |
| 41 | 40 | Junta | Descartes, West End Games | 1985 |
| 42 | 43 | Das Zepter von Zavandor | Lookout Games | 2004 |
| 43 | 42 | Rumis | Murmel | 2002 |
| 44 | 44 | Lauras Sternenspiel | Amigo | 2002 |
| 45 | 45 | La Citta | Kosmos | 2000 |
| 46 | 46 | Obstgärtchen/ Boomgaardje | Haba | 2004 |
| 47 | |
Oltremare - Merchants of Venice | Mind the Move, Amigo | 2004 |
| 48 | 50 | Dvonn | Don & Co/ Rio Grande Games | 2001 |
| 49 | 49 | Civilization | Avalon Hill | 1986 |
| 50 | 48 | Diplomacy | Jumbo, Avalon Hill | 1956 |
| Position | Last position | Game | Publisher | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expansion | 5 | Die Siedler von Catan: Die Städte und Ritter /Steden en Ridders | Kosmos | 1998 |
| Expansion | 24 | Die Siedler von Catan: Die Seefahrer | Kosmos | 1997 |
| Expansion | 41 | Machiavelli: Die Dunklen Lande | Hans im Glück | 2004 |
Extra 1: Most popular game: Carcassonne The most popular game on the web is Carcassonne, which won the 'Spiel des Jahres' and the 'Deutscher Spielepreis' in 2001. The list with the most popular games can be found below:
| Most popular Games | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Game | Publisher | # ratings |
| 1 | Carcassonne | Hans im Glueck | 27 |
| 2 | Machiavelli/ Ohne Furcht und Adel/ Citadelles | Hans im Glueck | 26 |
| 3 | Piratenbucht/ La crique des pirates, Pirate's Cove | Amigo, Days of Wonder | 26 |
| 4 | Alhambra | Queen Games | 26 |
| 5 | Puerto Rico | Alea | 25 |
| 6 | La Citta | Kosmos | 25 |
| 7 | Loewenherz / Domaine | Goldsieber, Kosmos | 25 |
| 8 | Carcassonne: Die Burg/ The Castle | Hans im Glueck | 24 |
| 9 | Babel | Kosmos | 24 |
| 10 | Sankt Petersburg | Hans im Glueck | 24 |
| 11 | Tikal | Ravensburger | 24 |
| 12 | Cartagena | Winning Moves, Tilsit | 24 |
Extra 2: Best new games compared to last mailing: The best new game this month is Caylus, which also entered in the top 50. Second best game from the Essen fare (with > 3 ratings) is AntikeUnderneath a list of some good children games on the market.133. Antike: Strategy game for 2-6 players, published by Eggert-Spiele. 1. Caylus (Ystari Games, 2005) new on position 17 2. Leinen Los! (Haba, 1996) new on position 95 3. Trio (Ravensburger, 1974) new on position 113 4. Antike (Eggert-Spiele, 2005) new on position 133 5. Friedrich (Histogame, 2004) new on position 146 6. Pünct (Don & Co, 2005) new on position 148 7. Elasund - Die erste Stadt auf Catan (Kosmos, 2005) new on position 173 8. Rätselturm/ Rateturm (FX Schmid/Amigo, 1992) new on position 196 9. Mesopotamien (Phalanx Games, 2005) new on position 234 10. Die Dolmengötter (Eggert Spiele, 2005) new on position 248
1. Obstgärtchen (1-4 players, 15 minutes, based upon memory)
2. Zicke Zacke Hühnerkacke (2-4 players, 20 minutes, based upon memory; theme: Farming)
NL: Jakkiebak Kippekak
UK: Chicken Cha Cha Cha
3. Akaba (2-4 players, 20 minutes, Action/Dexterity)
4. Mago Magino (2-5 players, 10 minutes, Dice/ Roll and move mechanics)
5. Froschkönig (2-4 players, 20 minutes, Action/Dexterity)
6. Venga-Venga! (2-4 spelers, 15 minutes)
7. Viva Topo! (2-4 players, 20 minutes, Roll and move mechanic)
8. Höchst Verdächtig (2-4 players, 20 minutes, Puzzle alike)
UK: Highly Suspect
9. Klondike (2-4 players, 20 minutes, based upon bluffing and action/dexterity)
10. Zapp Zerapp (2-4 players, 30 minutes, racing game)