Welcome to my GOTY post for 2019.
The candidates for this were taken from the 35 new games I played in 2019.
These games were either brand new in 2019 or older games that were new to me.
Honourable mentions:
Tapestry – another stunning looking game from Stonemaier games that delivers a civilisation like game experience in about 2 hours. It’s turning out to be a bit of a marmite game. You either love it or hate it. I love it.
Hanamikoji – this is an amazing two player area control card game that plays so quickly. If you play a lot of two player games then this needs to be in your collection.
Via Nebula – pick up and deliver with route building. Definitely worth tracking down a copy.
Penny Lane – a fun light weight worker placement, engine building game from the designer of Mint Works.
My game of 2019 is…
I think it’s an amazing achievement for a game that came out at the start of the year to hold that spot all year. Along the way it has had numerous reprintings that keep selling out. Picked up many awards such as the prestigious Kennerspiel des Jahres. Been covered in mainstream press. To cap the year of success an expansion was released that too has been well received.
Designed by Elizabeth Hargrave and art by Natalia Rojas, Ana Maria Martinez Jaramillo, and Beth Sobel. This engine building game just knocks it out of the park.
As usual for Stonemaier the production values of the game are very high. The art for the birds is sublime and would not look out of place in one of the old Observer pocket guides. It’s that good.
The game has great table theatre, the bird feeder dice tower, the eggs, along with the stunning art just looks fantastic on the table, and attracts people to the table to see what you are playing.
Theme just shines through out the game, and makes a pleasant change from the usual almost tired themes of fantasy, sci-fi, and zombies that flood the market place.
A third party industry has sprouted up around the game allowing fans to pimp out their copies. That’s always a good sign for how popular a game is.
Such a worthy winner and totally deserves the success it has achieved.
As you might have read on my BGG Blog (Level Playing Field), Wingspan was easily my game of 2019, by a very long way. This year there was nothing that even came close to challenge it for the top spot.
However, Via Nebula was my second placed game; I’ve enjoyed my plays of it and I do want to pick up a copy of it at some point.
Although Hanamikoji was not in my lists, it does deserve the honourable mention that you’ve given it. A very nice, underated game indeed.
Black Sonata was my number 1 solo game; a fantastic way to do hidden movement and deduction in a solo game.
Finally, I must mention a game that does not appear on my blog post, as I only got it for Christmas. That game is Just One. You like Codenames? Well, here’s its replacement. This is simply a brilliant party type game that is great for groups up to 7 that is super easy to teach, is not rules heavy, makes sense and will get you thinking. This is my number 1 party game this year (and I’ve only had it 2 days!).
I knew we’d agree on this one. The next post we will deviate big time.
Gonna agree with you on this one. First time I played it I wasn’t convinced but a day later I was still thinking about the game. The second time we played the same thing happened. Still looking to pick up a copy for myself but not sure how it’ll go over with the family group. As per Jon’s comment, Just One is a brilliant game and it’ll be bought along to the next meet up.