It’s crazy to think that we are already halfway through 2023 and there have been a lot of great new games our family has played this year. So before the second half of the year gets away from us (seriously, where is this year going?!) we want to highlight some of the stand out board games that have hit the table! We’ll see if come December we still consider these some of the best!
So without further ado and in no particular order:
Earth
By far the biggest stand out yet this year. Earth is a beautiful, crunchy cozy game perfect for fans of games like Everdell and Wingspan.
Star Wars Deck Building Game
This one was a surprise hit! A great two player game for date night. No need to be a Star Wars fan (though, lets be honest, it’ll help) the game play is really interesting with a fun back and forth battle vibe throughout the whole experience.
Spots
We’ve been singing Spots’ praises on Instagram for weeks now and based on the DMs we’ve been getting, we’re not alone in loving it! For nights when you just want to throw dice and push your luck, Spots is for you! It’s the kind of game you can play with anyone and have a blast!
My City Roll and Build
I love how you can choose to play through the campaign and enjoy the whole My City experience or easily just grab your favorite episode, roll the dice and get playing! It’s been a fun, chill game our family can enjoy together.
Busy Beaks
I’m super excited by all the games released by Joey Games this year. All three games were excellent with Busy Beaks perched at the top. We loved the gorgeous art and clever set collection goodness!
That’s Pretty Clever: Kids
The kids version of the adult favorite, we love how it captures the essence of the game it’s based on while remaining accessible for kids. Everyone always feels like they can do something special on their turn and there are lots of thoughtful choices for kids to mull over.
Nimalia
If you’re looking for a fun, travel friendly game, Nimalia is it! This comes in a cutie square box that inside holds a super fun, highly replayable game! Fun for kids and adults alike!
Challengers!
For a big group, Challengers is a stand out! Quickly play up to 8 in head to head battles all in 30 minutes. Super clever, super fun!
In the Footsteps of Darwin
I was drawn in by the beautiful watercolor illustrations, stayed for the family friendly game play, and really appreciated the effort put into providing educational content for players to explore.
Sheep Hop
Sheep Hop may be for kids, but don’t let that fool you, it’s surprisingly tricky! I love how players have to logically think through their choices and choose when to push their luck to save as many sheep as possible. It’s addicting!
Rattus Big Box
A great family weight strategy game. We love the quick turns, shifting player powers, and that the Big Box comes with several expansions and modules which gives a bunch of variety to enjoy! The spice of life, friends!
Bad Company
The best “I roll, everyone gets stuff” game we’ve played! We loved the excellent combination of theme and mechanics. It’s easy to learn, quick to play, and great for young or old!
See Bad Company here on Instagram!
Vivarium
Drafting and set collection goodness! We really enjoy the domino coordinate drafting and the fun creature designs. It’s been a great fit for a 30 minute or so family game in the evenings.
Miller Zoo
We’ve gotten an early look at Miller Zoo prior to it’s July release and just HAD to include it on this list. This is our new number one recommendation for campaign games for kids and families. You’ve been dethroned Zombie Kidz!
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