11 Best BGG Top Games Reviewed in 2025
Explore our bgg top list, featuring thrilling games like Wingspan and Gloomhaven, perfect for new players seeking adventure.
Hey there, fellow game enthusiasts! If you’re searching for the ultimate collection of board games, you’ve landed on the right square. In our quest to find the best bgg top games, we focused on strategy, fun factor, and the ability to make you lose track of time. We gathered our friends, rolled the dice, and played until we couldn’t tell the meeples from the pawns. These games stand out for their creativity, replayability, and the sheer joy they bring to the table. So, buckle up for a thrilling journey through our picks. Let the games begin!
On this list:
11 Wingspan
Wingspan tickles our feathers in the right way! Who knew birdwatching could be exciting? The game feels meditative like yoga for the brain, and you get to learn something new about our winged friends. Elizabeth Hargrave’s brilliance gives a nice balance of strategy and luck, much like deciding what to have for dinner. A must for nature lovers longing for a board game with a modern touch. The components are delightful, with eggs and bird cards you’ll want to steal for your own dioramas. Great for chill evenings with friends!
10 Gloomhaven
Gloomhaven is like a board game version of entering a cave full of wonders and a couple of questionable smells. It’s an epic journey, with people usually comparing it to a lengthy book series… but with less crying and more fun! This is perfect for adventurers who love strategy, teamwork, and making life-altering decisions based on dice rolls. You need friends who won’t flip the board when things go south. Because they will!
9 Terraforming Mars
If you ever wanted to play God with the Red Planet, this is the game for you! We get to build cities, increase oxygen, and unleash greenhouse gases… responsibly. Terraforming Mars is for strategic thinkers and science geeks who want to feel like they’re saving a planet. It’s complex, challenging, and moments of victory feel like winning a Nobel Prize. You’ll look at Mars differently after playing – like it’s not just a dusty ball in space, but a new home waiting for our questionable human touch.
8 Catan
Catan is like family gatherings – fun, unpredictable, and sometimes you wish you were adopted. It’s a gateway game that gets you hooked into board gaming, turning trade disputes into polite wishes for sheep. It’s easy enough for newbies to pick up, yet complex enough that strategies evolve every time you play. Get ready to become a diplomat, trader, and unwilling settler, all while trying not to flip the table when your best friend refuses to trade you wheat!
7 Azul
Azul is for those who find joy in symmetry and beauty. This game is a bit like refurbishing an old villa – rewarding, puzzling, and borderline addictive! It’s simple yet strikes the right chords with its tactile satisfaction. Each turn is important, making it a real brain-nudger. Get ready to feel like an artisan tiler, and wish your actual bathroom tiles were as stunning!
6 Pandemic
It’s ironic how fun saving the world from deadly diseases can be! Pandemic brings people together like a potluck – except with fewer chips and more strategy talks. It requires cooperation, less blame-gaming, and a lot of hope. The game challenges your ability to work in a team and plan ahead while sweating and praying the deck behaves. The level of satisfaction from securing a win is one for the books!
5 7 Wonders
Ever dreamt of being an ancient empire builder? 7 Wonders gives you that chance – with none of the plagues or backstabbing politics, thankfully. It’s quick with decisions to make, like choosing tacos over sushi on a good day. The game’s modularity ensures replayability and quick, engaging gameplay makes it a staple in any collection. Each session feels unique and leaves you hungry for more ancient greatness!
4 Carcassonne
Carcassonne is like a puzzle, but with a delightful twist of rivalry and strategy. It feels like laying down city plans while secretly hoping your friend’s cathedral doesn’t get finished. It’s a classic that fits many settings, be it a chill Saturday afternoon or a competitive game night. The modular board keeps things fresh and makes every game different, just like a box of chocolates, but more tile-y.
3 Scythe
Scythe is the board game equivalent of living in an alternate steampunk universe. It’s a strategic mix of combat, production, and resource management. Perfect for those who love complex games that offer a new experience each playthrough. It’s like chess got a mechanical upgrade and a lot more drama. The game’s sweeping narrative and fantastic artwork keep players coming back for more—a real mainstay in any collection.
2 Root
Root is an adorable game of woodland warfare and cute critters with a surprising depth of strategy. It’s like watching a Disney movie with darker undertones and the occasional laugh-out-loud moment. Every faction plays differently, adding layers of complexity and replayability. A whole new world that’s begging to be explored, much like a rabbit hole, the further you go, the more amazing it gets.
1 Twilight Imperium
Twilight Imperium is the apex of board gaming, especially for those who dream in 4X. Intrigue, political tension, and interstellar conquest await in this beast of a game. It’s legendary for its epic length, strategic depth, and unforgettable stories. This is the kind of game you need to plan a day for. It’s a space opera on a table, and for many, it’s the pinnacle of epic board gaming. Playing it leads to not just a game, but an experience shared with friends.
