Best Board Games Of The Decade | 2010 - 2020

Best Board Games of the decade 2010 – 2020 is a hard thing to say. So many board games are so many different things to so many different people who is to say what is better. Well us we guess, so we are going to try. Not only do we bring you the main event of best board games of the decade but best board games by year and best board games by genre. Regardless of what happens here, let us all agree that board games are amazing and the decade of the 2010s has produced some amazing titles. This is our complete guide to the best board games of the decade 2010 – 2020.

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BEST BOARD GAMES BY YEAR | BEST BOARD GAMES BY GENRE | TOP 10 GAMES OF THE DECADE

BEST BOARD GAMES OF THE DECADE – BEST BOARD GAMES BY YEAR

Not only has the decade of 2010 – 2020 (the 2010s) produced some amazing board games, but the individual years within that decade have been pretty ok themselves. We know this because each year we put together a list of the top 20 best board games of the year to celebrate what has been released. Below is a recap of each of those lists to get you warmed up for the main event of the best board games of the decade.

JUMP WITHIN SECTION:
2010 | 2011 | 2012| 2013| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | OR LEAVE SECTION | BEST BOARD GAMES BY GENRE | TOP 10 GAMES OF THE DECADE

Best Board Games By Year | 2010

5. Alien Frontiers
4. Runewars
3. Merchants & Marauders
2. Dominant Species
1. 7 Wonders

Full list and description: top 20 best board games of 2010

Best Board Games By Year | 2011

5. The Castles of Burgundy
4. King of Tokyo
3. Trajan
2. Mage Knight Board Game
1. Eclipse

Full list and description: top 20 best board games of 2011

Best Board Games By Year | 2012

5. Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game
4. Lords of Waterdeep
3. Android: Netrunner
2. Mice and Mystics
1. Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game

Full list and description: top 20 best board games of 2012

Best Board Games By Year | 2013

5. Russian Railroads
4. Forbidden Desert
3. Eldritch Horror
2. Caverna: The Cave Farmers
1. Concordia

Full list and description: top 20 best board games of 2013

Best Board Games By Year | 2014

5. Five Tribes
4. Splendor
3. Star Wars: Imperial Assault
2. Orléans
1. Dead of Winter: A Crossroads Game

Full list and description: top 20 best board games of 2014

Best Board Games By Year | 2015

5. Blood Rage
4. Mysterium
3. 7 Wonders Duel
2. Pandemic: Legacy
1. Codenames

Full list and description: top 20 best board games of 2015

Best Board Games By Year | 2016

5. Arkham Horror: The Card Game
4. Great Western Trail
3. Scythe
2. Star Wars: Rebellion
1. Terraforming Mars

Full list and description: top 20 best board games of 2016

Best Board Games By Year | 2017

5. Clans of Caledonia
4. Spirit Island
3. Twilight Imperium
2. Azul
1. Gloomhaven

Full list and description: top 20 best board games of 2017

Best Board Games By Year | 2018

5. Teotihuacan: City of Gods
4. The Mind
3. Rising Sun
2. Root
1. Brass: Birmingham

Full list and description: top 20 best board games of 2018

Best Board Games By Year | 2019

5. Detective: City of Angels
4. Hadara
3. Res Arcana
2. Horrified
1. Wingspan

Full list and description: top 20 best board games of 2019

JUMP WITHIN SECTION:
2010 | 2011 | 2012| 2013| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | OR LEAVE SECTION | BEST BOARD GAMES BY GENRE | TOP 10 GAMES OF THE DECADE

BEST BOARD GAMES OF THE DECADE – BEST BOARD GAMES BY GENRE

There are so many genres and sub-genres out there so coming up for the best board games by genre was only tough because of determining the main category and where everything fits. Regardless, the choice is clear. The winner and runner up of each best board game by genre category was the game that contributed the most to the betterment of that genre.

Best Board Games By Genre | Engine Building

WINNER: Terraforming Mars

RUNNER UP: Wingspan

Best Board Games By Genre | Territory Control

WINNER: King of Tokyo

RUNNER UP: Blood Rage

Best Board Games By Genre | Worker Placement

WINNER: A Feast For Odin

RUNNER UP: Lords of Waterdeep

Best Board Games By Genre | Deck Building

WINNER: Aeon’s End

RUNNER UP: Clank!

Best Board Games By Genre | Drafting

WINNER: 7 Wonders

RUNNER UP: Sushi Go Party!

Best Board Games By Genre | Roll-N-Write

WINNER: Harvest Dice

RUNNER UP: Welcome To

Best Board Games By Genre | Dungeon Crawler

WINNER: Gloomhaven

RUNNER UP: Star Wars: Imperial Assault

Best Board Games By Genre | Party

WINNER: Codenames

RUNNER UP: Secret Hitler

Best Board Games By Genre | Casual

WINNER: Dragon Castle

RUNNER UP: Onitama

BEST BOARD GAMES OF THE DECADE – TOP 10 OVERALL

Choosing the top ten best board games of the decade 2010 – 2020 was not easy but the more research and thinking that was done, it was clear that a shortlist of very iconic and well-made board games would emerge and that is exactly what happened. This is our definitive list of the best board games of the decade 2010 – 2020.

#10 | Gloomhaven

The number ten spot on the list of the best board games goes to Gloomhaven. Released in 2017, Gloomhaven is a game of Euro-inspired tactical combat in a persistent world of shifting motives. Players will take on the role of a wandering adventurer with their own special set of skills and their own reasons for traveling to this dark corner of the world. Players must work together out of necessity to clear out menacing dungeons and forgotten ruins. This massive campaigner is 1 – 4 with games taking 1 – 2 hours.

FOR MORE: Gloomhaven Page | Games Like Gloomhaven | Buy Gloomhaven on Amazon

#09 | Azul

The number eight spot on the list of best board games of the decade goes to the puzzle strategy award winner Azul. Released in 2017, players take turns drafting colored tiles from suppliers to their player board. Later in the round, players score points based on how they’ve placed their tiles to decorate the palace. Extra points are scored for specific patterns and completing sets; wasted supplies harm the player’s score. This puzzle strategy game is for 2 – 4 players and will run about 40 minutes.

FOR MORE: Azul Page | How To Play Azul | Azul Review | Games Like Azul | Buy Azul on Amazon

#08 | Splendor

The number eight spot on the list of the best board games of the decade goes to lightweight engine builder Splendor. Released in 2014, Splendor is a game of chip-collecting and card development. Players are merchants of the Renaissance trying to buy gem mines, means of transportation, shops—all in order to acquire the most prestige points. With only a few action options per turn, the gameplay is easy but mastering a strategy is nearly impossible. This strategy game is for 2 – 4 players and lasts a quick 25 minutes.

FOR MORE: Splendor Page | How To Play Splendor | Splendor Review | Games Like Splendor | Buy Splendor on Amazon

#07 | Eclipse

The number seven spot on the list of the best board games of the decade goes to epic space odyssey Eclipse. Released in 2011, A game of Eclipse places you in control of a vast interstellar civilization, competing for success with its rivals. You will explore new star systems, research technologies, and build spaceships with which to wage war. There are many potential paths to victory, so you need to plan your strategy according to the strengths and weaknesses of your species while keeping an eye on opponents. For 2 – 6 players for games lasting 1 – 3 hours.

FOR MORE: Eclipse Page | Games Like Eclipse | Buy Eclipse on Amazon

#06 | Brass: Birmingham

The number six spot on the list of best board games of the decade goes to industrial tycoon strategy game Brass Birmingham. Released in 2018, Brass: Birmingham is an economic strategy game sequel to Martin Wallace’s 2007 masterpiece, Brass. Birmingham tells the story of competing entrepreneurs in Birmingham during the industrial revolution, between the years of 1770-1870. As in its predecessor, you must develop, build, and establish your industries and network, in an effort to exploit low or high market demands.

FOR MORE: Games Like Brass Birmingham | Buy Brass Birmingham on Amazon

#05 | Star Wars: Rebellion

The number five spot on the list of best board games of the decade goes to the deep strategy game Star Wars: Rebellion. We thought there was room for only one Star Wars game on this list. It was a tough choice, but Rebellion squeaked away with the win. Released in 2016, experience the Galactic Civil War like never before. In Rebellion, you control the entire Galactic Empire or the fledgling Rebel Alliance. You must command starships, account for troop movements, and rally systems to your cause. Given the differences between the Empire and Rebel Alliance, each side has different win conditions, and you’ll need to adjust your play style depending on who your side with. This miniatures wargame is for 2 – 4 players and will go about 3 – 4 hours.

FOR MORE: Games Like Star Wars Rebellion | Buy Star Wars Rebellion on Amazon

#04 | Wingspan

The number four spot on the list of the best board games of the decade goes to robust engine builder and bird game Wingspan. Released in 2019, this award-winning game is a competitive, medium-weight, card-driven, engine-building board game from Stonemaier Games. You are bird enthusiasts—researchers, bird watchers, ornithologists, and collectors—seeking to discover and attract the best birds to your network of wildlife preserves. Each bird extends a chain of powerful combinations in one of your habitats (actions). These habitats focus on several key aspects of growth. For 1 – 5 players, games last about 40 – 70 minutes.

FOR MORE: Wingspan Page | How To Play Wingspan | Wingspan Review | Games Like Wingspan | Wingspan Review | Buy Wingspan on Amazon

#03 | 7 Wonders

The number three spot on the list of best board games of the decades goes to the drafting civilization builder 7 Wonders. Released in 2010, You are the boss of one of the 7 great wonders of the Ancient World. Gather resources, develop commercial routes, and affirm your military supremacy. Build your city and erect an architectural wonder which will transcend future times. Each age draft cards with other players to build structures to get to better victory points. This strategy game is for 2 – 7 players and games will last about 30 minutes.

FOR MORE: 7 Wonders Page | How To Play 7 Wonders | 7 Wonders Review | Games Like 7 Wonders | Buy 7 Wonders on Amazon

#02 | Codenames

The runner up spot on the list of the best board games of the decade goes to the amazing party and communication game codenames. Released in 2015, the game is about two rival spymasters know the secret identities of 25 agents. Their teammates know the agents only by their CODENAMES. For the game, two teams compete to see who can make contact with all of their agents first. Spymasters give one-word clues that can point to multiple words on the board. Their teammates try to guess words of the right color while avoiding those that belong to the opposing team. This epic party game is for 4 – 12 players and will last about 15 minutes.

FOR MORE: Codenames Page | How to Play Codenames Pictures | Codenames Pictures Review | Games Like Codenames | Buy Codenames on Amazon

#01 | Terraforming Mars

The top spot on the list of the best board games of the decade 2010 – 2020 goes to the amazing and intense engine builder Terraforming Mars. Released in 2016, it is the 2400s and mankind begins to terraform the planet Mars. Giant corporations, initiate huge projects to make the environment is habitable. You play one of those corporations and work together in the terraforming process, but compete for getting victory points that are awarded not only for your contribution to the terraforming but also for advancing human infrastructure. For 1 – 5 players, games last about 2 hours.

FOR MORE: Terraforming Mars Page | How To Play Terraforming Mars | Terraforming Mars Review | Games Like Terraforming Mars | Buy Terraforming Mars on Amazon

…AND THAT’S IT.