Brodaty’s TOP 10 board games of 2025
Which board game captivated you in 2025?
Brodaty’s TOP 10 board games of 2025
In terms of new releases, it was a bad year. So bad that I had a huge problem creating this list. Most of the titles I played over the last twelve months were just okay. These games didn’t stay in my memory for long, and I would like to forget most of them.
That’s why the ten titles I included in my ranking had to have that “something special” to make it here at all.
Let’s get started!
10. La Famiglia: The Great Mafia War
La Famiglia is full of explosions, dirty tricks, and exciting clashes where cunning and the ability to read your opponents’ intentions are what count. In addition, four people play in a 2 vs. 2 format, which means that this team war requires us to coordinate our movements and make joint plans. In terms of rules and micro-rules, it could be a little better, but everything is rewarded by the look on my rivals’ faces when I completely clear their territory and take away their ability to carry out orders. An unforgettable experience!
9. Monster Hunter World
I love games with large miniatures and I adore boss battlers. Primal: The Awakening is still my number one in this regard. However, Monster Hunter World is a great, lighter alternative to hunting huge plastic beasts. I love that at the beginning of the game, we have to track down the monster by reading successive paragraphs from a book. Later, there is a clash, which is a deadly dance in which we manage our stamina, trying not to be crushed by the massive bodies of the monsters. I am eagerly awaiting the delivery of Iceborne.
8. Great Western Trail New Zealand
This is the third part of the trilogy about transporting cloven-hoofed animals to their destination and another masterpiece by Pfister. This time, cows have been replaced by sheep, and trains have been replaced by boat trips. In this part, the deck-building possibilities have been expanded, and we are provided with a steady supply of cash thanks to shearing the sheep. I still don’t know which game in the series is the best, but I simply have a GREAT time playing each one!
7. Railway Boom
If someone had told me that I would enjoy playing an auction game, I would have laughed at them. However, Railway Boom is a game in which we expand a railway network and compete to perform actions before others by bidding for priority. What I like most is the mechanic of connecting train cars to deliver resources to our empire. Ian O’Toole himself is responsible for the visuals, and everything is presented in a minimalist, Asian style. I am a huge fan of trains, and thanks to this game, my obsession has entered new tracks.
6. Ahoy Rivals & Renegades / Fang & Fortune
These two expansions for Ahoy prove that you can enjoy simple gameplay that is greatly diversified by asymmetrical factions. These new sides to the conflict provide a breath of fresh air and make the game play completely differently depending on who you face in dangerous waters. It is still one of my favorite area control games, which also works great for two players.
5. Earth Under Siege Flashpoint
In terms of cooperation, it was a great year, and Earth Under Siege is one such title. It is a cooperative stealth game in which coordination of movements, planning of actions, and efficient traversal of alien outposts are what count. The game is very complex, but I love the number of options it offers and the fact that the scenarios are so diverse.
4. Cthulhu Death May Die Season 4
I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of Cthulhu: Death May Die. I love fighting the Elder Gods, the dark atmosphere, and the perfectly balanced difficulty level. The fourth season of this series brings new adventures, new enemies, and most importantly, Nyarlathotep himself. This arch-enemy is particularly close to my heart, as we lost the battle against his minions in the Masks of Nyarlathotep campaign for the Call of Cthulhu system. I want more expansions, because this is one of the best cooperative games out there. In Cthulhu: Death May Die, sanity is for the weak, and playing and dying gives me great joy!
3. Slay the Spire
Slay the Spire is a perfect example of how a computer game can be transferred to a board game, with the added bonus of cooperation between players. The game is simply outstanding, and just like the digital version, it completely drew me in. I love building my heroes’ decks and testing different builds with each attempt.
The first two places were very close, but for the purposes of this top list, I had to choose only one winner.
2. Arcs: The Blighted Reach
This expansion offers the same experience as the base game, but with the addition of personal objectives, a living and evolving world, and a strong asymmetry resulting from the choice of our destiny. Arcs: The Blighted Reach elevates this game to new heights of greatness and provided me with the best gaming experience of 2025. We completed the entire campaign in one day, and it was simply epic.
1. Warhammer Underworlds II Edition
This year, only one game reigned supreme on our table. Our return to the second edition of Warhammer Underworlds reignited our love for fast-paced miniature battles. As we have less and less time during the week, I was looking for a game that we could play in an hour, but which would also provide an intense and exciting experience. Underworlds is just that. We play, we have fun, we get annoyed at the dice rolls, and we’re already wondering which bands we’ll play next time. It’s my favorite game that captivated me in 2025.
