Steve’s Top 100 Games of All Time: 41–50

We’ve reached the halfway point of my top 100 games list. Let’s check out the top half.

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Introduction

We have hit the halfway point for my top 100 list of games. In case this is your first visit, this list was formed using Pubmeeple, a ranking site that helped me compare and form the list. Today’s list has some brand new games that I’m looking forward to talking about. With that, let’s jump in.

50: Earth

Publisher: Inside Up Games

Designer: Maxime Tardiff

Previous Entries: Debuted last year at 43

Earth is a tableau building game. You’ll buy cards and play them into a four by four grid. On your turn you’ll choose a type of action and use that action’s ability, and all other players will get a lesser version of that ability. Then everyone will go through their tableau and will use it everywhere in their tableau that it appears. There are a lot of ways to score points in this game and it is a ton of fun trying different strategies. What makes the game really work is that it is always your turn. Because you get to take a lesser version of the current player’s action you’ll get to do that, and then you get to trigger cards in your tableau. You are always playing.

If you’d like a copy of this you can purchase it here.

49: Hot Streak

Publisher: CMYK

Designer: Jon Perry

Previous Entries: This game is debuting on the list this year.

Hot Streak is a betting game where you are going all in on a mascot race. You’ll play three races and each one is done with a small deck of cards. Each player will get three cards and a number of cards will be placed face up to show the makings of the rest of the deck. Each player will add a face down card to the deck. This gives each player a little information. You’ll then draft wagers, each player gets two. Then you start the race. You’ll shuffle the deck, remove the top three cards, and then flip them over one at a time. Cards will move the various mascots, they can move them forward, cause them to shift lanes, trip, turn around and run the wrong way, or recover and stand up and face the right direction. You keep cycling the deck until all the racers have either crossed the line or are eliminated for being run over or moved off the track. The game is wild and fast; I’ve had tons of fun with this and it is wildly funny. It’s also easily playable with younger kids making it a nice family game.

If you’d like a copy of this you can purchase it here.

48: A Touch of Evil: The Supernatural Game

Publisher: Flying Frog Games

Designer: Jason C Hill

Previous Entries: Debuted at 34 in 2023 and has slowly lowered since then.

A Touch of Evil is a game of colonial horror. The game comes with different monsters from that era like the Headless Horseman or the Scarecrow. You’ll need to search the area for clues, find equipment, and discover the monster’s lair in order to defeat it. The game can be played competitively or cooperatively; I prefer cooperative. It’s a type of horror that doesn’t get explored much and I like that. I think the rules play well and the different monsters are all unique challenges. It has a bit of camp to it, but not so much as to ruin the mood.

If you’d like a copy of this you can purchase it here.

47: Challengers!

Publisher: 1 More Time Games

Designer: Johannes Krenner and Markus Slawitscheck

Previous Entries: Debuted last year at 52

Challenger is a tournament style game of capture the flag. You start with a small deck and add cards each round. All matches are one on one with a card being used to keep track of who your opponents will be. The first player flips a card from their deck and takes control of the flag. The other player flips cards from their deck until they equal or exceed the strength of the card holding the flag. Then the card that tipped the match takes control of the flag and the first player begins trying to take back control of the flag. The round ends when one player has no cards left or they’ve filled the six seats on their bench with defeated cards. To be fair, I’ve only played this game on Board Game Arena but it’s still a ton of fun. There are two versions of the game, the original and Beach Challenge. Both play similarly but have different factions you use to make the pool of available cards.

If you’d like a copy of this you can purchase it here.

46: Rowdy Partners

Publisher: Capstone Games

Designer: Jason Hager and Darren Reckner

Previous Entries: New this year.

Rowdy Partners is a trick taking, tag team, wrestling game. Two players form a tag team go up against another team. One player from each team is in the ring and the other is on the apron. Players play cards, with the lowest card played of the lead suit wins the trick. The losing team’s wrestler that’s in the ring takes damage equal to the card played. Once a wrestler’s health is dropped to zero they are in danger of being pinned. When one wrestler is pinned their team loses. Each wrestler has a special ability that adds to what they can do during play as well as a heat track that builds over time and gives you tokens that can be spent for different bonuses. While the game is ostensibly a four player game, there are ways to play with two or three players; I prefer four but the others are still fun. This is one of the most thematic trick taking games I’ve ever played. If you have a passing familiarity with wrestling you’ll be able to get into the game and enjoy this on a deep level.

If you’d like a copy of this you can purchase it here.

45: Clank! A Deck Building Game

Publisher: Dire Wolf and Renegade Games Studio

Designer: Paul Dennen

Previous Entries: Clank! Legacy debuted in 2023 at 6 and has been slowly dropping.

Clank is a deck building dungeon crawler where you are delving into a dragon’s lair. Everyone starts with a deck of cards and on your turn you’ll play cards to move through the dungeon, buy new cards for your deck, and fight monsters. All of this is a race to be the first to reach one of the dragon’s artifacts and get it out of the dungeon. Some of the cards add Clank to the game, and these are added to a pool that will occasionally be drawn from when the dragon attacks. Once one player has escaped with an artifact the timer for the game begins and the end comes up quickly. I like deck building games and this one adds the dungeon crawl. Getting in and out first can be helpful, but you’ll get a less valuable artifact, stay too long and you’ll get taken out by the dragon. I’m including the versions of Clank that use a board. I started in Clank with the Legacy version, I still use it as the game works once it’s finished. Since I’d played through the campaign, I’ve played some of the others and really enjoyed them.

If you’d like a copy of this you can purchase it here.

44: Quacks

Publisher: CMYK

Designer: Wolfgang Warsch

Previous Entries: Debuted last year when I went from 50 to 100, appearing at 63.

Quacks is a bag building push your lusk game. You are playing apothecaries in the dark ages trying to make the best medicine. Your bag is filled with tokens representing different ingredients, each round you’ll draw ingredients from the bag using their various special abilities while trying to avoid the White Smoke Bombs. IF you ever get seven points of smoke bombs you mix boils over and you bust. you use points gained from your mixture to purchase more ingredients for your bag. I like the balance of planning and push your luck that this game brings. I also enjoy the various expansions that offer new mechanics and fun little bits to the game. I will also sing the praises of the deluxe version, while the standard retail is quite nice, the tiles in the deluxe are very nice.

If you’d like a copy of this you can purchase it here.

43: Tales of the Arabian Nights

Publisher: Z Man Games

Designer: Anthony J. Gallela, Eric Goldberg, Kevin Maroney, and Zev Shlasinger

Previous Entries: Debuted in 2022 at 15, has fallen as low as 86.

Tales of the Arabian Knights is a story telling game of exploration in the world of the 1001 Arabian Nights. The inspiration for Tales from the Arthurian Knights, they follow the same patterns and systems. You’ll travel around the board having encounters and trying to build up enough story points.This is one of those games where I don’t care if I win, I just love building a story and all of the insane combinations and fun interactions. There is so much fun playing this game and all of the things that happen when you play.

If you’d like a copy of this you can purchase it here.

42: DC/Marvel United

Publisher: CMoN and SpinMaster

Designer: Andrea Chiarvesio and Eric M Lang

Previous Entries: Debuted in 2023 at 11 and has dropped a bit since then.

The United games are welcoming cooperative games of superheroes. Each player gets a hero and their deck of cards. Each hero plays how you would expect them to. The rules are very straightforward and easy to learn. The heroes are fun to play and if you have a favorite there’s a better than average chance that they will be exactly what you expect. The villains all play distinctively and offer unique challenges. There are tons of expansions to pull from. Marvel is mostly out now with one DC expansion, however, more should be coming soon.

If you’d like a copy of this you can purchase it here.

41: Fliptoons

Publisher: Thunderworks Games

Designer: Jordy Adan and Renato Simoes

Previous Entries: Debuting this year

Fliptoons is a deckbuilding game where you are casting a cartoon series. Each card represents a character you’ll be using in your show. Each round you’ll flip cards from your deck into a three by two grid. Each character generates points, and once you’ve filled your grid you’ll determine your points and then use those to buy more cards. You can make two purchases, these can be to add cards to your deck or remove them. Once someone scores 35 points everyone will have one more round and the player who generates the most points in that last round wins.

If you’d like a copy of this you can purchase it here.

Outro

There you go, ten more games. Up next are a couple of party games, some good strategy, a couple new games, and an old favorite. What are some of your favorite games? Let us know in the comments.

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Until next time, stay safe and be well.