This article discusses the best board games of 2015. Board games have been around for several centuries, and it has continued to be a popular form of entertainment today.
Whether you’re a casual player or a serious gamer, there’s always a new board game to discover and enjoy.
In 2015, a number of excellent board games were released that captured the attention of players worldwide.
In this article, we’ll be taking a closer look at some of the best board games of 2015. From strategy games to party games, there’s something for everyone on this list.
Whether you’re looking for a game to play with friends and family or you’re looking for a new challenge to test your skills, these games are sure to provide hours of fun and entertainment.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into the world of board games and discover the best games of 2015!
1. Pandemic Legacy: Season 1
Pandemic Legacy: Season 1 is a cooperative game where players work together to stop the spread of deadly diseases worldwide.
This game is unique in that it is played throughout multiple sessions, with each session having a lasting impact on the game’s world and mechanics.
The decisions players make in one session can affect the outcome of future sessions, making each playthrough a unique experience.
Also, Pandemic Legacy: Season 1 was widely praised for its engaging gameplay and innovative mechanics, and it continues to be a popular game among casual and serious gamers.
2. Blood Rage
Blood Rage puts you in control of Viking warriors engaged in a conquest-focused battle amid Ragnarok, the world’s end. The game is large, gorgeous, and full of interesting strategic options.
The game’s primary objectives are area control and combat against your fellow players, who each have access to an exquisite variety of miniatures, including some enormous monsters that can drastically alter the course of the war.
Despite its complexity and interesting options, games like Blood Rage can be played in only a few short sessions.
Viking warfare has many recurring themes, including warriors who ascend to Valhalla and even various gods to worship, which can influence your strategy during any gaming session.
Furthermore, Blood Rage, which is highly replayable, should appease any group looking for this year’s best map-based combat game with some entertaining side-quests. Blood Rage is one of the best board games of 2015.
3. Codenames
Codenames is a party game that challenges players to guess words based on one-word clues from their teammates.
You will play the game in teams, each trying to uncover their secret agents while avoiding the opposing team’s agents.
In addition, Codenames are easy to learn and quick to play, making them popular for parties and gatherings. It was widely praised for its clever gameplay and high replayability.
4. Darkness Comes Rattling
Darkness Comes Rattling is a cooperative adventure board game that plays well for medium-length game sessions.
It also offers clever gameplay and potent thematic elements and is infused with the feel of ancient mythologies from humanity’s earliest days.
You and your friends command warriors from the Tribes of Man to thwart Darkness, the great serpent seeking to devour the sun completely.
The game begins as you prepare for your encounter with the enormous serpent.
Still, halfway through your journey, the strongest hero must venture into the Darkness to engage in combat while the other players fend off the shadow creatures that threaten victory; this second phase adds tension to the game’s second half.
Moreover, the new game from Wyrd excels at storytelling, incorporating excellent descriptive text and a distinct tribal aesthetic from other recent releases.
Also, everything about the game is beautiful, from the board’s elliptical shape to the vibrant cards.
Furthermore, as Darkness Comes Rattling progresses, the difficulty and devastation increase, giving the players the impression that they are facing an impossible task.
Darkness Comes Rattling is a fantastic option for seasoned groups looking for a change of pace because it is challenging, tense, and flavorful. Darkness comes rattling and is one of the best board games of 2015.
5. Colt Express
Colt Express, one of the best board games of 2015, is a family-friendly game that recreates the chaos of a Wild West train robbery.
Players take on the roles of bandits trying to rob a train, with each turn representing a different stage of the robbery.
In addition, the game features 3D cardboard trains and characters and a fun, easy-to-learn gameplay system.
Also, critics praise Colt Express for its unique theme and engaging gameplay, and it remains a popular choice for family game nights.
6. Time Stories
Time Stories is a cooperative game that takes players on a time-traveling adventure.
Players take on the roles of time-traveling agents, sent back in time to prevent a catastrophic event from occurring.
The game features a unique “decksploration” mechanic, where players explore different locations through a series of decks, each representing a different time and place.
Furthermore, time Stories was praised for its engaging story and immersive gameplay, and it remains a popular choice for gamers looking for a unique and challenging cooperative experience.
7. Mysterium
Mysterium, one of the best board games of 2015, is a cooperative game where players work together to solve a murder mystery.
One player takes on the role of a ghost, communicating with the other players through visions and clues to help them solve the mystery.
In addition, the game features beautiful artwork and a unique gameplay system that blends deduction and storytelling.
Also, they praise Mysterium for its immersive gameplay and innovative mechanics, and it continues to be a popular game among fans of cooperative games.
8. Portal: The Uncooperative Cake Acquisition Game
You and your friends are prepared to face the deadly traps and hazards along a conveyor belt of death because testing at Aperture Laboratories has resumed.
The evocative elements, which include plastic cake slices, a lovable companion cube, and a polite but lethal laser turret, contribute to the competitive gameplay’s simplicity but great fun.
The game board has a scrolling mechanism that slowly rotates out game tiles from one end of the conveyor belt as new tiles come in on the other side, frequently ending in the grisly demise of one or more of your test subjects.
The player with the most cake slices wins once everyone has lost their test subjects.
Furthermore, Portal boasts that many Valve employees contributed to its development despite being published by Cryptozoic.
The board game Portal does a fantastic job of capturing the humor and tone of the video game, and it shows.
This one is a lot of fun, but players who haven’t played the original digital version may find the humor off-putting. Portal is one of the best board games of 2015.
9. Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King
Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King is a strategic game where players compete to become the king of the Scottish island of Skye.
Players build and manage their territories, making strategic decisions about where to place tiles and how to allocate resources.
Also, the game features a unique scoring system that rewards players for completing various objectives and a fun and engaging gameplay system.
Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King was praised for its deep and challenging gameplay, beautiful artwork, and high replayability.
10. 7 Wonders Duel
7 Wonders Duel is a two-player game that offers a condensed version of the popular 7 Wonders game. Players compete to build a civilization by drafting cards and building structures.
The game features a unique “pyramid” structure, where players must strategically choose which cards to reveal and which to keep hidden from their opponent.
Furthermore, gamers praise 7 Wonders Duel for its deep and engaging gameplay and ability to capture the essence of the original game in a two-player format. 7 Wonders Duel is one of the best board games of 2015.
11. Star Wars: Armada
The highly expandable Armada might be the perfect solution if you’re currently suffering from an extreme Star Wars fever.
Armada challenges two players to take control of capital ships as they collide in enormous strategic space battles, riffing off the excellent formula established by the previous miniatures game, X-Wing.
Swarms of small fighter aircraft zip across the playing field as opposing fleets move like heavy, destructive machines of war, which is exactly how they should feel.
In Armada, players secretly decide where their ships will move during the next turn, simulating the constant guesswork of two opposing commanders trying to outwit the other.
However, Beware that adding more minis to your fleet can get pricey because they are highly collectible.
Although Armada offers a more involved and complex strategy experience than its cousin game, it still maintains that distinct Star Wars tone. Armada does exactly what it should.
12. The Grizzled
The Grizzled is a cooperative game that takes place during World War I.
Players take on the roles of soldiers trying to survive the horrors of war while dealing with the psychological toll of their experiences.
The game features beautiful artwork and a unique gameplay system for cooperation and communication.
Furthermore, reviewers praise The Grizzled for its emotional impact and innovative mechanics, and it remains a popular game among fans of cooperative games. The Grizzled is one of the best board games of 2015.
13. Timeline Challenge
The fact that the Timeline card games teach history makes them subpar.
They’re great because the game is so entertaining that you don’t even realize you’re learning.
Although Timeline Challenge is compatible with the many different Timeline card packs published over the years, it also introduces several new gameplay elements.
Players move along a board by correctly predicting the dates of specific historical events, and each challenge presents a different take on the theme. Knowing what era an event occurred in can be helpful in some cases.
It is necessary to make an educated guess about how far apart two historical events occurred.
Even among adults who believe they are historical experts, Timeline Challenge is surprisingly fun for families.
As you add more card packs to this board game, the fun grows exponentially, but the base game has plenty to get you started.
14. T.I.M.E. Stories: A Prophecy of Dragons
T.I.M.E. Stories: A Prophecy of Dragons expands the popular T.I.M.E. Stories game.
The expansion takes players on a new time-traveling adventure, where they must prevent a dragon from destroying the world.
The game features new characters, locations, gameplay mechanics, and a new story that builds on the world established in the base game.
Also, T.I.M.E. Stories: A Prophecy of Dragons was praised for its engaging story and innovative mechanics, and it continues to be a popular expansion among fans of the base game. T.I.M.E is one of the best board games of 2015.
15. Above and Below
Above and Below is a storytelling game that blends worker placement and exploration mechanics.
Players build a village and send their villagers on expeditions to explore the world below their village.
The game features a unique narrative system where players read a storybook to determine the outcome of their actions.
Also, Above and Below was praised for its immersive storytelling and innovative gameplay mechanics, and it remains a popular game among fans of narrative-driven games.
16. XCOM: The Board Game
One of the best-licensed games in recent years, XCOM completely reinvents the formula established by the excellent Firaxis video game.
The entirely cooperative XCOM: The Board Game instead assigns each player control over a specific area of the anti-alien taskforce, simulating squad-level turn-based action rather than that of its digital counterpart.
The game’s biggest innovation is including a free digital app, which streamlines the rules and serves as an in-fiction system for tracking ongoing action.
While other players decide how to combat emerging alien threats through careful troop deployments, distribution of internationally donated funds, and even developing new technology, one player uses the app as a communications officer with the other players.
Furthermore, the gameplay is tense and frantic, as the literal and figurative timer clicks down on humanity’s survival.
XCOM: The Board Game is a benchmark to show how tabletop and digital design can work in tandem
17. Lanterns: The Harvest Festival
Lanterns: The Harvest Festival is a strategic game where players compete to create the most beautiful display of lanterns.
Players take turns placing tiles to create a floating lantern display, earning points for matching colors and creating unique patterns.
The game features beautiful artwork and a relaxing gameplay experience, making it a popular choice for casual gamers.
Also, Lanterns: The Harvest Festival was praised for its simple yet deep gameplay and ability to appeal to gamers and non-gamers alike. Lanterns are one of the best board games of 2015.
18. The Voyages of Marco Polo
The Voyages of Marco Polo is a strategic game where players compete to become the most successful trader in 13th-century Europe and Asia.
Players use unique character abilities to gather resources, complete contracts, and travel across the map.
The game features a unique dice placement mechanic, where players must choose which dice to use each turn.
Also, The Voyages of Marco Polo was praised for its deep and engaging gameplay and its ability to capture the theme of its setting.
19. Star Wars: Imperial Assault
Star Wars: Imperial Assault is a tactical miniatures game set in the Star Wars universe.
Players take on the roles of Rebel heroes or Imperial forces, battling it out in missions across the galaxy.
The game features a modular board system, allowing players to customize their game experience and various unique characters and abilities.
In addition, critics praise Star Wars: Imperial Assault for its engaging gameplay and ability to capture the feel of the Star Wars universe. Star Wars: Imperial Assault is one of the best board games of 2015.
20. Flick ’em Up!
Flick ’em Up! is a dexterity game where players use flicking movements to simulate cowboy shootouts.
Players take on the roles of cowboys and bandits, flicking discs to knock over their opponents’ cowboys and complete objectives.
The game features beautiful wooden components and a unique gameplay experience emphasizing skill and precision.
Also, they praise Flick ’em Up! for its accessibility and ability to appeal to gamers of all levels.
21. Star Wars: Force and Destiny
With three games in as many years that explore various parts of the Star Wars RPG franchise, Fantasy Flight has been on a roll with its approach to the license.
Previous installments looked into the seedy side of bounty hunters and smugglers.
The next role-playing game threw players into the middle of the war between the popular Rebel Alliance and the Empire.
However, there’s no denying that a lot of players were looking forward to this third installment, which puts players in control of force-sensitive characters and features multiple lightsaber combat styles in addition to a rich morality system that shapes your character along the light and dark sides of the force—deep morality gaming communities to fulfill their needs.
Force and Destiny is a fantastic way for narrative-oriented gaming groups to get their fix, in addition to the unique dice mechanic at the heart of all Fantasy Flight Star Wars RPGs.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the board games of 2015 showcased a diverse range of experiences and demonstrated the creativity and innovation of the board game industry.
These games offered engaging gameplay mechanics, unique themes, stunning artwork, and high replayability, appealing to a wide range of players, from casual gamers to experienced enthusiasts.
The year 2015 saw the continuation of popular franchises such as Pandemic and 7 Wonders and the introduction of new and exciting games like Codenames and Mysterium.
These games offered fresh perspectives on classic genres, such as word games and deduction games, while exploring new territory with games like Flick ’em Up! and The Grizzled.
The games of 2015 also demonstrated the growing popularity of cooperative games, where players work together towards a common goal.
These games offer a unique experience, fostering teamwork, communication, and community among players.
Overall, the board games of 2015 showcased the best of what the industry has to offer.
They were accessible to new players yet challenging and rewarding for experienced gamers.
Furthermore, these games demonstrated the ability of board games to bring people together, encouraging social interaction and providing a fun and engaging way to spend time with friends and family.
In conclusion, as we look back on the board games of 2015, we can see how they have continued to shape and influence the industry.
Many of these games remain popular today and have inspired future game designers to push the boundaries of game design and offer new and exciting experiences for players to enjoy.
