Top 7 Most Wanted Board Games 2024

The lasting appeal of board games makes them a  profitable item for retailers to have in stock. Some established  classics date as far back as the Roman Empire, while innovative new  designs capitalize on pop culture. From children´s sleepovers to their  parents´ late night parties, the following titles are making a regular  appearance on our lists.

1. Frosthaven

Opens in a new window cephalofair.com

Frosthaven Board Game

       
• Players: 1-4
           
• Playtime: 60-120 minutes
           
• Genre: Legacy, Adventure, Cooperative

Pros:

       
1. Engaging Campaign: An epic campaign with over 100 scenarios, offering countless hours of gameplay and a sense of progression as your characters evolve.
           
2. Legacy System: The legacy system introduces permanent changes to the game as you play, creating a unique and personal experience.
           
3. Deep Strategy:  Intense tactical combat and meaningful choices create a challenging and rewarding experience.
           
4. Beautiful Components: High-quality miniatures, artwork, and cardstock make the game a visual treat.
           
5. Expansive World: Explore a new frozen landscape with its own set of challenges, monsters, and secrets.

Cons:

       
1. High Price: Frosthaven is a significant investment, both in terms of money and time.
           
2. Long Playtime: Individual scenarios can take several hours to complete, making it less suitable for casual gamers.
           
3. Permanent Changes: Once you've played through the campaign, you can't replay it in its original state.
           
4. Steep Learning Curve: The game has a lot of rules and mechanics, which can be overwhelming for new players.
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2. Carnegie

   

   

   

Opens in a new window www.quined.nl    

   

Carnegie Board Game

   

   

   

       
• Players: 1-4
       
• Playtime: 90-120 minutes
       
• Genre: Eurogame, Engine-Building
   

Pros:

       
1. Strategic Depth: A complex and satisfying Eurogame with multiple paths to victory, offering plenty of replayability.
       
2. Engaging Theme: The theme of building a business empire and contributing to society is well-integrated into the gameplay.
       
3. Variable Player Powers: Each player has unique abilities and starting resources, creating asymmetrical gameplay.
       
4. High-Quality Components: The game features beautiful artwork and sturdy components.
       
5. Solo Mode: A challenging solo mode provides an enjoyable experience for those who prefer to play alone.
   

Cons:

       
1. High Complexity:  Carnegie has a lot of rules and moving parts, which can be daunting for new players.
       
2. Long Playtime: A full game can take several hours, especially with more players.
       
3. AP Prone: Some turns can involve a lot of analysis and decision-making, which can lead to downtime for other players.
       
4. Limited Player Interaction: While there's some competition for resources, the game is primarily focused on optimizing your own engine.
       
5. Availability: Due to its popularity, Carnegie might be difficult to find in stock.
   

3. Ark Nova

capstone-games.com

       
• Players: 1-4
       
• Playtime: 90-150 minutes
       
• Genre: Eurogame, Zoo Management
   

Pros:

       
1. Engaging Theme: The theme of building and managing a modern zoo is well-implemented, providing a satisfying experience.
       
2. Strategic Depth: A multitude of decisions and paths to victory offers plenty of replayability.
       
3. Variable Setup: Each game offers a different set of cards, creating unique challenges and strategies.
       
4. Solo Mode: A well-designed solo mode allows for an enjoyable single-player experience.
       
5. Beautiful Artwork: The game's artwork is stunning, immersing players in the zoo environment.
   

Cons:

       
1. Complexity: Ark Nova has a lot of rules and moving parts, which can take some time to grasp.
       
2. Long Playtime: Games can take several hours, especially with more players.
       
3. AP Prone: Some turns involve a lot of analysis and decision-making, which can lead to downtime.
       
4. Iconography: The game's iconography can be a bit overwhelming at first, requiring some reference to the rulebook.
       
5. Availability: Ark Nova's popularity has led to occasional stock shortages.
   

4. Cascadia

   

   

   

Opens in a new window

       
• Players: 1-4
       
• Playtime: 30-45 minutes
       
• Genre: Tile-laying, Set Collection
   

Pros:

       
1. Beautiful Artwork: The game features stunning artwork of various ecosystems and wildlife.
       
2. Simple Rules: The core mechanics are easy to learn, making it accessible to a wide range of players.
       
3. Strategic Depth: Despite its simplicity, there's plenty of room for strategic decision-making and planning.
       
4. Relaxing Gameplay:  The game offers a calming and enjoyable experience, perfect for casual gaming sessions.
       
5. Solo Mode: A well-designed solo mode provides a satisfying challenge for single players.
   

Cons:

       
1. Limited Player Interaction:  While there's some competition for scoring opportunities, the game is mostly focused on your own tableau.
       
2. Luck Factor: The random draw of tiles and tokens can influence the game's outcome.
       
3. Limited Replayability: While the game offers some variability, the core experience remains largely the same.
       
4. AP Prone:  Some players may experience analysis paralysis when deciding which tiles and tokens to choose.
       
5. Lack of Theme: While the artwork is beautiful, the theme of building ecosystems feels somewhat pasted on.
   

5. The Adventures of Robin Hood

   

   

   

Opens in a new window thamesandkosmos.com

   

Adventures of Robin Hood Board Game

   

   

   

       
• Players: 2-4
       
• Playtime: 60-90 minutes
       
• Genre: Cooperative, Adventure, Storytelling
   

Pros:

       
1. Immersive Theme: The game captures the spirit of Robin Hood's adventures, with rich storytelling and thematic gameplay.
       
2. 3D Pop-up Board: The unique 3D board creates a visually impressive and interactive experience.
       
3. Cooperative Gameplay: Players work together to overcome challenges and achieve their goals.
       
4. Story-Driven: The game features a branching narrative with multiple paths and outcomes.
       
5. High-Quality Components: The game includes detailed miniatures, artwork, and a beautifully designed board.
   

Cons:

       
1. Alpha Gamer Syndrome: One player may dominate the decision-making process, leaving others feeling less involved.
       
2. Limited Replayability: Once you've experienced the story, there's less incentive to play again.
       
3. Fiddly Components: The 3D board and numerous tokens can be a bit cumbersome to set up and manage.
       
4. Luck Factor: Dice rolls and card draws can influence the game's outcome.
       
5. Availability: The game might be difficult to find in stock due to its popularity.
   

6. Dune: Imperium – Rise of Ix

   

   

   

Opens in a new window dunescholar.com    

   

Dune: Imperium – Rise of Ix Board Game

   

   

   

• Players: 1-5
       
• Playtime: 60-90 minutes
       
• Genre: Deck-building, Worker Placement
   

Pros:

       
1. Expands the Base Game: Adds new content and mechanics, providing a fresh experience for existing players.
       
2. New Faction: The addition of the Ixian faction offers new strategic options and playstyles.
       
3. Increased Player Count: Allows for games with up to 5 players, increasing the social aspect.
       
4. Compatible with the Base Game: The expansion seamlessly integrates with the original Dune: Imperium.
       
5. High-Quality Components: The expansion maintains the high production values of the base game.
   

Cons:

       
1. Requires Base Game: Rise of Ix is an expansion, not a standalone game, requiring ownership of Dune: Imperium.
       
2. Increased Complexity: The new faction and mechanics add some complexity to the game.
       
3. Limited Impact: While the expansion adds new content, it doesn't drastically change the core gameplay.
       
4. Availability: The expansion might be difficult to find in stock due to its popularity.
       
5. Price:  While not as expensive as a full game, the expansion still adds to the overall cost of playing Dune: Imperium.
   

7. Everdell: Newleaf

   

   

   

Opens in a new window www.tabletoptycoon.com    

   

Everdell: Newleaf Board Game

   

   

   

       
• Players: 1-5
       
• Playtime: 40-80 minutes
       
• Genre: Worker Placement, Card Drafting
   

Pros: