Every year there are so many amazing board games that come out. The growth of the hobby is exciting, but it can make choosing what games to buy, play (or for us bring into the store) pretty challenging. We've got some favourites to share that might help make finding a great game to gift a bit easier, or just help confirm a choice you had on your list.
Our favourite and best selling board games this holiday season:
Oceans - Three years in the making, Oceans is the latest stand-alone game in the award-winning Evolution series from North Star Games. This game has over 120 amazing works of art with 40 scenarios cards, and more than 100 unique trait cards,
This game is at the top of our wish list. We love the oceans and adding a game that takes us deep into this theme would be great for our collection. We're excited about the gameplay to build and evolve our species while adapting to a changing ecosystem.
Aeon's End Outcasts from Indie Boards and Cards continues the Expedition system that was introduced in Aeon’s End: New Age, which allows players to replay all of the content they own in a short campaign format. After each game, players will receive new treasures and player cards that allow them to become more powerful. However, the nemeses that players will face grow stronger and stronger with each battle.
Aeon's End is probably our most payed game (or tied with Hero Realms). Being able to grow and customize our mages through battles brings a lot more excitement to the game.
Magic Labyrinth, published by Schmidt Spiele, is out best selling kids game this year! Fun for kids and challenging for parents, taking memory games to a new level. Each player moves their magician over the board while trying not to bump the labyrinth below. Each magician is joined with a magnetic ball so if you hit a wall the ball drops and you have to start all over again.
My City by Kosmos, is one of three Game of the Year Nominees (2020 Spiel Des Jahres). It's a competitive legacy game in which you develop a city on your own playing board through the ages. During each game, players customize their experience by adding elements to their personal boards and adding cards to the game.
Legacy games offer a great way to not only get some analog family time, but to also build something together. While not only customizing and building the game, players to get build a customized gaming experience to continue playing
New York Zoo makes our list as a great game from a great designer - Uwe Rosenberg. In New York Zoo, you are constructing an animal park. Build animal enclosures, introduce new animals and raise their offspring. The game play is straight forward as you have only two turn options: Puzzle a new enclosure tile into your zoo area or gain new animals to populate your animal encounters.
This game ticks a lot of boxes to be on our shelves. A fun theme, with accessible gameplay and gaming time for families. It plays up to 5 so we can all play, and has a solo option if anyone wants to enjoy some downtime on their own.
Have to mentions...
While the list above includes amazing games, it just doesn't feel complete. There are a few more worth mentioning, but so popular this fall they are hard to keep in stock. If you're looking for a copy, please send us an email and we'll do our best to let you know when they come back in.
- Root by Leder Games
- Wingspan by Stonemaier Games
- Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion by Cephalofair Games
- Everdell by Starling Games
Closing out our list for 2020 is Aristeia! by Corvus Belli. Another favourite on our shelf. Aristeia! brings skirmish gaming to a more digestible arena format. Players put together teams of 4 from an expanding selection of characters. In about one hour, players will enjoy a fun game that will immerse them in strategies and tactics that promise to become addictive. Aristeia! has over a dozen scenarios to play, and with new Prime expansion two to four players can get in on the action.
We hope you find the great games you're looking for this holiday season. If you have any gaming questions or if we can help you find a specific game connect with us over email (Scott@ironbeangames.com) or on Facebook Messenger.