Skip to main content

Best Board Game Production

2023
Image
Best Production Value Winner 2023
Castles of Burgundy is a legendary Board Game design created by Stefan Feld. In this 1-4 players tabletop experience, you will take on the role of an aristocrat controlling a small princedom. Trying to build a settlement with powerful castles, practice trades, exploit silver mines, and use the knowledge of travelers.
Now, this timeless game is coming back with an extremely polished, high-end special edition resulting from a collaboration between Ravensburger and Awaken Realms.

In this special edition, you can expect a complete re-design of art and layout to ensure that every piece will have great art and enhance in-game usability. Only the best materials (cardboard, cart paper, box, insert, etc.) will be used to provide endurance, and a premium feel. Many extra components will bring the gaming experience to the next level, such as double-layered player boards, special bags for hexes, 30% bigger tiles, or metal coins.

The Castles of Burgundy is set in the Burgundy region of High Medieval France. Each player takes on the role of an aristocrat, originally controlling a small princedom. While playing, they aim to build settlements and powerful castles, practice trade along the river, exploit silver mines, and use the knowledge of travelers.

The game is about players taking settlement tiles from the game board and placing them into their princedom, which is represented by a Duchy board that is placed in the Player board.

Read more Read less
Year Published: 2023
Designers: Stefan Feld
Publishers: alea
Image
Best Production Value Nominee 2023
Year Published: 2023
Designers: Dave Beck
Publishers: Paverson Games

Ra

Year Published: 1999
Designers: Reiner Knizia
Publishers: alea
Year Published: 2023
Designers: Dave Chalker
Publishers: Restoration Games
Year Published: 2023
Designers: Zé Mendes
Publishers: MeepleBR
2022
Image
Dice Tower Awards 2023 General Logo
The city-building board game Foundations of Rome puts you into the role of an architect competing to own land and build magnificent structures! Build domūs and insulae, fountains, foundries, and more to increase your renown - gaining glory for yourself and the empire! With 96 wonderfully detailed miniatures in the base game, Foundations of Rome is a testament to the glory of Rome that you can bring to the table.

Foundations of Rome is the next, and biggest game to date, in the Dice Tower Essentials line and is designed by famed designer Emerson Matsuuchi.

On a player's turn they select from purchasing a new lot, building a new building in the shared city of Rome, or collecting income!

Players collect Glory Points at the end of each round based on the population and commerce they have brought to the city as well as gaining glory for civic buildings that score not only based on their own buildings, but those of their opponents!

With a quick setup time and easy to learn to rules you will be on your way to achieving glory within Rome in no time!

—description from the publisher

Read more Read less
Year Published: 2022
Designers: Emerson Matsuuchi
Publishers: Arcane Wonders
Image
Best Production Value Nominee 2022
Year Published: 2022
Designers: Stan Kordonskiy
Publishers: Fantasia Games
Year Published: 2022
Designers: Manny Vega
Publishers: Cardboard Alchemy
Year Published: 2022
Designers: Isaac Childres
Publishers: Restoration Games
Year Published: 2022
Designers: Tim Eisner
Publishers: Druid City Games
2021
Image
Best Production Values 2021
Play as a god of ancient Egypt, competing to survive as society begins to forget the old ways, so that only you and your followers remain.

Build caravans, summon monsters, and convert followers in your quest to reign supreme in Ankh: Gods of Egypt. Deities, monsters, and the people of ancient Egypt have been lovingly reimagined and interpreted in beautiful illustrations and detailed miniatures, and players will truly feel like gods as they shake the very foundations of Egypt. All gameplay in Ankh, including combat, is streamlined and non-random. Compete and win solely on your godly wits alone.

—description from the publisher

Read more Read less
Year Published: 2021
Designers: Eric M. Lang
Publishers: CMON Global Limited
Image
Best Production Values Nominees 2021
Year Published: 2021
Designers: Antoine Bauza
Publishers: Repos Production
Year Published: 2021
Designers: Jeff Chin
Publishers: Road To Infamy Games (R2i Games)
Year Published: 2021
Designers: Ted Alspach
Publishers: Bézier Games
Year Published: 2021
Designers: Ryan Laukat
Publishers: Red Raven Games
2020
Image
Best Board Game Production
Dwellings of Eldervale is an epic worker placement game set in a once lost magical world. Giant elemental monsters roam while dragons, wizards and warriors battle for dominance over 8 elemental realms. Players control unique factions seeking to adventure, battle, grow in power and ultimately dwell Eldervale, shaping it to their vision.

Dwellings of Eldervale blends worker placement, area control, engine building and unique worker units. Players take turns placing a worker in Eldervale or regrouping and activating their tableau of adventure cards. Action spaces include realms key to power: a summoning portal, an ancient mill, the lost fortress, deep dungeons, and a crumbling mage tower and the elemental lands of Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Light, Dark, Order and Chaos! Magic cards grant spells, quests and prophecies to players.

In the end, the players with the most elemental dominance among the multiple paths to victory will reign over Eldervale.

—description from the publisher

Link to Unofficial FAQ

Read more Read less
Year Published: 2020
Designers: Luke Laurie
Publishers: Breaking Games
Image
Year Published: 2020
Designers: Francesco Testini
Publishers: ThunderGryph Games
Year Published: 2020
Designers: Tim Eisner
Publishers: Druid City Games
Year Published: 2020
Designers: Vital Lacerda
Publishers: Eagle-Gryphon Games
Year Published: 2020
Designers: Paul Salomon
Publishers: Elf Creek Games
2019
Image
Cloudspire is 1-4 player strategy game heavily influenced by both tower defense and MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) games. Solo and Cooperative play are driven by a scenario book that chronicles the story of the game from the perspective of each individual faction. Players control one of four unique factions in a battle to destroy and steal source energy from their opponents. Send and defend against armies and minions, build towers to protect your base, and explore with your heroes in search of resources and powerful Relics to turn the tide of battle.

Taking place in the floating realm of Ankar, Cloudspire tells the story of a war to acquire a powerful and rare energy known only as "the source." Every race has their own unique units and heroes as well as the ability to bid and draft mercenaries for hire.

Armies are placed either individually or in stacks to conceal powerful units until the last possible moments. Heroes, in the meantime are controlled individually and may join the tide of battle or choose to explore points of interest in search of numerous resources. Meanwhile, the event deck regularly changes the terms of the fight, making every wave exciting and unpredictable.

As armies and minions approach opposing bases, they'll need to contend with Spires - powerful defense towers that can be built around the board. Fight for control of build sites and acquire new spire schematics to build an impenetrable defense and hold off the enemy. Upgrade your home base to unlock new strategies and abilities. Level up your heroes and lead your armies into battle with advanced and upgraded skills!

—description from the publisher

Read more Read less
Year Published: 2019
Designers: Josh J. Carlson
Publishers: Chip Theory Games
Image
Year Published: 2018
Designers: Adam Kwapiński
Publishers: Awaken Realms
Year Published: 2019
Designers: Frédéric Henry
Publishers: Monolith
Year Published: 2019
Designers: Josh J. Carlson
Publishers: Chip Theory Games
Year Published: 2019
Designers: Prospero Hall
Publishers: Funko Games
Year Published: 2019
Designers: Jamey Stegmaier
Publishers: Stonemaier Games
2018
Image
The great and forgotten Kami have returned from the underworld, displeased with the affairs of the Empire’s present Shōgun. At the start of spring in the Great New Year, the Kami have gathered their sacred clans with one quest: reclaim the lands of Nippon and return them to their honorable, spiritual traditions. However, each clan is bound by their own proud traditions to a unique vision for this great return and must wage a powerful diplomatic war across eight provinces. Alliances must be forged, betrayal is inevitable, honorable standing rises and falls. Political mandates must be navigated and devastating war must be fought, each won by expert skill and cunning negotiation. And only one may stand victorious at the coming of winter. You, honorable Shōgun, lead one of these great clans. Do you have the strength of honor, virtue, and spirit, as well as the mastery of steel necessary to deliver on this ancient promise?

Rising Sun is a board game for 3 to 5 players set in legendary feudal Japan. Each player chooses a Clan and competes to lead theirs to victory by accumulating Victory Points over the course of the Seasons. Each Clan possesses a unique ability and differs in Seasonal Income, Starting Honor Rank, and Home Province.
Over the course of the game, players will forge and break alliances, choose political actions, worship the gods, customize their clans, and position their figures around Japan. In the process, Honor is a palpable element in Rising Sun: Having high Honor gives several advantages, while having low Honor may grant the allegiance of the darker elements of the world. But above all, Honor settles all disputes: Whenever there is a tie, the tied player with the highest Honor wins.

In Rising Sun, players are encouraged to use diplomacy, negotiation, and even bribery to further their cause. Players can make deals at any point in the game but no deals are truly binding.
Victory Points can be gained in several ways, from winning battles, to harvesting the right provinces, to playing to the Virtues accumulated by your Clan.

The game is played over the course of 4 rounds or Seasons: Spring, Summer, and then Autumn; when Winter comes, the game draws to a close and players calculate bonuses to decide who is the winner.
Each Season is divided into five phases:
1) Seasonal Setup because every Season has a certain Season deck with different cards,
2) Tea Ceremony in which players sit down and negotiate their Alliances for the Season,
3) Political Phase during which players will select Political Mandates to prepare their Clans and position their forces,
4) War Phase, during which players battle over several Provinces, and
5) Seasonal Cleanup.

As already mentioned, the start of the Winter Season signifies the end of the game. Peace falls over the land as it gets covered in white snow, and a new Emperor will rise under the power of the great Kami.

Read more Read less
Year Published: 2018
Designers: Eric M. Lang
Publishers: CMON Global Limited
Image
Year Published: 2018
Designers: Tim Eisner
Publishers: Druid City Games
Year Published: 2018
Designers: Gavan Brown
Publishers: Roxley
Year Published: 2018
Designers: James A. Wilson
Publishers: Starling Games (II)
Year Published: 2018
Designers: Rob Daviau
Publishers: Restoration Games
2017
Image
The sun shines brightly on the canopy of the forest, and the trees use this wonderful energy to grow and develop their beautiful foliage. Sow your crops wisely and the shadows of your growing trees could slow your opponents down, but don't forget that the sun revolves around the forest. Welcome to the world of Photosynthesis, the green strategy board game!

Year Published: 2017
Designers: Hjalmar Hach
Publishers: Blue Orange (EU)
Image
Year Published: 2017
Designers: Jonathan Gilmour
Publishers: Asmodee
Year Published: 2017
Designers: Jamey Stegmaier
Publishers: Stonemaier Games
Year Published: 2017
Designers: Hjalmar Hach
Publishers: Blue Orange (EU)
Year Published: 2017
Designers: Dane Beltrami
Publishers: Fantasy Flight Games
Year Published: 2017
Designers: Michael Kiesling
Publishers: Next Move Games
2016
Image
Mechs vs. Minions is a cooperative tabletop campaign for 2-4 players. Set in the world of Runeterra, players take on the roles of four intrepid Yordles: Corki, Tristana, Heimerdinger, and Ziggs, who must join forces and pilot their newly-crafted mechs against an army of marauding minions. With modular boards, programmatic command lines, and a story-driven campaign, each mission will be unique, putting your teamwork, programming, and piloting skills to the test.

There are ten missions in total, and each individual mission will take about 60-90 minutes. The box includes five game boards, four command lines (one for each player), four painted mech miniatures, ability and damage decks, a sand timer, a bomb-like-power source miniature, 6 metal trackers, 4 acrylic shards, 4 dice, and 100 minion miniatures. There also appears to be some large object trying to get out of that sealed box...

Read more Read less
Year Published: 2016
Designers: Chris Cantrell
Publishers: Riot Games
Image
Year Published: 2016
Designers: Frédéric Henry
Publishers: Monolith
Year Published: 2016
Designers: Jamey Stegmaier
Publishers: Stonemaier Games
Year Published: 2016
Designers: Eric M. Lang
Publishers: Cool Mini Or Not
Year Published: 2016
Designers: Corey Konieczka
Publishers: Fantasy Flight Games
2009
Image
From the depths of space an ancient vessel drifts slowly towards the Imperium of Mankind - a space hulk. Within its confines, untold thousands of Genestealers slowly emerge from hibernation. The Space Marines must enter the cramped corridors and tomb-like chambers of the ancient ship to defeat this alien menace.

Space Hulk is a board game for two players, recreating the battles fought between the Space Marines and Genestealers. One player commands the Space Marines as they carry out deadly missions in the ancient Space Hulk, and the other commands the horde of Genestealers opposing them. Space Hulk's fast-paced rules simulate the tense atmosphere of a mission deep inside the cramped confines of a derelict space hulk, where split-second decisions are needed for victory.

Read more Read less
Year Published: 2009
Designers: Richard Halliwell
Publishers: Games Workshop Ltd.
Image
Year Published: 2009
Designers: Corey Konieczka
Publishers: Fantasy Flight Games
Year Published: 2009
Designers: Bruce Allen
Publishers: Zoch Verlag
Year Published: 2009
Designers: Eric M. Lang
Publishers: Fantasy Flight Games
Year Published: 2009
Designers: Guillaume Blossier
Publishers: Alderac Entertainment Group
2010
Image
The year is 1947. Throughout the world, three major superpowers fight to claim exclusive control over a revolutionary source of power: Vk. Elite troops and massive combat robots wage violent battles to control these energy reservoirs...

Dust Tactics is a tactical miniatures board game for 2-4 players. In an alternate 1940s reality, alien technology fuels gigantic machines of war as the forces of the Axis and Allies clash over rare mineral deposits that could inevitably decide the outcome of the war. With over 30 highly detailed miniatures, nine double-sided terrain boards, 12 custom dice, unit cards, terrain, and plastic scenery, Dust Tactics delivers everything you need to wage battles in the immersive world of Dust.

A deep and engaging game setting, featuring stunning artwork by Paolo Parente, will draw players into a world desperately at war... and the highly detailed miniatures only add to this immersion. Eight included scenarios and nearly limitless customization ensures hundreds of hours of replayability, while scalable rules offer a satisfying experience for players of all levels.

• Over 30 highly detailed miniatures
• Nine double-sided boards to customize your own battle
• A deep and engaging setting
• A battle book including eight unique scenarios
• Quick-start rules to get into the action quickly

Read more Read less
Year Published: 2010
Designers: Paolo Parente
Publishers: Dust Games
Image
Year Published: 2010
Designers: Kasper Aagaard
Publishers: Z-Man Games
Year Published: 2010
Designers: John Goodenough
Publishers: Fantasy Flight Games
Year Published: 2010
Designers: Kevin Wilson
Publishers: Fantasy Flight Games
Year Published: 2010
Designers: Christophe Boelinger
Publishers: Ludically
2011
Image
Best Production Values of 2011
Description from the publisher:

Horrific monsters and spectral presences lurk in manors, crypts, schools, monasteries, and derelict buildings near Arkham, Massachusetts. Some spin dark conspiracies while others wait for hapless victims to devour or drive insane. It’s up to a handful of brave investigators to explore these cursed places and uncover the truth about the living nightmares within.

Designed by Corey Konieczka, Mansions of Madness is a macabre game of horror, insanity, and mystery for two to five players. Each game takes place within a pre-designed story that provides players with a unique map and several combinations of plot threads. These threads affect the monsters that investigators may encounter, the clues they need to find, and which climactic story ending they will ultimately experience. One player takes on the role of the keeper, controlling the monsters and other malicious powers within the story. The other players take on the roles of investigators, searching for answers while struggling to survive with their minds intact.

Do you dare enter the Mansions of Madness?

Read more Read less
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Corey Konieczka
Publishers: Fantasy Flight Games
Image
Best Production Values Nominee of 2011
Year Published: 2019
Designers: Erick N. Bouchard
Publishers: Ganesha Games
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Chris Birkenhagen
Publishers: Ninja Division
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Peter Lee
Publishers: Wizards of the Coast
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Rob Daviau
Publishers: Hasbro
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Peter Lee
Publishers: Wizards of the Coast
2012
Image
Best Production Values of 2012
Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game is a tactical ship-to-ship combat game in which players take control of powerful Rebel X-wings and nimble Imperial TIE fighters, facing them against each other in fast-paced space combat. Featuring stunningly detailed and painted miniatures, the X-Wing Miniatures Game recreates exciting Star Wars space combat throughout its several included scenarios. Select your crew, plan your maneuvers, and complete your mission!

Whatever your chosen vessel, the rules of X-Wing facilitate fast and visceral gameplay that puts you in the middle of Star Wars fiercest firefights. Each ship type has its own unique piloting dial, which is used to secretly select a speed and maneuver each turn. After planning maneuvers, each ship's dial is revealed and executed (starting with the lowest skilled pilot). So whether you rush headlong toward your enemy showering his forward deflectors in laser fire, or dance away from him as you attempt to acquire a targeting lock, you'll be in total control throughout all the tense dogfighting action.

Star Wars: X-Wing features (three) unique missions, and each has its own set of victory conditions and special rules; with such a broad selection of missions, only clever and versatile pilots employing a range of tactics will emerge victorious. What's more, no mission will ever play the same way twice, thanks to a range of customization options, varied maneuvers, and possible combat outcomes. Damage, for example, is determined through dice and applied in the form of a shuffled Damage Deck. For some hits your fighter sustains, you'll draw a card that assigns a special handicap. Was your targeting computer damaged, affecting your ability to acquire a lock on the enemy? Perhaps an ill-timed weapon malfunction will limit your offensive capabilities. Or worse yet, your pilot could be injured, compromising his ability to focus on the life-and-death struggle in which he is engaged...

The Star Wars: X-Wing starter set includes everything you need to begin your battles, such as scenarios, cards, and fully assembled and painted ships. What's more, Star Wars: X-Wing's quick-to-learn ruleset establishes the foundation for a system that can be expanded with your favorite ships and characters from the Star Wars universe.

Reimplemented by Star Wars: X-Wing (Second Edition)

Read more Read less
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Jason Little
Publishers: Fantasy Flight Games
Image
Best Production Values Nominee of 2012
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Jerry Hawthorne
Publishers: Plaid Hat Games
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Raphaël Guiton
Publishers: CMON Global Limited
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Daniel Clark (I)
Publishers: Fantasy Flight Games
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Simone Luciani
Publishers: Czech Games Edition
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Jerry Hawthorne
Publishers: Plaid Hat Games