Here are my Top 10 New to Me games of 2020 (in alphabetical order).
Aftermath - Aftermath by Plaid Hat Games is a campaign story book game. We only got three sessions in before pandemic shut downs, but it definitely left us looking for more. If you like awesome miniatures, apocalyptic themes, campaign games, or an immersive world, Aftermath might be a game for you.
Purchase here: https://amzn.to/3pTn4ko
Dwar7s Spring - Dwar7s Spring is the third game in the Dwar7s series, designed by Luis Brüeh and published by Vesuvius Media. I'm a big fan of the Dwar7s series. I was initially drawn in by Brüeh's art style, but keep returning for his gameplay. Dwar7s Spring is the best in the series so far. If you love a dwarven theme, tons of minis, and expanding/managing your empire, Dwar7s Spring might be a game for you.
Escape: Curse of the Temple - Escape, from Queen Games, is easily one of my wife's favorite games, and was our most played game of 2020. This real time game, paced with a tense soundtrack, is so fun. Players have 10 minutes to escape a temple, rolling dice, to discover and move about rooms, finding treasures and avoiding curses. The game has TONS of modules for an insane amount of replayability. If you like dice games, team work, modular games, and anxiety (kind of kidding), then Escape might be a game for you.
Purchase here: https://amzn.to/3bgZzOi
Everdell - Everdell, by Starling Games, has been out since 2018 but was new to me in 2020, and I'm so glad it was. In Everdell you play as woodland critters, building up the city of Everdell, collecting resources to build, and building to score (and make gaining resources easier). I'm only a few plays in, but can see myself returning to this game as often as possible. If you like worker placement, cute critters, and 3-dimesional trees, Everdell might be for you.
Purchase here: https://amzn.to/2LsC4a5
Microbrew - Microbrew, from One Free Elephant, is a full size worker placement in a mint tin. I really enjoyed this game because it connects my two hobbies, board games and brews. This game is thematic, placing workers to brew beer for loyal customers. If you like board games, brews, portable games, and worker placement, Microbrew might be for you.
Purchase here: https://amzn.to/35fEYWL
Moonshine Empire - Moonshine Empire, by Barrel Aged Games, is one that I had the privilege of previewing, prior to their Kickstarter. Moonshine Empire does a great job of establishing theme, through a fantastic board and wonderful components. This is the first pick-up and deliver game I've played and was a great intro for me to the genre. Definitely be on the look out for this in 2021. If distilling and distributing moonshine while avoiding alligators and police sounds intriguing, Moonshine Empire might be for you.
Quacks of Quedlinburg - Quacks of Quedlinburg, by Wolfgang Warsch, is another 2018 game that graced our tables this year. In this push-your-luck game, you play as quack doctors, brewing potions, trying to fill your pot with as much as possible, without your pot exploding. The best part of Quacks is that you don't really mind losing, because pulling the chips from your bag, is just so fun. If you like to push-your-luck, in a way that doesn't feel totally random, Quacks might be a game for you.
Purchase here: https://amzn.to/2KYRovf
Tiny Epic Dinosaurs - Tiny Epic Dinosaurs (TED), by Gamelyn Games, is part of their "Tiny Epic" series of full-sized games in a tiny box. TED is the second Tiny Epic I've played and boy did I like it. First off, the box is packed offering tons of replayability. Secondly, the theme is great, and the dinomeeples are fantastic. If you like worker placement, portable games, and running your own Jurassic Park, TED might be for you.
Purchase here: https://amzn.to/35k91fY
War for Chicken Island - War for Chicken Island, by Draco Studios, is an area control game where chicken leaders fight for control of their tiny island. First off, the minis in this game are fantastic. Not only are they high quality, but their designs are so fun! War for Chicken Island is primarily a hand and resource management game, where you use resources to build machines, and cards to humiliate your rivals. If a Chicken piloting a wolf, commanding an army of stone golems sounds interesting, War for Chicken Island might be for you.
Purchase here: https://amzn.to/3nfPh36
Windward - If I had to pick a number one for 2020, Windward would be it. Windward, by El Dorado Games, was my favorite gaming experience this last year. In this pick-up and deliver game, you play as a captain, piloting a ship in the sky, fighting other crews and taking down giant sky whales. The theme is so immersive, components look so good, and gameplay is solid. Windward inspired making a site for longer reviews, so I cant say enough good, but, if being a space pirate fighting giant sky whales sounds fun, this might be a game for you.
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