Have I ever mentioned that I love tabletop gaming? I think I may have once or twice. Just to be sure, I’ll say it again: I love tabletop gaming! I’m not exaggerating when I say that if it weren’t for tabletop gaming, this site would not exist. Age of Animus began as a means of fleshing out and sharing the world I was creating for a board game I wanted to create. It’s now three and a half years later and I may never get to making that game. The site however, continues on.
With that in mind and also because I’ve been watching a lot of Dice Tower Top 10 videos on Youtube lately, today I’ve decided to give my Top 10 Life-Changing Tabletop Games.
Honorable Mentions:
Mystery Mansion – It was just so different from the other games I’d played. The idea of a game board that changed every time you played was just so revolutionary to me.
Match II – Who would have thought that a tile-flipping memory game featuring world flags would be so much fun? This was THE game to play during free time in early grade school. Well other than:
10 – Star Wars: Escape From the Death Star Game (1977)
I am part of the generation of kids who grew up with the original Star Wars Trilogy. Star Wars will always hold a special place in my heart. The first board game based on the movie was bound to influence me. Maybe there’s no future love for board games if I don’t play this one first.
9 – Shogun aka Samurai Swords aka Ikusa (1986)
My friend Stephane introduced me to this game when I was in high school. I was awestruck by the quality of the components and the depth of the game. This was a huge step up from the board games I’d seen up until that time.
8 – Star Wars: Escape From the Death Star (1990)
Same name, different experience. I found this game when I was a CEGEP student living on my own for the first time. It’s the first cooperative board game I ever played and also the first game I found that had solitaire rules. As a guy who spent a lot of time by himself, this game filled a lot of lonely hours.
7 – Arkham Horror
I could have chosen a number of different Fantasy Flight games in this slot. They’re games with a much wider scope and so rich in theme. They rekindled my interest in creating games. But after playing so many competitive games, it was a refreshing change of pace to play a game where everybody is trying to help each other succeed. That’s why Arkham Horror gets the nod here.
6 – AT-43
I disconnected from Warhammer 40K because I found assembling and painting the minis a chore. AT-43 fixed all that. The minis were all pre-assembled and pre-painted. Just buy and play. Sweet. I found them on heavy discount during Fantasy Flight Games’ annual holiday sale and bought in huge. The reason it’s on my list though is that this is the game that brought my most recent gaming group together for the first time. New friends = Good.
5 – HeroClix
It wasn’t just a game. It was an obsession.I met a lot of friends through this game as well. For a time, there were no other games.
4 – Elder Sign
I love the theme and I love rolling dice. More importantly, it’s a game I can play with my mom. An activity that brings us closer is invaluable.
3 – Star Wars CCG
Magic started the CCG craze, but it was Star Wars CCG that got me hooked. This was another of those obsession games. My passion for this game was so high that it actually moved me to enter tournaments on my own against total strangers. I lost just about every game in those tournaments but still loved playing and making decks. It’s my best memory of living in Montreal actually. My obsession eventually carried over to CCGs in general. Today, it doesn’t take a lot of convincing to get me to try a new card game.
2 – Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game
Another Star Wars game? What are the odds? Not 3,720 to 1, that’s for sure. This is another game that was my life for a number of years. I’m a much better storyteller for having run all those adventures over the years. This game was the glue that kept my friends together through the latter years of high school and CEGEP. I just have so many good memories of this game. There’s only one game that could beat it on this list and that’s…
1 – Dungeons and Dragons
I played a LOT more Star Wars but I never would have tried it, if I hadn’t played D&D first. If not for D&D, I also likely never would have gotten to know my best friend, Fab. That alone is enough to make it the most life-changing game I ever played.
A recurring theme in this list is the friends met through gaming. I’m not the most outgoing person. Tabletop gaming helps me connect with people. It gives me something to focus on and helps me overcome my anxieties.
That’s all for this week. Have a good seven and we’ll do it all again next Monday. Until then, please share your favorite tabletop games (and why) in the comments. Carja V.