Now, back to the list.  As you know we like to diversify our lists because we understand board gamers come from all walks of life and have their personal preferences. That being said, we found this list to be slightly more difficult to diversify because of the lack of reviews and or information on games recently produced.  We found most of the games receiving a lot of praise were typically for more advanced board gamers.  And quite frankly, we here at bestboardgameslist.com have not had enough time to play them all.

So, I turn to you.  Following our list, I would love to hear feedback from YOU! What was the best new board game(s) you played in 2013? What board games released in 2013 would you recommend for Families, Parties, etc?  What do you think of the games on our list?

Please leave your comment at the end of this post – I know our readers and fellow board gamers will greatly appreciate it.

As always, we separated our list of the Best Board Games of 2013 into the following most popular categories;

• Family
• Party
• Strategy
• Fantasy
• Kids

BEST BOARD GAMES 2013 List

Best Board Games 2013	Category	Age	Players	Playtime	Rating (1-5) Stars
Forbidden Desert Board Game	Family	10+	2~5	45 min	4.5
Eldritch Horror	Fantasy	14+	1~8	2~4 hrs	5
Rampage Board Game	Family/Kids	8+	2~4	30 min	4.5
Caverna: The Cave Farmers	Strategy	12+	1~7	120 min	4.5
DrunkQuest	Party/Adult	21+	3~6	20 min	4.5
Duel of Ages II Basic Set	Fantasy	12+	2~8	60 min	5
Jungle Ascent	Family	8+	2~4	30 min	5
Zombicide Season 2: Prison Outbreak	Fantasy	13+	1~6	60 min	4.5
Star Trek Attack Wing: Starter Set	Strategy	14+	2+	30 min	4.5
Bang!: The Dice Game	Party	8+	3~8	15 min	4.5
Ghooost Card Game	Family	8+	2~6	20 min	4
Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords Base Set	Fantasy	13+	1~4	90 min	4.5
Nations Board Game	Strategy	13+	1~5	2 hrs	5
Corporate America	Party	13+	3~6	90~120 min	5
Firefly: the Game	Strategy	12+	1~4	2 hrs+	4.5
Warhammer 40k Relic Boardgame	Fantasy	14+	2~4	2 hrs+	5
Space Cadets: Dice Duel	Party	14+	4~8	30 min	4
Blood Bound Game	Party	14+	6~12	30 min	4.5
Carcassonne: South Seas	Family	8+	3~5	30 min	4.5
Level 7 [Omega Protocol]	Fantasy	14+	2~6	60 min	4.5
HeroClix DC - Batman Gotham City Strategy Game	Strategy	14+	2~4	60 min	5

The games we’re discussing here fill just that need. Cooperative games are a great way to get people involved in games because they don’t feel as left out on an island to figure things out for themselves and other players are more likely to help because everyone’s success is linked to one another. Here is our  list of the best cooperative board games followed by the games I would recommend to anyone looking for that non-competitive, board game that you and your friends can play together.

Best Cooperative Board Games List

Best Cooperative Games	Age	Players	Best For	Playtime	Rating (1-5) Stars
Pandemic Board Game	13+	2~4	Party	45 min	4.5
Forbidden Desert Board Game	13+	2~5	2 player/Party	45 min	4.5
Eldritch Horror	14+	1~8	2player/Party	2 ~4hrs	5
Zombicide Base Game	14+	1~6	Party	20min ~2hrs	5
Battlestar Galactica	10+	3~6	Strategy	2~3hrs	5
Space Alert	12+	1~5	2player/Party	20 min	5
Resistance The 2nd Edition	13+	5~10	Party	30 min	5
Shadows Over Camelot	10+	3~7	Party	90 min	4.5
Ghost Stories	12+	1~4	2player/Party	60 min	4.5
Lord Of The Rings: The Card Game	12+	1~2	2 Players	60 min	4.5
Duel of Ages II Basic Set	12+	2~8	Strategy	60 min	5
Wizards of The Coast Legend of Drizzt: A Dungeons and Dragons Board Game	12+	1~5	Dungeon Crawl	45 min	4.5
Castle Panic	10+	1~6	Strategy	60 min	4.5
Gears Of War	12+	1~4	2 Players	60 min	4.5

Strategy- Battlestar Galactica

If you’re not familiar with the popular sci-fi show, Battlestar Galactica is built on the relationship between humans and cylons. Cylons are a mechanized alien race that has declared war on humans and has also recently found a way to look identical to human beings. So, in the game everyone plays a crew member aboard the human spaceship that is trying to flee the pursuing cylon fleet. But, here’s the twist, there are people in the game that are cylons, but you don’t know who.

This level of deception isn’t often found in board games, as cylon players try to secretly sabotage the efforts of everyone else playing. Cylons can, of course, be discovered and kicked off the ship. If you’re playing as a cylon, it can be nerve wracking to sit at the table with everyone else and be the only one that knows why everything is going so wrong.

This game is an absolute blast, especially if you’re a fan of the television show. But, if you’re someone that doesn’t enjoy backstabbing, collusion, and sabotage, Battlestar Galactica may not be for you. But, I am, so this game is for me.

 Click here for more Info, Pricing and Reviews!

Dungeon crawl- Zombicide

Zombicide is a perfect game for gamers out there that have been blasting away zombies on our computers and gaming consoles, but haven’t been able to scratch their tabletop zombie itch. This game started as a Kickstarter, so there is clear effort made towards satisfying the customer’s needs. In many ways, it means that this board game does a great job of simulating the video game experience in the same vein as Left 4 Dead.

Each player assumes the role of a survivor stuck out on the streets during a zombie outbreak, the game supports up to six total players, with each player taking on a character with a different set of skills. For example, the girl wearing roller skates gets a bonus to her movement capabilities. The point of the game is to work together to gather up loot and weapons, and then make it out of there alive, which doesn’t happen all that often for everyone in the game.

One thing you’ll notice when playing the game is the RPG elements. As players kill zombies, they will level up. Each character gains different bonuses the higher their level gets, but no matter who you are, when you level up you gain more attention for more difficult zombies.

There is all kinds of fun to be had in Zombicide. Working with the rest of your team to fight off hordes of zombies is a blast with your friends. One downfall of the game is that it does allow players to die. So, if someone makes a dumb mistake early on and gets eaten by zombies, they just became a spectator for the duration of the game’s 30-40 minute average play time.

 Click for more ZOMBICIDE Info, Pricing and Reviews!

Two player- Space Alert

Space Alert proves that board games can be just as hectic and tense as any other form of gaming. In Space Alert, you and up to four other people play as the crew of a spaceship that is facing an incredible amount of distress. You must navigate through space as asteroids, aliens, and spontaneous equipment malfunctions try to slow you down and get you killed.

What makes Space Alert so intense is that it is one of the few games that is played in real time. Every game lasts ten minutes and at the end of the game you have either escaped or been destroyed. This creates a remarkably fun atmosphere, and forces players to communicate efficiently and effectively. The fact that the game is so crazy may also be a bit of a turn off for some people. Inevitably, people will start shouting things at each other, not because they are mad at them, but because they really need those engines up and running so that they can escape this enemy ship that is firing lasers at them. That may not be an ideal experience for everyone.

This is one of the best cooperative games out there simply because it does such a great job of creating that tension that can only be created by the constant fear of imminent death (so to speak). The game can be played with or without the CD that it comes with, but for the sake of atmosphere I would recommend using it.

 Click for more SPACE ALERT! Info, Pricing and Reviews!

Party- Saboteur

Saboteur is a hidden role game, just like I mentioned earlier with Battlestar Galactica. The theme in this game, however, is a bit more cute. You play as either a gnome or saboteur. The gnomes are excavating for treasure and are getting very close. If you’re a saboteur, you are trying to make sure that the gnomes don’t touch the treasure.

The game starts with the goal of reaching one of three cards that are facing down. One of those three cards will have the treasure, and the gnomes are trying to build paths within the mine that will reach one of those cards while the saboteurs are taking actions to slow them down.

This game is much more simple that Battlestar Galactica, so I would definitely recommend it to a crowd of non-gamers. The concept is accessible and the strategies are rather straightforward. If you’re looking for an accessible hidden role game, Saboteur is probably the best option avaiable.

Click for more SABATEUR Info, Pricing and Reviews!

Enough reminiscing, I’m here to help you pick from the multitude of the best strategy board games that are available to anyone that’s looking for more of a challenging experience from their tabletop gaming. I’ve broken these games down into three categories: hardcore, casual, and one-on-one. Strategy board games come in a huge variety of themes and play styles, and many have a huge learning curve that can make them inaccessible to those that haven’t played a few of the more foundational games beforehand. So, if you’re new to the concept of hardcore strategy board games, it may be a good idea to go back and find something simpler before trying out the more complicated strategy games.

But, if you’re feeling brave and want to jump right in, I don’t blame you, these games are a blast.

Best Strategy Board Games List

Top Strategy Games	Age yrs	Players	Best With	Playtime	Rating
Carcassonne Big Box Game	8+	2~6	2,4plyrs	30 min	4.5
Pandemic 2nd Edition Board Game	13+	2~4	4plyrs	60min	4.5
HeroClix DC - Batman Gotham City Strategy Game	14+	2~4	4plyrs	60 min	4.5
A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Second Edition	14+	3~6	6plyrs	180min	4.5
Mage Knight Board Game	14+	1~4	2plyrs	150min	4.5
Through The Ages	12+	2~4	3plyrs	240min	4.5
7 Wonders	10+	2~7	all	30min	5
Summoner Wars Master Set	9+	2~4	2plyrs	30min	4.5
Dominion Intrigue	10+	2~4	3plyrs	30min	5
Eclipse Board Game	14+	3~6	4~6plyrs	120min	4.5
Lords of Waterdeep: A Dungeons & Dragons Board Game	12+	2~5	4plyrs	60min	5
Android Netrunner: The Card Game	14+	2	2plyrs	45min	4.5
Fantasy Flight Games Runewars Revised Edition	12+	2~4	4plyrs	180min	4.5

In order to make your strategy board game choices a bit easier on the brain, here’s a brief list of some of my favorite strategy board games.

 Best Hardcore Strategy Board Game- Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones is a very dynamic, fun game that might create a few blank stares from those that aren’t ready for a lot of rules, a lot of steps, and a lot of bits. A thorough explanation of the game’s rules would be a waste of time here, so I’ll just give you a basic rundown.
Each player is making decisions based on their family house in Westoros. If you’re familiar with the Game of Thrones story, all the families you want to see are there: the Starks, Lannisters, the Greyjoys, etc. Each have a different set of abilities at their disposal which are executed through their house cards. Every player’s turn will consist of three phases: the Westoros phase, planning phase, and action phase.

The Westoros phase is interesting because that can bring on an attack from the Wildlings, which is a neutral enemy to everyone in the game. This forces people to stop their squabbling for a bit and function as a unit to defend Westoros from the Wildlings.

Once that phase is over, it doesn’t take long to get into back-stabbing mode again. The planning phase can take a bit long for new players, so get ready for extended game times your first few playthroughs. Game of Thrones rewards the deviant, the treacherous, and the bold, just like the book series that the game is based off of.  Which is why this is one of the best strategy board games on the market.

Click for more Game of Thrones Info, Pricing and Reviews

Best One on One Strategy Board Game - Android: Netrunner

This one is just as, if not more hardcore than Game of Thrones. So, be warned, this game will take some learning. Netrunner is a game designed by Richard Garfield, the creator of Magic: The Gathering. And there are only a few similarities between the two games. Netrunner is identified as a living card game, which means that batches of cards are released in what they call “data packs,” so players can further customized their decks to meet their specific strategy.
What I love most about Netrunner is its asymmetric gameplay. There are two different ways to play, there is the Corporation (defense) and the Runner (offense). The setting is a cybernetic battleground where the Runner plays as a computer hacker trying to break into the Corporations servers, from which the Corporation is trying to push their “agendas.” When the Corporation scores seven agenda points, they win. If the Runner steals seven agenda points, they win.

Each turn is a new opportunity for the Runner to strike while the Corporation plots its defense. The best part of the game is the mystery. When the Corporation plays cards in a server, or to protect the server with what are called “ICE,” they play them face down. So, if the Runner wants to steal something from a server, he/she does not necessarily know what they’re getting into when they make a run at what they think is an agenda card. This creates a great amount of suspense in the game.

Like I said, this game is complex. But, this is about as much fun as I’ve had sitting at a table across from a friend. There are several factions on both sides, so the way you play can completely change from one game to the next. I can’t overstate how exciting this game is once you get past the dense rulebook.

Click for More Android Netrunner Info, Pricing and Reviews!

Best Casual Strategy Board Game - Glory to Rome

Glory to Rome is a game that you will fall in love with, but it may take a few games. Things don’t make much sense when you first start playing Glory to Rome, but play through a game or two and the process will start to slow down.
This game is for 2-5 players, with each player representing a politician in the Roman Forum deciding what is the best strategy to rebuild Rome after a devastating fire broke out. Glory to Rome is a card game, but the confusing part for new players is understanding that every card essentially has four different functions, all of which come into play depending on what action you’re taking.

Once that basic principle is understood, the game has an immense amount interesting decisions that are influenced not only by your current state of affairs as a player, but also by what other players have happening with their cards. The goal of the game is to build structures, and by doing so, gaining influence (victory points). But, that is not the only way to win. Some buildings have instant win conditions, and the Vault functions as a way for players to steal wins away from people that thought they had it wrapped up.

Click for more Glory to Rome Info, Pricing and Reviews!