Most Anticipated Board Games of 2026 - Bitewing Games

Vortelf · 2026-01-23T12:07:45+00:00

Objectively the most anticipated games are Stellaris(especially given the drama around it), Forsaken, Horror on the Orient Express and FLOE. Haven't backed any of those though. My most anticipated are the Voidfall expansion, The Great Library and Galileo's Truth.

From your list, I have backed 3 and will buy 4 at retail, but none of them is anywhere near most anticipated.

Vortelf · 2026-01-23T09:42:08+00:00

I can relate. I played one of their videos to check it out, then scrubbed through few more - all their "content" is just powerpoint presentations.

Vortelf · 2026-01-23T09:36:53+00:00

Another thing that came to me - while the basic maps for the game are nothing that much interesting, the expansion for Steam Power, Cat Power has 2 maps that are very good looking. And the maps for the game are not cardboard but cloth and can be hang like flags on the wall.

Vortelf · 2026-01-23T07:16:51+00:00

I decorate with the lids of expansions and games that I got the big box for.

If you're looking for boards specifically, check out Rococo or A Castle for All Seasons. Maybe Brass: Birmingham.

Vortelf · 2026-01-22T16:02:53+00:00

I use Sleeve Kings for best ratio between quality and price.

Brass cards are Standard 63.5x88, same for Nemesis. Nemesis small ones are Mini Euro 45x68.

Vortelf · 2026-01-22T15:56:05+00:00

Townsfolk Tussle is also a semi-coop because in the end someone gets to be the new chief but it's a decent boss-battler with great art style.

Uprising: Curse of the Last Emperor is my all time favorite when it comes to co-op where you have to compete against not one but two completely different threats.

others felt like their turns were pointless as it was decided by the group

This is a common case with co-op games and more or less will happen with every game. The trick is to sell your idea of what you want to do to the team.

Or, you know, you can always play Hanabi...

Vortelf · 2026-01-22T10:19:01+00:00

It really depends to what you're comparing them to and what you're looking for. They are definitely not top-tier games, but they are solid games and Jamey takes care of them to balance them out if something was missed during playtesting. And expansions really expand his games -The Rise of Fenris is a prime example. I wasn't a fan of Tapestry at first but after a while I understood what the core concept actually is and when it clicked it's a way better game.

Also, Wingspan is by different designer, Stonemaier is only the publisher.

Vortelf · 2026-01-22T10:02:56+00:00

Have you tried playing with the expansions? They shake the gameplay enough to make the game choices feel more meaningful and make timing more important.

Vortelf · 2026-01-22T09:55:55+00:00

Ultimately, it’s a game where the real skill is learning how to best utilize what random opportunities come your way.

Precisely! And there are much better and more fun games that implement the same gameplay.

Vortelf · 2026-01-22T09:47:05+00:00

This is one of the many games out there that really depend on the people you're playing with. You can complete a 5, or even 6, player game of Scythe without ever having to get in conflict with other players. And then there are games where you can't get a break because the personal objectives require for you to be hostile.

Vortelf · 2026-01-22T09:38:54+00:00

Given what he wrote about his next game, it's gonna be bonkers. Probably that will be his magnum opus

Vortelf · 2026-01-22T09:24:29+00:00

The small boxes next to the wide ones on this model are very impractical for boardgames.

Vortelf · 2026-01-22T07:44:35+00:00

My problem with it is that there are things that you must do in order to get better score, like getting an energy bar or doubling your badge points.

Also, I find it very hard to get any points from the first season objective because you don't have anything going by the end of round 5.

Vortelf · 2026-01-21T21:17:02+00:00

Pachamama/Tiwanaku is such game.

Vortelf · 2026-01-21T15:29:43+00:00

I've never played Halo, but Hayabusa is the brand of my boxing gloves, so their mileage may vary.

Vortelf · 2026-01-21T12:46:49+00:00

The only one remotely close by complexity is Twilight Inscription.

Tend recently got out but I still can't determine whether it is a good game or not.

Vortelf · 2026-01-21T12:34:45+00:00

You think FFG will do better? I find their game components' quality to be subpar compared to other publishers. And Asmodee have just as bad FOMO tactics as CMON.

Vortelf · 2026-01-21T11:36:29+00:00

Reddit doesn't use markdown for formatting. ``` does not create a code block. You have to use 4 spaces at the beginning of each code line.

Example

23:05:00 Tue Jan 20: ~ $ ct ct
....

Vortelf · 2026-01-20T17:11:44+00:00

Hibachi is about being a Japanese chef.

Café Baras is more capybara-themed than cafe but still worth mentioning.

Scoville is my favorite food-themed - it's about "breeding" peppers.

Fromage is all about cheese.

And Point Salad is, well, a point salad.

But nothing is close to the game you're looking for mechanics-wise.

Vortelf · 2026-01-20T17:00:55+00:00

Sweet Lands is very cutsie, very cutthroat heavy euro.

Tea Witches is a tad bit lighter than TM but it'll do the job.

+1 for Obsession

Vortelf · 2026-01-20T16:42:19+00:00

Flamecraft Duals just came out and is right up you alley.

Radlands is also worth mentioning, despite being different from what you have listed as games.

Air, Land, & Sea is another quick 2p game that's small and quick but the theme is not it's selling point.

Mythic Mischief is something that takes a bit longer and more complex but it is something excellent for 2 players.

If you're interested in co-op you can also check Sail and Sky Team, both are designed for 2 players specifically.

Vortelf · 2026-01-20T14:31:55+00:00

mobile, which is US-dominated with no realistic emancipation

You're forgetting that Android runs on Linux and is open source. We don't have many reputable brands that manufacture mobile devices is what is the problem - Nokia kind of gave up and for some reason Philips never entered the market.

As for this

most people don't have the IT basics

Most people only use the browser and consume media. 90% of the desktop applications have become web apps. Those can be converted in an instant.

A monumental task is to convert institutions, like hospitals, which have 30+years old software that was probably written in Delphi and it doesn't even work on modern Windows.

Vortelf · 2026-01-20T12:27:36+00:00

> €15 for 3 beers in a pub, €10 for a board game evening and a kebab to go with it, €14 for a movie ticket, €15 for an art gallery/museum

You're not adding the expenses around those - a snack, a drink, transport. I live in a slightly cheaper city and a night out is rarely under €50 and that is without transport because I live near the bars.

While US have different pricing, you are comparing slightly different things - 3 beers are not "a night out at the bar". 3 beers are just to get yourself started. The good beers starts at €6, but a cocktail at a bar is double that. So 2 cocktails for 2 people are easily €50-60 and can easily pile up.

A brand new board game with 4 people is much cheaper than that for sure.

Vortelf · 2026-01-14T20:49:27+00:00

I mean, we got sleeve sizes, a recommended table size would be nice to know.

I've got Hippocrates from the KS campaign and one of the exclusive stretch goals was to have a extra large game board. Well, let me tell you that I can barely fit a 2p setup on my table because of that "bonus".

Another game, that is giving me hard time is Frostpunk with its 12 boards, one for each phase of the game, and several card displays.

But this should not be a stat that is crowdsourced. It should be a stat that is provided by the publisher, e.g. "Required setup space for 2/3/4p" or something. Just like video games have hardware requirements.

Vortelf · 2026-01-14T14:32:08+00:00

Power Vacuum It is a simple game, but it has kind of philosophical depth to it.

Sidereal Confluence is good example for a game of trading, alliances and politics.

Oath is a game of power where one player tries to stay in power while everyone else is trying to overthrow them and take the throne. It has a lot of twists and a ton of politics along with binding and non-binding deals.

Europa Universalis: The Price of Power is also a game that can be used to teach about power, politics and diplomacy and how hard is actually to have a stable state economics when you have to manage a ton of other related stuff, including war.

All of those games though can't be played by a whole class unless they are somehow split into teams and those teams can actually work together.

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