By: Blaze Aldrich | April 25, 2024
Top 10 Most Anticipated Board Games in 2024
Do you have a board gaming addiction? Great! So do we! Amazingly, designers & publishers keep developing more and more of them. Of course most of us can't afford them all, but we can at least be up-to-date on the newest and best games that are released each year. Here are 10 incredible board games that everyone has been waiting for!
April: Star Wars Unlimited
Star Wars Unlimited is a Trading Card Game that has already arrived earlier in April. Star Wars itself is iconic with memorable characters such as Darth Vader and Han Solo. The mechanics of this card game are top notch for several reasons. First, players start out with a specific Leader and a Base. The leader is usually the most powerful card in your deck and can easily sway the game once you can play it. In addition, there are ground units and space units that can strengthen your offense and defense. Each card has unique capabilities that can create flawless action combos to destroy your opponent. If you've already played the Star Wars Deckbuilding game, which for me was a disappointment, this fixes a lot of the existing issues with first card game. Also SWU allows you to build your decks before hand with rare and unique Trading Cards. Its very impressive and a ton of fun.
May: Heat: Heavy Rain Expansion
Everyone and their momma have been waiting for Heat: Heavy Rain Expansion! Luckily for you, the expansion is going to be released in a couple of weeks from when this article will be posted. The base game, Heat, speaks for itself on how spectacular it is based on the board game being sold out every where. Once Heat comes in stock, it only takes 3 to 4 weeks for it to be sold out again. I see the same occurrence happening with Heat: Heavy Rain. So when the expansion finally arrives, DON'T WAIT! I will post a link below so you can get notified when its in stock. This expansion adds 1 other player for a total of 7 players and new effects/mechanics to the game.
June: Santorini Pantheon Edition & Riddle of the Sphinx
The original Santorini board game has been out of print for awhile now. However, there was a Kickstarter for an upgraded version, Santorini Pantheon Edition, that was started in 2023. Now its finally time for those deliveries! The Pantheon Edition is a deluxe version of Santorini with all upgraded buildings and components. In addition to that, more abilities and workers were developed to give more depth to the game. Lastly, Riddle of the Sphinx includes a co-op campaign mode that allows players to work together to solve different challenges and puzzles. Throughout the game players are following through a storyline that is captivating and enjoyable. I am not too sure yet if this game will be released in retail stores so I hope you bought a copy.
June: Axis & Allies Anniversary Edition
Axis & Allies Anniversary Edition celebrates the 40th anniversary of the legendary board game with a Deluxe Edition. This board game will contain 670 plastic miniatures, adds Italy as the third Axis nation, 80 Poker Style Chips, and much much more! Axis & Allies board game original creator Larry Harris also has designed this upgraded version. Axis & Allies Anniversary Edition will challenge you and your competitors to decide the outcome of WWII!
June: Catan New Energies
Who doesnt love Catan?! Catan New Energies board game is a new modern standalone Catan board game that makes players focus on investing in clean energy or opt for cheaper fossil fuels and as a result potentially causing disastrous effects for the island. During the game players will have the tug and pull of those two elements as well as strategizing using the original Catan mechanics mixed into one game. Usually the designer, Klaus Teuber, creates exciting expansions for the base game but this time players are able to play a whole new version of Catan that's been upgraded with unique game play and stunning artwork by Ian O'Toole.
July: Clank! Legacy 2
I'm probably the most excited about Clank! Legacy 2 board game. Clank! is a deckbuilding card game with a game board. Players utilize their extraordinary cards to move around a dungenous cave and defeat monsters all while trying to collect treasure. Not only that, but players try to move as quickly and as quietly as possible so they don't wake up the dragon. Hoping that the dragon doesnt end their entire game play and as a result lose all their points! In Clank! Legacy 2 the players' cards get modified, the board itself can change or be modified, and new missions may be asked of the players. The first Legacy game is my all time favorite board game because of the ever changing components, mechanisms, and player interaction. So much fun! Legendary!
September: Scoville Reprint
Scoville 2nd Edition board game has been long over due. The board game has been out of print for more than 10 years. Good news for everyone! Pre-orders have already begin on the publishers website. This is an extremely popular game where farmers are creating different types of spicy peppers for the town of Scoville who are obsessed with spicy! This includes a planting phase, a harvesting phase, and a fulfillment face where players move their pawns around competing in the field to discover opportunities for crossbreeding and creating the most hottest peppers imaginable.
October: Cascadia Rolling Hills
Cascadia: Rolling Hills is a roll and write version of the original board game Cascadia. Cascadia: Rolling Hills presents a captivating collection of puzzle-driven flip-and-roll-and-write games, showcasing the rich habitats and diverse wildlife of the Pacific Northwest! Engage in dice rolling, wildlife collection, and habitat card completion to populate various environments across Cascadia. Employ special actions to manipulate your dice strategically, while dynamic completion cards offer opportunities for unlocking potent combos!
December: Quacks Of Quedlinburg Duel
Quacks of Quedlinburg Duel is a 2 player take of the original Quacks of Quedlinburg board game which on its own is already fantastic! There's not a whole lot of information about this game but I am sure the board game will be just as quirky, silly, and entertaining as the original! In Quacks, that's what I call it for short, players are wizards of sorts creating potions and not letting them explode. Different ingredients give you different abilities or points during the game! Its an excellent game to introduce to new gamers or your family. If you can't wait for Duel, I suggest you at least buy the full game that's already available.
December: Unconscious Mind
Unconscious Mind board game was a Kickstarter in 2023 that will finally be delivered this year and in retail stores. Unconscious Mind is a euro-style game combining worker placement, engine building, and rondels. Place Ideas on the Meeting Table to take actions like adding tiles and interpreting dreams in Vienna. Use Insights to treat clients, revealing abilities and scoring. The game takes you back to the early 1900s, where Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud established a revolutionary theory called psychoanalysis, related to the study of the unconscious mind hence the name of the game.
Final Thoughts
Don't you wish you had enough money to buy every single new awesome board game that's released! I am excited for most of these games on the list especially Clank! & Heat. There are a ton of other games being released this year but these were the most notable ones. What other games are you looking forward to play this year? Let us know if you discovered a new game from this list? Happy Gaming!
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