I’ve decided to set an ambitious goal for myself: I’m going to review the entire BoardGameGeek Top 100. Let me explain why I’m setting this goal.
I’m going to review the entire BoardGameGeek Top 100.
First of all, those who know me well know that board games and checklists are two of my favorite things. I developed a love of board games from a young age, helping my mom with her hobby of amateur board game design. None of them ever got published, but many of the prototypes are still sitting around her house in their repurposed boxes. You’re welcome, World, for all the copies of Monopoly and Candy Land that we took out of circulation.
Secondly, even for someone who has loved board games for most of his 30 years of life, there’s still so much to explore. Tabletop gaming has come a long way over the years, and it’s been exciting to watch the hobby enter a golden age, ushered in by games like Settlers of Catan, Carcassonne, and Ticket to Ride. Those games were only the beginning, as evidenced by the fact that none of those three titans currently sits in the BoardGameGeek (“BGG”) Top 100. As of the posting of this article, over half of the games in the BGG Top 100 were published in the last five years. I have dozens of games in my collection and have played hundreds of titles in my life, but I’ve only played 21 of the games rated among the Top 100. And I’ve written zero reviews.
Over half of the games in the BGG Top 100 were published in the last five years.
Lastly, I’ve always enjoyed writing. I’m an accountant by trade (because why not go into accounting if you love writing??), so I’ve attempted over the years to find other outlets where I can do some creative writing. Over the course of these 100 reviews, I hope to find my ‘voice’ as a board game reviewer. As a reviewer, I want to:
- Cover all types of games, not just the genres I prefer or the most prevalent titles (most widely available does not equal highest rated).
- Write reviews that are fun, first and foremost — getting more people excited about the hobby of tabletop gaming.
- Develop a consistent and informative style, so that readers can determine whether they would enjoy a game from my review, even if their likes and dislikes do not align with mine.
- Learn to make blog posts that are visually appealing, picking up various tips and tricks along the way. Like block quotes.
You’re welcome, World.
So that’s why I’m setting a goal to review the BGG Top 100. In future posts, I’ll explain the BGG Top 100 and discuss the obstacles I’ll need to overcome to complete this goal.
The Top of the Table 
Consider me subscribed. I love this, Drew. Can really hear your “voice” when reading your posts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Was thinking of doing this myself. Having played 76 of the top 100 now. I estimate that somewhere next year I’ll get to 90 as i haven’t gotten around to a bunch of them which friends do have and a couple I’ve played already will go into top 100 soon enough. Only the wargames (paths of glory, commands and colors, combat commander) and some others like twilight imperium and the campaign like games will be really hard to get a play of, like Kingdom:death.
But with the current rate about 10 games reach the top 100 every year so getting complete is not really a big deal. It’s just a case of FOMO or neuroticism and you shouldn’t really bother with it imo.
If you’re going to do reviews contrast the topgames or something. Just writing some generic reviews quite late won’t be useful for anyone, there are plenty reviewers out there already who pretty much covered the entire top 100 anyway..
LikeLike
Hey Mark,
Thanks for your comment! I agree with your thoughts about the potential obstacles (e.g. more legacy games entering the top 100, the ever-changing nature of the top 100). Another potential issue is that some games have multiple editions in the top 100, like Through the Ages.
Your concerns are definitely fair, and I don’t know how exactly some of it will end up playing out. But I’m definitely more interested in the journey of seeking out these various games than achieving the eventual goal of completing a certain 100/100 at any given point in time.
Regarding the difference between my blog and the many other review sites out there– I don’t intend or expect to be the first, the most insightful, or any of that. There are some really good reviewers out there who I have great respect for and no intention to compete with.
I want this blog to really be more about the story of tracking down these games, playing them with a bunch of different groups, and learning a lot in the process. Hopefully it will be a story that can be enjoyed by gamers and non-gamers alike. Along with the reviews, I’ll be trying to post at least weekly about the journey of tracking down and playing these various games.
If it ends up being an interesting read for some people, that’s great. If it never amounts to anything more than a fun experience that I documented for myself and my friends, that’s okay too.
Hope that helps explain my reasoning and inspiration for wanting to do this blog. If you ever find yourself in the DC area and want to play one of these games, let me know!
Best,
Drew
LikeLike