The lasting appeal of board games makes them a  profitable item for retailers to have in stock. Some established  classics date as far back as the Roman Empire, while innovative new  designs capitalize on pop culture. From children´s sleepovers to their  parents´ late night parties, the following titles are making a regular  appearance on our lists.

1. Frosthaven

Opens in a new window cephalofair.com

Frosthaven Board Game

       
• Players: 1-4
           
• Playtime: 60-120 minutes
           
• Genre: Legacy, Adventure, Cooperative

Pros:

       
1. Engaging Campaign: An epic campaign with over 100 scenarios, offering countless hours of gameplay and a sense of progression as your characters evolve.
           
2. Legacy System: The legacy system introduces permanent changes to the game as you play, creating a unique and personal experience.
           
3. Deep Strategy:  Intense tactical combat and meaningful choices create a challenging and rewarding experience.
           
4. Beautiful Components: High-quality miniatures, artwork, and cardstock make the game a visual treat.
           
5. Expansive World: Explore a new frozen landscape with its own set of challenges, monsters, and secrets.

Cons:

       
1. High Price: Frosthaven is a significant investment, both in terms of money and time.
           
2. Long Playtime: Individual scenarios can take several hours to complete, making it less suitable for casual gamers.
           
3. Permanent Changes: Once you've played through the campaign, you can't replay it in its original state.
           
4. Steep Learning Curve: The game has a lot of rules and mechanics, which can be overwhelming for new players.
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2. Carnegie

   

   

   

Opens in a new window www.quined.nl    

   

Carnegie Board Game

   

   

   

       
• Players: 1-4
       
• Playtime: 90-120 minutes
       
• Genre: Eurogame, Engine-Building
   

Pros:

       
1. Strategic Depth: A complex and satisfying Eurogame with multiple paths to victory, offering plenty of replayability.
       
2. Engaging Theme: The theme of building a business empire and contributing to society is well-integrated into the gameplay.
       
3. Variable Player Powers: Each player has unique abilities and starting resources, creating asymmetrical gameplay.
       
4. High-Quality Components: The game features beautiful artwork and sturdy components.
       
5. Solo Mode: A challenging solo mode provides an enjoyable experience for those who prefer to play alone.
   

Cons:

       
1. High Complexity:  Carnegie has a lot of rules and moving parts, which can be daunting for new players.
       
2. Long Playtime: A full game can take several hours, especially with more players.
       
3. AP Prone: Some turns can involve a lot of analysis and decision-making, which can lead to downtime for other players.
       
4. Limited Player Interaction: While there's some competition for resources, the game is primarily focused on optimizing your own engine.
       
5. Availability: Due to its popularity, Carnegie might be difficult to find in stock.
   

3. Ark Nova

capstone-games.com

       
• Players: 1-4
       
• Playtime: 90-150 minutes
       
• Genre: Eurogame, Zoo Management
   

Pros:

       
1. Engaging Theme: The theme of building and managing a modern zoo is well-implemented, providing a satisfying experience.
       
2. Strategic Depth: A multitude of decisions and paths to victory offers plenty of replayability.
       
3. Variable Setup: Each game offers a different set of cards, creating unique challenges and strategies.
       
4. Solo Mode: A well-designed solo mode allows for an enjoyable single-player experience.
       
5. Beautiful Artwork: The game's artwork is stunning, immersing players in the zoo environment.
   

Cons:

       
1. Complexity: Ark Nova has a lot of rules and moving parts, which can take some time to grasp.
       
2. Long Playtime: Games can take several hours, especially with more players.
       
3. AP Prone: Some turns involve a lot of analysis and decision-making, which can lead to downtime.
       
4. Iconography: The game's iconography can be a bit overwhelming at first, requiring some reference to the rulebook.
       
5. Availability: Ark Nova's popularity has led to occasional stock shortages.
   

4. Cascadia

   

   

   

Opens in a new window

       
• Players: 1-4
       
• Playtime: 30-45 minutes
       
• Genre: Tile-laying, Set Collection
   

Pros:

       
1. Beautiful Artwork: The game features stunning artwork of various ecosystems and wildlife.
       
2. Simple Rules: The core mechanics are easy to learn, making it accessible to a wide range of players.
       
3. Strategic Depth: Despite its simplicity, there's plenty of room for strategic decision-making and planning.
       
4. Relaxing Gameplay:  The game offers a calming and enjoyable experience, perfect for casual gaming sessions.
       
5. Solo Mode: A well-designed solo mode provides a satisfying challenge for single players.
   

Cons:

       
1. Limited Player Interaction:  While there's some competition for scoring opportunities, the game is mostly focused on your own tableau.
       
2. Luck Factor: The random draw of tiles and tokens can influence the game's outcome.
       
3. Limited Replayability: While the game offers some variability, the core experience remains largely the same.
       
4. AP Prone:  Some players may experience analysis paralysis when deciding which tiles and tokens to choose.
       
5. Lack of Theme: While the artwork is beautiful, the theme of building ecosystems feels somewhat pasted on.
   

5. The Adventures of Robin Hood

   

   

   

Opens in a new window thamesandkosmos.com

   

Adventures of Robin Hood Board Game

   

   

   

       
• Players: 2-4
       
• Playtime: 60-90 minutes
       
• Genre: Cooperative, Adventure, Storytelling
   

Pros:

       
1. Immersive Theme: The game captures the spirit of Robin Hood's adventures, with rich storytelling and thematic gameplay.
       
2. 3D Pop-up Board: The unique 3D board creates a visually impressive and interactive experience.
       
3. Cooperative Gameplay: Players work together to overcome challenges and achieve their goals.
       
4. Story-Driven: The game features a branching narrative with multiple paths and outcomes.
       
5. High-Quality Components: The game includes detailed miniatures, artwork, and a beautifully designed board.
   

Cons:

       
1. Alpha Gamer Syndrome: One player may dominate the decision-making process, leaving others feeling less involved.
       
2. Limited Replayability: Once you've experienced the story, there's less incentive to play again.
       
3. Fiddly Components: The 3D board and numerous tokens can be a bit cumbersome to set up and manage.
       
4. Luck Factor: Dice rolls and card draws can influence the game's outcome.
       
5. Availability: The game might be difficult to find in stock due to its popularity.
   

6. Dune: Imperium – Rise of Ix

   

   

   

Opens in a new window dunescholar.com    

   

Dune: Imperium – Rise of Ix Board Game

   

   

   

• Players: 1-5
       
• Playtime: 60-90 minutes
       
• Genre: Deck-building, Worker Placement
   

Pros:

       
1. Expands the Base Game: Adds new content and mechanics, providing a fresh experience for existing players.
       
2. New Faction: The addition of the Ixian faction offers new strategic options and playstyles.
       
3. Increased Player Count: Allows for games with up to 5 players, increasing the social aspect.
       
4. Compatible with the Base Game: The expansion seamlessly integrates with the original Dune: Imperium.
       
5. High-Quality Components: The expansion maintains the high production values of the base game.
   

Cons:

       
1. Requires Base Game: Rise of Ix is an expansion, not a standalone game, requiring ownership of Dune: Imperium.
       
2. Increased Complexity: The new faction and mechanics add some complexity to the game.
       
3. Limited Impact: While the expansion adds new content, it doesn't drastically change the core gameplay.
       
4. Availability: The expansion might be difficult to find in stock due to its popularity.
       
5. Price:  While not as expensive as a full game, the expansion still adds to the overall cost of playing Dune: Imperium.
   

7. Everdell: Newleaf

   

   

   

Opens in a new window www.tabletoptycoon.com    

   

Everdell: Newleaf Board Game

   

   

   

       
• Players: 1-5
       
• Playtime: 40-80 minutes
       
• Genre: Worker Placement, Card Drafting
   

Pros:

Writer's Bio: Driven by a fascination with how young people learn, grow, and connect, Laura N. Larsson has spent years researching the role of play and social media in child and adolescent development. Since 2012, she has combined her ecommerce background with in-depth interviews of children and teenagers, producing insightful articles that explore the evolving interplay between play, communication, and online interaction. Read more articles by this author