BoardGameGeek (BGG) is an online forum for board gaming hobbyists and a game database that holds reviews, images and videos for over 125,600 different tabletop games, including European-style board games, wargames, and card games.[1][2] In addition to the game database, the site allows users to rate games on a 1–10 scale and publishes a ranked list of board games.[3][4][5]

BoardGameGeek
OwnerScott Alden
URLboardgamegeek.com Edit this at Wikidata
LaunchedJanuary 2000; 24 years ago (2000-01)

History

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BoardGameGeek was founded in January 2000 by Scott Alden and Derk Solko,[6] and marked its 20th anniversary on 20 January 2020.[7]

Since 2005, BoardGameGeek hosts an annual board game convention, BGG.CON, that has a focus on playing games, and where winners of the Golden Geek Awards are announced. New games are showcased and convention staff is provided to teach rules.[8] There is also an annual Spring BGG.CON which is family friendly, and an annual BGG@Sea which is held on a cruise.

In 2010, BoardGameGeek received the Diana Jones Award, which recognized it as "a resource without peer for board and card gamers, the recognized authority of this online community."[9] The New York Times has called BoardGameGeek "the hub of board gaming on the Internet."[10]

In 2020, BoardGameGeek was inducted into the Origins Award Hall of Fame.[11]

The site has branched out into other fields by using the same system for RPGs and video games (rpggeek.com and videogamegeek.com).[12]

Golden Geek Award

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Since 2006, the site annually awards the best new board games of the year with the Golden Geek Award. Winners are selected based on a vote by registered users.[13]

2006–2009

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Category 2006 2007 2008 2009
Game of the Year[14] Caylus Shogun Agricola Dominion
Best Strategy Game[15][16][17] Caylus Shogun Agricola Le Havre
Best Wargame[18] Twilight Struggle Combat Commander: Europe Hannibal: Rome vs. Carthage Combat Commander: Pacific
Best Children's Board Game[19] Nacht Der Magier Zooloretto Chateau Roquefort Sorry! Sliders
Best 2-Player Board Game[20] Twilight Struggle BattleLore and Commands & Colors: Ancients Hannibal: Rome vs. Carthage Space Hulk (third edition)
Best Family Board Game[21] Ingenious Zooloretto Thebes Pandemic
Best Party Board Game[22] Diamant Wits and Wagers Say Anything Time's Up! Deluxe
Best Card Game[23] - Caylus Magna Carta Race for the Galaxy Dominion
Best Board Game Artwork/Presentation[24] - BattleLore Jamaica Space Hulk (third edition)
Best Board Game Expansion[25] - - - Pandemic: On The Brink
Best Print & Play Board Game[26] - - - Dune Express
Best Innovative Board Game[27] - - - Space Alert

2010–2019

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Category 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Game of the Year[14] Hansa Teutonica Dominant Species Eclipse Terra Mystica Splendor Pandemic Legacy: Season 1 Scythe Gloomhaven Root Wingspan
Best Strategy Game[15] Hansa Teutonica Dominant Species Eclipse Terra Mystica Five Tribes Pandemic Legacy: Season 1 Scythe Gloomhaven Brass: Birmingham Wingspan
Best Wargame[18] Washington's War A Few Acres of Snow Sekigahara: The Unification of Japan 1775: Rebellion Fire in the Lake Churchill Falling Sky: The Gallic Revolt Against Caesar 878 Vikings: Invasions of England Hannibal & Hamilcar Undaunted: Normandy
Best Children's Board Game[19] Forbidden Island Animal Upon Animal: Balancing Bridge King of Tokyo Forbidden Desert Tales & Games: The Hare & the Tortoise - - - - -
Best 2-Player Board Game[20] Washington's War A Few Acres of Snow Android: Netrunner Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game Star Realms 7 Wonders Duel Star Wars: Rebellion Codenames: Duet KeyForge: Call of the Archons Watergate
Best Family Board Game[21] Tobago 7 Wonders King of Tokyo Love Letter Splendor Codenames Codenames: Pictures Azul The Quacks of Quedlinburg Wingspan
Best Party Board Game[22] Telestrations Dixit Odyssey King of Tokyo Love Letter Cash n' Guns 2nd Ed. Codenames Codenames: Pictures Warewords The Mind Wavelength
Best Card Game[23] Innovation 7 Cudów Świata Android: Netrunner Love Letter Star Realms 7 Wonders Duel Arkham Horror: The Card Game Century: Spice Road The Mind Wingspan
Best Board Game Artwork/Presentation[24] - Merchants & Marauders Takenoko Mice and Mystics Abyss Mysterium Scythe Photosynthesis Root Wingspan
Best Board Game Expansion[25] Dominion: Prosperity Twilight Imperium: Shards of the Throne Alien Frontiers: Factions Lords of Waterdeep: Scoundrels of Skullport 7 Wonders: Babel Ticket to Ride Map Collection: Volume 5 United Kingdom & Pennsylvania 7 Wonders Duel: Pantheon Scythe: The Wind Gambit Scythe: The Rise of Fenris Wingspan: European Expansion
Best Print & Play Board Game[26] Zombie in My Pocket The Thing D-Day Dice: Free Trial Version Tiny Epic Kingdoms & Coin Age ...and then we held hands... Dune: The dice game Star Trek: The Dice Game My Little Scythe Orchard: A 9 card solitaire game TINYforming Mars
Best Innovative Board Game[27] Catacombs A Few Acres of Snow Risk: Legacy Love Letter Dead of Winter: A Crossroads Game Pandemic Legacy: Season 1 Captain Sonar Gloomhaven Root Wingspan
Best Thematic Board Game[28] War of the Ring Collector's Edition Mansions of Madness Mage Knight Board Game Robinson Crusoe: Adventure on the Cursed Island Dead of Winter: A Crossroads Game Pandemic Legacy: Season 1 Scythe Gloomhaven Root Dune
Best Abstract Board Game[29] FITS Paris Connection Kingdom Builder Tash-Kalar: Arena of Legends Patchwork - - - - -
Best Cooperative Game[30] - - - - - - Mechs vs. Minions Gloomhaven The Mind The Crew: The Quest For Planet Nine
Best Solo Game[31] - - - - Imperial Settlers Tiny Epic Galaxies Scythe Gloomhaven That's Pretty Clever Wingspan
RPG and Video Game awards

RPG and Video game awards were introduced in 2014 and awarded through 2017. Only 1 category was awarded in 2018, and none in following years.

Category 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Best RPG Artwork/Presentation Player's Handbook (D&D 5e) Mouse Guard (2nd Edition) Volo's Guide to Monsters Xanathar's Guide to Everything -
Best RPG Supplement Winner Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set The Dracula Dossier: Director's Handbook Volo's Guide to Monsters Xanathar's Guide to Everything -
RPG of the Year Dungeon Master's Guide (D&D 5e)

Player's Handbook (D&D 5e)
Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)

Blades in the Dark 7th Sea Tales from the Loop -
Best Indie Video Game Winner Star Realms Rocket League Stardew Valley Cuphead -
Best Mobile/Handheld Video Game Star Realms Fallout Shelter Twilight Struggle Through the Ages -
Best Video Game Visuals/Artwork The Banner Saga The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Overwatch The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild -
Most Innovative Video Game Galaxy Trucker - Pokémon GO The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild -
Video Game of the Year Winner Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft Multiple Winners Multiple Winners Multiple Winners -
Best Board Game App Winner - - Twilight Struggle Through the Ages Ganz Schön Clever

2020–present

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2020 saw many awards replaced with new categories, such as "Board Game of the Year" replaced with "Game of the Year, Light", "Medium" and "Heavy".

Category 2020 2021 2022 2023
Game of the Year, Light[32] MicroMacro: Crime City Cascadia Cat in the Box: Deluxe Edition Thunder Road: Vendetta
Game of the Year, Medium[33] Lost Ruins of Arnak The Crew: Mission Deep Sea Heat: Pedal to the Metal Earth
Game of the Year, Heavy[34] Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion Ark Nova Carnegie Hegemony: Lead Your Class to Victory
Best Wargame[18] Imperial Struggle Undaunted: Reinforcements Undaunted: Stalingrad Undaunted: Battle of Britain
Best 2-Player Board Game[20] Undaunted: North Africa Radlands Splendor Duel Sky Team
Best Card Game[23] Dune: Imperium - - -
Best Board Game Artwork & Presentation[24] On Mars Sleeping Gods Flamecraft The Castles of Burgundy: Special Edition
Best Board Game Expansion[25] Wingspan: Oceania Expansion Lost Ruins of Arnak: Expedition Leaders Dune: Imperium – Rise of Ix Ark Nova: Marine Worlds
Best Print & Play Board Game[26] 7 Wonders Duel: Solo Gloomholdin' Aquamarine Waypoints
Most Innovative Board Game[27] MicroMacro: Crime City Oath: Chronicles of Empire and Exile Cat in the Box: Deluxe Edition Hegemony: Lead Your Class to Victory
Best Thematic Board Game[28] Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion Sleeping Gods Heat: Pedal to the Metal Hegemony: Lead Your Class to Victory
Best Cooperative Game[30] Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion The Crew: Mission Deep Sea Return to Dark Tower Sky Team
Best Solo Board Game[31] Under Falling Skies Final Girl Turing Machine Legacy of Yu
Best Zoomable Game[35] Forgotten Waters - - -
Best Party Game[22] - So Clover! Ready Set Bet That's Not a Hat
Best Podcast So Very Wrong About Games Board Game Barrage This Game Is Broken One Stop Co-Op Shop
Best Board Game App Root (2020) Gloomhaven Everdell Unmatched: Digital Edition

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Woods, Stewart (2009). Eurogames: The Design, Culture and Play of Modern European Board Games. McFarland. ISBN 978-0786467976.
  2. ^ "10 most popular board games among Board Game Geek readers". The Mercury News. 2020-12-07. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  3. ^ Riese, Monica (2016-09-25). "The 10 best board games for families". The Daily Dot. Archived from the original on 2019-05-26. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  4. ^ Roeder, Oliver (2015-01-22). "Stop Playing Monopoly With Your Kids (And Play These Games Instead)". FiveThirtyEight. Archived from the original on 2019-05-26. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  5. ^ Anderson, Nate. "Pandemic Legacy is the best board game ever—but is it "fun?"". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 2021-03-08. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  6. ^ Woods, Stewart (2012). Eurogames: The Design, Culture and Play of Modern European Board Games. McFarland. p. 121. ISBN 9780786490653.
  7. ^ Damerst, Lincoln (20 January 2020). "Happy 20th Anniversary BGG". Board Game Geek. Archived from the original on April 17, 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  8. ^ Morgan, Matt. "13 New Tabletop Games for Winter - The Best of BGG Con". The Escapist. Archived from the original on 2018-11-16. Retrieved 2016-11-25.
  9. ^ "The 2010 Award for Excellence in Gaming". The Diana Jones Award. 23 May 2015. Archived from the original on 2021-03-09. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  10. ^ Draper, Kevin (August 1, 2019). "Should Board Gamers Play the Roles of Racists, Slavers and Nazis?". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 24 February 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  11. ^ "Academy - Hall of Fame". www.originsawards.net.
  12. ^ "Role-Playing Games for People Who Don't Like Dungeons & Dragons". Lifehacker. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  13. ^ Hall, Charlie (2015-02-13). "The best tabletop RPGs of 2014, finalists from Board Game Geek". Polygon. Archived from the original on 2019-05-26. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  14. ^ a b "Golden Geek Board Game of the Year | Award Category | BoardGameGeek". boardgamegeek.com.
  15. ^ a b "BoardGameGeek | Gaming Unplugged Since 2000". boardgamegeek.com.
  16. ^ "2009 Golden Geek Best Gamer's Board Game Winner | Board Game Honor | BoardGameGeek". boardgamegeek.com.
  17. ^ "Golden Geek Best Strategy Board Game | Award Category | BoardGameGeek". boardgamegeek.com.
  18. ^ a b c "Golden Geek Best Wargame | Award Category | BoardGameGeek". boardgamegeek.com.
  19. ^ a b "Golden Geek Best Children's Board Game | Award Category | BoardGameGeek". boardgamegeek.com.
  20. ^ a b c "Golden Geek Best 2-Player Board Game | Award Category | BoardGameGeek". boardgamegeek.com.
  21. ^ a b "Golden Geek Best Family Board Game | Award Category | BoardGameGeek". boardgamegeek.com.
  22. ^ a b c "Golden Geek Best Party Board Game | Award Category | BoardGameGeek". boardgamegeek.com.
  23. ^ a b c "Golden Geek Best Card Game | Award Category | BoardGameGeek". boardgamegeek.com.
  24. ^ a b c "Golden Geek Best Board Game Artwork & Presentation | Award Category | BoardGameGeek". boardgamegeek.com.
  25. ^ a b c "Golden Geek Best Board Game Expansion | Award Category | BoardGameGeek". boardgamegeek.com.
  26. ^ a b c "Golden Geek Best Print & Play Board Game | Award Category | BoardGameGeek". boardgamegeek.com.
  27. ^ a b c "Golden Geek Most Innovative Board Game | Award Category | BoardGameGeek". boardgamegeek.com.
  28. ^ a b "Golden Geek Best Thematic Board Game | Award Category | BoardGameGeek". boardgamegeek.com.
  29. ^ "Golden Geek Best Abstract Board Game | Award Category | BoardGameGeek". boardgamegeek.com.
  30. ^ a b "Golden Geek Best Cooperative Board Game | Award Category | BoardGameGeek". boardgamegeek.com.
  31. ^ a b "Golden Geek Best Solo Board Game | Award Category | BoardGameGeek". boardgamegeek.com.
  32. ^ "Golden Geek Light Game of the Year". BoardGameGeek. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  33. ^ "Golden Geek Medium Game of the Year". BoardGameGeek. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  34. ^ "Golden Geek Heavy Game of the Year". BoardGameGeek. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  35. ^ "Golden Geek Best Zoomable Board Game | Award Category | BoardGameGeek". boardgamegeek.com.
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