Gaming Sommelier Smiley’s Board Game Recommendations By Genre – 2026

by | Apr 6, 2026 | 2026, Conventions, Games, Smiley's Corner | 0 comments

Light/Short

  1. Hot Streak
  2. Magical Athlete
  3. Rebirth
  4. Emerald Skulls
  5. River Valley Glassworks
  6. Railroad Tiles
  7. Welcome to the Moon
  8. Dinosaur Island: Rawr ‘n Write
  9. New York Zoo
  10. Map Masters
  11. Your Best Life
  12. RA and Write
  13. Helsinki Deluxe
  14. Island Siege
  15. Plakks Basketball
  16. Nebula
  17. Tetris
  18. Ganesha
  19. Bear Valley

    Medium

    1. Endeavor: Deep Sea
    2. Sanctuary
    3. Wondrous Creatures
    4. Saltfjord
    5. Barcelona
    6. Kathmandu
    7. River of Gold
    8. Wrymspan
    9. Tend
    10. Bonfire
    11. Ayar: Children of the Sun
    12. Dice Hospital
    13. Skyrise
    14. Koi
    15. Paris: New Eden
    16. Floresta
    17. Watch
    18. Atiwa
    19. Mingolf Designer
    20. Grog Island
    21. Cellulose: A Plant Cell Biology Game
    22. Vivid Memories

    Heavy(ish)

    1. SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
    2. Shackleton Base: A Journey to the Moon
    3. Civolution
    4. Orloj: The Prague Astronomical Clock
    5. Imperium: Horizons
    6. Men-Nefer
    7. Inventors of the South Tigris
    8. Inventions: Evolution of Ideas
    9. Sankore: The Pride of Mansa Musa
    10. Covenant
    11. Sabika
    12. Tindaya

      2-Player (Competitive unless noted)

      1.  War Chest
      2. Everdell Duo (can be co-operative)
      3. Unmatched: Slings and Arrows
      4. Tag Team
      5. Dungeon Mayhem
      6. Island Siege
      7. Magic Maze Tower (co-operative)

      Party/Group

      1. Snake Charmers
      2. Emerald Skulls
      3. Chit Chat
      4. Bezzerwizzer
      5. Robot or Not
      6. Karen

        Co-Operative

        1. Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship
        2. Eternal Decks
        3. Take Time
        4. Vantage
        5. Leviathan Wilds
        6. Landmarks
        7. Aeon’s End: The Descent
        8. Horrified: Dungeons & Dragons
        9. Night Cage
        10. Escape the Dark Sector
        11. Metal Gear Solid: The Board Game
        12. Tindaya
        13. Chit Chat
        14. Ni No Kuni II: The Board Game

          Card

          1. Eternal Decks
          2. Take Time
          3. Ruins
          4. LUZ
          5. Tax the Rich
          6. Dino Trix: Tarot Adventures
          7. Skull King
          8. Zoo and More
          9. Dickory
          10. Quattro Trick-Taking
          11. Idle Hands
          12. Nautilus Island
          13. Corgi Pileup

            Games the Sommelier Would Like to Play

            1. Civolution
            2. Orloj: The Prague Astronomical Clock
            3. Wondrous Creatures
            4. Magical Athlete
            5. Leviathan Wilds
            6. Rebirth
            7. Bonfire
            8. Men-Nefer
            9. Inventors of the South Tigris
            10. Night Cage
            11. Escape the Dark Sector
            12. Sankore: The Pride of Mansa Musa
            13. Ayar: Children of the Sun
            14. Dice Hospital
            15. Dinosaur Island: Rawr ‘n Write