Pearple’s Choice 2024-2025 Nominations

RogerBW · December 15, 2025, 2:59pm

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The Pearple’s Choice (as begun by clg6000 on the old forums) is still here! Please send your nominations by private message to @RogerBW; you may nominate in as many categories as you like, up to five items per category. (We’re using the Hugo voting rules which I can explain in more detail if you like.)

Here are the categories and a quick guide to eligibility, with some BGG search links that may help:

Best game of 2024-2025 (should have a BGG publication year of 2024+) BGG
Best [type] game of 2024-2025, where BGG pub year is 2024-2025 and [type] is each of:
- Cooperative (even if it has a competitive mode too) BGG
- Heavy (probably BGG weight >3) BGG
- Light (probably BGG weight ≤3) BGG
- Soloable (including unofficially) BGG
- Thematic (no formal definition, but what Roger means by this is something that immerses you in its world so that the mechanical decisions you’re making feel like the decisions that your entity in the game’s world would be making; examples include Firefly, ST:A, Flash Point, Spirit Island)
Best game artwork (BGG pub year is 2024-2025)
Best expansion (BGG pub year is 2024-2025; can be an expandalone but must be combinable with another game)
Best new edition/reprint/sequel (a version of this game has been published before, but this is a better one)
Erik Tengblad award for best game from an earlier year I only played for the first time in 2024-2025 (BGG pub year is earlier than 2024)
Best game review (first published in 2024-2025) (not necessarily by SU&SD)
Minutewalt award: Best socially distanced game (any game is eligible)
pillbox award: Game you’re anticipating but haven’t had a chance to get enough players over yet (any game is eligible)
Mature Pearple: best game from 2019-2020. BGG
Most Anticipated Game for 2026.

Note that while most of these categories are for games published in these years, I’m aware that there are games which were technically published earlier but that didn’t actually reach people until now. So if you want to nominate something that isn’t formally “published in 2024-2025”, just put in a note to say why it should be allowed anyway. Similarly, if your favourite light game has been given a BGG weight of 3.01…

Nominations run for a month and will close on 2025-01-15T00:00:00Z;(so that you have time to evaluate any Christmas-present games); voting will run for half a month, until 2025-02-01T00:00:00Z.

Please feel free to tell other SU&SD fans and game players in general about this thread. (I don’t do Discord/Disqus for example.) The more nominations we get, the happier I’ll be.

The easiest way to send a direct message to RogerBW with nominations is to click his name at the top of this thread and then select “ Message”.

If you are a new forum member just joining us, the forum software may prevent you from sending direct messages. If this affects you, please reply to this thread and one of the moderators will make the necessary changes to allow you to submit your votes via direct message.

Alternatively, feel free to look around, check out our subforums and read some of the threads posted by our wonderful community; by spending at least 10 minutes reading 5 or more topics/threads, you can automatically earn Trust Level 1, which is the minimum privilege level required to send PMs.

In addition: welcome to the site! I promise we will never spam you or sell your data while I am in charge.

RogerBW · January 15, 2026, 4:47pm

Technical processing of nominations

Best Game:
Selecting Galactic Cruise (12/1), Imperium: Horizons (12/1), Innovation Ultimate (12/1), KeyForge: Tokens of Change (12/1), Lifeboats: Plank of Carneades (12/1), Luthier (12/1), Panda Spin (12/1), Rock Hard: 1977 (12/1), SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (12/1), Small-Time Heroes: Base Box (12/1), Survival of the Fattest (12/1), The Anarchy (12/1), Vantage (12/1)
Eliminated Galactic Cruise (12/1), Imperium: Horizons (12/1), Innovation Ultimate (12/1), KeyForge: Tokens of Change (12/1), Lifeboats: Plank of Carneades (12/1), Luthier (12/1), Panda Spin (12/1), Rock Hard: 1977 (12/1), SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (12/1), Small-Time Heroes: Base Box (12/1), Survival of the Fattest (12/1), The Anarchy (12/1), Vantage (12/1)
Selecting Duel for Middle-Earth (15/1), Dune War for Arrakis (15/1), Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: The Trick Taking Game (15/1)
Eliminated Duel for Middle-Earth (15/1), Dune War for Arrakis (15/1), Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: The Trick Taking Game (15/1)
Selecting Artengarten / Sanctuary (20/1), Mistborn: The Deckbuilding Game (20/1), The Gang (20/1)
This elimination would leave too few nominees.
Nominees:
Artengarten / Sanctuary
Bomb Busters
Compile: Main 1
Courtisans
Flip 7
Hot Streak
Mistborn: The Deckbuilding Game
The Gang

Best Cooperative Game:
Selecting Ministry of Lost Things (12/1), Pandemic: LOTR: The Fate of the Fellowship (12/1), Take Time (12/1)
This elimination would leave too few nominees.
Nominees:
Bomb Busters
Landmarks
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: The Trick Taking Game
Ministry of Lost Things
Pandemic: LOTR: The Fate of the Fellowship
Take Time
The Gang

Best Heavy Game:
Selecting Arcs (12/1), Innovation Ultimate (12/1), Onward (12/1), Pandemic: LOTR: The Fate of the Fellowship (12/1), Rise and Fall (12/1)
Eliminated Arcs (12/1), Innovation Ultimate (12/1), Onward (12/1), Pandemic: LOTR: The Fate of the Fellowship (12/1), Rise and Fall (12/1)
Selecting Civolution (15/1), Galactic Cruise (15/1), The Anarchy (15/1)
Eliminated Civolution (15/1), Galactic Cruise (15/1), The Anarchy (15/1)
Selecting Arydia: The Paths We Dare Tread (30/1), Compile: Main 1 (30/1), Imperium: Horizons (30/1), Luthier (30/1), S.T.A.L.K.E.R. The Board Game (30/1), The Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Era (30/1)
This elimination would leave too few nominees.
Nominees:
Arydia: The Paths We Dare Tread
Compile: Main 1
Dune War for Arrakis
Imperium: Horizons
Luthier
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. The Board Game
SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
The Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Era

Best Light Game:
Selecting Café Baras (12/1), Compile: Main 1 (12/1), Harmonies (12/1), Hot Streak (12/1), Lifeboats: Plank of Carneades (12/1), Panda Spin (12/1), Small-Time Heroes: Base Box (12/1), Things in Rings (12/1), Xylotar (12/1)
Eliminated Café Baras (12/1), Compile: Main 1 (12/1), Harmonies (12/1), Hot Streak (12/1), Lifeboats: Plank of Carneades (12/1), Panda Spin (12/1), Small-Time Heroes: Base Box (12/1), Things in Rings (12/1), Xylotar (12/1)
Selecting Courtisans (30/1), Landmarks (30/1), The Gang (30/1)
This elimination would leave too few nominees.
Nominees:
Bomb Busters
Courtisans
Flip 7
Landmarks
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: The Trick Taking Game
Mistborn: The Deckbuilding Game
The Gang

Best Soloable Game:
Selecting Civolution (15/1), Dorfromantik: Sakura (15/1), The Anarchy (15/1), Vantage (15/1)
Eliminated Civolution (15/1), Dorfromantik: Sakura (15/1), The Anarchy (15/1), Vantage (15/1)
Nominees:
Artengarten / Sanctuary
Dorfromantik
French Quarter
Imperium: Horizons
Ministry of Lost Things
Small-Time Heroes: Base Box

Best Thematic Game:
Selecting Let’s Go to Japan (12/1), Nature (12/1), Pandemic: LOTR: The Fate of the Fellowship (12/1), Pax Hispanica (12/1), Tales of the Arthurian Knights (12/1)
Eliminated Let’s Go to Japan (12/1), Nature (12/1), Pandemic: LOTR: The Fate of the Fellowship (12/1), Pax Hispanica (12/1), Tales of the Arthurian Knights (12/1)
Nominees:
Arydia: The Paths We Dare Tread
Bomb Busters
Dune War for Arrakis
Imperium: Horizons
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: The Trick Taking Game
Twilight Imperium Thunder’s Edge

Best Game Artwork:
Selecting Altay (12/1), Slaughter the Dragon, Ha (12/1), Strato (12/1)
Eliminated Altay (12/1), Slaughter the Dragon, Ha (12/1), Strato (12/1)
Selecting Arcs (15/1), Duel for Middle-Earth (15/1), Undaunted Callisto 2200 (15/1)
Eliminated Arcs (15/1), Duel for Middle-Earth (15/1), Undaunted Callisto 2200 (15/1)
Selecting KeyForge: Grim Reminders (20/1), Petiquette (20/1), Small-Time Heroes: Base Box (20/1)
This elimination would leave too few nominees.
Nominees:
Arydia: The Paths We Dare Tread
Harmonies
KeyForge: Grim Reminders
Leviathan Wilds
Petiquette
Small-Time Heroes: Base Box
The Old King’s Crown
Vantage

Best Expansion:
Selecting Android: Netrunner: Elevation (12/1), Android: Netrunner: Rebellion without Rehearsal: Liberation - Part 2 (12/1), KeyForge: Grim Reminders (12/1), KeyForge: Tokens of Change (12/1), KeyForge: Winds of Exchange (12/1)
Eliminated Android: Netrunner: Elevation (12/1), Android: Netrunner: Rebellion without Rehearsal: Liberation - Part 2 (12/1), KeyForge: Grim Reminders (12/1), KeyForge: Tokens of Change (12/1), KeyForge: Winds of Exchange (12/1)
Selecting Compile: Aux 1 (30/1), Compile: Main 2 (30/1), New Frontiers: Starry Rift (30/1), Obsession Characters (30/1), Sea Salt and Paper: Extra Pepper (30/1), Space Empires 4X All Good Things (30/1), Terraforming Mars Automa (30/1), Twilight Imperium Thunder’s Edge (30/1)
This elimination would leave too few nominees.
Nominees:
Akropolis: Athena
Compile: Aux 1
Compile: Main 2
New Frontiers: Starry Rift
Obsession Characters
Sea Salt and Paper: Extra Pepper
Space Empires 4X All Good Things
Terraforming Mars Automa
Twilight Imperium Thunder’s Edge

Best New Edition/Reprint/Sequel:
Selecting Compile: Main 1 (12/1), Innovation Ultimate (12/1), Lifeboats: Plank of Carneades (12/1), Nature (12/1), Pax Hispanica (12/1)
Eliminated Compile: Main 1 (12/1), Innovation Ultimate (12/1), Lifeboats: Plank of Carneades (12/1), Nature (12/1), Pax Hispanica (12/1)
Nominees:
Cyclades Legendary
Deckers
Gloomhaven 2nd Edition
Inis 3rd Edition
Rebel Princess
Robo Rally 30th Anniversary

Erik Tengblad Award:
Selecting Age of Rail: South Africa (12/1), BattleCon: Devastation of Indies (12/1), Beyond the Sun (12/1), Chaos in the Old World (12/1), Crokinole (12/1), Fortune and Glory (12/1), Las Vegas (the Rudiger Dorn one) (12/1), Spots (12/1), Triumph and Tragedy (12/1), Truffle Shuffle (12/1)
Eliminated Age of Rail: South Africa (12/1), BattleCon: Devastation of Indies (12/1), Beyond the Sun (12/1), Chaos in the Old World (12/1), Crokinole (12/1), Fortune and Glory (12/1), Las Vegas (the Rudiger Dorn one) (12/1), Spots (12/1), Triumph and Tragedy (12/1), Truffle Shuffle (12/1)
Selecting After the Virus (15/1), Frosthaven (15/1), Knarr (15/1), Lowlands (15/1), Red Rising (15/1), Sidereal Confluence Bifurcation (15/1), Star Wars Shatterpoint (15/1), Warhammer Cursed City (15/1)
This elimination would leave too few nominees.
Nominees:
After the Virus
Earthborne Rangers
Frosthaven
Knarr
Legacy of Yu
Lowlands
Red Rising
Sidereal Confluence Bifurcation
Star Wars Shatterpoint
Underwater Cities
Warhammer Cursed City

Best Game Review:
Selecting 5 MORE Great Small Games - Shut Up and Sit Down (15/1), Arydia - No Pun Included (15/1), Power Vacuum - Shut Up and Sit Down (15/1), The Old King’s Crown - No Pun Included (15/1)
This elimination would leave too few nominees.
Nominees:
5 MORE Great Small Games - Shut Up and Sit Down
Arydia - No Pun Included
Compile Main 1 - Shut Up & Sit Down
Dracula vs Van Helsing - Shut Up & Sit Down
Power Vacuum - Shut Up and Sit Down
The Old King’s Crown - No Pun Included
Tokyo Game Market Spring 2025 Haul – 50+ Games! - ThinkerThemese
Vantage - The Dice Tower

Minutewalt Award:
Selecting Compile: Main 1 (12/1), Innovation Ultimate (12/1), Leaders (12/1), Rise and Fall (12/1), Tower Up (12/1)
Eliminated Compile: Main 1 (12/1), Innovation Ultimate (12/1), Leaders (12/1), Rise and Fall (12/1), Tower Up (12/1)
Selecting Codenames (20/1), Dungeons & Dragons 5.5E (20/1), Wavelength (20/1)
This elimination would leave too few nominees.
Nominees:
Ashes: Rise of the Phoenixborn
Codenames
Dungeons & Dragons 5.5E
Hadrian’s Wall
Revive
Vantage
Wavelength

pillbox Award:
Selecting A War of Whispers (15/1), Dune: A Game of Conquest and Diplomacy (15/1), Earth Reborn (15/1), The Undercity (15/1)
This elimination would leave too few nominees.
Nominees:
A War of Whispers
Andromeda’s Edge
Dune: A Game of Conquest and Diplomacy
Earth Reborn
Firefly: The Game - 10th Anniversary
Frostpunk: The Board Game
Guards of Atlantis II (again)
Skull King
The Undercity

Mature Pearple:
Selecting A War of Whispers (12/1), Calico (12/1), Dune Imperium (12/1), Eclipse 2nd Dawn (12/1), Letter Jam (12/1), Lost Ruins of Arnak (12/1), Pax Transhumanity (12/1), Rallyman: GT (12/1), Ride the Rails (12/1), SCOUT (12/1), Star Wars Outer Rim. (12/1), The Isle of Cats (12/1), The King’s Dilemma (12/1), Wingspan (12/1)
Eliminated A War of Whispers (12/1), Calico (12/1), Dune Imperium (12/1), Eclipse 2nd Dawn (12/1), Letter Jam (12/1), Lost Ruins of Arnak (12/1), Pax Transhumanity (12/1), Rallyman: GT (12/1), Ride the Rails (12/1), SCOUT (12/1), Star Wars Outer Rim. (12/1), The Isle of Cats (12/1), The King’s Dilemma (12/1), Wingspan (12/1)
Selecting Marvel Champions (20/1)
Eliminated Marvel Champions (20/1)
Nominees:
Beyond the Sun
Pax Pamir 2
Project L
Res Arcana
Sagani
The Crew

Most Anticipated Game:
Selecting Container (12/1), Dogs of War (12/1), Hanami (12/1), Tales of the Arabian Nights Anniversary Edition (12/1), Tornado Splash (12/1)
Eliminated Container (12/1), Dogs of War (12/1), Hanami (12/1), Tales of the Arabian Nights Anniversary Edition (12/1), Tornado Splash (12/1)
Selecting Android: Netrunner: Vantage Point (20/1), Drawing Dead (20/1), KeyForge: Draconian Measures (20/1), Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: The Trick Taking Game (20/1), Twilight Imperium 5th Edition (20/1)
This elimination would leave too few nominees.
Nominees:
Android: Netrunner: Vantage Point
Arydia: The Paths We Dare Tread
Brass: Pittsburgh
Cascadia: Alpine Lakes
Drawing Dead
KeyForge: Draconian Measures
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: The Trick Taking Game
Speakeasy
Twilight Imperium 5th Edition