Pearple's Choice 2021: The Results!

RogerBW · 4 February 2022 10:20

It’s been an odd year: SVWAG reckon it was a great year for games, but many of us have had a combination of difficulty in playing at all and a generally lacklustre feel about new releases. Even so, The Pearple Have Spoken!

Best Game

I suspect not a huge surprise, but this one’s clearly very popular, and possibly helped by the forum’s ongoing PBF campaign (thanks to @Benkyo for putting lots of work into that): it’s Oath.

(Photo by BGG:Hipopotam, cc-by-sa)

Best Cooperative Game

With something of a twist from the fixed structure of its first iteration, the clear winner here is The Crew: Mission Deep Sea.

(Photo by BGG:kalchio, cc-by-sa-nc)

Best Heavy Game

The new Kemet is a strong contender, but the winner here is also Oath.

(Photo by BGG:The Innocent, cc-by-sa)

Best Light Game

Some competition here (and some people clearly have an idea of a light game that isn’t the same as others’), but in the end trains always prevail: Railroad Ink Challenge.

(Photo by BGG:kalchio, cc-by-sa-nc)

Best Soloable Game

Trains always prevail. But not completely: the joint winner with Railroad Ink Challenge is Sleeping Gods.

(Photo by BGG:kalchio, cc-by-sa-nc)

Best Thematic Game

Really, what is a thematic game? Well, Oath apparently.

(Photo by BGG:The Innocent, cc-by-sa)

Best Game Artwork

And, well, fair enough. Oath.

(Photo by BGG:Hipopotam, cc-by-sa)

Best Expansion

Trains! But not completely: Railroad Ink: Lush Green Edition shares this honour with Chronicles of Crime: 2400. (But nobody on BGG, including the publisher, has uploaded a freely reusable image from that, so instead here’s a train.)

Erik Tengblad Award

A perenially popular category: the best game from an earlier year that we didn’t find out about until 2021. Another shared victory here: Spirit Island (one of my own first-played-in-2021) stands next to classic Knizia Tigris and Euphrates.

(Photo by BGG:The Innocent, cc-by-sa)

(Photo by BGG:kilroy_locke, cc-by-sa)

Best Game Review

There were some very good ones this year, but I was unsurprised to see this going to Tom Brewster’s SU&SD review of Oath.

Minutewalt Award

The best socially distanced game: old favourite Twilight Struggle.

(Photo by BGG:ohgeetee, cc-by-sa)

pillbox Award

The game we’re most anticipating, but haven’t had a chance to get enough people over to play yet… is Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy.

(Photo by BGG:blownfreaks, cc-by-sa)

anti-pillbox Award

And the game we have finally had the chance to get to the table, and it was worth it… is shared by Hansa Teutonica and Xia: Legends of a Drift System.

But I’ve just done a picture of spaceships on hex tiles, so here’s some brown.

(Photo by BGG:zgabor, public domain)

Mature Pearple

And finally, harking back five years to the best game of 2016… my word, some very good stuff here. But in the end it came down to Flamme Rouge.

(Photo by BGG:akapastorguy, cc-by-sa)

Many thanks to everyone who nominated or voted. Power to the Pearple!

RogerBW · 4 February 2022 10:22

Vote analysis log, for the terminally curious

Best Game:

12 ballot(s)

Metaround 1
Round 1
Oath: 5
The Crew: Mission Deep Sea: 3
Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed: 2
Bristol 1350: 1
Bullet♥: 1
No Award: 0
Unmatched: Battle of Legends Volume 2: 0
Total: 12
No clear winner; potentially eliminating No Award, Unmatched: Battle of Legends Volume 2
Actually eliminating No Award, Unmatched: Battle of Legends Volume 2
Round 2
Oath: 5
The Crew: Mission Deep Sea: 3
Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed: 2
Bristol 1350: 1
Bullet♥: 1
Total: 12
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Bristol 1350, Bullet♥
Actually eliminating Bristol 1350, Bullet♥
Round 3
Oath: 5
The Crew: Mission Deep Sea: 3
Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed: 2
Total: 10
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed
Actually eliminating Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed
Round 4
Oath: 5
The Crew: Mission Deep Sea: 3
Total: 8
Winner: Oath

Metaround 2
Round 1
The Crew: Mission Deep Sea: 3
Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed: 2
Bristol 1350: 1
Bullet♥: 1
No Award: 0
Unmatched: Battle of Legends Volume 2: 0
Total: 7
No clear winner; potentially eliminating No Award, Unmatched: Battle of Legends Volume 2
Actually eliminating No Award, Unmatched: Battle of Legends Volume 2
Round 2
The Crew: Mission Deep Sea: 3
Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed: 2
Bristol 1350: 1
Bullet♥: 1
Total: 7
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Bristol 1350, Bullet♥
Actually eliminating Bristol 1350, Bullet♥
Round 3
The Crew: Mission Deep Sea: 3
Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed: 2
Total: 5
Winner: The Crew: Mission Deep Sea

Metaround 3
Round 1
Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed: 2
Bristol 1350: 1
Bullet♥: 1
No Award: 0
Unmatched: Battle of Legends Volume 2: 0
Total: 4
No clear winner; potentially eliminating No Award, Unmatched: Battle of Legends Volume 2
Actually eliminating No Award, Unmatched: Battle of Legends Volume 2
Round 2
Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed: 2
Bristol 1350: 1
Bullet♥: 1
Total: 4
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Bristol 1350, Bullet♥
Actually eliminating Bristol 1350, Bullet♥
Round 3
Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed: 2
Total: 2
Winner: Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed

Metaround 4
Round 1
Bristol 1350: 1
Bullet♥: 1
No Award: 0
Unmatched: Battle of Legends Volume 2: 0
Total: 2
No clear winner; potentially eliminating No Award, Unmatched: Battle of Legends Volume 2
Actually eliminating No Award, Unmatched: Battle of Legends Volume 2
Round 2
Bristol 1350: 1
Bullet♥: 1
Total: 2
Winner: Bristol 1350, Bullet♥

Metaround 5
Round 1
No Award: 0
Unmatched: Battle of Legends Volume 2: 0
Total: 0
Winners 0 vs No Award 0
Winner: No Award, Unmatched: Battle of Legends Volume 2

Best Cooperative Game:

11 ballot(s)

Metaround 1
Round 1
The Crew: Mission Deep Sea: 6
Sleeping Gods: 2
Bullet♥: 1
Mind MGMT: 1
Unfathomable: 1
Descent: 0
Inspector Mouse: The Great Escape: 0
No Award: 0
Total: 11
Winner: The Crew: Mission Deep Sea

Metaround 2
Round 1
Sleeping Gods: 2
Bullet♥: 1
Mind MGMT: 1
Unfathomable: 1
Descent: 0
Inspector Mouse: The Great Escape: 0
No Award: 0
Total: 5
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Descent, Inspector Mouse: The Great Escape, No Award
Actually eliminating Descent, Inspector Mouse: The Great Escape, No Award
Round 2
Sleeping Gods: 2
Bullet♥: 1
Mind MGMT: 1
Unfathomable: 1
Total: 5
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Bullet♥, Mind MGMT, Unfathomable
Actually eliminating Bullet♥, Mind MGMT, Unfathomable
Round 3
Sleeping Gods: 2
Total: 2
Winner: Sleeping Gods

Metaround 3
Round 1
Bullet♥: 1
Mind MGMT: 1
Unfathomable: 1
Descent: 0
Inspector Mouse: The Great Escape: 0
No Award: 0
Total: 3
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Descent, Inspector Mouse: The Great Escape, No Award
Actually eliminating Descent, Inspector Mouse: The Great Escape, No Award
Round 2
Bullet♥: 1
Mind MGMT: 1
Unfathomable: 1
Total: 3
Winner: Bullet♥, Mind MGMT, Unfathomable

Metaround 4
Round 1
Descent: 0
Inspector Mouse: The Great Escape: 0
No Award: 0
Total: 0
Winners 2 vs No Award 0
Winner: Descent, Inspector Mouse: The Great Escape, No Award

Best Heavy Game:

11 ballot(s)

Metaround 1
Round 1
Oath: 4
Kemet: Blood and Sand: 3
Sleeping Gods: 2
Blood on the Clocktower: 1
Steampunk Rally Fusion: 1
Mercado de Lisboa: 0
No Award: 0
The Crew: Mission Deep Sea: 0
Total: 11
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Mercado de Lisboa, No Award, The Crew: Mission Deep Sea
Actually eliminating Mercado de Lisboa, No Award, The Crew: Mission Deep Sea
Round 2
Oath: 4
Kemet: Blood and Sand: 3
Sleeping Gods: 2
Blood on the Clocktower: 1
Steampunk Rally Fusion: 1
Total: 11
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Blood on the Clocktower, Steampunk Rally Fusion
Actually eliminating Blood on the Clocktower, Steampunk Rally Fusion
Round 3
Oath: 4
Kemet: Blood and Sand: 3
Sleeping Gods: 2
Total: 9
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Sleeping Gods
Actually eliminating Sleeping Gods
Round 4
Oath: 4
Kemet: Blood and Sand: 3
Total: 7
Winner: Oath

Metaround 2
Round 1
Kemet: Blood and Sand: 3
Sleeping Gods: 2
Blood on the Clocktower: 1
Steampunk Rally Fusion: 1
Mercado de Lisboa: 0
No Award: 0
The Crew: Mission Deep Sea: 0
Total: 7
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Mercado de Lisboa, No Award, The Crew: Mission Deep Sea
Actually eliminating Mercado de Lisboa, No Award, The Crew: Mission Deep Sea
Round 2
Kemet: Blood and Sand: 3
Sleeping Gods: 2
Blood on the Clocktower: 1
Steampunk Rally Fusion: 1
Total: 7
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Blood on the Clocktower, Steampunk Rally Fusion
Actually eliminating Blood on the Clocktower, Steampunk Rally Fusion
Round 3
Kemet: Blood and Sand: 3
Sleeping Gods: 2
Total: 5
Winner: Kemet: Blood and Sand

Metaround 3
Round 1
Sleeping Gods: 2
Blood on the Clocktower: 1
Steampunk Rally Fusion: 1
Mercado de Lisboa: 0
No Award: 0
The Crew: Mission Deep Sea: 0
Total: 4
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Mercado de Lisboa, No Award, The Crew: Mission Deep Sea
Actually eliminating Mercado de Lisboa, No Award, The Crew: Mission Deep Sea
Round 2
Sleeping Gods: 2
Blood on the Clocktower: 1
Steampunk Rally Fusion: 1
Total: 4
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Blood on the Clocktower, Steampunk Rally Fusion
Actually eliminating Blood on the Clocktower, Steampunk Rally Fusion
Round 3
Sleeping Gods: 2
Total: 2
Winner: Sleeping Gods

Metaround 4
Round 1
Blood on the Clocktower: 1
Steampunk Rally Fusion: 1
Mercado de Lisboa: 0
No Award: 0
The Crew: Mission Deep Sea: 0
Total: 2
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Mercado de Lisboa, No Award, The Crew: Mission Deep Sea
Actually eliminating Mercado de Lisboa, No Award, The Crew: Mission Deep Sea
Round 2
Blood on the Clocktower: 1
Steampunk Rally Fusion: 1
Total: 2
Winner: Blood on the Clocktower, Steampunk Rally Fusion

Metaround 5
Round 1
Mercado de Lisboa: 0
No Award: 0
The Crew: Mission Deep Sea: 0
Total: 0
Winners 4 vs No Award 0
Winner: Mercado de Lisboa, No Award, The Crew: Mission Deep Sea

Best Light Game:

11 ballot(s)

Metaround 1
Round 1
Railroad Ink Challenge: 4
Bullet♥: 2
Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed: 2
Bristol 1350: 1
Mind MGMT: 1
Unfathomable: 1
Art Robbery: 0
Canvas: 0
Inspector Mouse: The Great Escape: 0
No Award: 0
Total: 11
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Art Robbery, Canvas, Inspector Mouse: The Great Escape, No Award
Actually eliminating Art Robbery, Canvas, Inspector Mouse: The Great Escape, No Award
Round 2
Railroad Ink Challenge: 4
Bullet♥: 2
Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed: 2
Bristol 1350: 1
Mind MGMT: 1
Unfathomable: 1
Total: 11
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Bristol 1350, Mind MGMT, Unfathomable
Actually eliminating Bristol 1350, Mind MGMT, Unfathomable
Round 3
Railroad Ink Challenge: 4
Bullet♥: 2
Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed: 2
Total: 8
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Bullet♥, Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed
Actually eliminating Bullet♥, Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed
Round 4
Railroad Ink Challenge: 4
Total: 4
Winner: Railroad Ink Challenge

Metaround 2
Round 1
Bullet♥: 2
Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed: 2
Bristol 1350: 1
Mind MGMT: 1
Unfathomable: 1
Art Robbery: 0
Canvas: 0
Inspector Mouse: The Great Escape: 0
No Award: 0
Total: 7
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Art Robbery, Canvas, Inspector Mouse: The Great Escape, No Award
Actually eliminating Art Robbery, Canvas, Inspector Mouse: The Great Escape, No Award
Round 2
Bullet♥: 2
Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed: 2
Bristol 1350: 1
Mind MGMT: 1
Unfathomable: 1
Total: 7
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Bristol 1350, Mind MGMT, Unfathomable
Actually eliminating Bristol 1350, Mind MGMT, Unfathomable
Round 3
Bullet♥: 2
Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed: 2
Total: 4
Winner: Bullet♥, Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed

Metaround 3
Round 1
Bristol 1350: 1
Mind MGMT: 1
Unfathomable: 1
Art Robbery: 0
Canvas: 0
Inspector Mouse: The Great Escape: 0
No Award: 0
Total: 3
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Art Robbery, Canvas, Inspector Mouse: The Great Escape, No Award
Actually eliminating Art Robbery, Canvas, Inspector Mouse: The Great Escape, No Award
Round 2
Bristol 1350: 1
Mind MGMT: 1
Unfathomable: 1
Total: 3
Winner: Bristol 1350, Mind MGMT, Unfathomable

Metaround 4
Round 1
Art Robbery: 0
Canvas: 0
Inspector Mouse: The Great Escape: 0
No Award: 0
Total: 0
Winners 3 vs No Award 0
Winner: Art Robbery, Canvas, Inspector Mouse: The Great Escape, No Award

Best Soloable Game:

9 ballot(s)

Metaround 1
Round 1
Railroad Ink Challenge: 3
Sleeping Gods: 3
Bullet♥: 2
Hadrian’s Wall: 1
Chronicles of Crime: 2400: 0
Descent: 0
Destinies: 0
No Award: 0
Storm Above the Reich: 0
Total: 9
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Chronicles of Crime: 2400, Descent, Destinies, No Award, Storm Above the Reich
Actually eliminating Chronicles of Crime: 2400, Descent, Destinies, No Award, Storm Above the Reich
Round 2
Railroad Ink Challenge: 3
Sleeping Gods: 3
Bullet♥: 2
Hadrian’s Wall: 1
Total: 9
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Hadrian’s Wall
Actually eliminating Hadrian’s Wall
Round 3
Railroad Ink Challenge: 3
Sleeping Gods: 3
Bullet♥: 2
Total: 8
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Bullet♥
Actually eliminating Bullet♥
Round 4
Railroad Ink Challenge: 3
Sleeping Gods: 3
Total: 6
Winner: Railroad Ink Challenge, Sleeping Gods

Metaround 2
Round 1
Bullet♥: 2
Hadrian’s Wall: 1
Chronicles of Crime: 2400: 0
Descent: 0
Destinies: 0
No Award: 0
Storm Above the Reich: 0
Total: 3
Winner: Bullet♥

Metaround 3
Round 1
Hadrian’s Wall: 1
Chronicles of Crime: 2400: 0
Descent: 0
Destinies: 0
No Award: 0
Storm Above the Reich: 0
Total: 1
Winner: Hadrian’s Wall

Metaround 4
Round 1
Chronicles of Crime: 2400: 0
Descent: 0
Destinies: 0
No Award: 0
Storm Above the Reich: 0
Total: 0
Winners 2 vs No Award 0
Winner: Chronicles of Crime: 2400, Descent, Destinies, No Award, Storm Above the Reich

Best Thematic Game:

10 ballot(s)

Metaround 1
Round 1
Oath: 4
Kemet: Blood and Sand: 2
Summoner Wars 2nd edition: 2
Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed: 1
Unfathomable: 1
Burgle Bros 2: 0
No Award: 0
Roll Camera: 0
Total: 10
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Burgle Bros 2, No Award, Roll Camera
Actually eliminating Burgle Bros 2, No Award, Roll Camera
Round 2
Oath: 4
Kemet: Blood and Sand: 2
Summoner Wars 2nd edition: 2
Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed: 1
Unfathomable: 1
Total: 10
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed, Unfathomable
Actually eliminating Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed, Unfathomable
Round 3
Oath: 4
Kemet: Blood and Sand: 2
Summoner Wars 2nd edition: 2
Total: 8
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Kemet: Blood and Sand, Summoner Wars 2nd edition
Actually eliminating Kemet: Blood and Sand, Summoner Wars 2nd edition
Round 4
Oath: 4
Total: 4
Winner: Oath

Metaround 2
Round 1
Kemet: Blood and Sand: 2
Summoner Wars 2nd edition: 2
Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed: 1
Unfathomable: 1
Burgle Bros 2: 0
No Award: 0
Roll Camera: 0
Total: 6
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Burgle Bros 2, No Award, Roll Camera
Actually eliminating Burgle Bros 2, No Award, Roll Camera
Round 2
Kemet: Blood and Sand: 2
Summoner Wars 2nd edition: 2
Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed: 1
Unfathomable: 1
Total: 6
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed, Unfathomable
Actually eliminating Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed, Unfathomable
Round 3
Kemet: Blood and Sand: 2
Summoner Wars 2nd edition: 2
Total: 4
Winner: Kemet: Blood and Sand, Summoner Wars 2nd edition

Metaround 3
Round 1
Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed: 1
Unfathomable: 1
Burgle Bros 2: 0
No Award: 0
Roll Camera: 0
Total: 2
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Burgle Bros 2, No Award, Roll Camera
Actually eliminating Burgle Bros 2, No Award, Roll Camera
Round 2
Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed: 1
Unfathomable: 1
Total: 2
Winner: Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed, Unfathomable

Metaround 4
Round 1
Burgle Bros 2: 0
No Award: 0
Roll Camera: 0
Total: 0
Winners 2 vs No Award 0
Winner: Burgle Bros 2, No Award, Roll Camera

Best Game Artwork:

12 ballot(s)

Metaround 1
Round 1
Oath: 7
Shamans: 3
Descent: 1
Stella: Dixit Universe: 1
Canvas: 0
Flourish: 0
Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed: 0
Gladius: 0
Jekyll vs. Hyde: 0
Mind MGMT: 0
No Award: 0
Radlands: 0
So You’ve Been Eaten: 0
Total: 12
Winner: Oath

Metaround 2
Round 1
Shamans: 3
Descent: 1
Stella: Dixit Universe: 1
Canvas: 0
Flourish: 0
Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed: 0
Gladius: 0
Jekyll vs. Hyde: 0
Mind MGMT: 0
No Award: 0
Radlands: 0
So You’ve Been Eaten: 0
Total: 5
Winner: Shamans

Metaround 3
Round 1
Descent: 1
Stella: Dixit Universe: 1
Canvas: 0
Flourish: 0
Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed: 0
Gladius: 0
Jekyll vs. Hyde: 0
Mind MGMT: 0
No Award: 0
Radlands: 0
So You’ve Been Eaten: 0
Total: 2
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Canvas, Flourish, Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed, Gladius, Jekyll vs. Hyde, Mind MGMT, No Award, Radlands, So You’ve Been Eaten
Actually eliminating Canvas, Flourish, Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed, Gladius, Jekyll vs. Hyde, Mind MGMT, No Award, Radlands, So You’ve Been Eaten
Round 2
Descent: 1
Stella: Dixit Universe: 1
Total: 2
Winner: Descent, Stella: Dixit Universe

Metaround 4
Round 1
Canvas: 0
Flourish: 0
Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed: 0
Gladius: 0
Jekyll vs. Hyde: 0
Mind MGMT: 0
No Award: 0
Radlands: 0
So You’ve Been Eaten: 0
Total: 0
Winners 9 vs No Award 0
Winner: Canvas, Flourish, Galaxy Trucker 2nd Ed, Gladius, Jekyll vs. Hyde, Mind MGMT, No Award, Radlands, So You’ve Been Eaten

Best Expansion:

8 ballot(s)

Metaround 1
Round 1
Chronicles of Crime: 2400: 2
Railroad Ink: Lush Green Edition: 2
Kemet: Blood and Sand - Book of the Dead: 1
MicroMacro Full House: 1
Paladins of the West Kingdom: City of Crowns: 1
Railroad Ink Challenge: Epic Board: 1
No Award: 0
Ride the Rails: Australia & Canada: 0
Root: Clockwork Expansion (German edition): 0
Unmatched: Battle of Legends Volume 2: 0
Total: 8
No clear winner; potentially eliminating No Award, Ride the Rails: Australia & Canada, Root: Clockwork Expansion (German edition), Unmatched: Battle of Legends Volume 2
Actually eliminating No Award, Ride the Rails: Australia & Canada, Root: Clockwork Expansion (German edition), Unmatched: Battle of Legends Volume 2
Round 2
Chronicles of Crime: 2400: 2
Railroad Ink: Lush Green Edition: 2
Kemet: Blood and Sand - Book of the Dead: 1
MicroMacro Full House: 1
Paladins of the West Kingdom: City of Crowns: 1
Railroad Ink Challenge: Epic Board: 1
Total: 8
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Kemet: Blood and Sand - Book of the Dead, MicroMacro Full House, Paladins of the West Kingdom: City of Crowns, Railroad Ink Challenge: Epic Board
Actually eliminating Kemet: Blood and Sand - Book of the Dead, MicroMacro Full House, Paladins of the West Kingdom: City of Crowns, Railroad Ink Challenge: Epic Board
Round 3
Chronicles of Crime: 2400: 2
Railroad Ink: Lush Green Edition: 2
Total: 4
Winner: Chronicles of Crime: 2400, Railroad Ink: Lush Green Edition

Metaround 2
Round 1
Kemet: Blood and Sand - Book of the Dead: 1
MicroMacro Full House: 1
Paladins of the West Kingdom: City of Crowns: 1
Railroad Ink Challenge: Epic Board: 1
No Award: 0
Ride the Rails: Australia & Canada: 0
Root: Clockwork Expansion (German edition): 0
Unmatched: Battle of Legends Volume 2: 0
Total: 4
No clear winner; potentially eliminating No Award, Ride the Rails: Australia & Canada, Root: Clockwork Expansion (German edition), Unmatched: Battle of Legends Volume 2
Actually eliminating No Award, Ride the Rails: Australia & Canada, Root: Clockwork Expansion (German edition), Unmatched: Battle of Legends Volume 2
Round 2
Kemet: Blood and Sand - Book of the Dead: 1
MicroMacro Full House: 1
Paladins of the West Kingdom: City of Crowns: 1
Railroad Ink Challenge: Epic Board: 1
Total: 4
Winner: Kemet: Blood and Sand - Book of the Dead, MicroMacro Full House, Paladins of the West Kingdom: City of Crowns, Railroad Ink Challenge: Epic Board

Metaround 3
Round 1
No Award: 0
Ride the Rails: Australia & Canada: 0
Root: Clockwork Expansion (German edition): 0
Unmatched: Battle of Legends Volume 2: 0
Total: 0
Winners 1 vs No Award 0
Winner: No Award, Ride the Rails: Australia & Canada, Root: Clockwork Expansion (German edition), Unmatched: Battle of Legends Volume 2

Erik Tengblad Award:

14 ballot(s)

Metaround 1
Round 1
Spirit Island: 4
Tigris and Euphrates: 4
A War of Whispers: 3
Troyes: 2
878 Vikings: 1
No Award: 0
Wir Sind Das Volk: 0
Total: 14
No clear winner; potentially eliminating No Award, Wir Sind Das Volk
Actually eliminating No Award, Wir Sind Das Volk
Round 2
Spirit Island: 4
Tigris and Euphrates: 4
A War of Whispers: 3
Troyes: 2
878 Vikings: 1
Total: 14
No clear winner; potentially eliminating 878 Vikings
Actually eliminating 878 Vikings
Round 3
Spirit Island: 4
Tigris and Euphrates: 4
A War of Whispers: 3
Troyes: 2
Total: 13
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Troyes
Actually eliminating Troyes
Round 4
Spirit Island: 4
Tigris and Euphrates: 4
A War of Whispers: 3
Total: 11
No clear winner; potentially eliminating A War of Whispers
Actually eliminating A War of Whispers
Round 5
Spirit Island: 4
Tigris and Euphrates: 4
Total: 8
Winner: Spirit Island, Tigris and Euphrates

Metaround 2
Round 1
A War of Whispers: 3
Troyes: 2
878 Vikings: 1
No Award: 0
Wir Sind Das Volk: 0
Total: 6
No clear winner; potentially eliminating No Award, Wir Sind Das Volk
Actually eliminating No Award, Wir Sind Das Volk
Round 2
A War of Whispers: 3
Troyes: 2
878 Vikings: 1
Total: 6
No clear winner; potentially eliminating 878 Vikings
Actually eliminating 878 Vikings
Round 3
A War of Whispers: 3
Troyes: 2
Total: 5
Winner: A War of Whispers

Metaround 3
Round 1
Troyes: 2
878 Vikings: 1
No Award: 0
Wir Sind Das Volk: 0
Total: 3
Winner: Troyes

Metaround 4
Round 1
878 Vikings: 1
No Award: 0
Wir Sind Das Volk: 0
Total: 1
Winner: 878 Vikings

Metaround 5
Round 1
No Award: 0
Wir Sind Das Volk: 0
Total: 0
Winners 2 vs No Award 0
Winner: No Award, Wir Sind Das Volk

Best Game Review:

14 ballot(s)

Metaround 1
Round 1
Oath (SUSD): 4
City of the Big Shoulders (SUSD): 3
Colonialism (NPI): 3
Hostage Negotiator: Career (SUSD): 2
Detective: City of Angels (SUSD): 1
Railroad Ink & Expansions (SUSD): 1
No Award: 0
Total: 14
No clear winner; potentially eliminating No Award
Actually eliminating No Award
Round 2
Oath (SUSD): 4
City of the Big Shoulders (SUSD): 3
Colonialism (NPI): 3
Hostage Negotiator: Career (SUSD): 2
Detective: City of Angels (SUSD): 1
Railroad Ink & Expansions (SUSD): 1
Total: 14
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Detective: City of Angels (SUSD), Railroad Ink & Expansions (SUSD)
Actually eliminating Detective: City of Angels (SUSD), Railroad Ink & Expansions (SUSD)
Round 3
Oath (SUSD): 4
City of the Big Shoulders (SUSD): 3
Colonialism (NPI): 3
Hostage Negotiator: Career (SUSD): 2
Total: 12
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Hostage Negotiator: Career (SUSD)
Actually eliminating Hostage Negotiator: Career (SUSD)
Round 4
Oath (SUSD): 4
City of the Big Shoulders (SUSD): 3
Colonialism (NPI): 3
Total: 10
No clear winner; potentially eliminating City of the Big Shoulders (SUSD), Colonialism (NPI)
Actually eliminating City of the Big Shoulders (SUSD), Colonialism (NPI)
Round 5
Oath (SUSD): 4
Total: 4
Winner: Oath (SUSD)

Metaround 2
Round 1
City of the Big Shoulders (SUSD): 3
Colonialism (NPI): 3
Hostage Negotiator: Career (SUSD): 2
Detective: City of Angels (SUSD): 1
Railroad Ink & Expansions (SUSD): 1
No Award: 0
Total: 10
No clear winner; potentially eliminating No Award
Actually eliminating No Award
Round 2
City of the Big Shoulders (SUSD): 3
Colonialism (NPI): 3
Hostage Negotiator: Career (SUSD): 2
Detective: City of Angels (SUSD): 1
Railroad Ink & Expansions (SUSD): 1
Total: 10
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Detective: City of Angels (SUSD), Railroad Ink & Expansions (SUSD)
Actually eliminating Detective: City of Angels (SUSD), Railroad Ink & Expansions (SUSD)
Round 3
City of the Big Shoulders (SUSD): 3
Colonialism (NPI): 3
Hostage Negotiator: Career (SUSD): 2
Total: 8
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Hostage Negotiator: Career (SUSD)
Actually eliminating Hostage Negotiator: Career (SUSD)
Round 4
City of the Big Shoulders (SUSD): 3
Colonialism (NPI): 3
Total: 6
Winner: City of the Big Shoulders (SUSD), Colonialism (NPI)

Metaround 3
Round 1
Hostage Negotiator: Career (SUSD): 2
Detective: City of Angels (SUSD): 1
Railroad Ink & Expansions (SUSD): 1
No Award: 0
Total: 4
No clear winner; potentially eliminating No Award
Actually eliminating No Award
Round 2
Hostage Negotiator: Career (SUSD): 2
Detective: City of Angels (SUSD): 1
Railroad Ink & Expansions (SUSD): 1
Total: 4
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Detective: City of Angels (SUSD), Railroad Ink & Expansions (SUSD)
Actually eliminating Detective: City of Angels (SUSD), Railroad Ink & Expansions (SUSD)
Round 3
Hostage Negotiator: Career (SUSD): 2
Total: 2
Winner: Hostage Negotiator: Career (SUSD)

Metaround 4
Round 1
Detective: City of Angels (SUSD): 1
Railroad Ink & Expansions (SUSD): 1
No Award: 0
Total: 2
No clear winner; potentially eliminating No Award
Actually eliminating No Award
Round 2
Detective: City of Angels (SUSD): 1
Railroad Ink & Expansions (SUSD): 1
Total: 2
Winner: Detective: City of Angels (SUSD), Railroad Ink & Expansions (SUSD)

Metaround 5
Round 1
No Award: 0
Total: 0
Winners 0 vs No Award 0
Winner: No Award

Minutewalt Award:

12 ballot(s)

Metaround 1
Round 1
Twilight Struggle: 3
Mysterium: 2
Wavelength: 2
Codenames: Duet: 1
Haiclue: 1
Just One: 1
Oath: 1
Welcome To…: 1
No Award: 0
Total: 12
No clear winner; potentially eliminating No Award
Actually eliminating No Award
Round 2
Twilight Struggle: 3
Mysterium: 2
Wavelength: 2
Codenames: Duet: 1
Haiclue: 1
Just One: 1
Oath: 1
Welcome To…: 1
Total: 12
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Codenames: Duet, Haiclue, Just One, Oath, Welcome To…
Actually eliminating Codenames: Duet, Haiclue, Just One, Oath, Welcome To…
Round 3
Twilight Struggle: 3
Mysterium: 2
Wavelength: 2
Total: 7
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Mysterium, Wavelength
Actually eliminating Mysterium, Wavelength
Round 4
Twilight Struggle: 3
Total: 3
Winner: Twilight Struggle

Metaround 2
Round 1
Mysterium: 2
Wavelength: 2
Codenames: Duet: 1
Haiclue: 1
Just One: 1
Oath: 1
Welcome To…: 1
No Award: 0
Total: 9
No clear winner; potentially eliminating No Award
Actually eliminating No Award
Round 2
Mysterium: 2
Wavelength: 2
Codenames: Duet: 1
Haiclue: 1
Just One: 1
Oath: 1
Welcome To…: 1
Total: 9
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Codenames: Duet, Haiclue, Just One, Oath, Welcome To…
Actually eliminating Codenames: Duet, Haiclue, Just One, Oath, Welcome To…
Round 3
Mysterium: 2
Wavelength: 2
Total: 4
Winner: Mysterium, Wavelength

Metaround 3
Round 1
Codenames: Duet: 1
Haiclue: 1
Just One: 1
Oath: 1
Welcome To…: 1
No Award: 0
Total: 5
No clear winner; potentially eliminating No Award
Actually eliminating No Award
Round 2
Codenames: Duet: 1
Haiclue: 1
Just One: 1
Oath: 1
Welcome To…: 1
Total: 5
Winner: Codenames: Duet, Haiclue, Just One, Oath, Welcome To…

Metaround 4
Round 1
No Award: 0
Total: 0
Winners 0 vs No Award 0
Winner: No Award

pillbox Award:

11 ballot(s)

Metaround 1
Round 1
Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy: 4
Sidereal Confluence: 2
The Great Zimbabwe: 2
Empires of the Void II: 1
Kemet: Blood and Sand: 1
Twilight Imperium 4th Edition Prophecy of Kings: 1
Anachrony: 0
Dune: 0
Merchants & Marauders: 0
No Award: 0
Total: 11
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Anachrony, Dune, Merchants & Marauders, No Award
Actually eliminating Anachrony, Dune, Merchants & Marauders, No Award
Round 2
Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy: 4
Sidereal Confluence: 2
The Great Zimbabwe: 2
Empires of the Void II: 1
Kemet: Blood and Sand: 1
Twilight Imperium 4th Edition Prophecy of Kings: 1
Total: 11
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Empires of the Void II, Kemet: Blood and Sand, Twilight Imperium 4th Edition Prophecy of Kings
Actually eliminating Empires of the Void II, Kemet: Blood and Sand, Twilight Imperium 4th Edition Prophecy of Kings
Round 3
Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy: 4
Sidereal Confluence: 2
The Great Zimbabwe: 2
Total: 8
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Sidereal Confluence, The Great Zimbabwe
Actually eliminating Sidereal Confluence, The Great Zimbabwe
Round 4
Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy: 4
Total: 4
Winner: Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy

Metaround 2
Round 1
Sidereal Confluence: 2
The Great Zimbabwe: 2
Empires of the Void II: 1
Kemet: Blood and Sand: 1
Twilight Imperium 4th Edition Prophecy of Kings: 1
Anachrony: 0
Dune: 0
Merchants & Marauders: 0
No Award: 0
Total: 7
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Anachrony, Dune, Merchants & Marauders, No Award
Actually eliminating Anachrony, Dune, Merchants & Marauders, No Award
Round 2
Sidereal Confluence: 2
The Great Zimbabwe: 2
Empires of the Void II: 1
Kemet: Blood and Sand: 1
Twilight Imperium 4th Edition Prophecy of Kings: 1
Total: 7
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Empires of the Void II, Kemet: Blood and Sand, Twilight Imperium 4th Edition Prophecy of Kings
Actually eliminating Empires of the Void II, Kemet: Blood and Sand, Twilight Imperium 4th Edition Prophecy of Kings
Round 3
Sidereal Confluence: 2
The Great Zimbabwe: 2
Total: 4
Winner: Sidereal Confluence, The Great Zimbabwe

Metaround 3
Round 1
Empires of the Void II: 1
Kemet: Blood and Sand: 1
Twilight Imperium 4th Edition Prophecy of Kings: 1
Anachrony: 0
Dune: 0
Merchants & Marauders: 0
No Award: 0
Total: 3
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Anachrony, Dune, Merchants & Marauders, No Award
Actually eliminating Anachrony, Dune, Merchants & Marauders, No Award
Round 2
Empires of the Void II: 1
Kemet: Blood and Sand: 1
Twilight Imperium 4th Edition Prophecy of Kings: 1
Total: 3
Winner: Empires of the Void II, Kemet: Blood and Sand, Twilight Imperium 4th Edition Prophecy of Kings

Metaround 4
Round 1
Anachrony: 0
Dune: 0
Merchants & Marauders: 0
No Award: 0
Total: 0
Winners 5 vs No Award 0
Winner: Anachrony, Dune, Merchants & Marauders, No Award

anti-pillbox Award:

15 ballot(s)

Metaround 1
Round 1
Hansa Teutonica: 3
Xia: Legends of a Drift System: 3
Root: 2
Telestrations (Quebec Edition): 2
The Great Zimbabwe: 2
A War of Whispers: 1
Star Trek: Ascendancy: 1
Viticulture: 1
Anachrony: 0
La Città: 0
No Award: 0
Roads & Boats: 0
Total: 15
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Anachrony, La Città, No Award, Roads & Boats
Actually eliminating Anachrony, La Città, No Award, Roads & Boats
Round 2
Hansa Teutonica: 3
Xia: Legends of a Drift System: 3
Root: 2
Telestrations (Quebec Edition): 2
The Great Zimbabwe: 2
A War of Whispers: 1
Star Trek: Ascendancy: 1
Viticulture: 1
Total: 15
No clear winner; potentially eliminating A War of Whispers, Star Trek: Ascendancy, Viticulture
Actually eliminating A War of Whispers, Star Trek: Ascendancy, Viticulture
Round 3
Hansa Teutonica: 3
Xia: Legends of a Drift System: 3
Root: 2
Telestrations (Quebec Edition): 2
The Great Zimbabwe: 2
Total: 12
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Root, Telestrations (Quebec Edition), The Great Zimbabwe
Actually eliminating Root, Telestrations (Quebec Edition), The Great Zimbabwe
Round 4
Hansa Teutonica: 3
Xia: Legends of a Drift System: 3
Total: 6
Winner: Hansa Teutonica, Xia: Legends of a Drift System

Metaround 2
Round 1
Root: 2
Telestrations (Quebec Edition): 2
The Great Zimbabwe: 2
A War of Whispers: 1
Star Trek: Ascendancy: 1
Viticulture: 1
Anachrony: 0
La Città: 0
No Award: 0
Roads & Boats: 0
Total: 9
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Anachrony, La Città, No Award, Roads & Boats
Actually eliminating Anachrony, La Città, No Award, Roads & Boats
Round 2
Root: 2
Telestrations (Quebec Edition): 2
The Great Zimbabwe: 2
A War of Whispers: 1
Star Trek: Ascendancy: 1
Viticulture: 1
Total: 9
No clear winner; potentially eliminating A War of Whispers, Star Trek: Ascendancy, Viticulture
Actually eliminating A War of Whispers, Star Trek: Ascendancy, Viticulture
Round 3
Root: 2
Telestrations (Quebec Edition): 2
The Great Zimbabwe: 2
Total: 6
Winner: Root, Telestrations (Quebec Edition), The Great Zimbabwe

Metaround 3
Round 1
A War of Whispers: 1
Star Trek: Ascendancy: 1
Viticulture: 1
Anachrony: 0
La Città: 0
No Award: 0
Roads & Boats: 0
Total: 3
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Anachrony, La Città, No Award, Roads & Boats
Actually eliminating Anachrony, La Città, No Award, Roads & Boats
Round 2
A War of Whispers: 1
Star Trek: Ascendancy: 1
Viticulture: 1
Total: 3
Winner: A War of Whispers, Star Trek: Ascendancy, Viticulture

Metaround 4
Round 1
Anachrony: 0
La Città: 0
No Award: 0
Roads & Boats: 0
Total: 0
Winners 5 vs No Award 0
Winner: Anachrony, La Città, No Award, Roads & Boats

Mature Pearple:

16 ballot(s)

Metaround 1
Round 1
Flamme Rouge: 6
Inis: 4
Terraforming Mars: 3
Junk Art: 2
A Feast for Odin: 1
No Award: 0
Star Wars Rebellion: 0
Total: 16
No clear winner; potentially eliminating No Award, Star Wars Rebellion
Actually eliminating No Award, Star Wars Rebellion
Round 2
Flamme Rouge: 6
Inis: 4
Terraforming Mars: 3
Junk Art: 2
A Feast for Odin: 1
Total: 16
No clear winner; potentially eliminating A Feast for Odin
Actually eliminating A Feast for Odin
Round 3
Flamme Rouge: 6
Inis: 4
Terraforming Mars: 3
Junk Art: 2
Total: 15
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Junk Art
Actually eliminating Junk Art
Round 4
Flamme Rouge: 6
Inis: 4
Terraforming Mars: 3
Total: 13
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Terraforming Mars
Actually eliminating Terraforming Mars
Round 5
Flamme Rouge: 6
Inis: 4
Total: 10
Winner: Flamme Rouge

Metaround 2
Round 1
Inis: 4
Terraforming Mars: 3
Junk Art: 2
A Feast for Odin: 1
No Award: 0
Star Wars Rebellion: 0
Total: 10
No clear winner; potentially eliminating No Award, Star Wars Rebellion
Actually eliminating No Award, Star Wars Rebellion
Round 2
Inis: 4
Terraforming Mars: 3
Junk Art: 2
A Feast for Odin: 1
Total: 10
No clear winner; potentially eliminating A Feast for Odin
Actually eliminating A Feast for Odin
Round 3
Inis: 4
Terraforming Mars: 3
Junk Art: 2
Total: 9
No clear winner; potentially eliminating Junk Art
Actually eliminating Junk Art
Round 4
Inis: 4
Terraforming Mars: 3
Total: 7
Winner: Inis

Metaround 3
Round 1
Terraforming Mars: 3
Junk Art: 2
A Feast for Odin: 1
No Award: 0
Star Wars Rebellion: 0
Total: 6
No clear winner; potentially eliminating No Award, Star Wars Rebellion
Actually eliminating No Award, Star Wars Rebellion
Round 2
Terraforming Mars: 3
Junk Art: 2
A Feast for Odin: 1
Total: 6
No clear winner; potentially eliminating A Feast for Odin
Actually eliminating A Feast for Odin
Round 3
Terraforming Mars: 3
Junk Art: 2
Total: 5
Winner: Terraforming Mars

Metaround 4
Round 1
Junk Art: 2
A Feast for Odin: 1
No Award: 0
Star Wars Rebellion: 0
Total: 3
Winner: Junk Art

Metaround 5
Round 1
A Feast for Odin: 1
No Award: 0
Star Wars Rebellion: 0
Total: 1
Winner: A Feast for Odin

Metaround 6
Round 1
No Award: 0
Star Wars Rebellion: 0
Total: 0
Winners 4 vs No Award 0
Winner: No Award, Star Wars Rebellion

lalunaverde · 4 February 2022 10:53

Well deserved for Oath. It’s pretty excellent for the niche it occupies

raged_norm · 4 February 2022 11:13

So, the Oath awards then?

RogerBW · 4 February 2022 11:14

Coming soon, the Award for Games Called Oath…

lalunaverde · 4 February 2022 11:29

The Oath Meal Award

mistercrayon · 4 February 2022 11:39

Nicely done!

Phil · 4 February 2022 11:52

Coming soon, Role’d Oaths: the Oath role-playing game!

porridge

Simfers · 4 February 2022 12:19

Congrats to the winners! This was a very fun exercise, my wife and I had a ball, even though our nominees all lost!

DJCT · 4 February 2022 12:21

The surprise here for me is that I have actually played almost all of these games or their predecessors. That despite fewer purchases in 2021. Am I, finally, doing it right?

Or are you lot doing it wrong?

bruitist · 4 February 2022 12:50

Just Tigris & Euphrates sneaking in to prevent me from having played exactly zero of the winners. (I played the original Railroad Ink once, but not Challenge, and we didn’t use any expansions.)

COMaestro · 4 February 2022 13:11

I knew there was a deadline I was forgetting!

Congrats to the winners, even if I completely disagree with Oath sweeping the awards.

DJCT · 4 February 2022 13:31

Played Oath exactly once, and didn’t really bowl me away. We do own it though so my hope is that repeated play is a better time!

lalunaverde · 4 February 2022 13:40

I’m very happy with the Matured Pear. Award and really like the Tengblad Award. I’m now more interested on what new games (to them) that they find great each year.

Boronian · 4 February 2022 13:58

There is a new Kemet?

Captbnut · 4 February 2022 14:05

Great work @RogerBW

COMaestro · 4 February 2022 14:16

Kemet: Blood and Sand. I guess it changes up the map a little, but I do not know if there are any other differences.

Acacia · 4 February 2022 15:26

New, clear iconography and rebalanced tiles
Took the best parts of Ta-Seti (black pyramids and tiles) and incorporated it into the base game
Blank divine intervention cards so it’s harder to tell when someone is actually using one
All the 1.5 rules, including the improved player-order mechanic
Variable map for different player counts (you block off parts with sandstorms and such), and ports that do something

And likely a lot of little other stuff and kickstarter expansions. There’s a Sandworm now.

Separately, thanks for the writeup @RogerBW. I enjoyed the reading more than I enjoyed the voting.

DJCT · 4 February 2022 15:38

Also, if next year’s Pearple’s choice has a ‘post of the year’ award my vote goes for @RogerBW 's write up!

yashima · 4 February 2022 16:15

I enjoy Oath I think the campaign run by @Benkyo here on the forums is at least partially to blame for it sweeping the awards. Also it’s an excellent game—in the niche it created for itself. Will I play Oath as much as I play Railroad Ink Challenge? Never

Thanks @RogerBW for hosting, organizing and writing up the awards It was a great read.