It appears that SU&SD is doing this. If you are unfamiliar or no longer following, they are doing a series (which may take years to complete) to compile a new list of the “Top 100 Board Games of All Time.”
They’re a bit fuzzy on the process, I think it is a bit fuzzy, but basically they have a list of candidates. They play one. They do a full video on the game, discuss their reactions, discuss its merits, decide if it belongs on the list, and then slot it into a position on the list-so-far.
I know individual videos have already been autoposted. However, as this is a series and one that may merit more discussion, I don’t know if new videos can be slotted or ported here as a post? I would personally enjoy having an ongoing conversation, all in one place, here.
I’ll start by linking the first five videos in the series and it can grow from there.
I’m still catching up. Was very pleased to see Agricola as the first entry, but was nervous as the archives have Quinns hating it. Seems like he’s come around!
El Dorado - I personally would not put this above Gric but I get it. It’s very on brand for SU&SD, with its merits of “fun”, universality, accessibility, etc. It is more fun that Agricola, in an effort-in-to-pleasure-out sense. But I don’t think it could withstand 100+ plays the way the former can. I tend to value that richness, just knowing its there, even if there’s only a few games that can actually receive that level of investment.
Galaxy Trucker - Interesting. I haven’t finished this video yet. If they put it over Agricola, I’m going to have some feelings this time. I do want to play Galaxy Trucker IRL but not sure I’d ever expect it on a top 100.
(also haven’t gotten to Race/Roll, but it reminds me how they used to be directly adjacent on the BGG top 100. Now Race has fallen 10-20 steps but Roll has fallen all the way to page 2. Time tells. Grand Austria and Lorenzo Il had the same treatment, and GAH has held fast while Lorenzo has also taken up residence on page 2.)
Fun series to tell the truth. Wish they would release the full playthroughs although I’m guessing they would want to do at least a little editing and that’s bound to eat up time.
So far my personal ranking would be:
Race for the Galaxy (the GOAT)
Ra (have only played it a couple times but it’s really got the juice)
Galaxy Trucker (most often fun but sometimes can be a bit flat, can see it slipping further down as more games are added)
El Dorado (eh, deckbuilding)
Roll for the Galaxy (didn’t like, suffers in comparison to its ancestor)
And I haven’t played Agricola so I can’t put it anywhere. Let’s say I like it roughly as much as AFfO and Nusfjord and put it 2nd.
From Tom Brewster in June on Reddit, regarding this feature:
hello!
we’re hoping to get back on it at some point in the near future. we’re very aware it’s been quite a while!
tldr; we lost an episode due to DIFFICULTIES, and shortly afterwards had to move our studio setup out of where it was, and we’re still looking for a home for it.
when it’s all set up again we’ll get them going! we’d like to tweak the format etc slightly but we were having fun doing them.
thanks for watching 'em, we’ve definitely heard folks asking for more and we want to deliver !!