Dice Tower

Dice Tower

United States · founded 2007 · judged by A panel of reviewers and content creators

Winners by year

202520242023

The Dice Tower Awards are selected by a panel of reviewers associated with The Dice Tower, a long-running board game review show and media network. The panel plays extensively throughout the year and votes across categories including game of the year, best strategy game, and best family game. Because the panel consists of people who review games professionally, the results tend to favor games with staying power over novelty.

What this award means for you

Dice Tower picks come from people who play an enormous volume of games each year and are unusually good at spotting which ones remain interesting after ten plays rather than two.

Winners in our catalog

Hot Streak board game cover

Hot Streak

Best for: Party groups, families, casual game nights

ATTA winner 2026Golden Geek winner 2025Dice Tower winner 2025
2–8players20 minLight

2025 · Best Party

Magical Athlete board game cover

Magical Athlete

Best for: Kids, families, light gaming groups

ATTA winner 2026Dice Tower winner 2025
2–6players30 minLight

2025 · Best Reprint

Galactic Cruise board game cover

Galactic Cruise

Best for: Heavy strategy fans, worker-placement lovers, space fans

Dice Tower winner 2025Golden Geek winner 2025
1–4players150 minHeavy

2025 · Game of the Year

Galactic Cruise board game cover

Galactic Cruise

Best for: Heavy strategy fans, worker-placement lovers, space fans

Dice Tower winner 2025Golden Geek winner 2025
1–4players150 minHeavy

2025 · Best Strategy

Bomb Busters board game cover

Bomb Busters

Best for: Families, cooperative fans, deduction lovers, mixed ages

Spiel des Jahres winner 2025Dice Tower winner 2024Swiss Gamers Award nominee 2024
2–5players30 minLight

2024 · Most Innovative

Flip 7 board game cover

Flip 7

Best for: Filler games, icebreakers, large groups, non-gamers

Swiss Gamers Award winner 2025Golden Geek winner 2024Dice Tower winner 2024Spiel des Jahres nominee 2025
3–8players20 minLight

2024 · Best Party Game

SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence board game cover

SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Best for: Strategy hobbyists, solo gamers, science enthusiasts

IGA winner 2025Deutscher Spiele Preis winner 2025Dice Tower winner 2024Golden Geek winner 2024
1–4players120 minHeavy

2024 · Best Strategy

Bomb Busters board game cover

Bomb Busters

Best for: Families, cooperative fans, deduction lovers, mixed ages

Spiel des Jahres winner 2025Dice Tower winner 2024Swiss Gamers Award nominee 2024
2–5players30 minLight

2024 · Best Cooperative

SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence board game cover

SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Best for: Strategy hobbyists, solo gamers, science enthusiasts

IGA winner 2025Deutscher Spiele Preis winner 2025Dice Tower winner 2024Golden Geek winner 2024
1–4players120 minHeavy

2024 · Game of the Year

Blob Party board game cover

Blob Party

Best for: Party groups, families, kids 6+, icebreakers

ATTA winner 2024Dice Tower winner 2023
4–8players20 minLight

2023 · Best Party Game

Earth board game cover

Earth

Best for: Nature lovers, engine-building fans, solo gamers

IGA winner 2023Dice Tower winner 2023Golden Geek winner 2023
1–5players60 minMedium

2023 · Game of the Year

Sky Team board game cover

Sky Team

Best for: Couples, two-player co-op fans, date night

IGA winner 2024Spiel des Jahres winner 2024Dice Tower winner 2023Golden Geek winner 2023
2players20 minMedium

2023 · Best 2-Player

Sky Team board game cover

Sky Team

Best for: Couples, two-player co-op fans, date night

IGA winner 2024Spiel des Jahres winner 2024Dice Tower winner 2023Golden Geek winner 2023
2players20 minMedium

2023 · Best Cooperative

Thunder Road: Vendetta board game cover

Thunder Road: Vendetta

Best for: Action game fans, families, retro gaming enthusiasts

ATTA winner 2024Golden Geek winner 2023Dice Tower winner 2023
2–4players60 minMedium

2023 · Best Theme

Wandering Towers board game cover

Wandering Towers

Best for: Families, kids 8+, casual groups

Mensa Select winner 2024Dice Tower winner 2023
2–6players30 minLight

2023 · Best Welcoming Game

Heat: Pedal to the Metal board game cover

Heat: Pedal to the Metal

Best for: Racing fans, families, mixed-experience groups

Dice Tower winner 2022Golden Geek winner 2022
1–6players60 minMedium

2022 · Game of the Year

Hues and Cues board game cover

Hues and Cues

Best for: Party, Large Group, Friends

Dice Tower winner 2021
3–10players30 minLight

2021 · Best Party Game

Ark Nova board game cover

Ark Nova

Best for: Strategy hobbyists, zoo/nature fans, solo gamers

As d'Or winner 2023Deutscher Spiele Preis winner 2022IGA winner 2022Dice Tower winner 2021Golden Geek winner 2021
1–4players150 minHeavy

2021 · Game of the Year

The Isle of Cats board game cover

The Isle of Cats

Best for: Cat lovers, puzzle fans, families (family mode), drafting fans

Dice Tower winner 2020
1–4players90 minMedium

2020 · Best Welcoming Game

The Crew: Quest for Planet Nine board game cover

The Crew: Quest for Planet Nine

Best for: Trick-taking fans, cooperative gamers, travel gaming

As d'Or winner 2021ATTA winner 2021Dice Tower winner 2020Kennerspiel des Jahres winner 2020Golden Geek winner 2019
2–5players20 minMedium

2020 · Best Cooperative

Lost Ruins of Arnak board game cover

Lost Ruins of Arnak

Best for: Strategy gamers, adventure fans, deck-building lovers

ATTA winner 2022IGA winner 2021Deutscher Spiele Preis winner 2021Dice Tower winner 2020+2
1–4players120 minMedium

2020 · Best Strategy

The Crew: Quest for Planet Nine board game cover

The Crew: Quest for Planet Nine

Best for: Trick-taking fans, cooperative gamers, travel gaming

As d'Or winner 2021ATTA winner 2021Dice Tower winner 2020Kennerspiel des Jahres winner 2020Golden Geek winner 2019
2–5players20 minMedium

2020 · Game of the Year

Hues and Cues board game cover

Hues and Cues

Best for: Party, Large Group, Friends

Dice Tower winner 2021
3–10players30 minLight

2020 · Best Party

Maracaibo board game cover

Maracaibo

Best for: Heavy strategy fans, campaign gamers, Alexander Pfister fans

Dice Tower winner 2019
1–4players120 minHeavy

2019 · Best Strategy

Everdell board game cover

Everdell

Best for: Family, Strategy, Couple

Dice Tower winner 2019
1–4players80 minMedium

2019 · Best Artwork

Watergate board game cover

Watergate

Best for: History buffs, two-player strategists

Dice Tower winner 2019Golden Geek winner 2019
2players45 minMedium

2019 · Best 2-Player

Wingspan board game cover

Wingspan

Best for: Families, nature lovers, engine-building fans, solo gamers

ATTA winner 2020Dice Tower winner 2019Kennerspiel des Jahres winner 2019Deutscher Spiele Preis winner 2019Golden Geek winner 2019
1–5players70 minMedium

2019 · Game of the Year

Point Salad board game cover

Point Salad

Best for: Beginners, families, filler games, non-gamers

Dice Tower winner 2019
2–6players20 minLight

2019 · Best Family

Wavelength board game cover

Wavelength

Best for: Party groups, debate lovers, social gatherings

Dice Tower winner 2019Golden Geek winner 2019
2–12players45 minLight

2019 · Best Party

Just One board game cover

Just One

Best for: Party groups, families, holiday gatherings, non-gamers

Spiel des Jahres winner 2019Dice Tower winner 2018
3–7players20 minLight

2018 · Best Party

Root board game cover

Root

Best for: Strategy groups, asymmetric game fans, wargame-curious players

IGA winner 2019ATTA winner 2019Dice Tower winner 2018Golden Geek winner 2018
2–4players90 minHeavy

2018 · Game of the Year

Gloomhaven board game cover

Gloomhaven

Best for: Dedicated gaming groups, RPG fans, campaign lovers, solo tacticians

Dice Tower winner 2017Golden Geek winner 2017
1–4players120 minHeavy

2017 · Game of the Year

Azul board game cover

Azul

Best for: Families, gateway gamers, mixed experience groups, couples

As d'Or winner 2018Mensa Select winner 2018Spiel des Jahres winner 2018Dice Tower winner 2017Golden Geek winner 2017
2–4players45 minLight

2017 · Best Family

Gloomhaven board game cover

Gloomhaven

Best for: Dedicated gaming groups, RPG fans, campaign lovers, solo tacticians

Dice Tower winner 2017Golden Geek winner 2017
1–4players120 minHeavy

2017 · Best Cooperative

IceCool board game cover

IceCool

Best for: Families, kids 6+, dexterity fans

Kinderspiel des Jahres winner 2017Dice Tower winner 2016
2–4players30 minLight

2016 · Best Family

Scythe board game cover

Scythe

Best for: Strategy gamers, engine-building fans, solo gamers

As d'Or winner 2017Dice Tower winner 2016Golden Geek winner 2016
1–5players115 minHeavy

2016 · Game of the Year

Captain Sonar board game cover

Captain Sonar

Best for: Large groups, team-building, party gaming

Dice Tower winner 2016Golden Geek winner 2016
2–8players60 minMedium

2016 · Most Innovative

Terraforming Mars board game cover

Terraforming Mars

Best for: Science enthusiasts, engine-building fans, strategy hobbyists

As d'Or winner 2018Dice Tower winner 2016Kennerspiel des Jahres nominee 2017
1–5players120 minHeavy

2016 · Best Strategy

Captain Sonar board game cover

Captain Sonar

Best for: Large groups, team-building, party gaming

Dice Tower winner 2016Golden Geek winner 2016
2–8players60 minMedium

2016 · Best Party

7 Wonders Duel board game cover

7 Wonders Duel

Best for: Couples, two-player strategists, civilization fans

IGA winner 2016Dice Tower winner 2015Golden Geek winner 2015
2players30 minMedium

2015 · Best 2-Player

Blood Rage board game cover

Blood Rage

Best for: Miniature fans, area-control, Viking enthusiasts

Dice Tower winner 2015
2–4players90 minMedium

2015 · Best Strategy

Codenames board game cover

Codenames

Best for: Parties, large groups, family gatherings, team building

Spiel des Jahres winner 2016Dice Tower winner 2015Golden Geek winner 2015
2–8players15 minLight

2015 · Best Party

Pandemic Legacy: Season 1 board game cover

Pandemic Legacy: Season 1

Best for: Dedicated gaming groups, cooperative fans, narrative lovers

As d'Or winner 2016Dice Tower winner 2015Golden Geek winner 2015Kennerspiel des Jahres nominee 2016
2–4players60 minMedium

2015 · Game of the Year

Pandemic Legacy: Season 1 board game cover

Pandemic Legacy: Season 1

Best for: Dedicated gaming groups, cooperative fans, narrative lovers

As d'Or winner 2016Dice Tower winner 2015Golden Geek winner 2015Kennerspiel des Jahres nominee 2016
2–4players60 minMedium

2015 · Best Cooperative

Codenames board game cover

Codenames

Best for: Parties, large groups, family gatherings, team building

Spiel des Jahres winner 2016Dice Tower winner 2015Golden Geek winner 2015
2–8players15 minLight

2015 · Best Family

Splendor board game cover

Splendor

Best for: Gateway gamers, families, casual groups, couples

Dice Tower winner 2014Golden Geek winner 2014Spiel des Jahres nominee 2014
2–4players30 minLight

2014 · Best Family

Five Tribes board game cover

Five Tribes

Best for: Puzzle lovers, analytical thinkers, strategy gamers

As d'Or winner 2015Dice Tower winner 2014Golden Geek winner 2014
2–4players80 minMedium

2014 · Best Strategy

Dead of Winter board game cover

Dead of Winter

Best for: Thematic game fans, social deduction lovers, horror enthusiasts

Dice Tower winner 2014Golden Geek winner 2014
2–5players120 minMedium

2014 · Game of the Year

Spyfall board game cover

Spyfall

Best for: Party groups, social deduction fans, icebreakers

Dice Tower winner 2014
3–8players15 minLight

2014 · Best Party

Love Letter board game cover

Love Letter

Best for: Travel, filler games, casual groups, beginners

Golden Geek winner 2013Dice Tower winner 2012
2–4players20 minLight

2012 · Best Party

Love Letter board game cover

Love Letter

Best for: Travel, filler games, casual groups, beginners

Golden Geek winner 2013Dice Tower winner 2012
2–4players20 minLight

2012 · Best Family

King of Tokyo board game cover

King of Tokyo

Best for: Families, kids 8+, casual groups, monster fans

Golden Geek winner 2012Dice Tower winner 2011
2–6players30 minLight

2011 · Best Family

Eclipse: New Dawn for the Galaxy board game cover

Eclipse: New Dawn for the Galaxy

Best for: 4X fans, space civilization lovers, epic-game players

Golden Geek winner 2012Dice Tower winner 2011
2–6players180 minHeavy

2011 · Game of the Year

7 Wonders board game cover

7 Wonders

Best for: Mixed groups, gateway strategy, large gatherings

IGA winner 2011As d'Or winner 2011Kennerspiel des Jahres winner 2011Golden Geek winner 2011Dice Tower winner 2010
2–7players30 minMedium

2010 · Game of the Year

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Explore other awards

Spiel des JahresKennerspiel des JahresKinderspiel des JahresGolden GeekATTAMensa SelectIGAAs d'OrDeutscher Spiele PreisUK Games ExpoSwiss Gamers Award