Second year of the Plastic Emperors, second year of our top 10s.
Last year was dominated by sci-fi games. This year sci-fi remains very popular, but games with a historic war theme are making a bit of an impact, notably from the COIN series, and due to the popularity of the epic War Room. Despite the highly disappointing eighth series of the TV show, Game of Thrones also makes an entry, with the Mother of Dragons expansion appealing to new players and experienced hands alike. Unsurprisingly given the origins of the PEs, euros are somewhat thin on the ground, though Trickerion and Terraforming Mars still remain favoured among those that enjoy such games. TI4 cements its place as overall favourite, in four top fours (and two number one spots). Star Trek Ascendancy drops back a bit but still remains popular, as does Forbidden Stars.
As for next year – will COIN continue to surge? James and Carston are both getting new games in the series. Dune is likely to make a big splash – Chris is the only one to have played it and has it as his number 3! Steve, Woody and Chris all have big miniatures-based games which could perform well (Reichbusters, Tainted Grail and Nemesis). Ahhh, what a time to be alive.
By Plastic Emperor the top 10s are as follows:
James – Going down the GMT/historic/war games wormhole a bit. Loving, f*@king loving, the COIN series. All of them. And GMT in general. Meanwhile TI4 has over-taken STA, and anything euro has gone (bye bye Terraforming Mars, Scythe… you can stay though Cyclades).
- COIN
- TI4
- Star Trek Ascendancy
- New Angeles
- Twilight Struggle
- Labyrinth: War on Terror
- Game of Thrones
- Churchill
- Conan
- Cyclades
Paul – Also falling for COIN, though TI4 remains top (not least thanks to a crushing first win earlier this year). War Room is obviously and clearly a ‘Paul game’ so no surprise to see it at number three. More surprising is the new entry at number five: Tiny Epic Galaxies – which is there for its newbie-friendliness apparently.
- TI4
- COIN
- War Room
- Game of Thrones
- Tiny Epic Galaxies
- Star Trek Ascendancy
- Letters from Whitechapel
- Kemet
- Conan
- Tyrants of the Underdark
Steve – As eclectic as ever, Steve’s list contains just about every genre of game; horror and hidden movement, social deduction and dry euro, with coop, dudes on a map and dungeon crawlers thrown in. Everything except historical-themed. Hmmmm.
- Fury of Dracula
- Mysterium
- Robinson Crusoe
- Letters from Whitechapel
- Battle of Five Armies
- La Havre
- Avalon
- Eclipse
- Star Wars Imperial Assault
- Conan
Woody – Not much change from last year. Still refusing to climb on the TI4 bandwagon. Fire in the Lake and War Room make an entry but that’s… hold on… what… where’s?… it was his grail game… Poor old Chaos in the Old World. Fortunately for Khorne Chris is there to provide blood for the blood god.
- Star Wars Rebellion
- Trickerion
- Fire in the Lake
- Star Trek Ascendancy
- Forbidden Stars
- Lisboa
- Brass: Birmingham
- Game of Thrones
- Claustrophobia 1643
- War Room
Carston – Similarly not much change from last year, infact almost identical new entries as Woody. You two, the NVA-VC love in continues. TI4 retains top spot. Star Trek Ascendancy drops out of the list after an underwhelming five player game at LobsterCON.
- TI4
- Trickerion
- Blood Rage
- Terraforming Mars
- Forbidden Stars
- War Room
- Gaia Project
- Fire in the Lake
- Brass: Birmingham
- Game of Thrones
Chris – Totally solid list. Everyone a banger – until we play it ourselves next year we’ll take Chris’ word for it that Dune merits the accolade.
- Chaos in the Old World
- Star Trek Ascendancy
- Dune
- TI4
- Forbidden Stars
- War Room
- Terraforming Mars
- Blood Rage
- Star Wars Rebellion
- Cyclades
Plastic emperors 