Most Anticipated Board Games Late 2022 — Check these babies out!
With so many new titles coming down the pipeline, it seemed like a great time for me to provide a new guide to some of the games I feel are the most anticipated for the upcoming quarter and beyond.
I had to research quite a few games and scour the crowd-funding coming soon lists to find which games are worth a look at. This article will be broken down into two sections. First are my “Honorable Mentions” which is just an umbrella term for the games that don’t make my personal Top 10 most anticipated list (at the moment) but I feel they could make yours.
These games will be (very) briefly mentioned with links and basics for folks that want to look deeper into them. But most of my effort will appear in the Top 10 Most Anticipated List which is very likely different than your own but I like to throw some subjective selections out there because some readers have mentioned they like some of my recommendations.
So with that, we will begin our examination of the upcoming offerings!
Honorable Mentions
While researching for this article I noticed there is an unusually high number of expansions and reprint games arriving soon. For those of us familiar with these IPs, this is an interesting development. For others, this might be a chance to discover these franchises for the first time or even pass on them completely. Either way, let’s see what’s coming!
Cthulhu: Death May Die-Fear of the Unknown
A new expansion for one of the most beloved games in the cooperative campaign genre. Not much is known yet but a Launch Notification is up on Kickstarter for upcoming projects. This will be a pricey one, no doubt, but for those who have worked their way through the first two seasons, this will surely be a hot campaign to back!
Escape from New York
Soon Gamefound will host this really interesting take on the “cult-hit” Escape from New York. Here is the GF page for your viewing pleasure. I expect this to draw a decent amount of interest from the 40+ age BG crowd who fondly remember movies from the 80s, but I could also see this campaign stalling out and ultimately relaunching at a later date.
Why is it on the Most Anticipated List if I’m unsure how it will do? Because sometimes these things are hard to predict, but I’ve seen trends of certain types of games failing to gain traction on their first time around, more so on GF than KS but it happens everywhere(and often!).
Castles of Mad King Ludwig: Renovations
One of many expansions in this series, a beloved game that I know many gamers will be eager to add to their collection. Renovations offers players the chance to “renovate the castle” with new room tiles. The BGG listing is still very light on details but I’m sure it will be updated soon, so keep your eyes open.
Zoo Tycoon
Build a zoo? Well, if you include all of the Dino theme park simulators this genre has become quite crowded in recent years. Zoo Tycoon lets players do similar activities. Place food stalls, attractions, and choose animals to display in their respective zoos. The BGG page has information as well as many photos to check out to find out if this is for you. I think this is definitely a pass for me. If I were to get this theme of game I would prefer Ark Nova or Dinogenics!
Wonderland’s War: Shards of Madness
Yet another expansion for a recently successful game. Shards of Madness primarily adds more card play to the base game. The thematic concept of “ a shard” is a type of resource players can use as a risk/reward mechanism seen in many many expansions. If you enjoy Wonderland’s War then this is probably worth looking into.
Oathsworn: Into the Deepwood
A multiple-player, narrative-based campaign game with tons of combat has a 2nd printing coming to Kickstarter. This game has really hit the right spot for players but the first printing sold quickly leaving a very high demand that made a 2nd printing only logical.
Canvas: Final Touches
The smash-hit Canvas is getting a reprint with the chance for backers to purchase the final expansion — Final Touches. This is a lightweight and beautiful small box game that is easy to bring along in your purse or bag for an impromptu gaming session when you are friends have downtime or a great way to fill time between heavier games. The gameplay is simple but fun and easy to get others to try.
Are you a fan of the digital version of Slay the Spire or just looking to try out a cooperative deck-building game? Slay the Spire is certainly going to garner a lot of attention based on its name alone, but it looks like one I’ll follow as well. I’m always looking to add games with different elements to my collection and the only game I have with any semblance of cooperative deck-building is Etherfields. A marvelous game, but Slay the Spire promises something entirely different.
Oceans: Legends of the Deep
I don’t know how to feel about this one. Having never played Oceans — this expansion looks a bit off to me as it goes from what appeared to be a heavy naturalist theme to something very much fantasy/mythology. The BGG page has lots of pictures and a fair amount of information on this expansion. I’ll let others be the judge if this fits the base game enough or is too different.
Also Mentions
Mosaic: Wars & Disasters Expansion
BoardGameNerd Top 10 Most Anticipated
# 10 Huang 皇
This is a mostly visual/components upgrade of two classic games Tigris & Euphrates + Yellow & Yangtze.
In this game, players act as members of the “Warring States” in historical China. The deluxe edition offers well-sculpted miniatures (that may or may not be what you are looking for) as well as a new take on the art and visual aspects of the game. These games are on and off again out of print so this might be a great way to get a hold of a Knizia game that’s long been on your grail list.
# 9 Race to the Raft
Isle of Cats is one of the favorites in my collection. It’s not that it’s my best game but it is a great game, has attractive visuals, and is a game you can make more medium or lighter in difficulty based on who you are playing with and what modules you include.
Race to the Raft doesn’t seem in any way similar in terms of gameplay but it shares the art style and the story style. “What happened to the cats we failed to save once Ves Darkhand arrived at the island?”
# 8 Destinies: Witchwood
Although I’ve yet to play Destines, its popularity has me curious about what it’s all about. I like the art and basic theme a great deal, that’s for sure! I wonder if this latest expansion will win me over. It’s partially app-based so keep that in mind when considering if this might be a game for you.
Players work through competitive scenarios to fulfill various potential destinies. A game where decisions matter and will be reflected as the game unfolds, Destines: Witchwood adds “more stuff” to the game.
# 7 The Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Era
Yet another expansion for a game with a well-known IP. I never got into the video game but many of my friends did so that makes me wonder if I’m missing out on a memorable world & story.
This game features dice-rolling, a tech tree/track, a hexagon grid, and variable setups. Not much in the way of a preview yet, but I’m keeping it in mind. Here is a link to more info on BGG.
# 6 The Queen’s Dilemma
I have really wanted to play The King’s Dilemma but never had the opportunity and from what I’ve read about The Queen’s Dilemma — this might be another way to get into this story and gaming system.
In The Queen’s Dilemma, players will compete in an interactive legacy game featuring a card system and a large map. Players gather resources, control regions, and vote on tense decisions in the kingdom.
# 5 Tabriz
A new follow-up to smash hits Cascadia & Calico — Tabriz places players in an attractive Persian setting in which they can become what they always dreamed of becoming — weavers and carpet sellers!
So many themes sound dry or unappealing at face value but I’m really drawn in by the theme and art. I think Lookout Games' other games have been interesting though a bit on the light side for me. I hope this one offers a deeper experience and from all of the pictures and comments online there is a good chance that it does!
# 4 Life of the Amazonia
This one launched yesterday before I was able to publish this article but it’s so new I think I should include it. One of the reasons I’m excited about it is that it’s one of only two on this list that I have actually played! I got a hold of a prototype to test because I enjoyed Bad Comet Games’ previous Kickstarter hit Wild: Serengeti.
This game capitalizes on the popularity of the lovely and cute art and animeeples of W.S. but brings a totally different game to the table. I recently wrote an article that gives an overview of my experience with the game. Here’s the link so I don’t repost the same comments again.
I think I’ll end up playing this game more than Wild: Serengeti which is a game my local group enjoys, so that’s a really good sign.
Scan the QR Code below to follow along!
# 3 Pampero
“Build wind farms, then expand and improve your grid to master the energy market.”
Thematically, the government of Uraguay is attempting to shift away from its dependence on fossil fuels by exploring the use of Wind Energy & Biomass.
Mechanically, players will use hand-management and card-driven action selection to improve on their tableau of starting cards. Everything speaks to me here but I’m not completely sure why. I love games like Power Grid and Weather Station that are thematically connected to power and the weather and how the interrelation comes into play.
I also just like the scaled-back look of the boards and meeples.
Here’s a link to the BGG page for more details.
# 2 Stonesaga
I looked at Arydia when it first hit crowdfunding, and while it looked great, there were soooo many fantasy-based games it failed to stand out as something I was willing to drop a lot of money on. Stonesaga is a different story, I really like this item crafting, stone age, find your food or die campaign where decisions matter. This one is right at the top of what I’m considering backing in the weeks/months(?) ahead. BGG link!
In the end, I still need to finish Etherfields, ISS Vanguard, and possibly my buddy's copies of Sleeping Gods and (coming soon) Tamashii. We will see if this is going to be enticing enough to get in my line of cooperative campaign games.
# 1 Unconscious Mind
For anyone who has followed my articles, it’s no secret that I’ve had my eye on this one that really caught my imagination. After going all in on Fantasia Games’ big hit Endless Winter I’ve continued to follow along with any game developments they might have and have had this at or near the top of my list for a while now.
When the chance arose for me to get a hold of a prototype I jumped at it and taught this game to many players in my local gaming group. This is a game that has all of the feels of a “heavy game” but it’s not honestly as heavy as it looks. It’s a solid medium-weight game that allows a lot of paths to victory.
You can focus on dream analysis, gaining a reputation in historical Vienna, learning new techniques, and building up your player board to take advantage of an interesting rondel that has call backs to the Wingspan player board!
I wrote an article recently about why I was looking forward to this one. Long before I ever knew I might have a chance to test a prototype! Check out this link for a more detailed overview.
We looked at all of these games VERY briefly but keep in mind there were many many games to evaluate and consider. Meaning, we gamers have a lot of good options coming soon!
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-BoardGameNerd
