The Pinnacle Ludism List
380 plus board games that define the philosophy, aesthetics, and design of the Ludism game movement
I been playing board games since Doom: The Board Game. I donโt call any of these games โtabletop games,โ as this is a semantic flaw. Realize, that this must imply that the net world is superior to the meat world and that the true definition of a game can only exist in net space. Games exist in front of us. Video screens, digital technology, and computers cannot surpass the Anthropocene. Humans play games. Without such technology, we will always play sports and board games.
Now they say โWhere is the board in card games?โ I reply, โWhere is the table in tabletop games?โ The concept implies we need a table, not a floor, to play an umbrella term of games right in front of us. As if all sports are actually โball games,โ and the physical reality is a subjective choice, not a reality. โTabletop gamesโ is not just a pretentious definition, but denies human nature in favor of subculture and neoliberal ideology. Itโs as pathetic as calling all board games โanalog.โ (There is no machine, or Skynet AI, controlling us).
My answer to this soy boy consumer culture is Ludism. Ludism is a radical subculture influenced by hippy aesthetics, new-age philosophy, and random and unbalanced game design. Eurogames omit the sense of player interactivity. There must be an interaction between two human beings. There must be negotiation, diplomacy, adaptability, and random modulation, to produce pure creativity. The player expresses himself, and the game changes every new session.
This game design philosophy matches the abstract aesthetics that remind us of the psychedelic. A poor game is like Root, with its non-interactive gameplay, and cringe CalArts aesthetics. A great, Ludic game is Cosmic Encounter. Cosmic Encounter is the greatest board game of all time and will lead the Ludic revolution.
I can dedicate an entire list to game design literature. But perhaps collecting, reading, and playing board games is superior to buying stuffy books on Julius Evola or Hegelian socialism. A board game is not only its rulebook, but a collection of material things, or a Gesamtkunstwerk what art truly can be. Rules are only the expression of the game. Itโs how the human mentors and lawyers control the play and interface.
I could also go on about how I have a deep hatred towards the board game cafe, or why the fuck people eat food while they play a board game (and who would eat McDonaldโs while playing Go?). These are all depraved and decadent values. I understand some people treat Ludic games like drugs, and playing a board game can produce a vision of ecstasy. But I have standards. I hate dumb people. Ludism is a board game vanguard. An avant-garde movement about an Oulipo style of board gaming forgotten by the bourgeoisie.
The following is a list of board games I have played at least once, or own a copy of. I believe I played more than 500 board games. Previously in my Ludism book, I have criticized the BoardGameGeek consumer class that brags about owning more than 1,000 or 2000 board games. Itโs not possible to play that many games daily, let alone play any of those games a second time. If there are 365 days in a year, and someone brags about having more than that number, obviously they could play a new game every day for a year. But they donโt, and thatโs why these people are dumb.
This pinnacle list of Ludism is close to 400, and it will be updated when I feel like it should. If you want to start a board game collection, please only use this list as your ultimate checklist. This is a superior board game list. You could play these games for the rest of your life.
Donโt judge a game because itโs NeoPets, but see it as nothing more than numbers and shapes. Ask, โWhat is the program behind all of it?โ Each board game is like a single computer program. How can they be judged? What does this machine offer? This is about design.
The following machines inspired me. And I wish more people knew about this kind of art, as opposed to the gay shit out there like Terraforming Mars or The Settlers of Catan. Klaus Tueber is a good designer, but Catan is a joke. Every other game sucks.
And fuck video games too, unless they are digital interpretations of board games.
Have fun with this list. Click on the title and see if the game is something you would buy. Ask me personally what I think about each one. I have an opinion on each machine. I already reviewed a majority of these games, here at this link.
I will convert you to Ludism.
You can also read more about Ludism from my articles: "Post-Elegance: Experimental Aesthetics In Tabletop Game Design," "On Design Research and Game Design," "Ludism: The Board Game Religion," "My Board Game Collection," and "Future Pastimes and Cosmic Encounter."
โฆNow, on to the listโฆ
LUDISM: THE GAMES (2021)
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11 Swing Statesย (2015)
221B Baker St.: Sherlock Holmes & the Time Machineย (1996)
3D Riskย (1996)
4000 A.D.ย (1972)
4th Dimensionย (1977)
504ย (2015)
The 7th Guest: Infectionย (2019)
A la carteย (1989)
Abileneย (1983)
Acquireย (1964)
Adventurer: A Game of Man to Man Brawling in the Far Futureย (1980)
Africaย (2001)
After School Curse Clubย (2018)
Age of Renaissanceย (1996)
Aggressionย (1973)
Akrotiriย (2014)
Ali Babaย (1993)
Alien Cityย (2002)
Alpen Expressย (2005)
Altar Questย (2020)
Ambush!ย (1983)
Amoebaย (2009)
Das Amulettย (2001)
Amun-Reย (2003)
Ancient Conquestย (1975)
Android: Netrunnerย (2012)
Annihilator / OneWorldย (1980)
Antikeย (2005)
Apocalypse: The Game of Nuclear Devastationย (1980)
Aquariusย (1998)
Aquarius Risingย (2012)
Arcanumย (2005)
Arkansas Bluffย (1975)
Around the World in 80 Daysย (1986)
Article 27: The UN Security Council Gameย (2012)
Attack!ย (2003)
Attilaย (2000)
Auf Achseย (1987)
Auf Achse Juniorย (1992)
Australiaย (2005)
Axiomย (1988)
Aztlรกnย (2012)
Backpacks and Blistersย (1993)
Barbarossaย (1988)
Basari: Das Kartenspielย (2014)
Battle Cattle: The Card Gameย (2001)
Battlecarsย (1983)
Bausackย (1987)
The Big Cheeseย (1998)
Bin'Fa: The Tao of Warย (2015)
Black Viennaย (1987)
Blockhead!ย (1952)
Blood Bath at Orc's Driftย (1985)
Blood Royaleย (1987)
Boomtownย (2004)
Border Reiversย (2006)
A Brief History of the Worldย (2009)
Brummiย (1994)
Builders of R'lyehย (2012)
Burn Rateย (2002)
Busย (1999)
Calamity!ย (1983)
Camelotย (1930)
Camelotย (2005)
Canyonย (1997)
Captain Futureย (1980)
Cartagenaย (2000)
Castle Dangerย (2002)
Celestiaย (2015)
Celestial Rainbowsย (2013)
Chaos Marauders (Second Edition)ย (2009)
Chaosmosย (2015)
Choose One!ย (2013)
Circus Flohcatiย (1998)
La Cittร ย (2000)
Clansย (2002)
Class Struggleย (1978)
Classic Warlordย (2012)
Cleopatra's Cabooseย (2010)
Cockroach Saladย (2007)
The Compleat Strategystย (1954)
La Conquรชte du Mondeย (1957)
La Conquรชte du Mondeย (1957)
Conspiracy Theoryย (2017)
Cootieย (1927)
Copenhagenย (2019)
Corinthย (2019)
Cosmic Coastersย (2001)
Cosmic Dominationย (2015)
Cosmic Encounterย (2008)
Cosmic Encounterย (2000)
Cosmic Kaboomย (2016)
Covert Actionย (2007)
The Crusoe Crewย (2019)
Cube Farmย (2002)
D100 Dungeonย (2017)
Dame 2000ย (1987)
Darkoverย (1979)
DeathMazeย (1979)
Decktetย (2008)
Devil Bunny Needs a Hamย (1998)
Dicelandย (2002)
Doctor Who: The Game of Time & Spaceย (1980)
Dogeย (2000)
Don Pepeย (1999)
Doom: The Boardgameย (2004)
Down with the Kingย (1981)
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hydeย (1997)
Draco & Coย (2001)
Dragon Mastersย (1991)
Dragonmasterย (1981)
DragonStone Mine!ย (2016)
Dungeon!ย (1975)
DungeonQuestย (1985)
Dungeons & Dragons: The Fantasy Adventure Board Gameย (2003)
Dwarven Dig!ย (2002)
Dynasty League Baseballย (1985)
Earth Gameย (1979)
Easter Islandย (2006)
Ebola Monkey Huntย (1998)
Edel, Stein & Reichย (2003)
Efniย (2001)
Eins, Zwei, Dreiย (1976)
Elemental Towersย (2018)
Elricย (1977)
Enchanted Forestย (1981)
Enochian Chessย (1941)
Entdeckerย (1996)
Escape from the Hidden Castleย (1989)
European Warย (2010)
Expeditionย (1996)
Fast Food Franchiseย (1992)
Fire in the Lakeย (2014)
First Contactย (2018)
Fist of Dragonstonesย (2002)
Fist of Dragonstones: The Tavern Editionย (2018)
Flea Marketย (2015)
Fluxx: The Board Gameย (2013)
Fossilย (1998)
Frank's Zooย (1999)
Freedom in the Galaxy: The Star Rebellions, 5764 ADย (1979)
Freeloaderย (2002)
Frontier-6ย (1980)
Fuzzy Heroesย (1992)
Fuzzy Sooper Heroesย (1993)
Fzzzt!ย (2009)
Gangstersย (1992)
Genoaย (2001)
Get Outย (1998)
Ghost Chaseย (2001)
The Godfather Gameย (1971)
Going, Going, GONE!ย (2013)
Got It!ย (2010)
Grand Masterย (1986)
El Grandeย (1995)
The Great Brain Robberyย (2000)
The Great Khan Gameย (1989)
Groo: The Gameย (1997)
Das groรe Unternehmen Erdgasย (1982)
Gunslingerย (1982)
Hack Attackย (2000)
Hanย (2014)
HeroQuestย (1989)
History of the Worldย (2018)
Hoax (Second Edition)ย (2016)
The Hobbit Adventure Boardgameย (1994)
Hyborian Riskย (1981)
Hyleย (1979)
Imperialย (2006)
Intrigueย (1994)
Ivanhoeย (2000)
Iwariย (2020)
Judge Dredd: Block Warย (2018)
Junk Artย (2016)
Juntaย (1978)
Junta: Las Cartasย (2016)
Junta: Viva el Presidente!ย (2010)
Ka-Boomย (2013)
Kablamoย (2004)
Kapitรคn Wackelpuddingย (1994)
Kataminoย (1992)
Key Largoย (2005)
Key to the Kingdomย (1990)
King Arthurย (2014)
King's Bountyย (1991)
Kingmakerย (1974)
Kings & Thingsย (1986)
KLASKย (2014)
Knightmare Chessย (1994)
Kremlinย (1986)
Kremlin (Third Edition)ย (2014)
Kretaย (2005)
Kunst Stรผckeย (1995)
Legend of Camelotย (1987)
LEGO Creatorย (1999)
Lemmaย (1987)
Lie, Cheat & Stealย (1971)
Lifeboatsย (1993)
Light Speedย (2003)
Little Italyย (2007)
Long Live the Kingย (2006)
The Lord of the Rings Tarot Deck and Card Gameย (1997)
Lost Worldsย (1983)
Die Macherย (1986)
Machiavelliย (1977)
Magalonย (1998)
Magnificoย (2008)
Maharajaย (2021)
Maharaja: The Game of Palace Building in Indiaย (2004)
Mammoth Huntersย (2003)
Man Bites Dogย (2002)
Mandalaย (2003)
The Market of Alturienย (2007)
MarraCashย (1996)
Mascaradeย (2013)
Masonsย (2006)
Mediciย (1995)
Men at Workย (2019)
Menaraย (2018)
Mertwig's Mazeย (1988)
Metropolisย (1984)
Micro Robotsย (2016)
Mighty Empiresย (1990)
Minosย (1991)
Mirror, Mirrorย (2011)
Mississippi Queenย (2019)
Modern Artย (1992)
Monster Maker 30th Anniversary Remake Editionย (2018)
Monsters Menace Americaย (2005)
more dudeย (2018)
Morisiย (2000)
Munchkin Treasure Huntย (2014)
Murphy's Magic Islandย (1992)
The Mystic Woodย (1980)
Mythgardiaย (2009)
Mythology: A Game of Adventure in the Age of Herosย (1980)
The Nacho Incidentย (2005)
Nanofictionaryย (2002)
Narnia Risk Juniorย (2006)
Nationsย (2013)
New Yorkย (1995)
Nodwick: The Card Gameย (2002)
Nuclear Warย (1965)
Nuke Your Neighborย (1983)
Oasisย (2004)
Oi! Dat's My Leg!ย (1989)
Order of the Stick Adventure Game: The Dungeon of Dorukanย (2006)
Organized Crimeย (1974)
Orionย (1971)
Pan-Kaiย (1960)
Paths of Gloryย (1999)
Penguin Soccerย (2007)
Pentominoย (1969)
Pentominoesย (1953)
Pete the Pirateย (2000)
Das Phantomย (1993)
Piecepackย (2001)
Plague!ย (1991)
Primordial Soupย (1997)
Project Skylineย (2004)
Pyramids and Flagsย (2010)
Quartermaster Generalย (2014)
Quartoย (1991)
Quintazoneย (2005)
Quintazone-Chaserย (2012)
Quo Vadis?ย (1991)
Regattaย (1967)
Regattaย (2005)
Renaissance of Infantry: Tactical Warfare, 1250 A.D-1550 A.Dย (1970)
Ricochet Robotsย (1999)
Riddle of the Ringย (1982)
Risk: Game of Thronesย (2015)
Rummikubย (1977)
Runngus' Gameย (1980)
Saboteur: The Lost Minesย (2018)
Safari Jackย (1998)
Samarkandย (1980)
Santa Timeaย (2009)
Schoko & Co.ย (1987)
Schotten Tottenย (1999)
Scotland Yardย (1983)
Search for the Emperor's Treasureย (1981)
The Secret Doorย (1991)
Sesam, puzzle dich!ย (2012)
Sharkย (1987)
Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders & Other Casesย (1982)
Showbizย (1984)
Sidibabaย (2008)
Skurรฐirย (2002)
Slapshotย (1982)
Snail's Pace Raceย (1985)
Snit's Revenge!ย (1977)
The Solo Systemย (2016)
The Sorcerer's Caveย (1978)
Space Hulkย (1989)
Space Sheep!ย (2013)
Special Trainย (1948)
Spy Alleyย (1992)
SpyNetย (2017)
The Star Gameย (1989)
Star Tradersย (1987)
Star Trek: The Enterprise 4 Encounterย (1985)
Star Wars: Escape From The Death Starย (1990)
Star Wheelย (2007)
StarCraft: The Board Gameย (2007)
Starshipsย (1980)
Steel and Crystalย (2002)
Stomp!ย (1978)
Strange Synergyย (2003)
StreetSoccerย (2002)
Struggle of Empiresย (2004)
Stuff and Nonsenseย (2015)
SuperGangย (1985)
Supermarchรฉย (2014)
Superpowerย (1986)
Superpowersย (2009)
Supremacy: The Game of the Superpowersย (1984)
Survival / The Barbarianย (1979)
Swashbuckler: A Game of Swordplay and Derring-doย (1980)
Sword & Skullย (2005)
Swords & Wizardryย (1980)
Taj Mahalย (2000)
Take Thatย (2016)
Tales of the Arabian Nightsย (1985)
TAMSKย (1998)
Targuiย (1988)
Terraย (2003)
Tetrisย (1989)
Thebesย (2007)
Throneworldย (1997)
Time Breakerย (2019)
Titanย (1980)
Tongiaki: Journey into the Unknownย (2004)
Torresย (1999)
Toscanaย (2010)
Toy Warย (1992)
Tradeย (1974)
Trade Windsย (1960)
TransAmericaย (2001)
Trogdor!! The Board Gameย (2019)
Troikaย (2012)
Tutankhamenย (1993)
Twixtย (1962)
Tycoonย (1998)
Ugg-Tectย (2009)
Union Pacificย (1999)
Universeย (1966)
Unlurย (2002)
Urlandย (2001)
Valley Of The Four Windsย (1980)
Valley of the Mammothsย (1991)
Vertigoย (1990)
Viktoryย (2005)
Viktory IIย (2006)
Viktory: Terror in Europeย (2014)
Villa Palettiย (2001)
Villagesย (1991)
Vinciย (1999)
Wacky Wacky Westย (1991)
Walnut Groveย (2011)
WarCraft: The Board Gameย (2003)
Warhamster Rallyย (2001)
Warlockย (1980)
Warrior Knightsย (1985)
Waterworksย (1972)
Web of Powerย (2000)
Western Empiresย (2019)
Wind Riverย (2008)
Wiz-Warย (1983)
Wizard's Brewย (2013)
Wobble Kingย (2018)
Wordsmithย (2019)
World War 5ย (2008)
Wu Hsingย (1969)
Zargo's Lords: Magic Duels for World Powerย (1979)
ZรRTZย (1999)
Zombie in My Pocketย (2010)
Zongย (1994)
Zoom Zoom Ka-Boom!!ย (2011)
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12-21-2021