This one really needs a remake. This list would be incredibly different I bet.

I love watching these top ten videos! I think its really great that Sam, Zee & Tom each have their own different point of views as to what they enjoy more in a game.

Man, the felt in front of Sam must be incredibly smooth.

Great theme! I love Tom, Sam and Zee talking about games. Especially their top 10's.

It was interesting to see Sam be so aggressive in attacking Tom's choices as having themes that could easily be swapped out for something else when he listed two games that literally already have. Shogun is Wallenstein with a feudal Japan theme pasted on top of it. And Pandemic's gameplay was dropped wholesale into Defenders of the Realm very successfully and later used again in Forbidden Desert. Both games fail badly as being thematic using the criteria they laid out at the beginning of the video.

I'd like to put in for a Dice Tower No-Prize. [Pushes up nerd glasses.] At the 13:00 mark, Sam says that he "wasn't in on the original run." But in Sam and Zee's Top Ten Games of 2012, at the 18:00 mark, Sam says that he did play the original. This is clearly a continuity error, unless one of these Sams is an alternate reality Sam or perhaps even a shapeshifter!

Various understandings of this Top 10: Sam: "Themes I like" Tom: "Themes that are brought to life" Zee: "Themes that blend seamlessly with the rules" Definitely apples and oranges.

Coming back to watch this one a 2nd time... still a hilarious episode guys, great work!

"We are experiencing philosophical difuculties, please stand by" That just made my day

"Top Ten House Rules" games that are pretty subpar, but become significantly better with certain adjustments

You have to talk about this topik again in 2021.... Love it! 😁

"Philosophical difficulties" Such great word play. Keep the videos coming please!

every time they said 'next one is feudal Japan..." I totally expected them to say Yedo. Can't believe that wasn't on any of their lists. I love reading all the flavor text on the mission cards, and am constantly amazed how it's all tied to what you actually have to do for the mission... such attention to detail, and obviously a labor of love by the game designers. Best tying of theme to game mechanics I've ever seen.

This list really needs an update! How about a new video guys??? :-)

Every mechanic In there matches the theme really well, from the fsmily growth to the planting and harvesting of vegetables, to the animal production to the resources used. It fits the theme perfectly.

I really liked the video. I also enjoy the way you disagree with each other which makes you explain your opions. Great job!

This is the best top 10 yet! I love all the technical/philosophical difficulties you guys keep experiencing. And nice new table! Geek Chick makes some great looking tables. It takes a real mean to admit to watching Twilight; do not be ashamed. And I love the component pictures for each game. I wonder if you guys started doing that because of inputs from the recent survey. Thank you for the videos!

This is what good friends do. They bash each other and learn from it. Tough love as you will. This is why I believe him when he mentions that no one is ever offended. I enjoy the honesty of friends.

You guys have entirely too much fun doing these videos. Thank you!

I love the top 10 lists. This one had me laughing out loud. Thanks for all the recommendations.

Thanx, Zee! For turning me onto Sidibaba. Looks great!

A La Carte is great! I bought it for my 9 year old goddaughter because of your review, Tom. I also bought the Dessert expansion and am waiting to give her that for a birthday. It is a fun game that adults have fun playing. The little pans are amazing and so are the cardboard stoves (though I had to glue them together because they kept falling apart.)

from 2013!! why havent i seen this one!! this is my jam!! do a new one!!

Betrayal at House on the Hill for me is top ten worthy. Especially if the person that reads the cards and scenarios gets into it. One of my favorites of all time

Guys.... best list you've done since "Games we hated"... you had games that were really quality...great work.

Even when I don't agree with you, you guys are highly entertaining. But where is War of the Ring?

17:25 "A glorious victory! 'straight'". LOL! Zee, your one liners are gold!

Great show,you really have found the balance in your three person top ten format! GO ZEE!

I agree 1000 percent Sean how.....I think that's what make this so entertaining I love watching these guys.....the trash talking about the other person's game that's just a bonus.....keep it up fellas.....2 thumbs up

Zee : "This is my Japanese themed feudal game". Tom : "Knizia's 'Samurai'" ....hahaha!!! :o)

What?! Not even a friendly nod to K2? That game deserves to be at least on someones top 5! K2 is dripping with theme!!

Founding Fathers, Sam's #10, is among my favorites. I am glad to hear that among his favorites too!

I too would watch the heck out of you guys playing a bunch of games. Battlestar, Cosmic, Resistance, etc.

To me this just shows how good of friends they actually are. You wouldn't be that comfortable to say those types of things to a stranger. Don't change a thing boys!

Love the voice in the countdown stings!

How much I love the use of spoiler alerts

I would really like to see some of these lists revisited. I'd like to suggest JUNTA for one.... ....but also BOTTOM OF THE 9th.... ....REVOLVER.... ...SPACE ALERT.... ...COLT EXPRESS.... each of those games got us into the theme so deeply that we were role-playing with each other during every move. Love the podcast. Keep up the good work and please revisit these lists periodically! ;-)

19:23 This part hits so different watching this video 10 years later

Totally agree. The main goal for game mechanics in a thematic game are really to make that theme come to life. Although i highly agree with some of Sam's choices as well in that regard. For example Netrunner would be very high on my list.

I absolutely love you guys. "we are experiencing philosophical difficulties" Makes me laugh every time. keep making these lists!

The funniest Top 10 yet. Picked a few that I'll look into in greater detail. I'd love to see a list of themed family games. Which games would you recommend for a family wanting a pirate theme, an adventure theme, a space theme, etc.

I can't understand Noony's comments. Their banter at each other is what makes it so much fun to watch! Everyone has different opinions with their games and you need that variety in order to facilitate discussions. The "Philisophical Differences" gag is simply a funny joke which I always enjoy! It's a cool list, some discrepancies, but that's normal - this is actually a list I was planning to do on a podcast soon - will be interesting to see the similarities/differences.! And no Arkham Horror?!?

Thanks for your video! BUT: No "War of the Ring(2nd edition)" by Roberto Di Meglio, Marco Maggi & Francesco Nepitello? Check that out! The game is very, very, very loyal to the books of J.R.R. Tolkien. Really One of the most immersive experiences I've had so far!You feel the atmosphere. The mechanics ARE the theming.

Great idea. When I was starting my collection this was a big factor for me. I knew about so many amazing games but I didn't have much money, so I wanted to make sure I was getting the most out of the money I had to invest. Similarly, now when I'm suggesting other people's first games I want to suggest something that's great and that they'll get a lot of use from, I don't want to suggest a £50 game that we'll play 3 times a year..

cool episode as always. i'm a bit surprised nobody mentioned Tales of the Arabian Nights as this game is almost pure theme... actually you play it just to experience the theme, its not even important who wins.

Totally agree with Sam... Flashpoint and Police precinct are the same mechanics with different themes and maps.

Love the top 10 lists guys. I'm noticing that Zee and Tom are able to have rational arguments while Sam just has to be right about every one of his opinions.

you guys are lovin on that red felt! LOL!

You guys are petting the table waay too much! :P hehe

Two games that caught my attention: Key Largo and Sidibaba. The first one mainly for the theme. The second, because that mechanic of showing the tiles to the other players looks at least intriguing, if not cool.

Actually, you'd be more accurate in saying that it is a re-theme of Scotland Yard. And this is why we mentioned Scotland Yard. I think the theme of Fury of Dracula makes it a better game over Scotland Yard. Then you add in the mix Letters from White Chapel, and you have a trio of games that really have some cool mechanics, but IMO the theme of FoD does the best in making those mechanics shine.

Where's Mice & Mystics, Space Alert, Survive: Escape From Atlantis, Mansions of Madness, etc? Was hoping for an honourable mentions list, as I obviously need more games on my wish list! Lol Thanks for another great 10! :)

I love the way you guys are constantly caressing and stroking the $15000 Geek Chic Table. "Ah my precious, who's a good table?"

I'm really happy to see Fury of Dracula twice there, especially the fighting system always makes us feeling "fighting the Vampire" rather than counting and deducting only... On the other hand, as I'm a BIG fan of very thematic games, I think the original Android could make the list easily, as well as Mansions of Madness, Mage Wars or Dreadfleet. Three great games I really enjoy and always feel the theme more than mechanics...

IS that battlecon devastation on the shelf in the back?!?!?! Cant wait for that review.

Glad to hear that Founding Fathers is thematic! I have been thinking about getting it but I hate themeless games. Thanks for another great list!

This one was the top ten where I was expecting Republic of Rome in. That game captures its theme like it's nobody's business. I even suspect that this game was the theme first and then mechanics that fitted its theme. And it's not just the old republic, it fits the entire history of the republic, from the punic wars to the final rebellion against the senate. Similarly, I would have expected Die Macher on this list.

Hilarious episode! Best comic relief since a long time :)

The theme of both police and the fire game could both be replaced by soldiers in A-stan clearing houses and disarming IEDs.

Best episode so far

Also Mage Knight and Mage Wars, when I teach either I start with 'all the rules make sense'.

I second Cody there, I was a bit surprised that it wasn't mentionted even as a honorable mention or something... Love that game, as does most of my gaming group. When the time comes for one of us to make the roll to close a portal, there's always one of us that yells "SHUT THE DOOR!" XD

I do love that Empires of the Void made this list. I can't wait for the upcoming KS campaign for the second edition.

man I thought you guys stopped making these!

Love the videos, but I would like to recommend that the "face time" to "game time" ratio be about 50/50. Aka, the camera should only be on you guys for half the time, the rest of the time should be of components, gameplay, etc. Keep up the great work!

No, it's not, you should read my post again. Z made a list of games with a strong, not pasted-on theme (objective), which he also liked (subjective). Tom and Sam made a list of games with themes they like (subjective). Eventhough some of those games really had pasted-on themes or the mechanics and the theme werent closely intertwined (objective). Maybe this isn't always 100% objective, but most of the time it pretty much is.

OK, now I want to see the three of you playing Sidibaba.

I agree with Sam: Marvel Heroes is a fantastic game layered with so much rich theme! And it's so unappreciated and people rag on it for being "too long."

Zee's enthusiasm is absolutely infectious

"With Great Theme .... Comes Great Responsibility" (C) Ben Parker

Flick 'em up!!!!!!!!! One of the best themed games I have ever played.

Scotland Yard because it really feels like a manhunt where you all sit Around a map , survive because it really feels like you sail boats and drowning and stuff and a game of thrones 2nd edition because it really feels like you write the history of westrose yourself and it is also the only game where i felt like the expansion is a really big spoiler for some one who haven't got to that book

Agricola is actually a really good mix of theme and mechanic. The theme may be boring but every mechanic in there makes sense as w

To be clear, Battlestar Galactica isn't just a movie(or 2), it's also a pretty good series!

Thank god. I didn't think The Resistance was going to make it. Shouldn't be surprised. Zee always has the best lists in the Top 10s.

For me Pandemic is incredibly thematic, but it's the recycling card mechanic that makes it. Without that I'd agree it would feel too puzzly, but the fact that infected cities have a higher chance of being re-infected, and the mechanic of spreading to other cities if you don't get in there and deal with it really heaps some tension and a need to be reactive on top of the pure puzzly aspects.

Ooo! That's going to be our new name - "Fanboys that Ruin the Community." Kinda catchy! I do wonder why you think games you don't like are only for ten year olds. I don't mind playing games with ten year olds, incidentally, they have a lot of fun! Board games should never be an adult-only hobby.

Just to mention that in this category, "Nothing Personal" is for sure in my top ten.

Formula D is the perfect mix of mechanics matching the theme.

I actually think Terra Mystica has a little bit of theme to it. It's not a thematic game, but it outpaces some other Euros in terms of how much it makes sense.

awww no forbidden island? watching that island slowly then suddenly sink adds to the urgency to get everything and get out is amazing!

I've literally never gotten the feeling that things were not in good fun between friends from the Top 10.

Good job guys! Loved all the Ameri-Trash goodness!!! Though I was a bit surprised I didn't see Descent or Mage Wars on any lists.

I really liked X-Com The Board Game. I love the PC-game(s) and I really felt like they implemented the PC-game into a board game. Also like the tablet inclusion because it often feels like they are dragging that in there just cuz. But in this game it makes sense I think.

Holy crap, a Joes apartment reference. I loved that movie!

At least their #1's make sense. :) Of all the rest of them the only ones I could accept as games that fit the theme and mechanics are Battlestar Galactica (which is freaking amazing), Empires of the Void, Fury of Dracula, Android: Netrunner and Police Precinct. I probably would have had X-Wing Miniatures/Star Trek Attack Wing (combined choice), War of the Ring 2e, Mage Wars, Firefly, Star Trek Fleet Captains, and Mage Knight Board Game as some really thematic games on my possible list.

These are always entertaining.

I still need to get a copy of Sidibaba. I sounds soooo cool!

This is what makes you guys a very balanced team though ("The Theme Team"!). Many gamers fight over this aspect of gaming and your three opinions are a good sample of that.

In my opinion, Zee had the List most accurate to the purpose of this Top Ten. Still the frieldy hate on each other was fun to watch!

I would love to watch you guys play a round of Battlestar, your dynamic is fantastic.

This was an interesting list... it didn't really work, but was entertaining at that!

Would love an update on this top 10

I know its Tom's game, but I'm a little surprised Nothing Personal didn't make the list! I haven't played the game yet, but it seems covered with theme!

What about "Nuns on the Run"? I just played that, and it fits a 'hide n seek' theme perfectly, with line of site, which way the user is facing, hearing directional noises, etc...

I agree with you. MoM is so tied to theme that I criticize it for not just going full rpg.

Tom loves both of these games. It's sad they were overlooked.

When I was young my aunt had a couple games that I have never seen but at her house with great themes. #1 Mothers Helper #2 Smoky the bear Have you guys ever seen them or played them?

It's literally the most fun part of this video though.

A la Carte sounds like it would translate well to something to do with Alchemy like a potion making game :)