Another year filled with competitions is behind us. The publishers were also not idle and provided us with a constant influx of new products on the market. It’s impossible to play all the board games, but our editors chose the ones they thought were the best from the games discovered in 2022.
The Search for Planet X
… that is deduction in its purest form. In the game, we lead the research of a team that searches the sky in search of various objects: asteroids, comets, dwarf planets and gas clouds. We know that among the seemingly empty areas there is also Planet X, which we cannot observe directly. So we look for clues by asking the application questions, we determine the location of other objects, and at the end of the game we announce that we know with 100% probability where Planet X is located.
Each of the objects has its own placement rules (e.g. they must be adjacent to each other), during the game we will also discover additional rules that will give us further clues to solve the puzzle. We will earn points for the publication of research – partial results, which, however, will help our opponents.
We scour the sky, make theories and watch the actions of our fellow players, solving our logical puzzle. It is worth noting that the combination of a board game and an application works great in Search for Planet X – while we need to combine information, the application manages hints and generates random object layouts, as well as directs a virtual opponent in solo mode.
The game works well in any squad, from 1 to 4 people, and we can make it even easier for beginners, which will make everyone have a chance to win from the first game.
The game is satisfying, smooth and replayable. Compared to other deduction games, Search for Planet X focuses more on the puzzle itself, without the distraction of a resource gathering system or bidding. For me, this is the best game of this type and I am happy to come back to it again.
Batman: Everyone lies
In my case, 2022 was not a board game year. However, I devoted more time to RPG, which of course doesn’t mean that I couldn’t play anything else. And of the novelties in which I had the opportunity to try my hand, I liked Batman: Everyone Lies the most . The title, based on the popular Detective , takes us straight to Gotham City with its atmosphere and allows us to play as one of the heroes of the comics, including Catwoman and Harvey Bullock. The beautiful edition will certainly be appreciated by comic book fans, and the unusual solutions will satisfy lovers of intrigue and mystery.
The game itself will provide us with puzzles, clues and plot twists. The script is designed in such a way that you can have the impression of playing role-playing, which probably decided that I was tempted by this product and considered it the best in the past year. By the way, it is worth mentioning that we are dealing with a cooperative mode, which, however, allows us to solo solutions. We receive several tasks addressed only to our characters and we will have to decide whether we want to support the team or whether our own good is more important to us. The only thing that limps here is replayability, but it’s still worth investing in Batman and helping the Dark Knight and Jim Gordon in the fight against evil!
Turbo
In 2022, I didn’t play too many games, but the game from Rebel, Turbo , surprised me the most . In my opinion, this is a very successful transfer of racing to the board. Asger Harding Granerud significantly expanded the basic mechanics he used in The Great Loop , which increased the impact of randomness on the game, and at the same time the gameplay gained more depth. While playing Turbo , I had the feeling of driving a fast racer, and each corner entry provided a lot of emotions. Additional modules are included in the box, so you can upgrade your vehicles, and most importantly, compete for the Gram Prix trophy! Therefore, Turbo not only impresses with its playability, but also dazzles with the quality of the release!
Tidal Blades: Defenders of the Reef
I have a soft spot for pretty games and fabulous covers attract me like moths. Then I can only hope that the mechanics will not differ from the performance and I will not have to say goodbye to the new box. Fortunately, the game Tidal Blades: Reef Defenders from Galakta did not disappoint me and found its permanent place on my shelf.
During the game, we take part in the Grand Tournament to be honored with joining the elite guard. We will achieve this by visiting different locations to collect resources, perform actions and complete challenges, and when we are more confident in our preparation, also kill monsters. Mechanically, we mainly have worker placement and dice management here. Everything meshes nicely and even though it’s a Eurogame, you can feel a bit of atmosphere in it, a lot of competition and a race against other players.
Tidal Blades: Defenders of the Reef is a game that won my heart with its mechanics and appearance, which is why I believe it deserves to be among the best board games released in Poland in 2022. I also hope that the next titles in the series will appear on the Polish market soon.
Betrayal at House on the Hill
When it comes to the best board games of 2022, there were a lot of them, because the publishers flooded us with really interesting proposals. Big or small, card games, or maybe board games have diversified our lives throughout the year, but the time has come for summaries. If I had to choose only one from the maze of wonders, Betrayal at House on the Hill deserves to be called the best of the best . In the world, this title has its third edition, and we, finally, the first Polish edition, which is wonderful in every respect.
In the game, we play the role of a group of nosy visitors who want to learn the secrets of the title house. And so we go from room to room, spying and penetrating. When we come across an artifact, the player using it can become possessed, and then comes the time of the haunting, where the team splits into two camps that fight each other. Only cunning, good tactics, and sometimes selfish tricks will make us win. I recommend it with all my heart, it is one of those proposals that you cannot miss, especially since it is the “mother” of all titles with a similar atmosphere and mechanics.