Second Annual Which Game First Awards

The panel unearth the best and worst games we talked about on our show in 2019 and announce the winners of the second annual Firsties Awards.



Best Ice-Breaker Game: This award goes to a casual game that is quick and easy to play. Nominations: 5 Min Dungeon, Legendary Forests, Ramen Fury, Show & Tile, Somnium: Rise of LaputaWINNER: Somnium: Rise of Laputa



Best Party Game: This award goes to the game that’s best at engaging large groups of people.. Nominations: Donner Dinner Party, Unlock! The House on the Hill, Wits & Wagers, Yeti in the House, Werewolf LegacyWINNER: Wits & Wagers



Best Art: This award goes to the game that has the most engaging or compelling use of art in a game.Nominations: Echaton, Root, The 7th Continent, Escape Plan, WingspanWINNER: Wingspan



Best Game Component: This award goes to the game with the specific component that immediately brings you into the game.Nominations: Dice Forge, Tapestry, Tzolk’in, U-BOOT: The Board Game, RootWINNER: Dice Forge



Best Card Game: This Award goes the game that just about the cards, no board needed Nominations: KeyForge, Mystic Vale, Sorcerer, The 7th Continent, Wild Blue YonderWINNER: Wild Blue Yonder



Best Shelfie: This award goes to the game that you are proud to show off, due to its overall production value and sleekness of the game’s box and components.Nominations: Tapestry, The 7th Continent, Too Many Bones, U-BOOT: The Board Game, War RoomWINNER: Too Many Bones



Best Educational Game : This award goes to the board game which promotes education and learning through game playing!Nominations: Cytosis: A Cell Biology Game, Innovation, War Room, Wingspan, ZendoWINNER: Cytosis: A Cell Biology Game



Best Strategy Game: This Award goes to the game that keeps you up late at night, wondering what strategy you’ll try next time…!Nominations: Age of Steam, Charterstone, Quacks of Quedlinburg, Tapestry, Tzolk’in, WingspanWINNER: Quacks of Quedlinburg



Best Themed Game: This award goes to the game whose theme was best executed throughout its narrative, flavor, rules components and mechanics.Nominations: Charterstone, The 7th Continent, Too Many Bones, Trogdor!!, U-BOOT: The Board Game, WingspanWINNER: Trogdor!!



Best Archeological Find: This award goes to the best game released more than 25 years ago. The version we played must be over 25 years old to be considered for this category.Nominations: Clever Endeavor, Dealer’s Choice, Iron Dragon, Loot, FlusterWINNER: Iron Dragon



Best Abstract Game: This award goes to the best game in which the theme is not important to the experience of playing.Nominations: Shobu, Zendo, Show & Tile, Twixt, Rack-OWINNER: Shobu



Best Game App: This award goes to the game with that came with a digital app that was required to play or simply enhance play of the game.Nominations: U-Boot: The Board Game, 5 Min Dungeon, Unlock, Detective, UWLWINNER: U-Boot: The Board Game



Firstie Worstie: This award goes to the game where the best move is to bury it deep in the ground! Nominations: Geronimo, In a Pickle, Jar Jar Binks 3-D Adventure Game, Joe Name It, Russian RouletteWINNER: In a Pickle



Game of The Year: This award goes to the best game published within the last 24 months, excluding reprints or new editions of older games.Nominations: Quacks of Quedlinburg, Tapestry, U-BOOT: The Board Game, War Room, WingspanWINNER: Quacks of Quedlinburg