Top 25 Games of All Time - 2026 Edition: Games 10-6
Here we are! Getting to the top 10! These games are the cream of the crop, the creme de la creme, or pick of the litter. There are few better in my opinion...well, there are only 5 games better. That I've played. But enough buttering you up...let's take a bite!
At number 10 is a game by one of my more favorite publishers and spoiler, you'll see them further up the list as well. This game is produced by Chip Theory Games and it's designed by Josh Carlson and Shannon Wedge. It's Burncycle! In Burncycle, you play as a team of robots trying to take down the evil human-run corporations who have put their boot on the necks of the robots and AI. This is a stealth game at its core. You have to sneak into the HQ building, search the rooms for intel, and shut down the company's operations. Along the way you'll be challenged by guards, viruses and the building itself, which was designed to defend against robot intruders.
Already, the theme sounds compelling. And it's a solo or cooperative experience. The real challenge is not only avoiding detection but doing so inside of a directive driven programming requirements. You can work outside of your directive, but it'll cost you. Working inside your "burncycle" is the most efficient if you can bend it to your advantage. This action selection mechanism is what makes Burncycle so interesting. It's a puzzle inside the larger puzzle of the mission. Then you layer on potent adversaries and intricate mission objectives and this becomes a dizzying challenge fairly quickly. Along side the main board is a network map that serves not only as a reward tool, but also as a way to leverage computer hacking skills to either disable an enemy or lead them off on another trail.
Admittedly, this is a complex game. It's a 4.08 out of 5, which is pretty high. Certainly there are more complex games out there, but this will be one of the heaviest on this list. However, it's not as bad as you might think. The rulebook is excellent and there is enough content out there now that learning the rules will be a straightforward experience.
If you know anything about Chip Theory Games, you know their production quality is top notch. Everything is neoprene mats and poker chips. I even have the brass minifigs that just adds an amazing layer of tactility and interactivity that lends itself to this robot world. The poker chips are weighty and gives off that professional energy. I don't think a lot of people talk about this game...but I don't have many stealth games and this is a really good one so it goes on my top 25. I highly recommend it!
At number 9, it's a return to an alternate universe post WWI where mechs roam the countryside. Yes, back to the world of Scythe. However, this time strange meteorites have landed across Siberia, awakening an ancient corruption. Your mission? Send out expeditions to Siberia to find artifacts, overcome challenges, and achieve glory while ridding of the world of corruption. This is Expeditions, designed by Jamey Stegmaier and produced by Stonemaier Games.
This has the same vibe as Scythe but plays out completely differently. This is more like deck building / hand management. As you move your mechs around the board, you use little workers of varying colors (specialties) to perform certain actions. Managing your workers and picking up better cards with more powerful actions helps you gather the required corruption and artifacts to gain stars. Yes, stars are still the key to victory just like in Scythe.
The interesting thing with Expeditions is that not only do the cards have varying powers but their placement can also be a factor because you run through them like actions almost like you're building a tableau. Having enough workers is tough because there's always more that you want to do, and you have to have the right type of worker. It's a fun exploration as you take your mechs around Siberia. Production quality is top notch here again. I opted in for the metal mechs and they are hella cool. They have a dominating presence on the board.
Solo mode for this game is great, as are most Stonemaier solo modes. In fact, I'd say Stonemaier has become a de facto champion for solo modes. You play against a competing mech that takes resources and workers from you so it definitely becomes a challenge and feels like you're competing against another human and not an AI. The best thing is that the game doesn't overstay it's welcome. You get that great quasi-dystopia feeling, some good deck building and exploration in a relatively short amount of time, usually just over an hour once you get the rules down. I love this game, and it's accessible and available! My number 9, Expeditions.
Number 8 I almost didn't add to the list because it's a pretty expensive game if you want to get into it. It's a remake of an 80's game that I don't remember from my childhood, but was apparently pretty popular. This version is produced by Restoration Games and designed by Tim Burrell-Saward, Isaac Childres, Noah Cohen and Rob Daviau, it's Return to Dark Tower. Return to Dark Tower is an app-driven, cooperative adventure game with one defining feature...the Dark Tower. There's literally a giant black tower that dominates the center of the player board that's connects via Bluetooth to your mobile device or computer.
The Dark Tower rises above the landscape of the country which is divided into 4 quadrants. As the Dark Tower stirs, corruption is spewed forth across each quadrant in the form of skulls that come spitting out of the tower. Too much corruption in any one quadrant will destroy the people and infrastructure which affects your characters. They take on the corruption...3 corruption and you're die and the team loses. If you run out of time...you lose. In fact, there are a lot of ways to lose. It's difficult to win...which makes for a great cooperative game that turns into a thematic marvel.
On your turn you have a set of actions you can take that is clearly depicted on your player mat or on the app. It helps you along and makes the choices pretty clear. As you go through the game, you gather armies, spirit and other items that can help you delve into dungeons, fight monsters or take on the big boss. At the end of your turn, you drop a skull into the tower which activates the event on the app. The app does all the heavy lifting for you on managing tasks and tracking the time. It tells you where to place monsters and where they move and what your goals should be. Completing objectives gives you major benefits. Not completing objectives can hurt you in the end.
This is just a straight up fun dungeon crawler with the cool toy factor of the tower. The tower is truly menacing as it dominates the whole board. You can't not cower in it's shadow as you move around the board. And it works solo...true solo or multi-handed. The app handles difficulty either way and so it's very easy to get into. It's only a 2.6 out of 5 on the difficulty scale, so it's pretty approachable for any skill level. Like I mentioned, it's pricey. It's $200 for the base game at RestorationGames.com. You can find some used copies online or on BGG.com for cheaper. I've played this dozens of time and it never gets old and is always a challenge. Plus there are enough Etsy shops out there to really bling it out. I love this game! It's always a hit...just have a spare pair of batteries on hand.
Number 7!! This is one of my most favorite games on this list, I can't get enough of it. As a kid, I was absolutely enamored with the Indiana Jones franchise. We watched Temple of Doom every Halloween my whole childhood and I probably watched The Last Crusade dozens of times. It was a product of my generation, every 90's kid new that movie in and out. We all thought we were going to be archaeologists. So this game give Indiana Jones vibes, it's the Lost Ruins of Arnak. LRoA is produced by Czech Games Edition and designed by Min Elwin.
Lost Ruins of Arnak is a deck building, work placement game where the cards either help with movement, resource management or money to purchase more cards. In this game you are competing against other explorers on the same island to collect the most artifacts and gain the most points through exploration. Using your feet, cars or planes, you explore the island, gather resources, collect artifacts and explore temples. In the pursuit of exploration, you might run into a guardian. Temple guardians don't give up their treasures easily. You must defeat them before you can collect, otherwise you take a fear card which then gums up your deck.
On the side of the board is a temple exploration track. One of your actions can either to perform research or investigate the temple. You can do this or your assistants can do this, either way, exploring the temple, especially doing so first, provides some powerful bonuses that can help your team across the island. Ignoring them temple is a sure way to lose the game. But balancing your actions is tricky, and managing resources and your deck is also an interesting puzzle.
There's a lot to love in this game, mechanics are one. The components are top notch, just super premium. You have little arrow heads, red rubies, plastic tablets...it's really nice. And I've totally blinged mine out with metal coins, actual mini compasses and storage components. For solo play, the original does have a solo mode which is serviceable. Since inception though, they've since come out with a campaign mode and specific solo modes that really shine. I know there are other deck building worker placement games out there but of them, this is always my recommendation. Easy to find, easy to get into, great solo or multiplayer.
Last but not least on this list, coming in at number 6, is an oldie but a goodie, it's Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island. I say oldie because this game was originally published in 2012, but they came out with a collector's edition in 2024 with newer, nicer components and included all the expansions. Both versions were published by Portal Games and designed by Ignacy Trzewczek and Joanna Kijaanka.
Robinson Crusoe...is about Robinson Crusoe, the classic adventure novel with the same name. It was published in 1719 by Daniel Defoe and has spawned hundreds of spin-offs and inspired movies, TV shows...and yes, game designers. Robinson Crusoe is an English sailor who gets stranded on an island for 28 years. He relies on his ingenuity, resourcefulness, and items found on the island to survive. And that's the game essentially. Trying to survive on this island when it seems everything that can go wrong, will go wrong.
Robinson Crusoe is a cooperative game, and so you can have multiple players working together to beat the island...but it really shines solo. Just you, your trusty hound or parrot, or maybe an island friend...to try to survive and eventually complete your mission. Over the course of your turns, as you explore the island and gain new items, you build up your encampment. You may discover secrets and treasure...or a cursed temple or deep pit that dumps you into a volcano. There's not much in-between. Which is kind of the appeal. Yes, you deal with a lot, but you also get to explore. It feels like you're really immersed on this island because it's not just lounging and sipping mai-tais.
The adventures are episodic and with the new version, there are over 50 different episodes and scenarios you can play. The new version even has a tutorial campaign that steps you through your first few opening turns, teaching you how to play without studying the rulebook. Which is nice, because this game is a little higher on the complexity scale. There's even an app that will help you out!
I like this game because it is so immersive and your choices matter. With limited resource you can't really afford to waste anything...and that feels thematic. The mechanisms are straight forward, and it's just hard enough to keep you challenged but not too hard to dissuade you from attempting the next mission. This game is currently at 120 in the BGG list, and it's been up and down, but it's deservedly high on the list. It's just great fun, and it's great solo. If you're a solo gamer, this should be a staple on your list.
Alright my friends. That wraps up today's list! Games 10-6. Here they are 1 more time:
Burncycle
Expeditions
Return to Dark Tower
Lost Ruins of Arnak
Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island
Again, let me know what you think and if these belong on the top 10! Thanks for reading!!
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