BoardGameGeek – Top 100 Best Board Games Ranked in 2025!

Board games have never been more popular, and with thousands of new titles released every year, players need a reliable way to discover, track, and review them. That’s where Board Game Geek (BGG) comes in. 

BoardGameGeek is the world’s largest online board game database and community, offering reviews, ratings, rankings, forums, and tools to track collections. It helps players discover, discuss, and enjoy thousands of tabletop games worldwide.

Whether you’re a curious beginner or a seasoned gamer, BGG offers the tools, rankings, and discussions that help you navigate the world of tabletop gaming.

What is Board Game Geek (BGG)?

Board Game Geek is a website dedicated entirely to board games and related hobbies. Launched in 2000, it has grown into the largest online resource for tabletop gaming enthusiasts.

The site includes a searchable database of board games, card games, and role-playing titles, along with reviews, images, videos, and user ratings. Beyond the data, BGG is also a thriving community where players connect through forums, GeekLists, and events.

If you’re looking for information on a specific game—its rules, designer, playtime, or popularity—BoardGameGeek is usually the first place to check.

How Does BoardGameGeek Work?

The heart of BGG is its ranking and rating system. Every registered user can rate games they’ve played on a scale of 1 to 10. These ratings feed into the overall ranking of games across the platform.

Another unique feature is the “weight” score, which reflects the complexity or simplicity of a game. This helps players choose games that match their preferred level of difficulty.

The site also offers advanced search filters. You can look for games based on the number of players, average playtime, theme, mechanics, or category. This makes it much easier to discover titles that fit your group or occasion.

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BGG Ranking System Explained

One of the most popular features of BoardGameGeek is its Top Games Ranking. Games are listed based on two types of ratings:

• Average Rating – the simple average of all user ratings.
• Geek Rating – an adjusted score that accounts for the number of votes and statistical trends to prevent skewed results.

This ranking system ensures that games with thousands of ratings are compared fairly against those with fewer votes. It’s why serious board gamers rely on BGG rankings when deciding what to try next.

Top Board Games on BoardGameGeek (2025 Edition)

As of 2025, the following games are among the highest ranked on BGG:

1. Gloomhaven – A cooperative dungeon-crawling adventure with legacy elements.
2. Brass: Birmingham – An economic strategy game set during the Industrial Revolution.
3. Ark Nova – A complex game where players design and manage modern zoos.
4. Terraforming Mars – A science-themed game about colonizing and developing Mars.
5. Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition – An epic strategy game of galactic conquest.
6. Pandemic Legacy: Season 1 – A cooperative campaign game where players fight evolving outbreaks.
7. Star Wars: Rebellion – A large-scale strategy game recreating the Galactic Civil War.
8. Spirit Island – A cooperative game where players act as island spirits defending against colonizers.
9. War of the Ring (Second Edition) – A grand strategy game set in Tolkien’s Middle-earth.
10. Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization – A civilization-building card-driven strategy game.

These games dominate the rankings because of their depth, replayability, and dedicated fan bases.

How to Use BGG as a Beginner

For new visitors, BGG can seem overwhelming. The site’s sheer size and amount of information may look complicated at first, but once you know where to start, it becomes a powerful tool.

• Create an account to unlock features like rating games, posting in forums, and saving your collection.
• Track your collection by adding games you own, have played, or want to buy to your profile.
• Use wishlists to keep track of titles you want to try or purchase in the future.
• Join discussions on the forums to ask questions, share strategies, or find local gaming groups.
• Explore GeekLists created by other members, which often highlight themes like “Best 2-player games” or “Top solo experiences.”

Community Features and Forums

BoardGameGeek is more than a database—it’s also a community hub. The forums are active with players discussing rules, strategy tips, and recommendations. BGG also hosts Golden Geek Awards, where the community votes on the best games of the year.

Additionally, BGG organizes events like these, such as CON and Spring BGG.CON, which brings gamers together in person for days of playing and sharing.

For many, these community aspects are just as valuable as the database itself. They provide a sense of connection and belonging in a hobby that thrives on interaction.

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BoardGameGeek API and Tools

BGG isn’t only for players. Developers and hobbyists also benefit from the site through its XML API, which allows access to the database for apps and tools.

Many popular board game companion apps, such as score trackers and playtime managers, use BGG data to enhance the gaming experience.

For example, BG Stats, a widely used app, pulls data from BGG, allowing users to log plays and view statistics over time. This integration has made BGG the backbone of the digital board gaming ecosystem.

Benefits of Using BoardGameGeek

Why should players use BGG instead of just searching online reviews? The site offers several unique advantages:

• Comprehensive Database: Information on nearly every board game ever published.
• Trusted Ratings: User-driven scores that reflect the broader community’s opinions.
• Collection Management: Tools for organizing, tracking, and displaying your library.
• Community Knowledge: Access to experienced players who answer questions and share strategies.
• Discovery: Advanced search features make it easy to find hidden gems.

Common Challenges with BGG

While BGG is an incredible resource, it’s not without challenges. The interface is dated, and new users may struggle to navigate it. The vast amount of information can also feel overwhelming.

However, once you spend some time learning how the site works—or follow a beginner’s guide—these hurdles become much easier to manage.

Alternatives to BoardGameGeek

Although BGG is the most established platform, a few alternatives exist:

• Tabletop Together – Offers tools for managing game collections and planning convention schedules.
• Reddit (r/boardgames) – A casual community for recommendations, discussions, and memes.
• Tabletopia – A digital platform for playing board games online.
• Board Game Atlas – Another database with a modern interface, though not as extensive as BGG.

These alternatives can complement BGG, but none match its depth or community size.

What are the best board games?

The best board games strike a perfect balance between fun, strategy, and replay value. People often pick classics like Catan, Ticket to Ride, or Pandemic. What’s “best” depends on your group size, how much time you have, and how complex you like your games.

What is the BoardGameGeek Top 100?

The BoardGameGeek Top 100 is a ranked list of the best-rated board games on BoardGameGeek. Games rise to the top of this list based on user ratings, the number of votes, and a rating algorithm that assigns more weight to games with a high volume of ratings.

What is the BoardGameGeek ranking system?

The BGG ranking system uses both the average score from users and a “Geek Rating,” which adds dummy votes to balance games with fewer ratings. Only games with enough votes are ranked, ensuring the list remains fair to well-known games. 

What is Board Game Arena?

Board Game Arena is a website where you can play board and card games online with people around the world. No downloads needed—just your browser. It offers both free and premium features, as well as real-time and turn-based play. 

What is BoardGameBliss?

BoardGameBliss is a store (online and physical) that sells modern board games. Founded in 2013, it aims to bring joyful, high-quality games to players, including children, families, and hobbyists, offering a diverse range of games from around the world. 

What are the highest rated games on BoardGameGeek?

The highest-rated games on BGG are those with high user average ratings and numerous votes. Titles like Gloomhaven, Ark Nova, and Brass: Birmingham often appear at the very top because they score well and have large, active fan bases.

What is Gamefound?

Gamefound is a crowdfunding platform focused on tabletop games. It helps creators raise money, manage pledges, and deliver games to backers. It’s designed by game enthusiasts to support board game projects from idea to finished product.

FAQs

1. Is BoardGameGeek free to use?

Yes, BoardGameGeek is free. Anyone can browse, join discussions, and rate games. Extra support options are voluntary donations.

2. How do I rank a game on BGG?

To rank a game, create an account, visit the game’s page, and give it a rating from one to ten.

3. Can I buy games directly from BGG?

Yes, through the GeekMarket feature. Players buy, sell, or trade games with other community members directly on BoardGameGeek.

4. What is the GeekMarket?

GeekMarket is BGG’s online marketplace where members can list, purchase, or trade board games safely within the community.

5. Is BGG mobile-friendly?

Yes, you can access BGG on mobile browsers. Some companion apps also use BGG’s database for smoother mobile use.

Conclusion

BoardGameGeek has become the heart of the modern board gaming world. It’s more than just a database—it’s a living community where players share knowledge, discover new favorites, and connect through shared passion. From its detailed rankings and reviews to its vibrant forums and marketplace, BGG gives gamers the tools to explore this growing hobby in depth. While it can feel overwhelming at first, the value it brings far outweighs the learning curve. Whether you’re just starting your collection or already deep into strategy titles, BoardGameGeek is the place where every board game journey becomes richer, more informed, and more connected.