Preparing gamers for an exciting future, I've been sharing insights on board games and tabletop role-playing games for quite some time now, and I believe these upcoming undertakings are destined to top your gaming wishlist.
In the bustling world of tabletop gaming, Gen Con 2025 has once again proven to be a haven for enthusiasts. Here are five highly recommended games from this year's convention, offering a blend of card games, board games, and role-playing games (RPGs).
- High Tide (Board Game)
A strategic tile-stacking game that's been praised for its depth and aesthetic, High Tide offers quick playtime and broad appeal. Its unique meditative yet thoughtful mechanics made it a hot seller at Gen Con 2025, selling out due to its popularity[1].
- Lightning Train (Board Game)
Designed by Paul Dennen, the creator of Dune Imperium, this game features strategic bag-building as players develop companies. It received significant attention for its design pedigree and gameplay depth[1].
- Triangle Agency (Tabletop RPG)
A standout RPG, Triangle Agency is available as a PDF starting at $30. Designed by Caleb Zane Huett and Sean Ireland, it was highlighted among the most intriguing RPGs at Gen Con 2025[2]. The game won several Gold Ennies, including Best Game, Best Rules, and Best Writing[3].
- Pirates of Maracaibo: Commanders (Board Game Expansion)
An expansion to the well-loved Pirates of Maracaibo game, Commanders adds more cards, ship outfitting options, and new character personalities. It is highly anticipated by fans who already consider the base game a top title from prior years[4].
- The Four Doors (Board Game)
Developed by the notable Matt Leacock (Pandemic series) alongside Ben Pinchback and Matt Riddle, The Four Doors drew interest for its pedigree and was among the most anticipated new titles at Gen Con 2025[4].
Other Recommended Games
- The Sandcastles of Burgundy
A kid-friendly version of The Castles of Burgundy, The Sandcastles of Burgundy is designed by Susan & Stefan Feld and published by Ravensburger. It's a strategy game recommended for ages 5 and up, with the ultimate goal being to attend Queen Crab's beach party after decorating shops, searching for party supplies, and finding Royal Guild animals[5].
- Perfect Mismatch
The party game Perfect Mismatch from Ares Games is recommended for its quick, funny, and easy-to-play gameplay. The designer of Perfect Mismatch is Alexander Peshkov, and the game involves players trying to describe a single word by moving beads to either side of a board to indicate how much it's like a list of words[6]. The release date and price for Perfect Mismatch are currently unknown.
- Tag Team
A deckbuilder/auto battler game published by Scorpion Masque, Tag Team has a release date of September 2025. The author enjoyed playing Tag Team at Gen Con 2025 and recommends it as an easy recommendation[7].
- Riftbound
Riftbound uses characters, locations, and lore from the video game League of Legends. Pre-orders for Riftbound are available via Riot Games, with a release date set for October 31, 2025[8].
Perfect Mismatch, The Sandcastles of Burgundy, and Tag Team are currently proving difficult to find in stock, but are available at UK retailers such as Zatu, Forbidden Planet, and Wayland Games, as well as Thirsty Meeples for Tag Team[9]. The Triangle Agency Normal Briefcase Collection, which includes everything needed to play the game, is available for $99.99 at Amazon[10].
[1] BoardGameGeek. High Tide. (n.d.). Retrieved August 15, 2025, from https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/348443/high-tide
[2] BoardGameGeek. Triangle Agency. (n.d.). Retrieved August 15, 2025, from https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/345467/triangle-agency
[3] Ennie Awards. Triangle Agency. (n.d.). Retrieved August 15, 2025, from https://www.ennie-awards.com/nominees/2025/best-game/
[4] BoardGameGeek. Pirates of Maracaibo: Commanders. (n.d.). Retrieved August 15, 2025, from https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/349358/pirates-maracaibo-commanders
[5] Ravensburger. The Sandcastles of Burgundy. (n.d.). Retrieved August 15, 2025, from https://www.ravensburger.com/us/en/products/the-sandcastles-of-burgundy-1605305
[6] Ares Games. Perfect Mismatch. (n.d.). Retrieved August 15, 2025, from https://www.aresgames.eu/en/products/perfect-mismatch
[7] Scorpion Masque. Tag Team. (n.d.). Retrieved August 15, 2025, from https://www.scorpionmasque.com/tag-team
[8] Riot Games. Riftbound. (n.d.). Retrieved August 15, 2025, from https://riftbound.gg/
[9] UK Tabletop Retailers. (n.d.). Retrieved August 15, 2025, from https://uktabletopretailers.co.uk/
[10] Amazon. Triangle Agency Normal Briefcase Collection. (n.d.). Retrieved August 15, 2025, from https://www.amazon.com/Triangle-Agency-Normal-Briefcase-Collection/dp/B094Y3XKJM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=14G6Q3A64U3B2&keywords=triangle+agency+normal+briefcase+collection&qid=1629105818&sprefix=triangle+agency+normal+briefcase+%2Caps%2C112&sr=8-1
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