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Dice Tower Award Nominations announced
The Dice Tower is proud to announce the nominees for the best games of 2025.
A jury of more than sixty Dice Tower staff, prominent bloggers and reviewers went through all the games released in English in 2025, and chose the five best in each category – with ten games nominated for best game of the year.
The winners of each category will be announced live at 7 PM EST, July 30th at Gen Con 2026.
Congratulations to all the publishers, designers, and artists who were nominated, and we hope that gamers will have a list of truly excellent games to seek out and play!
See the video announcing the nominees at https://youtube.com/live/boV4\_W4ztuc?feature=share https://youtube.com/live/boV4_W4ztuc?feature=share
**Best Welcoming Game**
A Place for all My Books - designed byAlex Cutler and Michael Mihealsick - Published by Smirk & Dagger Games
Flamecraft Duals - designed by Manny Vega - Published by Cardboard Alchemy
Fliptoons - designed by Jordy Adan and Renato Simões - Published by Thunderworks Games
Star Wars: Battle of Hoth - designed by Richard Borg and Adrien Martinot - Published by Days of Wonder
Twinkle Twinkle - designed by Ammon Anderson - Published by Allplay
**Best Artwork**
Corps of Discovery - art by Matthew Roberts - Published by Off The Page Games
Critter Kitchen - art by Sandara Tang - Published by Cardboard Alchemy
Emberleaf - art by James Tomblin and Frank West - Published by The City of Games
The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship - art by Jared Blando and Corey Godbey - Published by Z-Man Games
The Old King’s Crown - art by Pablo Clark - Published by Eerie Idol Games
**Most Innovative Game**
12 Rivers - designed by Romain Caterdjian - Published by Good Games Publishing
Eternal Decks - designed by Hiroken - Published by Tricktakers Games and Portland Game Collective
Light Speed: Arena - designed by Leonardo Alese, James Ernest, Tom Jolly, and Emanuele Santellani - Published by Tablescope
Moon Colony Bloodbath - designed byDonald X. Vaccarino - Published by Rio Grande Games
Vantage - designed by Jamey Stegmaier - Published by Stonemaier Games
**Best Cooperative Game**
Corps of Discovery - designed by Jay Cormier and Sen-Foong Lim - Published by Off The Page Games
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Trick-Taking Game - designed by Bryan Bornmueller - Published by Office Dog
The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship - designed by Matt Leacock - Published by Z-Man Games
Take Time - designed by Alexi Piovesan and Julien Prothière - Published by Libellud
Vantage - designed by Jamey Stegmaier - Published by Stonemaier Games
**Best Reprint**
Cyclades: Legendary Edition - designed by Bruno Cathala and Ludovic Maublanc- Published by Open Sesame Games
EGO - designed by Reiner Knizia - Published by Bitewing Games
Magical Athlete - designed by Richard Garfield and Takashi Ishida - Published by CMYK
Memoir ‘44: “refreshed” edition - designed by Richard Borg - Published by Days of Wonder
Santorini: Second Edition - designed by Gord! - Published by Roxley
**Best Strategy Game**
Brink - designed by Max Anderson, Zac Dixon, and Austin Harrison - Published by IV Studio
Galactic Cruise - designed by T.K. King, Dennis Northcott, and Koltin Thompson - Published by Kinson Key Games
Luthier - designed by Dave Beck and Abe Burson - Published by Paverson Games
Speakeasy - designed by Vital Lacerda - Published by Eagle-Gryphon Games
Sweet Lands - designed by Totsuca Chuo - Published by Uchibacoya
**Best Board Game Production**
The Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Era - designed by Josh J. Carlson, Michael Gernes, Logan Giannini, Ryan Howard, Salem Scott, and Josh Wielgus - Published by Chip Theory Games
Galactic Cruise - designed by T.K. King, Dennis Northcott, and Koltin Thompson - Published by Kinson Key Games
Luthier - designed by Dave Beck and Abe Burson - Published by Paverson Games
Puerto Rico: 1897 Special Edition - designed by Andreas Seyfarth - Published by Awaken Realms and Ravensburger
Speakeasy - designed by Vital Lacerda - Published by Eagle-Gryphon Games
**Best Game from a Small Publisher**
Eternal Decks - designed by Hiroken - Published by Tricktakers Games and Portland Game Collective
Galactic Cruise - designed by T.K. King, Dennis Northcott, and Koltin Thompson - Published by Kinson Key Games
Light Speed: Arena - designed by Leonardo Alese, James Ernest, Tom Jolly, and Emanuele Santellani - Published by Tablescope
Luthier - designed by Dave Beck and Abe Burson - Published by Paverson Games
Regicide Legacy - designed by Paul Abrahams, Luke Badger, and Andy Richdale - Published by Badgers from Mars
**Best 2-Player Game**
Flamecraft Duals - designed by Manny Vega - Published by Cardboard Alchemy
Star Wars: Battle of Hoth - designed by Richard Borg and Adrien Martinot - Published by Days of Wonder
Tag Team - designed by Gricha German and Corentin Lebrat - Published by Scorpion Masque
Toy Battle - designed by Paolo Mori and Alessandro Zucchini - Published by Repos Production
Zenith - designed by Grégory Grard and Mathieu Roussel - Published by PlayPunk
**Best Game from a New Designer**
Galactic Cruise - designed by T.K. King, Dennis Northcott, and Koltin Thompson - Published by Kinson Key Games
Luthier - designed by Dave Beck and Abe Burson - Published by Paverson Games
Orloj: the Prague Astronomical Clock - designed by Abraham Sanchez Hermida and Paloma J. Pascual - Published by Perro Loko Games and Devir
Regicide Legacy - designed by Paul Abrahams, Luke Badger, and Andy Richdale - Published by Badgers from Mars
Tenby - designed by Benjie Talbott - Published by Cosy Cub Games and Mighty Boards
**Best Party Game**
Alibis - designed by Yusuke Sato - Published by allplay
Brick Like This - designed by Luca Bellini - Published by Dotted Games
Hot Streak - designed by Jon Perry - Published by CMYK
Light Speed: Arena - designed by Leonardo Alese, James Ernest, Tom Jolly, and Emanuele Santellani - Published by Tablescope
Magical Athlete - designed by Richard Garfield and Takashi Ishida - Published by CMYK
**Best Theme in Game**
Corps of Discovery - designed by Jay Cormier and Sen-Foong Lim - Published by Off The Page Games
Galactic Cruise - designed by T.K. King, Dennis Northcott, and Koltin Thompson - Published by Kinson Key Games
The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship - designed by Matt Leacock - Published by Z-Man Games
Luthier - designed by Dave Beck and Abe Burson - Published by Paverson Games
Speakeasy - designed by Vital Lacerda - Published by Eagle-Gryphon Games
**Best Solo Game**
20 Strong: Tanglewoods Red - designed by Josh J. Carlson - published by Chip Theory Games
The Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Era - designed by Josh J. Carlson, Michael Gernes, Logan Giannini, Ryan Howard, Salem Scott, and Josh Wielgus - Published by Chip Theory Games
Small Time Heroes - designed by Drew Corkill - Published by Best With 1 Games
Storyfold: Wildwoods - designed by Sjoerd van der Linde - Published by Open Owl Studios
Unstoppable - designed by John D. Clair - Published by Renegade Game Studios
**Game of the Year**
Eternal Decks - designed by Hiroken - Published by Tricktakers Games and Portland Game Collective
Galactic Cruise - designed by T.K. King, Dennis Northcott, and Koltin Thompson - Published by Kinson Key Games
Hot Streak - designed by Jon Perry - Published by CMYK
The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship - designed by Matt Leacock - Published by Z-Man Games
Luthier - designed by Dave Beck and Abe Burson - Published by Paverson Games
Speakeasy - designed by Vital Lacerda - Published by Eagle-Gryphon Games
Sweet Lands - designed by Totsuca Chuo - Published by uchibacoya
The Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Era - designed by Josh J. Carlson, Michael Gernes, Logan Giannini, Ryan Howard, Salem Scott, and Josh Wielgus - Published by Chip Theory Games
Vantage - designed by Jamey Stegmaier - Published by Stonemaier Games
Zenith - designed by Grégory Grard and Mathieu Roussel - Published by PlayPunk
We would also like to announce that 7 Wonders Duel, Code Names, and Pandemic Legacy Season 1 will be inducted into the Dice Tower Hall of Fame.
#games
source
The Dice Tower is proud to announce the nominees for the best games of 2025.
A jury of more than sixty Dice Tower staff, prominent bloggers and reviewers went through all the games released in English in 2025, and chose the five best in each category – with ten games nominated for best game of the year.
The winners of each category will be announced live at 7 PM EST, July 30th at Gen Con 2026.
Congratulations to all the publishers, designers, and artists who were nominated, and we hope that gamers will have a list of truly excellent games to seek out and play!
See the video announcing the nominees at https://youtube.com/live/boV4\_W4ztuc?feature=share https://youtube.com/live/boV4_W4ztuc?feature=share
**Best Welcoming Game**
A Place for all My Books - designed byAlex Cutler and Michael Mihealsick - Published by Smirk & Dagger Games
Flamecraft Duals - designed by Manny Vega - Published by Cardboard Alchemy
Fliptoons - designed by Jordy Adan and Renato Simões - Published by Thunderworks Games
Star Wars: Battle of Hoth - designed by Richard Borg and Adrien Martinot - Published by Days of Wonder
Twinkle Twinkle - designed by Ammon Anderson - Published by Allplay
**Best Artwork**
Corps of Discovery - art by Matthew Roberts - Published by Off The Page Games
Critter Kitchen - art by Sandara Tang - Published by Cardboard Alchemy
Emberleaf - art by James Tomblin and Frank West - Published by The City of Games
The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship - art by Jared Blando and Corey Godbey - Published by Z-Man Games
The Old King’s Crown - art by Pablo Clark - Published by Eerie Idol Games
**Most Innovative Game**
12 Rivers - designed by Romain Caterdjian - Published by Good Games Publishing
Eternal Decks - designed by Hiroken - Published by Tricktakers Games and Portland Game Collective
Light Speed: Arena - designed by Leonardo Alese, James Ernest, Tom Jolly, and Emanuele Santellani - Published by Tablescope
Moon Colony Bloodbath - designed byDonald X. Vaccarino - Published by Rio Grande Games
Vantage - designed by Jamey Stegmaier - Published by Stonemaier Games
**Best Cooperative Game**
Corps of Discovery - designed by Jay Cormier and Sen-Foong Lim - Published by Off The Page Games
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Trick-Taking Game - designed by Bryan Bornmueller - Published by Office Dog
The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship - designed by Matt Leacock - Published by Z-Man Games
Take Time - designed by Alexi Piovesan and Julien Prothière - Published by Libellud
Vantage - designed by Jamey Stegmaier - Published by Stonemaier Games
**Best Reprint**
Cyclades: Legendary Edition - designed by Bruno Cathala and Ludovic Maublanc- Published by Open Sesame Games
EGO - designed by Reiner Knizia - Published by Bitewing Games
Magical Athlete - designed by Richard Garfield and Takashi Ishida - Published by CMYK
Memoir ‘44: “refreshed” edition - designed by Richard Borg - Published by Days of Wonder
Santorini: Second Edition - designed by Gord! - Published by Roxley
**Best Strategy Game**
Brink - designed by Max Anderson, Zac Dixon, and Austin Harrison - Published by IV Studio
Galactic Cruise - designed by T.K. King, Dennis Northcott, and Koltin Thompson - Published by Kinson Key Games
Luthier - designed by Dave Beck and Abe Burson - Published by Paverson Games
Speakeasy - designed by Vital Lacerda - Published by Eagle-Gryphon Games
Sweet Lands - designed by Totsuca Chuo - Published by Uchibacoya
**Best Board Game Production**
The Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Era - designed by Josh J. Carlson, Michael Gernes, Logan Giannini, Ryan Howard, Salem Scott, and Josh Wielgus - Published by Chip Theory Games
Galactic Cruise - designed by T.K. King, Dennis Northcott, and Koltin Thompson - Published by Kinson Key Games
Luthier - designed by Dave Beck and Abe Burson - Published by Paverson Games
Puerto Rico: 1897 Special Edition - designed by Andreas Seyfarth - Published by Awaken Realms and Ravensburger
Speakeasy - designed by Vital Lacerda - Published by Eagle-Gryphon Games
**Best Game from a Small Publisher**
Eternal Decks - designed by Hiroken - Published by Tricktakers Games and Portland Game Collective
Galactic Cruise - designed by T.K. King, Dennis Northcott, and Koltin Thompson - Published by Kinson Key Games
Light Speed: Arena - designed by Leonardo Alese, James Ernest, Tom Jolly, and Emanuele Santellani - Published by Tablescope
Luthier - designed by Dave Beck and Abe Burson - Published by Paverson Games
Regicide Legacy - designed by Paul Abrahams, Luke Badger, and Andy Richdale - Published by Badgers from Mars
**Best 2-Player Game**
Flamecraft Duals - designed by Manny Vega - Published by Cardboard Alchemy
Star Wars: Battle of Hoth - designed by Richard Borg and Adrien Martinot - Published by Days of Wonder
Tag Team - designed by Gricha German and Corentin Lebrat - Published by Scorpion Masque
Toy Battle - designed by Paolo Mori and Alessandro Zucchini - Published by Repos Production
Zenith - designed by Grégory Grard and Mathieu Roussel - Published by PlayPunk
**Best Game from a New Designer**
Galactic Cruise - designed by T.K. King, Dennis Northcott, and Koltin Thompson - Published by Kinson Key Games
Luthier - designed by Dave Beck and Abe Burson - Published by Paverson Games
Orloj: the Prague Astronomical Clock - designed by Abraham Sanchez Hermida and Paloma J. Pascual - Published by Perro Loko Games and Devir
Regicide Legacy - designed by Paul Abrahams, Luke Badger, and Andy Richdale - Published by Badgers from Mars
Tenby - designed by Benjie Talbott - Published by Cosy Cub Games and Mighty Boards
**Best Party Game**
Alibis - designed by Yusuke Sato - Published by allplay
Brick Like This - designed by Luca Bellini - Published by Dotted Games
Hot Streak - designed by Jon Perry - Published by CMYK
Light Speed: Arena - designed by Leonardo Alese, James Ernest, Tom Jolly, and Emanuele Santellani - Published by Tablescope
Magical Athlete - designed by Richard Garfield and Takashi Ishida - Published by CMYK
**Best Theme in Game**
Corps of Discovery - designed by Jay Cormier and Sen-Foong Lim - Published by Off The Page Games
Galactic Cruise - designed by T.K. King, Dennis Northcott, and Koltin Thompson - Published by Kinson Key Games
The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship - designed by Matt Leacock - Published by Z-Man Games
Luthier - designed by Dave Beck and Abe Burson - Published by Paverson Games
Speakeasy - designed by Vital Lacerda - Published by Eagle-Gryphon Games
**Best Solo Game**
20 Strong: Tanglewoods Red - designed by Josh J. Carlson - published by Chip Theory Games
The Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Era - designed by Josh J. Carlson, Michael Gernes, Logan Giannini, Ryan Howard, Salem Scott, and Josh Wielgus - Published by Chip Theory Games
Small Time Heroes - designed by Drew Corkill - Published by Best With 1 Games
Storyfold: Wildwoods - designed by Sjoerd van der Linde - Published by Open Owl Studios
Unstoppable - designed by John D. Clair - Published by Renegade Game Studios
**Game of the Year**
Eternal Decks - designed by Hiroken - Published by Tricktakers Games and Portland Game Collective
Galactic Cruise - designed by T.K. King, Dennis Northcott, and Koltin Thompson - Published by Kinson Key Games
Hot Streak - designed by Jon Perry - Published by CMYK
The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship - designed by Matt Leacock - Published by Z-Man Games
Luthier - designed by Dave Beck and Abe Burson - Published by Paverson Games
Speakeasy - designed by Vital Lacerda - Published by Eagle-Gryphon Games
Sweet Lands - designed by Totsuca Chuo - Published by uchibacoya
The Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Era - designed by Josh J. Carlson, Michael Gernes, Logan Giannini, Ryan Howard, Salem Scott, and Josh Wielgus - Published by Chip Theory Games
Vantage - designed by Jamey Stegmaier - Published by Stonemaier Games
Zenith - designed by Grégory Grard and Mathieu Roussel - Published by PlayPunk
We would also like to announce that 7 Wonders Duel, Code Names, and Pandemic Legacy Season 1 will be inducted into the Dice Tower Hall of Fame.
#games
source
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