The Dice Tower has announced their top games of 2020 in a variety of categories. These hot titles will only get hotter now that they’ve received this prestigious honor, and many of them are in stock now at PHD! And those that aren’t currently in stock will be available soon—contact your Account Manager today!
The Crew
Publisher: Thames & Kosmos
Item Code: TAK691868
MSRP: $14.95
In the co-operative trick-taking game The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine, the players set out as astronauts on an uncertain space adventure. What about the rumors about the unknown planet about? The eventful journey through space extends over 50 exciting missions. But this game can only be defeated by meeting common individual tasks of each player. In order to meet the varied challenges, communication is essential in the team. But this is more difficult than expected in space. Game of the Year. Best Cooperative Game. Most Innovative Game.
Lost Ruins of Arnak combines deck-building and worker placement in a game of exploration, resource management, and discovery. In addition to traditional deck-builder effects, cards can be used to place workers, and new worker actions become available as players explore the island. Some of these actions require resources instead of workers, so building a solid resource base will be essential. You are limited to only one action per turn, so make your choice carefully… Best Artwork. Best Game from a New Designer. Best Strategy Game.
Lost Ruins of Arnak
Publisher: Czech Games
Item Code: CGE00059
MSRP: $60
Chronicles of Crime: 1400
Publisher: Lucky Duck Games
Item Code: LKYCCMR01
MSRP: $29.99
The Chronicles of Crime: 1400 standalone game brings back well-known mechanisms of the original Chronicles of Crime game while adding some new twists. Now you can deduce not only from the evidence you find or the testimonies given by various characters but also from the mysterious scenes depicted on new Vision Cards. These scenes can be either from the future or from the past, and they usually involve characters and objects yet to be revealed. Best Expansion.
Dune: Imperium is a game that finds inspiration in elements and characters from the Dune legacy, both the new film from Legendary Pictures and the seminal literary series from Frank Herbert, Brian Herbert, and Kevin J. Anderson. As a leader of one of the Great Houses of the Landsraad, raise your banner and marshal your forces and spies. War is coming, and at the center of the conflict is Arrakis—Dune, the desert planet. Dune: Imperium uses deck-building to add a hidden-information angle to traditional worker placement. Best Game from a Small Publisher.
Dune: Imperium
Publisher: Dire Wolf Digital
Item Code: DWD01000
MSRP: $50
Hues and Cues
Publisher: The Op
Item Code: USOPA135725
MSRP: $24.99
What hue do you think of when we say “apple”? Hues and Cues is a vibrant game of colorful communication where players are challenged to make connections to colors with words. Using only one and two-word cues, players try to get others to guess a specific hue from the 480 colors on the game board. The closer the guesses are to the target, the more points you earn. Since everyone imagines colors differently, connecting colors and clues has never been this much fun! Best Party Game.
Aliens have arrived to conquer Earth. Enemy ships fill the skies. Humanity retreats to underground bunkers located below cities across the globe. Stand against the common threat! Fight the invaders city by city. Build a team from around the globe to save your planet and defeat the aliens! Under Falling Skies is a solo game with a multi-mission campaign. In each mission, you take charge of defending a besieged city. Your actions are powered by an innovative dice-placement mechanic. When you choose an action, you are also choosing which enemy ships will descend. Best Solo Game.
Under Falling Skies
Publisher: Czech Games
Item Code: CGE00058
MSRP: $29.95
Undaunted: North Africa
Publisher: Osprey Games
Item Code: OSPGAM032
MSRP: $40
The Undaunted series continues with this two-player deck-building game of tactical combat, pitting the raiders of Britain’s Long Range Desert Group against Italian forces in the North African Theater of World War II. Take control of the British Army’s Long Range Desert Group and operate behind enemy lines or command the formidable Italian forces opposing them. In Undaunted: North Africa, a sequel to Undaunted: Normandy, players once again lead their sides through a varied series of missions. As casualties mount, wounded soldiers leave the players’ decks, forcing them to adapt in the face of changing tactical circumstances. Best Two-Player Game.
Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion is a standalone game that takes place before the events of Gloomhaven. The game includes four new characters that can also be used in the original Gloomhaven game. This game is aimed at a more casual audience to get people into the gameplay more quickly. All of the hard-to-organize cardboard map tiles have been removed, and instead, players will play on the scenario book itself, which features new artwork unique to each scenario. The last barrier to entry—learning the game—has also been lowered through a simplified rule set and a five-scenario tutorial that will ease new players into the experience. Excellence in Rules Teaching.
Gloomhaven:
Jaws of the Lion
Publisher: Cephalofair Games
Item Code: CPH0501
MSRP: $49.99
