The die is cast and the fates are sealed! Over the past week, we’ve been going through our finalists to find out where our top 10 games might land. As a reminder, you can see our finalist announcement here.

 

After a week of testing and discussion, we’re thrilled to announce the winner of our 18-Card No Shuffling Challenge! But first…

Runners-Up

Two Moons

Kyle Day

This game of crafty creatures and their ever-changing moonscape thoroughly impressed the judges. What excited us most was how chaotic and yet controlled the game felt: every single creature — and every single turn — threatened the possibility of some dangerously powerful combo. That could easily feel overwhelming, but the “grab and go” nature of the game’s 4 factions made our judges immediately want to play again and again. 

Vowlie

Roshni Patel

 

Just when we thought we’d seen everything an 18-card word game can do, Vowlie swooped in to remind us that an elegant spin on a familiar formula can create something entirely new. The game itself is easy to learn, yet the sheer amount of depth hidden in the lexicon of possible one-vowel words turns every game into a head-scratching, brain-wracking race to find the secret solution.  

And the winner is….

Dead Man’s Banquet!

Adam Fuller, Noah Fuller, & Nathan Basham

 

It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that Dead Man’s Banquet claims the crown on this challenge: this game is as sharp and elegant as a dagger. Like Vowlie, Dead Man’s Banquet offers a delicious twist on a classic recipe while still feeling fresh and innovative. The decision space around serving and feasting is maddeningly tight, making each play feel like a dangerous gamble. At the same time, the possibility for a big score at any moment keeps players constantly on the edge of their seats throughout every game.

Huge thanks to everyone who participated in this challenge, as well as a hearty congratulations to our runners-up and our grand winner!