20 Most Popular Board Games of 2022
Are you curious about what the most popular board games were in 2022? Take a look at the top 20 best-selling board games of 2022, from least to most copies sold on GameNerdz.com.
20. Root
First published in 2018 by Leder Games, Root has used its woodland might and right to remain one of the most popular board games ever since. Multiple expansions have been released over the years that added new asymmetrical factions of warring forest animals for players to try out. Still, there’s clearly enough to enjoy about the base game alone (artwork, contrasting goals, multiple play styles to explore) that it remains a big seller for Game Nerdz.
Root
$48.00
Root is a game of adventure and war in which 2 to 4 players battle for control of a vast wilderness. The nefarious Marquise de Cat...… read more
19. Project L
On the surface, Project L looks like a straightforward game of completing puzzles with Tetris-style tiles. However, players will discover that the game is a “fast-paced, tile-matching brain burner.” While the design is simple, it’s the intricate gameplay of building an efficiency engine to complete the puzzles that often leaves players feeling satisfied.
Project L
$27.99
"Project L is a fast-paced, tile-matching brain burner with triple-layer 3D puzzles and lovely acrylic pieces. Challenge your friends to a game of simple design...… read more
18. Unmatched: Jurassic Park - Sattler vs. T-Rex
If you added up all of the individual Unmatched sets and considered them as a single game, it would be our biggest seller. You might even say the series’s popularity is… unmatched. Since we’re not combining them, you get to see how this Jurassic Park set, and two others, stack up to the thousands of other games sold in 2022.
Unmatched: Jurassic Park - Sattler vs. T-Rex
$22.97
In battle, there are no equals. "Dinosaurs eat man… Woman inherits the earth." The greatest predator the world has ever known is closing in on...… read more
17. Unmatched: Marvel - Hell's Kitchen
Surprise! It’s another Unmatched set. By landing ahead of Jurassic Park, this set, featuring Daredevil, Elektra, and Bullseye, settles the age-old debate of which is more popular: Jurassic Park or Marvel? If you prefer to settle debates with cardboard and plastic on your table, you could always buy both sets and pit T-Rex against Daredevil. T-Rex vs. Daredevil would also be a great plot point for the upcoming Daredevil: Born Again television series.
Unmatched: Marvel - Hell's Kitchen
$37.47
Unmatched is a highly asymmetrical miniature fighting game for two or four players. Each hero is represented by a unique deck designed to evoke their style...… read more
16. Lost Ruins of Arnak
Some gamers have described Lost Ruins of Arnak as Indiana Jones: The Board Game, though it’s actually not the best comparison. Arnak requires a bit of planning and strategy, while Indiana Jones relied on punching and plane propellors. And though players don’t face death at every corner in the game, they can grow increasingly afraid of the creatures they encounter on their expeditions. Still, the thematic promise of exploring jungles, finding artifacts, and discovering the Lost Ruins has led Arnak to perform very well every year since it was published in 2020.
Lost Ruins of Arnak (Add to cart to see price)
$49.95
Explore jungles, find artifacts, and discover the Lost Ruins of Arnak!Players lead rival expeditions to a newly discovered island. Through a unique combination of worker placement...… read more
15. Great Western Trail (2nd Edition)
Out of all the board games that let players herd cattle from Texas to Kansas City, Alexander Pfister’s Great Western Trail is the most popular and best-reviewed. The second edition features new artwork, upgraded components, and a solo mode for those times when you’re feeling like a lonesome dove.
Great Western Trail (2nd Edition)
$55.99
Epic adventures await you on the Great Western Trail! 19th century America never looked so breathtaking! Great Western Trail Second Edition marks the return of...… read more
14. Summoner Wars 2nd Edition Master Set
The release of Summoner Wars in 2009 put publisher Plaid Hat Games on the map. Though several popular titles have been published in the years since like Dead of Winter and Stuffed Fables, the lasting fondness for Summoner Wars led to a brand new edition of the master set in 2021. Plaid Hat is also supporting the new edition with expansion decks, premium tokens, and a playmat.
Summoner Wars 2nd Edition Master Set
$35.97
The Exciting Card Game of Fantasy Battlefield Combat! Summoner Wars puts you in the role of a powerful summoner. Display your tactical prowess by summoning...… read more
13. The Crew: Mission Deep Sea
The follow-up to the Kennerspiel des Jahres-winning The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine was highly anticipated because of the original’s reception. The unique twist on trick-taking card games has players working together to complete missions by following very specific criteria. Players may have to win tricks using specific cards, in a certain order or some players may not be allowed to win any tricks at all.
As the missions get more challenging, multiple requirements are layered together, causing the players to do all sorts of mental gymnastics. Also, players can’t communicate about the cards they have in their hands. It’s the kind of game where success greatly depends on how well the group works together under stressful situations, which is also probably the case for a real-life outer space or deep sea mission.
The Crew: Mission Deep Sea
$10.97
In this highly-anticipated followup to the original cooperative card game — winner of the 2020 Kennerspiel des Jahres — players work together to search for...… read more
12. Unmatched: Marvel - Redemption Row
And we’re back with more Unmatched! This set features the Marvel characters Moon Knight, Luke Cage, and Ghost Rider battling in the prison known as The Raft. As with all of the other Unmatched sets, these characters’ abilities and decks are highly-thematic, such as the requirement for Moon Knight to change to a new personality at the end of each of his turns. Okay, forget the T-Rex vs. Daredevil matchup. We’re going to lobby for a T-Rex vs. Khonshu battle in the next season of Moon Knight.
Unmatched: Marvel - Redemption Row (On Sale)
$37.47
Unmatched is a highly asymmetrical miniature fighting game for two or four players. Each hero is represented by a unique deck designed to evoke their style...… read more
11. The Quacks of Quedlinburg
The winner of the 2018 Kennerspiel des Jahres has players buying delicious ingredients (toadstools, mandrake, African Death’s Head Hawksmoth) and brewing potions to win fame and fortune. Though a big part of winning is getting the right balance of ingredients in your bag, success is only possible for those without gambling problems. As a push-your-luck game, players must know their odds and determine when to stop taking risks. Or, they can keep drawing ingredients until their pots explode from excess cherry bombs. It’s really up to the person.
The Quacks of Quedlinburg (On Sale) (Add to cart to see price)
$44.99
Toadstools, Mandrake, and African Death’s Head Hawksmoth, Oh My! It is the 9-day Quedlinburg festival of quack doctors. Purchasing good ingredients for your brew can...… read more
10. The Loop
In The Loop, players work cooperatively to stop Dr. Faux from enacting his evil plan. The game features a time-travel-themed cube tower and four game modes, each with its own unique challenges. To be the number 10 best seller for Game Nerdz, either shoppers are very interested in the game, or Dr. Faux has unleashed his army of clones to purchase multiple copies of the game. Both explanations are equally plausible.
The LOOP
$37.47
Who can stop Dr. Faux? An evil scientist is laying waste to time and space, and it's up to you and your friends to restore...… read more
9. Hansa Teutonica: Big Box
The Big Box edition of the multi-award-winning strategy game Hansa Teutonica was released eleven years after its original publication in 2009. This edition from Pegasus Spiele comes with the base game and all expansions, including variant game boards of the beloved Britannia and East expansions.
Hansa Teutonica: Big Box
$40.97
The multi-award-winning strategy game Hansa Teutonica is back in a Big Box edition including the base game and all expansions. In the game, players attempt to increase their standing...… read more
8. Lorenzo Il Magnifico (2nd Edition)
Lorenzo Il Magnifico is another second edition to make the list for 2022. This printing also includes content the first edition did not have, such as the Houses of Renaissance expansion, the Pazzi Conspiracy expansion, and four Leader promo cards. This trend should help reassure gamers who miss out on the first print runs of popular games. If there’s enough demand for a game, the chances are good that another edition will come along with more to explore and enjoy.
Lorenzo il Magnifico (2nd Edition) (On Sale)
$79.99
An Italian Masterpiece loved by gamers all around the world in a new complete edition. In Lorenzo il Magnifico, each player takes the role of...… read more
7. Welcome to the Moon
After the American suburbs of the 50s, and the casinos of the 60s, the Welcome to… series escalated quickly and took one giant leap to the moon for the final game setting in the trilogy. Welcome to the Moon is a narrative and evolving roll & write made up of 8 adventures that can be played in succession or independently.
Welcome to the Moon
$35.99
Welcome to the Moon is a narrative and evolving roll & write. It is made of 8 different adventures which form a global story with...… read more
6. Meadow
The buzz Meadow received when it was published in 2021 propelled it forward to become even more popular in 2022. Whether it’s the nature theme, the interesting way to draft cards, or the cute animal artwork, there are several elements drawing players to this game.
Meadow
$43.99
Experienced nature observers bravely roam the area in search of plants, animals and various curiosities. They eagerly use their knowledge - in the meadows, among...… read more
5. Flamecraft Deluxe
What could be more appealing than a game about magic spells and cute dragons? How about the same game but upgraded with dragon minis, metal coins, and wooden resources?! The deluxe version of Flamecraft really turns up the heat on production quality and enhances the game’s tactile experience. Unfortunately, the publisher only printed a single run of the deluxe version of Flamecraft and has stated they have no plans to greenlight any more printings.
Flamecraft (Standard Edition)
$32.00
Artisan dragons, the smaller and magically talented versions of their larger (and destructive) cousins, are sought by shopkeepers so that they may delight customers with...… read more
4. Wingspan
It’s safe to say that Wingspan will be one of the most popular board games for years. Not only are the gameplay and theme extremely attractive to such a large audience, but Stonemaier Games continues to support the game with additional content. In fact, two Wingspan expansions made the list of the ten best-selling board game expansions for 2022: Wingspan Asia and Wingspan European.
Wingspan (2nd Edition - Includes Swift-Start Pack)
$44.97
Wingspan is a competitive, medium-weight, card-driven, engine-building board game from Stonemaier Games.You are bird enthusiasts-researchers, bird watchers, ornithologists, and collectors-seeking to discover and attract the best...… read more
3. Heat
We now come to what is probably the most impressive entry on the list. Having only become available for purchase in November, Heat still managed to become the third best-selling board game for the entire year! In other words, Heat is on fire! This innovative Days of Wonder racing game is a hot item, and it probably won’t cool down anytime soon. Future expansions will only fan its flame.
Heat: Pedal to the Metal
$59.99
Based on simple and intuitive hand management, Heat: Pedal to the Metal puts players in the driver's seat of intense car races, jockeying for position to cross...… read more
2. Cascadia
Award-winning games typically find their place on bestseller lists and Cascadia, the “puzzly tile-laying and token-drafting game” is no exception. Although the game was super popular before its accolades, winning the 2022 Spiel des Jahres award further increased awareness of the game. Cascadia also won the 2022 International Gamers Award for Solo, the Gra Roku Family Game of the Year, and the Geek Media Awards Family Game of the Year.
Cascadia
$31.97
Take a journey to the Pacific Northwest as you compete to create the most harmonious ecosystem in Cascadia!Turns are simple - select a tile/token set...… read more
1. Ark Nova
Ark Nova easily takes the top spot, with almost three-hundred more copies sold than Cascadia. This zoo-building game owes its initial popularity to a round of overwhelmingly positive press from prominent board game reviewers. However, the general public seems to agree that Ark Nova is a special game. In less than two years, the game has skyrocketed up the Board Game Geek ranking list, which many gamers use to find popular board games. For context, the number five, three, two, and one spots on that list were published in 2018 or earlier.
Ark Nova
$59.97
In Ark Nova, you will plan and design a modern, scientifically managed zoo. With the ultimate goal of owning the most successful zoological establishment, you will...… read more
