Outside chance at #1 on the Vintage list

 Today I want to talk about 5 more games on my Vintage list that are on the outside looking in, at being #1 on my list.

The McDonald's Game

Classic game which nabbed the very first #1 spot when I created the list. Since then, it's kicked around and outside the Top 10 but never been able to achieve #1 again. With 5 games being removed from the list, this is almost certainly a Top 10 game but #1? The only chance it has is if I actually get a game going INSIDE an actually McDonald's and even then, it's tough to say if that would work. 

Memory

My girls favorite game to play and I love playing with them. That's why it made the Top 10 last year. But #1? I don't know. I admit, playing with my kids is special and this classic is good too but I'm not sure if the 2 of those combined can push this game all the way to the top.

Knockout

This is my wife's favorite game and its the only game we play as a family. Again, just like Memory. this game has a lot going for it for the same reasons I mentioned earlier. And just like Memory, it has the same things going against it as well. I think this game will be in my Top 10 again, but that's about it. 

Star Wars Duels

This game is GREAT. The only problem is....Queen's Gambit is better. For that reason, #2 is the highest I ever see this one going. I love battle game. So much fun playing characters from the original and prequel trilogy against each other. And the more players, the better! But again....it's no Queen's Gambit. 

Omega Virus

Great coop game that will benefit from the 5 other game which have left but doesn't have a serious path to victory for 2025. It could go as high as making it into the Top 5 but I think the other games I listed previously, can all beat this one. 

NEW Vintage #1??

 Now with Start-o-matic Baseball in my regular list, it makes an opening for the new game to take the title this year! 

But who will it be? Here are my thoughts on the 5 games that could claim it:

Star Wars Queen's Gambit

Obviously this is the clear frontrunner. It's been #1 before and ended up as #2 on the list. I love this game. It's incredible and will never be reprinted again. It's a classic, and deserved of that #1 spot for 2025.

Battle Cry

But if any game could topple Queen's Gambit, it's this one. It's been #1 and #2 in the past. It's an amazing battle game that my group does enjoy playing. Even Megan's played it with me a few times, which always helps. Depending on how many times I can get it to the table will determine whether it climbs to the top of not. 

Battle Ball

Football of the future!! This 2 player game has come close every year to grabbing the coveted #1 spot but has come up short. It has stiff competition but with beautiful figures and an exciting game every time I play, it does have an outside chance to skip the line to the front. 

Pro-Action Football

Another 2 player soccer game that captured #1 years ago but has failed to win it back since. It doesn't get to the table as much as it once did, but I'd be remiss not to add it to the list, since it IS in my Top 5 at the moment and has a good a chance as any to claiming the top spot once again.

Nerts

This card game made it to the top of my list one year when my family played it during out beach vacation. I had SO much fun, I had to bestow upon it the #1 spot. This Christmas we were supposed to play but Die Hard replaced that plan in the short time it took me to drive home and grab 7 packs of cards. BUT if we play epic games over the summer, this one has a clear path to the top of the list. 

Vintage Board Game Promotions!

 Decided to bring 5 games from my Vintage list up to the main list this year to compete with the other games in my collection. 

Here's my thoughts on the five selected for the "big leagues"

 Strat-o-Matic Baseball

A former #1 on my list in the past, I removed it because I wasn't playing a full season anymore, which meant it was going to fall big time on my list. It finally grabbed the #1 spot on the Vintage list last year and since I'm now playing full seasons again, I've decided to bring this classic back to go head to head with Twilight Imperium 4 to see which one will be #1. At this point I have no idea what's going to happen because I love both games so much. But it will be exciting to see!

Thunder Road

The moment I played the remake from Restoration Games, I knew this game was ready for the big leagues. This could very well end up being a top 30, top 20 game for me at the end of the year. I've had so much fun playing it. The crazy insanity that comes around when playing it, never gets old. And with my Kickstarter All-In pledge, I'm STILL not done exploring all the content within!

 Can't Stop

This game came close several times to grabbing my #1 spot on the vintage list but kept coming up short. I think it'll be an easy top 50 on the regular list this year. The push your luck, element of the game is the reason this is still in print today. It has zero set up too. Which makes it a fast fun option at game nights. I expect to play this game more this year than previous ones now that's it's made the move to this list. 

Fireball Island

When I bumped Thunder Road up, I knew this one had to move up with it. The only problem is that this game isn't as good as the ones mentioned above. In fact, I may be moving this one from my collection completely if my method of "breaking" the game is true. 

My strategy is to grab either the Jewel or the snake idol and head straight back to the helipad to end the game early and grab the lucky penny. By the time I make it back to the helipad, the 3 cataclysm cards have usually been played (since there's so many in the game) I also, play mine each time I have one to ensure the game ends quick. 

There's never enough time for people to aquire more points to beat me in the end too since I aquire 2 of the most expensive items in the game. I just did it again last year.

It's sad, because I really do love this game. I'd consider a house rule to prevent me from ending the game early but even then would it be worth keeping, knowing what I know? I guess I'll find out this year. 

Conquest of the Empire

I had this game even BEFORE I was into board games that much. I loved it and would play it all the time by myself when Megan and I were first married. Back in the day when I could aquire 6 people to a game night, we played some great games of this. But these days I'm lucky to get 3 and the magic just isn't there. 

This is a standard, roll/fight game. But where it shined for me was in who you put your trust in for alliences and WHEN you broke that trust. (because in the end, there can be only one) Betray your partner to quickly and you're toast. But wait too late and they'll betray you. It's a nice balance I've always enjoyed. (and died by in the game) But I believe I might have outgrown this game over the years and if that's true, I need to part ways with it to leave room for other games to enter my collection. 

So this is another game on the "bubble" for 2025. 

12th Day of Christmas: Santa Bowl 2025!!

 

When: Saturday Dec 13th 2025

The holiday tradition continues at the end of the year! 

Will the Adults finally pull off a win? Will they score more than once in the game?

The teams this year will remain unchanged, since no one is switching over this year. I was hoping we change it to Married vs Single but I think that's going to be a hard sell. 

Either way, I'm looking for to the game! 

For the final time MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

It's been a great season and I look forward to the next one to come!

11th Day of Christmas: Carry On

 Watched this one last month and it's probably the best new Christmas movie I saw this year. 

Great thriller that keeps you engaged the entire time. The villain is one of the best too. The whole movie had "Die Hard" vibes but I wouldn't call it an "action movie"

It IS worth watching however. The only laughable thing about the film is the "importance" of TSA in this movie. They're obviously trying to make the role look more important than it is, but it plays off like a Paul Blart that's unaware of the joke. 

Anyway, worth seeing!  

10th Day of Christmas: Klaus

  2nd year in a row watching this and the movie just got better!

Seriously, if you've never watched this one, you should. Storytelling at its BEST. Good humor in a story that never slows down or loses your interest. 

Top 5 Christmas movie of all time for me. 

Excellent stuff! 

9th Day of Christmas: Holiday Pie

 Something I tried last month just out of curiosity was McDonald's Holiday Pie. 

It's basically vanilla pudding, wrapped in their pies, with a frosted cover with crushed candy pieces on top. 

Not really that special of "joyous" to consume. Then again, this is McDonald's and I should've known. But I couldn't help myself. 

Now I know....and I can warn everyone else from this experience not to waste their money on it. (though I feel most people wouldn't in the first place)