Celebrate The Best of Board Gaming with the 2026 BGA Awards!

[BalGAmor]

The Board Game Arena Awards are back! It is time to highlight the games released on BGA in 2025 that made your gaming nights- and days- unforgettable. Cast your vote and celebrate the very best the virtual board gaming world had to offer in 2025!
 
Why these awards are special
We all enjoy competing on the virtual board, but these awards go beyond gameplay. They are a celebration of shared moments, brilliant strategies and hidden gem discovery. The 2026 BGA Awards are a chance to highlight the games that defined 2025, and you now have a chance to champion your favorites!
 
How it works
We have selected the most popular games released on BGA in 2025 and divided them into several categories to reflect the richness of games on the platform:
 

• Best Casual Game: Perfect for quick, lighthearted fun and friendly competition.
• Best Regular Game: Games that strike the perfect balance between strategic depth and satisfying complexity.
• Best Expert Game: For those who thrive on challenging strategies and enjoy conquering intricate puzzles.
• Best 2-player Game: Face-to-face duels that bring an extra level of intensity.
• Best Brain Teaser: For those who love to give their brain a workout and solve challenges.

 
How to cast your vote
It is simple! Go to the Awards page. Review the nominated games in each category and then choose your favorite.
 
To cast your vote in a category, you must have played all 4 nominated games at least once before the voting ends. You have one month to try out each nominee and vote. Vote in every category, or just the ones that interest you. It is your choice!
 
Note that you can change your vote at any time or click the "reset" button at the bottom of the page to start over.
 
Your turn to play!
Have your say in the 2026 Board Game Arena Awards. Share your opinions and celebrate the best games.
 
If you are not familiar with a few nominated titles, this is the perfect opportunity to explore them! The Awards are not just about voting, they are about discovering new, exciting games that could become your new go-to selection at the table.
 
Voting closes on February 16th, 2026, at noon (UTC+1). Do not miss out. Make your voice heard and let us celebrate the incredible games that made 2025 so much fun!

[Tihama]

Interesting! Great new games competing with great old games for recognition. You don’t see that anywhere else.

[fiomtec]

Why do I need to play all the games to vote? Maybe I've already played the physical version of some.

(which brings me back to asking for "don't show this game to me again, not interested")

[DrClick]

Why do I need to play all the games to vote? Maybe I've already played the physical version of some.

(which brings me back to asking for "don't show this game to me again, not interested")

Totally fair question

Requiring a play before voting is mainly there to keep things as fair as possible for all games: everyone’s voting based on actual time spent with the BGA implementation, not just the title or reputation.

And even if you know a game well in real life, the BGA version can feel a bit different. Some games shine online (faster setup, smoother bookkeeping), while others don’t quite hit the same vibe as the physical table. So the idea is: you’re not rating the board game in general, you’re rating the version we offer here on BGA.

[jeannedarc]

Well then, I guess I'll never be able to vote on a "BGA award" ever again.

There are many games I won't ever touch with a ten foot pole. Bummer I can't vote for games I like because I won't play games I have absolutely no interest in.

[Pumpkin Knight]

How were the nominations selected? Shocked that Sky Team isn't one for best 2-player game.

[FDHenneberg]

How were the nominations selected? Shocked that Sky Team isn't one for best 2-player game.

In the original post by BGA, it says “most popular”. Would be interesting if that’s just the number of games played per day or something else, but one gets the idea. Sky Team came to BGA late in 2024, so that’s why. Guess which game won the 2p 2024 award …

[Koroner85]

How were the nominations selected? Shocked that Sky Team isn't one for best 2-player game.

[...] Guess which game won the 2p 2024 award …

If I remember correctly, it was Splendor Duel and honestly it is a good game and it's become a staple for me.

(Although I voted for Altered TCG, a great card game and project)

[Pumpkin Knight]

How were the nominations selected? Shocked that Sky Team isn't one for best 2-player game.

In the original post by BGA, it says “most popular”. Would be interesting if that’s just the number of games played per day or something else, but one gets the idea. Sky Team came to BGA late in 2024, so that’s why. Guess which game won the 2p 2024 award …

Ahh, thanks. I wasn't thinking about only games that came out last year.

[konsul]

I'm a little bit disappointed Duel for Cardia hasn't been nominated but I guess it's not popular enough then.

Still interesting nominations. There'll be winners and losers, like always.