Board Game Arena

I feel like some people are overlooking the fact that you can vote for some categories but not others. So, you don't need to play all 20 games before you can vote. You need to play 4 games from the same set. If the combo offered in one category doesn't interest you, check out a different category.

Also, if you truly refuse to play a full game of something that doesn't appeal to you, that may not be necessary, though I don't quite know what the minimum requirements are. It shows that I already "played" White Castle even though I started a solo game and quit as soon as I saw the layout. Eventually I planned to watch a video and try again, but it never happened.
On the other hand, I conceded a 2 player game of Castles of Mad King Ludwig and it's not showing as played.

mrmivo wrote: ↑17 January 2026, 18:06 The latter is working on me. I've already tried a few of the games on the list and will probably work through the rest. There's a whole month of time for this and many of these games are fairly short, except for the ones in the expert category.

Same. This nudged me to try Apiary. My turn-based game just started. I hope it finishes, although if it starts getting close I can play real-time.

Exotic Dreams wrote: ↑17 January 2026, 15:39 Why is it setup like this?. I see for instance azul duel. I already have played azul and have a dislike for this game. So in order to vote on this poll, I need to try azul duel ( a game that based on my experience with azul) that i will probably dislike to fill quota?.

Because you felt the need to use the word “probably” in that sentence. That’s why it’s set up like this.

IMHO, BGA Awards 2024 with 10 games per category and without restriction to play all the games in the category was the best.
With only 4 nominees we lost here many great games.
For example, in what parameter Apiary is better than Revive? Or Azul Duel than Cardia or Zenith? How was this selection made?
There are good and very popular on BGA games like Pina Coladice and 20th Century, but Coffee Rush was selected for voting.
Also there are some great but not very popular games on BGA like Pagan and Mind MGMT I would like to see here.
I'm disappointed

Dear BoardGameArena team, thank you for awarding the BGA Award again. A suggestion for the next election: Include more games in all categories. A pre-selection, so to speak, and then choose the most popular games from among those selected. Similar to the Spiel des Jahres (Game of the Year) award. What do you think?

Blessed greetings
Hedgehog 46

I like this years' format very much. For me it makes perfect sense you have to know each game of a category before you decide which one is the best. And I also appreciate that you may qualify and vote for each category independently.

In my opinion, and I can rarely say this otherwise, this time you did better, BGA!

Jertian wrote: ↑17 January 2026, 14:10 I am curious about the percentage of BGA players who would be eligible to vote in one category, all categories, and the percentage of eligible voters who participate in voting.

I can't vote in any category currently. I am missing 1 or 2 games from each category.

Edit, I was mistaken I am missing all 4 games of two categories and am not really interested in any of the games in either category so that makes sense. I am missing 2 games from all other categories some I am interested in but haven't played yet, others I have played in person and know I would HATE it on BGA so I will not be voting. Which is sad because I would love to vote for those games I truly think deserve to win.

Maybe it worth going for compromise next year? Something like 6-8 nominees and restriction in 50% of games you have to play?

cigma wrote: ↑21 January 2026, 23:58 I like this years' format very much. For me it makes perfect sense you have to know each game of a category before you decide which one is the best. And I also appreciate that you may qualify and vote for each category independently.

In my opinion, and I can rarely say this otherwise, this time you did better, BGA!

This. The 1st year there were many complaints from people who were forced to vote in every category because they hadn’t played all the games within the category. The amount of time (7 days) to vote was also an issue. Bga actually listened & fixed these problems and now ppl are complaining because they have to play every game within a category.

4 games isn’t that much and now they have given a month to do so. Outside of the expert games the majority aren’t that long. I understand knowing you wont like a game (me w/ forest shuffle) but if you want to vote bad enough 1 play of a boring game won’t kill you (or maybe it will ).

ChiefPointThief wrote: ↑23 January 2026, 18:13

cigma wrote: ↑21 January 2026, 23:58 I like this years' format very much. For me it makes perfect sense you have to know each game of a category before you decide which one is the best. And I also appreciate that you may qualify and vote for each category independently.

In my opinion, and I can rarely say this otherwise, this time you did better, BGA!

This. The 1st year there were many complaints from people who were forced to vote in every category because they hadn’t played all the games within the category. The amount of time (7 days) to vote was also an issue. Bga actually listened & fixed these problems and now ppl are complaining because they have to play every game within a category.

4 games isn’t that much and now they have given a month to do so. Outside of the expert games the majority aren’t that long. I understand knowing you wont like a game (me w/ forest shuffle) but if you want to vote bad enough 1 play of a boring game won’t kill you (or maybe it will ).

Yes, and even the expert games are worth give it a try, take your time you have it, and thanks for the tutorials and the solo mode!
I hadn't played any of the 4, I can say that I like now very much 3 out of the 4, a bit struggling with Galactic Cruise...