Fan of the Month: From Sushi Go! to Arcs and Millennium Blades – Ben’s Top Board Game Picks

Hello, I'm Ben. I write freelance articles for Magic Madhouse, but I'm also a huge Board Game fan. When I heard this month's fan of the month was going to be based on board games, I knew I had to step up! Let me tell you about some of my favourites.

Tell us about you and how you got into board games?

When I started at university I joined the board game club, and I really got enthusiastic about them. They're a group activity, so finding a bunch of like minded people to play them with is a great experience. Plus, when you're in a club, you can always rally enough players for bigger table-sprawling strategy games.

What is the first board game you remember loving?

I had The Simpsons edition of the game of Life as a kid, and I used to play it with my family every New Year's Eve. It wasn't very balanced at all (if you got Homer's nuclear technician job you could make an absurd amount of cash) but it was a fun tradition.

What’s your all-time favourite board game and why?

Millenium Blades by Level 99 Games. As well as board games, I'm a massive fan of Magic: the Gathering and other TCGs. Millenium Blades is a board game all about the experience of being a competitive TCG player. It lasts several hours, and you've got to constantly be on the lookout for new cards to combo together, so you can feel pretty tired by the end of it. It's really rewarding though when everything comes together.

What board game do you play the most right now?

Sushi Go! Is always a crowd pleaser. Whenever I have a party I gather everyone around the table, and we have a quick draft and see who can make the best sushi order. Not to brag, but I've gotten pretty great at it over the years. Pro tip: Always take wasabi as soon as you see it.

Do you usually play with friends, family, or a gaming group?

I usually play with my friends. Honestly most of the members of my family aren't really board gamers, so I don't know where I got it from.

Is there a board game you think everyone should try at least once?

I think everyone should play a legacy game at least once. Games are an incredible way of telling stories because of how interactive they are. Legacy games let you tell longform narratives, and challenge lots of fundamental design principles in ways that are always intruiging.

What makes a board game great in your opinion! Strategy, luck, story, or something else?

The best board games are the ones that are able to artfully pair up their mechanics and their theme . Food Chain Magnate, by Splotter Spellen, does a great job of commenting on the fast food industry because of how quickly you can pump up interest in your restaurant, by slapping adverts for burgers everywhere imaginable.

If you could recommend one board game to beginners, what would it be?

Sushi Go! Like I said it's my party game of choice, especially if you're playing one of the expanded variants. It's quick and breezy, but it also gives you a lot of fundamental skills that are useful in board games of all kinds like pattern recognition, and the ability to weave together strategies on the fly while drafting cards.

Are there any board games you’re hoping to try in the future?

I absolutely love Arcs, so I'm eagerly waiting for the next expansion for that to come along so I can see the next chapter of my favourite space opera.