2025 has been one hell of a year for gaming, and board games have absolutely refused to be left out of the chaos.
Over the last few months, our collections have ballooned, our wallets have wept, and our available shelf space has shrunk into a dimension so small it probably qualifies as quantum.
And as any board gamer knows, the less space we have, the more determined we become to cram just one more box into the pile before gravity files a lawsuit.
So, naturally, here are the five games currently haunting my wishlist – the ones I’m desperate to add to my collection… just as soon as I can actually get my hands on them.
Even Deeper Regrets
Players: 1-4
Play Time: 60-150 Minutes
If you thought the original game already had you emotionally compromised, Even Deeper Regrets takes things further by letting you start each day not just at Sea or Port, but also Inland, where you’ll cast your line into risky River and Loch shoals filled with 74 new fish and 25 dinks eagerly waiting to definitely ruin your plans.
Prefer the ocean? Great news: an entirely new sea of 117 fresh fish is here to humble you.
You can mix them with the base game or go full expansion mode, depending on how chaotic you’re feeling.
A new polyp mechanic rewards players for clustering these odd little creatures, and new equipment (including pets!) lets you enjoy adorable companions who provide handy bonuses… until you possibly lose them at sea.
Try not to get attached. You won’t succeed.
Speakeasy
Players: 1-4
Play Time: 50-180 Minutes
Speakeasy drags you straight into Manhattan’s 1920s underworld, where Prohibition is raging, mobsters are thriving, and Lucky Luciano runs the show like a man who’s very confident no one will question him.
You step into the shoes of one such mobster, juggling worker-placement, card management, illegal liquor distribution, and the occasional light crime to build a thriving speakeasy empire.
As you upgrade your joints, hire goons, bribe your way out of trouble, and occasionally “borrow” resources from rum runners, you’ll catch the eye of both rival mobs and the police – neither of whom are known for sending fruit baskets.
Your goal? Make as much money as possible and rise to the top of the city’s criminal food chain.
Grab your fedora, straighten your tie, and remember: the books cook easier when no one’s looking.
The Old King’s Crown
Players: 1-4
Play Time: 60-120 Minutes
In The Old King’s Crown, the kingdom’s throne is up for grabs, and you, an ambitious heir with more schemes than sense, are battling for control in a lush, overgrown realm full of ruins, rebels, and rival claimants.
Using card-driven strategy and secret unit placement, you’ll send Heralds to stake your claims while slipping agents around the board to sabotage the hopes and dreams of your opponents.
Each conflict rewards influence, the game’s victory metric, and influence is earned by outthinking, outmanoeuvring, and occasionally out-menacing everyone else on the map.
Whether you lean into royal pomp, rebellious mischief, or straight-up skulduggery, only the player with the most influence after a series of rounds will take the crown.
Wear it wisely. Or chaotically. No judgment.
Sweet Lands
Players: 1-4
Play Time: 100-200 Minutes
If you’ve ever dreamed of ruling a kingdom made entirely of sugar, Sweet Lands is here to make that dream dangerously literal.
The previous king ate himself out of power (relatable), leaving behind a decree challenging players to build the most prosperous candy-themed city.
This heavyweight Euro game includes over 200 cards, 14 characters, and enough wooden tokens to make your table question its life choices.
Each round, you’ll develop your city, climb prosperity tracks, and gather support from confection-loving townsfolk, all while racing your rivals to become the next ruler.
After five rounds of strategic building and dessert-fueled ambition, the player with the most Victory Points wins the crown and potentially a cavity.
Luthier
Players: 1-4
Play Time: 90-150 Minutes
Luthier takes you back to classical Europe, where crafting musical instruments is a noble art, and also incredibly competitive if this game is anything to go by.
Through a clever blend of hidden bidding and worker placement, you’ll run your own workshop, collecting resources, refining skills, courting famous historical patrons, and crafting everything from violins to prestige-level prestige. Which is absolutely a thing.
Multiple strategies open up as you develop apprentices, repair instruments, expand your workshop, perform concerts, or simply become the most renowned artisan in the land.
With deep mechanics and a rich theme, Luthier hits the sweet spot between strategic crunch and classical charm.
Bach would be proud.
And there you have it, five glorious board games currently plotting their takeover of my wallet and shelf space.
Do I have room for them? Absolutely not.
Will I buy them anyway? Without hesitation.
If you’re ready to join me in making questionable financial decisions in the name of cardboard joy, keep these upcoming releases on your radar… and maybe upgrade your shelving while you’re at it.
