Images by Liz Hafalia, SF Chronicle
”Year’s Best” lists for books and graphic novels are common for the popular media, but other than Games Magazine’s yearly awards (see "2015 'Games Magazine' Awards") year-end round-ups of best new tabletop games are not common in the mainstream press.  However two news outlets, Popular Mechanics and the San Francisco Chronicle, have offered up their picks for best new games of 2015.

Popular Mechanics chose the following titles as the 25 best board games release this year:

  • The Voyages of Marco Polo (Z-Man Games)
  • Sapiens (Iello)
  • The Game (IDW Games)
  • One Night Ultimate Werewolf: Daybreak (Bezier Games)
  • Fief: France 1429 (Academy Games)
  • Specter Ops: Shadow of Babel (Plaid Hat)
  • Super Motherload (Roxley Games)
  • Elysium (Asmodee)
  • Jarl: The Vikings Tile-Laying Game (Catalyst Game Labs)
  • Operation F.A.U.S.T. (Robert Burke Games)
  • Sheriff of Nottingham (Arcane Wonders)
  • Myth (MERC Miniatures/ MegaCon Games)
  • Quantum (Passport Game Studios / FunForge)
  • Star Realms (White Wizard)
  • Five Tribes (Days of Wonder)
  • King of New York (Iello)
  • Camel Up (Z-Man Games) 2014 Spiel des Jahres winner (see “Z-Man Releasing 'Camel Up' Expansion”)
  • Splendor (Asmodee)
  • Dead of Winter: A Crossroads Game  (Plaid Hat)
  • Istanbul (Alderac)
  • Marvel Dice Masters: Avengers vs. X-Men (WizKids)
  • Heroes of Normandie (Iello)
  • Smash Up: Science Fiction Double Feature (Alderac)
  • Imperial Settlers (Portal Games)
  • Castles of Mad King Ludwig (Bezier Games)

The SF Chronicle list was divided into several categories:

Family Games

  • Mysterium (Asmodee)
  • Cold Express (Asmodee) – 2015 Spiel des Jahres winner (see “'Spiel des Jahres' 2015 Winner Announced”)
  • Dungeon Fighter (Iello)
  • Dragonwood (Gamewright)
  • Welcome to the Dungeon (Iello)
  • Flea Market (Mayfair)
  • Bad Beets (Stoneblade)
  • Super Tooth (Gamewright)
  • Rolling America (Gamewright)
  • Outfoxed (Gamewright)
  • Maze Racers (FoxMind)

Strategy Games

  • Elysium (Asmodee)
  • Mogel (Rio Grande)
  • Isle of Sky (Mayfair)
  • Trambahn (Mayfair)
  • Roll for the Galaxy (Rio Grande)
  • Shadow Throne (Nothing Sacred)
  • Booty (Mayfair)
  • Extra! Extra! (Mayfair)
  • The 20th Century Limited (Rio Grande)
  • Evolution (North Star)
  • Star Trek: Five-Year Mission (Mayfair)
  • Temporum (Rio Grande)       
  • Realm of Wonder (Mindwarrior)
  • Mystery: Motive for Murder (Mayfair)

Party Games

  • Dumb Ass (University Games)
  • Skosh (Goldbrick)
  • Alias (Tactic)
  • Dirty Words (University Games)