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)