Everdell - A true modern classic, Everdell combines a charming theme with beautiful artwork and excellent gameplay. Players place cards to build their animal village, and use their wooden animal meeples to gather resources. As the seasons pass your village grows with new buildings and residents until the new year arrives and the final scoring shows who has won. The artwork and game pieces are top tier and the board has the central Evertree to set up which gives them game visual impact along with the tight tactical gameplay.

Ru's Worthy Contender : Splendor - it's a modern classic and such an addictive game, good balance of complexity and aesthetics. It’s the game that made me realise I like board games as an adult. Collect your hand and sabotage your fellow players game!

Harmonies - A game we have played over and over this past year, Harmonies has been a massive hit, with good reason. Players draw cards and tiles to create habitats on their board to attract different species of animal to score points. With limited space and tiles this is a game that rewards puzzling minds, while the artwork, straightforward rules, and the animal theme make it popular with a broad audience.

Ru's Worthy Contender - Spots! I bought it for myself because the artwork is so cute but the mechanics are really fun too! Boom or bust, push your luck game with the cutest doggo illustrations ever and wooden bone icons. Collecting pups? Just a pleasure.

Move over charades, Monikers is the king of party games. Over three rounds players will first describe one of the esoteric prompts for their team, then with the same set of cards be limited to one word, and then in the final hilarious round have to them act out. Perfect for groups Monikers has been the star at all parties we have hosted this past year.

Ru's Worthy Contender - A Fake Artist Goes to New York for a funny group game with a real silly streak - great if you like a drawing game.

A new addition to the gaming world, Hot Streak is a chaotic and silly mascot racing game where everyone is betting on the winners and trying to influence the outcome. The game excels in presentation with the adorable 3D model mascots and the box’s pull out racetrack giving a visual wow to the gaming table.

Ru's Worthy Contender - Wavelength! Unconventional, punchy and pleasing display. Really different to any other game.

7 Wonders is one of gaming’s undisputed heavy hitters, and the duel version lives up to that pedigree. This two player version transforms the empire building to a tight back and forth battle between you and a partner, with many paths to victory it's perfect for playing over and over again as a couple.

Ru's Worthy Contender - Dorfromantik Duel - gentle, beautiful and of course competitive. Couples who like clever strategy, clear the table top and get stuck in.

The perfect card game for all ages, Sushi Go Party can be played with up to 8 players to keep all the family engaged and entertained. Players choose from rotating hands of cards which adorable sushi to keep to build up the best scoring sets in front of them. The cute artwork and gameplay is a guaranteed winner for both kids and adults.

Ru's Worthy Contender: I would say seaside for sole wholesome lightly educational fun. Real wood tactile tokens and nice eco theme - stick it on your bag for the fam holiday!