10 x 10 Challenge 2022
Last year I completed my New Year’s Resolution for the first time in my life! It was to play more board games month-on-month than the year before. This year I have downloaded the Board Game Stats App and set myself some more board game related challenges for the year ahead.
Among the challenges for 2022 is the so-called 10 x 10 Challenge. This is a challenge that makes you decide on ten games that you will play ten times over the course of a year. An in-app purchase is required to set these up, but you could easily do it on a computer or on a piece of paper stuck to your fridge! Over on Instagram I have set up a hashtag #10days10x10challenge which invites others to share the games on their list of games to play. Those participating in any x by x challenge are invited too. Over a period of 10 days (not necessarily consecutively) people will hopefully share their own pledges and the reason for them being on their list like I have. For ease, I have also compiled my posts into a single feature. Just to be clear, you are reading it now! Browse the hashtag and see mine and other people’s pledges here.
Also to be clear there are some links to buy the games. As I want to play them ten times in 2022 they are obviously games I enjoy, so don’t mind promoting them in that way.
Doppelt So Clever.
I would’ve chosen Ganz Schön Clever but as my most played game of all time, that seemed a bit too much of a gimme. With its predecessor getting to the table so often, Doppelt So Clever gets a little neglected and it’s still lots of dice rolling fun! For its quick play time and cascading bonuses it’s a great option for a game to play while letting your dinner go down!
Ganymede.
I chose Ganymede as it is a game that offers plenty to think about but only takes around 40 minutes. This is one of the lower play times on my 10 x 10 so it should help nudge my challenge along even on busier months.
Equally though it’s a game I really enjoy, and that could easily get muscled out of the way by other games. Adding it to the challenge might mean that doesn’t happen, and so I will hopefully get to enjoy the super cool artwork frequently throughout the year!
Iki.
Iki was a much-hyped rereleased game with limited stock last year. I didn’t know much about it but was lucky to get a copy from Out Of Town Games and it was absolutely brilliant. I am therefore looking forward to it getting to the table more this year.
I’m not entirely sure what makes Iki such a hit. At its heart are simple mechanics – it doesn’t do anything revolutionary, but it is all packaged up in a brilliant way. The risk of fire sweeping through your stalls adds excitement and it is great at all player counts.
It’s A Wonderful World.
It’s A Wonderful World is on the 10 x 10 list! It very nearly wasn’t as my wife’s first impression wasn’t good which completely blindsided me! I wasn’t expecting it, but thanks to a couple of messages on Instagram, we swapped in the individual player powers and the game clicked for her and now she wins and strangely enjoys it more! With three plays already in January, this should be a safe bet for the challenge!
I still feel there is a bit more strategy in the drafting that I am not necessarily utilising to the fullest, but I will get to the bottom of that a bit more if we get to play it ten times this year!
It’s a great game to play with another couple as all the mechanics feel familiar, but working out what to build and recycle gives your brain something to chew on.
I’m also keen to try it again at two players as I think different tactics need to be used then.
Raiders of the North Sea.
As one of my favourite games I do not play this enough, especially as I have the Hall of Heroes Expansion only played twice and I want to justify the purchase of the Fields of Fame expansion too!
I love everything about Raiders of the North Sea, including the clever take on worker placement that sees you place one and take one that removes the need for a tidy up/take back phase. I also love the overall production including the coins and awesome artwork by The Mico.
Rajas of the Ganges.
Rajas of the Ganges is one of my favourite games that I haven’t got around to reviewing, but it is sublimely good. It’s a dice worker placement where the luck of the humble D6 has been mitigated extraordinarily well. So many choices on your turn! It also has a cracking end game condition that really ramps up. I can’t wait to get this to the table ten times this year! Hopefully I do!
Seven Bridges.
If you haven’t read my review of Seven Bridges yet you may not know why, and how much, I enjoy traversing the cartographic roll and write. I chose to put on the list as it is one of my favourites! A good balance of thinky decision making, luck of the dice and cascading bonuses to keep me very entertained.
Solenia.
This game was new to me in January and made it straight onto the 10 x 10 list. It’s a lovely and fairly gentle set collection game that is quick to play and frankly leaves you wanting more, so getting the plays of it under my belt in 2022 should be achievable but more importantly entertaining!
The Quest for El Dorado.
Another hall of fame game making onto the list with a The Quest for El Dorado. The racing element gives the deck building mechanic a reason to be there, as you race across the modular board making sure you have the right equipment to be the most efficient in your journey. Playing this is always a joy and should be easy to hit ten plays, but my wife and I play this at two player fairly frequently and it’s then difficult to introduce to other players competitively as we know the game and the market very well.
This Knizia classic only got to the table seven times last year though so we’ve got to ramp it up a little in 2022.
Wingspan.
A firm favourite of mine and board game review hall-of-famer, Wingspan. I can’t wait to play this ten times in 2022. Wingspan is a lovely and calming board game to play with beautiful artwork and the high production values you associate with Stonemaier Games – that said I still couldn’t resist upgrading with a knitted bird’s nest and some food tokens!
I reviewed this a little while ago so you can read my thoughts which will make it clear why I have added it to my 10 x 10 challenge.
That’s my 10 x 10 challenge, feel free to join in with the hashtag on Instagram!
