@eurogamer_anna 10d ago

Is Brass Birmingham Actually the Best Game Ever Made?

Brass Birmingham sits at #1 on BGG. It sits at #1 in my heart. But I keep seeing people push back on it.

For me, it’s the game that made me understand what “emergent strategy” actually means. Every single game feels different not because of randomness but because of the other players. The way you read the board, anticipate builds, time your loans — it’s just peak.

Is this the GOAT or is it propped up by heavy-game bias on BGG? If it’s not #1 for you, what is?

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Replies (6)

@cardboardAddict 10d ago

It's top 5 for me but I'll die on the hill that Concordia is the more elegant design.

@heavyCardboard 9d ago

Brass Birmingham is a masterclass in interlocking systems. I've played it 60+ times and I'm still finding new angles.

@ameritrash_mike 9d ago

I played it once. It felt like doing my taxes in 1850s England.

@midweightMaven 8d ago

Best heavy game ever made? Maybe. Best game? My non-gamer wife would rather eat the cotton tokens than play this.

@thinkingAP 8d ago

The only thing I don't like is the 2-player game feels like a different (worse) game. At 3-4 though? Incredible.

@eurogamer_anna 7d ago

What gets me is how MEAN it can be without feeling mean. You're not attacking anyone, you're just... using their coal. And they're devastated.

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