I own too many games. I’ll be honest with you, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t want more board games. In fact, I always have some grail board games that I want. Let’s figure out what that means and why they are that way. As well as then let’s talk about which ones I want to add into my collection.

What Are Grail Board Games?

Let’s start out by talking about what grail board games are even. These are generally board games that are hard to get a hold of. They are the holy grail, so to speak. And that can be for a number of reasons.

The most common reason for board games is that they go out of print. So it might be a game from before I started getting into board games. If that is the case, then I need to find a used copy somewhere, or stumble across a sealed one in the dark recesses of a game store where time forgot.

Another reason might be that the game was a Kickstarter exclusive. This happens with smaller game companies that don’t end up having distribution connections or plans. Often times this would be a bigger campaign game where it doesn’t make sense for it to got retail. Even if retailers back it and get copies that way, once it is gone it is gone.

And the final reason I can think of is that the game has a limited release. Now this could be something like a convention exclusive, but that’s pretty rare in the industry. Instead this is more often a game that might go into print in another part of the world and never get a US release.

I’ll talk about which board games are which type when I talk about five that I would love to get below.

Top 5 Grail Board Games I Want

Board Games are in no particular order.

5. The Crimson Scale

This one is an odd one for it. It isn’t a board game, but I’m putting it on the board games list. This is a fan expansion for Gloomhaven. That is more characters, more scenarios, the whole nine yards. The reason it’s on the list is that the designer of this has now designed their own campaign game which I own, Rove.

So this one is going to be hard to get because it already was hard to get. But now with a new, competing, game out there, it isn’t going to be printed anymore. But also, do I need a copy of this expansion when I have more Frosthaven to play? I can also still play Jaws of the Lion, and I’m sure there will be a third “haven” game in a few years.

4. Violet and the Grumpy Nisse

Violet and the Grumpy Nisse is first and foremost an amazing name when it comes to board games. It’s a two player game where one player plays as Violet and the other as Torech, the very grumpy nisse. The game is also a Nordic theme which is great as well for me being 100% Norwegian in heritage. The reason that it is hard to find is because it is a crowdfunding game that didn’t get a publication to retail.

But let’s talk about what makes this game one that I want to get from a game mechanism point of view. It is a two player trick taking game. I love trick taking. And this push and pull of two players can become interesting. Violet wants to win tricks and losing them is really bad for her. Whereas for the Nisse a loss here or there isn’t as bad. So it’s all about managing the tricks that you win or lose for both of them which sounds great.

3. Zerywia

It’s a campaign, it’s a crowdfunding game, and it’s hard to find because of that. But what drew me to this one? First off, the theme seems different than some board games. Yes, it’s got that fantasy element to it, but when it comes to it, it’s about Slavic myths and that is different than the normal mythologies that you see in board games. So I am curious about that and what sort of story it’ll tell compared to more Tolkien style fantasy.

Plus this is a campaign game with hard driven play. I like card driven play and I love campaign games. SO I think that it sounds interesting as to how it should work. And often that is enough to make me want to try and track down the game.

2. Three-Dragon Ante: Legendary Edition

This is a game that is just out of print. And because of that it is a hard game to find. Three-Dragon Ante is a game that they play in Dungeons and Dragons. And like some other board games like Gwent and Tak, it has moved from the original medium and into one that you can, or should I say could, get. I’d love to get my hands on this one, but compared to some of the other ones, it’s really expensive.

1. Arigato

Arigato is definitely my #1 on this list. I said that it wasn’t in order, but for the rest of the board games that is true. Arigato is easily number one and also impossible to track down. I saw one briefly on eBay, but I wasn’t fast enough. And good luck finding it on Board Game Geek and their Geek Market, though I’ll keep looking. This is one where it had a release in Europe and never came to the US. And now it is out of print.

I love this game. It is the one that I have played from this list. And I play it a lot on Board Game Arena. But I want to share it with more people and play it with more people. And if I could get a copy of it, I could do that. This is a game about managing three different scoring opportunities.

You have artisans that you place into your village. Each can go only in certain spots. They can give you points during the game. Then you collect resources and you can retire them, that is going to give you points. Finally there are objectives each of the days. And if you complete them you score points, more depending on how many you complete. And the game is such a great puzzle that way.

What games are on your list for grail games that you want to find?

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