by Scott Alden

The BoardGameGeek Hall of Fame honors games that have made meaningful contributions to the board game hobby in the areas of innovation, artistry, and impact. By curating this distinguished list, BoardGameGeek seeks to preserve the history and evolution of board gaming, while inspiring and informing a global community of players who have a passion for games. Additional games will be inducted annually as the world of board games continues to evolve.

The selection process was guided by a jury composed of dedicated and experienced players who have been deeply involved in the board game community for years and who have brought their knowledge and expertise to the discussions. The process began by evaluating games that were at least ten years old in order to ensure widespread engagement and recognition. Additionally, the jury identified and included games that, while perhaps less widely played, have had a profound and lasting impact on the hobby.

The BoardGameGeek Hall of Fame focuses on modern board games that have directly shaped the contemporary hobby and community. Games such as Chess, Backgammon, Go, and traditional 52-card games, while timeless classics and undoubtedly influential, fall outside the scope of these awards.

Through this initiative, BoardGameGeek aims to celebrate the legacy of these exceptional games and their creators, while fostering a deeper appreciation for artistry and innovation within the world of board gaming.

We are pleased to announce the next inductee into the BoardGameGeek Hall of Fame for 2026. The rest of the inductees will be revealed throughout the week. Stay tuned!

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Puerto Rico – 2002

In Puerto Rico, players assume the role of colonial governors on that Caribbean island who will oversee the shipping of goods to Europe, the acquisition of valuable commodities from plantations, and the establishment of buildings, each with their own special power or bonus. To do this, each turn the active player chooses one of the available roles, then each player (if able) carries out the action allowed by this role, with the role’s chooser receiving a small bonus: an extra doubloon when trading, a discount when building, or an extra good when producing commodities. This dynamic drives the action in the game, with everyone trying to time their actions to maximum effect as they score points from shipping goods, acquiring buildings, and occupying certain large buildings. While the gameplay of this Andreas Seyfarth (say-fourth) design is rich and challenging, the setting is unpleasant, with players drafting enslaved laborers from a constant flow of arriving ships to occupy plantations and buildings. As a result, two decades after Puerto Rico was released, the publisher released Puerto Rico 1897, which is set in the year the island achieved political autonomy from the colonial Spanish government.

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