Top 10 Cutthroat Board Games - Friendship Not Included

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Games can be great! But also cutthroat sometimes...here are my top 10 games that I love and are totally cutthroat.

TimeStamps:
0:00:00 - Introduction
0:03:32 - Sheriff of Notingham
0:05:45 - Carson City
0:08:15 - Arboretum
0:09:35 - Barrage
0:12:00 - Azul
0:13:20 - Ragnarocks
0:15:03 - Tigris & Euprates
0:16:35 - Cosmic Encounter
0:19:18 - Food Chain Magnate
0:21:40 - Paris: La Cité de la Lumière:
0:23:45 - Wrapping Up

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[fluffy]

Photosynthesis is probably the most cutthroat game that pretends to be a chill game.

[poppazoz]

When you brought up Cosmic Encounter I cracked up because the first time I ever played, all the way back '88 or '89, the group made it extremely clear that the real name of the game was The Cosmic Shaft. Because you WILL get shafted, so don't take it personal. I swear that game will kill relationships faster than monopoly.

[WhyToPlayYT]

Barrage only feels mean if you expect to use a low dam for 2-3 rounds, which is unrealistic. You can either build a dam in the low/mid level and use it once before it gets "blocked, " or build on the higher level (mountains) where it's not possible to be "blocked.".

[JosephMaiz]

Nice list Alex. For me, Spartacus game is still on my shelf and one of the best cutthroat games in my collection. Kicking a player when they are down is encouraged, backstabbing and betrayels -you name it, but its those moments which that stuff happens is (to me) what makes a great gaming experience.

[darrenhaywood]

Through the Ages is the most cutthroat for me, mainly because it involves a lot of punching down. If I've got an Aggression or War card to play you target the player you're most likely to beat, regardless of whether they're winning or miles behind, and once one attack gets through everyone else then targets the same player that round

[steveg]

The first game I tought of was Tammany Hall. Tom Vasel had said something like « before playing please shake everyone’s hand and tell them it’s not personal ». I bought a copy out of curiosity 😂 I liked it but I agree it isn’t for every group.

[frankbranham]

Intrigue, from Stefan Dorra. It was last published in 2005, but copies are pretty easy to find. This is a very simple negotiation and haggling game, but with ABSOLUTELY NOTHING binding. You are allowed to literally nod to a player, accept their bribe, and then give the thing another player who offered you a smaller bribe. Because, literally, all payments in this game are raw bribes which are not returned in order to hire your family members who will give you income, until they are replaced out of spite because you screwed over someone else.

Intrigue is BARELY a game. And it always escalates, turning even the nicest people into completely mean and vindictive backstabbers. But if approached with the correct joi d’meutre, it can make for an amazing time.

[LanguageMaus]

That's my favourite type of games, they are so much fun with the right group of people (the ones who don't get offended lol). I think the most cutthoat game I know is Kahuna, you are literally destroying the other player bridges, but there's a lot of strategy involved and a high chance of revenge and epic come backs. Also Sea Salt & Paper, Forest Shuffle and Pixies all encourage hatedraft - especially in two player games.

[nightlightguy]

Survive: Escape From Atlantis. The game my kids want to play because it looks fun, but not until they're MUCH older. :D

[smigmo]

This s great idea for a topic. Cutthroat without the diplomacy-type betrayal is my favorite. Thank you!

[rosenkrustev]

This video is sponsored by Mint Mobile. THE Mint Mobile? Ryan Reynolds cameo- when??? 👀

[justineld]

Come on everyone. We all know the true, ultimate, top choice for this list is RISK. In fact, it's such an obvious pick, that's probably why it wasn't even mentioned. It's basically impossible for people to play that game and NOT have one or more people get very angry at another player.

[RemcoHaarlem]

I instantly thought of Dominant Species. But then you mentioned it in the intro.

[CardboardHunter]

#1 is Lifeboats imo hands down. Legit the only game I think truly risks losing friends 😅

[johnathanrhoades]

I would add 1817, Stationfall, and Arcs to the list. But this is an excellent list!!

[marksahlgreen]

Moonrakers by IV Studios definitely deserves a spot in this list. I have a close friend through 7 years, I've never seen him mad once, he is one of the calmest people I know. He got so angry and it took him months to consolidate it. I have another friend, who I screwed over hard. we barely spoke since :D

[frankndice]

Surprised mission red planet isn’t on this list

[LisaSueMarieHuffman]

Thanks for this video! Now I know what games to avoid!! 😂

[justintaylor]

What about Root?

Love the game, lots of tension, big swings, disrupting other players.

I could see the argument that it doesn’t belong in this category since the conflict in the game is inherent and you are openly attacking other players instead of just disrupting their strategy. So games like chess or risk wouldnt count…

[davidhughes]

I think Carcassonne at 2p is intense. Extremely cut throat and in the funnest way