As always, play great games! We'll see you around the table and we'll be back with more in 2027.

Our industry is better for your contributions, and this celebration is for you as well.

To the designers, the artists, the playtesters, the graphic designers and art directors, the publishers, the proofreaders, the employees who make these games possible, and the friends and family supporting the folks who come up with these ideas and make these fantastic games.

Games are, of course, more than any one person's contribution, however, and we want to celebrate those folks as well, so thank you to all the people who have made this year's winners possible:

This is always one of the high points of the year for us on the American Tabletop Awards Committee, as there are so many games worth celebrating and getting a chance to play these fantastic titles has been a distinct delight.

Complex Games Deeply strategic games especially appealing to experienced players. Often employ a myriad of game mechanisms and lean towards longer play times. 2026 Winner – Molly House Protect queer joy at…

To learn more about the other great games Recommended and Nominated for the Complex Games category, see americantabletopawards.com/complex-games

A picture of the box for Molly House with the American Tabletop Awards logo for Complex Games in front of it, on the bottom-right edge.

Last and certainly not least is our 2026 American Tabletop Award for Complex Games! This year's winner is Molly House, from @wehrlegig.games!

For more information, see americantabletopawards.com/molly-house

Strategy Games Games that take a step beyond Casual Games in their complexity, planning requirements, and duration. Play time typically runs from 45 minutes to 2 hours. 2026 Winner – The Lord of the Rings: …

For our 2026 Nominated and Recommended Strategy Games titles, please see americantabletopawards.com/strategy-gam...

A picture of the box for The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship with the American Tabletop Awards logo for Strategy Games in front of it, on the bottom-right edge.

Next up is Strategy Games, and the 2026 American Tabletop Award Winner for Strategy Games is The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship, from @zmangamesofficial.bsky.social!

@middle-earthents.bsky.social

For more information, see americantabletopawards.com/the-lord-of-...

Casual Games Games that are approachable and appealing to gamers at all levels of experience. Play times typically fall into the 30-60 minute range. 2026 Winner – Hot Streak Gamble on mascots for … …

For our 2026 Nominated and Recommend Casual Games titles, please see americantabletopawards.com/casual-games

A picture of the box for Hot Streak with the American Tabletop Awards logo for Casual Games in front of it, on the bottom-right edge.

The 2026 American Tabletop Award for Casual Games goes to Hot Streak, also from @cmyk.games!

For more information, please see americantabletopawards.com/hot-streak.

Early Gamers Games intended particularly for younger players (typically ages 12 and under) and players new to modern board games. Game duration usually runs 15 – 45 minutes. 2026 Winner – Magical At…

For our Nominated and Recommended titles in Early Gamers for 2026, please see americantabletopawards.com/early-gamers.

A picture of the box for Magical Athlete with the American Tabletop Awards logo for Early Gamers in front of it, on the bottom-right edge.

The 2026 American Tabletop Award for Early Gamers goes to Magical Athlete, from @cmyk.games!

For more information, please see americantabletopawards.com/magical-athlete

Good morning, friends! Yes, we had some midnight excitement, but beyond that we're excited to announce this year's American Tabletop Award winners!

Let's get right to it.

We will give due time later today to celebrate the winners, but wanted to get out ahead of anything you might see on social media or in other news outlets.

We regret the error and will reevaluate how we work with press to avoid a similar outcome in the future.

Unfortunately, there seems to have been an issue with our press embargo for this year's awards. We've asked other media outlets to go ahead and post early, but we will update our site accordingly and post the winners on social media at our previously-arranged time.

How @ruelgaviola.com was super late to submit his nominations but was the first to vote on those nominations. What an enigma! 🤪 (🧵 fin )

Is X a "Casual," "Strategy," or "Complex" game, to fit into our award categories?

(Yes, there's one particular game that's been nominated for all three of those.) 🧵

What is technically a 2025 release?

Convention, Kickstarter, and oversea releases really mess with this calendar. And limited releases due to tariffs ain't helping. 🧵

The judging committee's been busy discussing the 2025-2026 American Tabletop Awards and going through more nominees than ever before.

The things we are discussing lately... 🧵

The Committee feels that these four games (and the additional sixteen that are Recommended and Nominated across each category) represent some of the best games that were released last year. We're excited to share them with you.

With that, play great games! See y'all around.

It was another great year for games! The American Tabletop Awards Committee specifically wants to thank all the designers, manufacturers, graphic designers, artists, editors, publishers, translators, and all the various folks whose hard work makes great games year in and year out.

The Fromage box with the Complex Games seal in the bottom-right corner of the image.

Last up is Complex Games! This year's winner is Fromage, designed by Matthew O’Malley and Ben Rosset and published by Road To Infamy Games!

A photo of the Let's Go! To Japan box with the Strategy Games seal in the bottom-right corner of the image.

Strategy Games is our third category, and we're pleased to name Let's Go! To Japan this year's winner! Designed by Josh Wood and published by @alderaceg.bsky.social.

A photo of the The Gang box with the Casual Games seal in the bottom-right corner of the image.

Next up is Casual Games! The Gang is this year's winner, designed by John Cooper and Kory Heath and published by @thamesandkosmos.bsky.social!

A photo of the Captain Flip box with the Early Gamers seal in the bottom-right corner of the image.

Hey friends; today's the day! We're making our first-ever BlueSky post about this year's American Tabletop Awards.

First up, Early Gamers! We've got Captain Flip, this year, designed by Remo Conzadori and Paolo Mori and published by @playpunk.bsky.social!