Economic (stock)

The best board & card games with a stock market system...

• 18xx et al
• Acquire
• Stephensons Rocket
• Stimmt So!
• Union Pacific/Airlines

Also nominated:

• Big Boss
• Goldbräu
• Imperial
• RailRoad Dice (1 & 2)
• Shark
• Spekulation

For comparison purposes, the top six games from 2002:

• 18xx
• Acquire
• Santa Fe/Santa Fe Rails
• Stephensons Rocket
• Stimmt So!
• Union Pacific

Kid & Adult Friendly

The best games that play well with mixed age groups...

• Amazing Labyrinth
• Can't Stop
• Carabande/Pitchcar
• Diamant/Incan Gold
• Midnight Party

Just missed the cut:

• Gulo Gulo

Also nominated:

• Bohnanza
• Carcassonne
• Careers
• Cartagena
• Chicken Cha Cha Cha
• Dawn Under
• Enchanted Forest
• Giro Gallopo
• HamsterRolle
• Hare and Tortoise
• Heroscape
• Maus Nach Haus
• Pick Picknic
• Pig Pile
• Russelbande
• Take It Easy
• Tonga Bonga
• Walk the Dogs

For comparison, the top five games from 2002:

• Amazing Labyrinth
• Bohnanza
• Can't Stop
• Carabande
• Loopin' Louie

Nasty

The best board & card games with a definite mean streak (aka nastiness) about them...

• Diplomacy
• I'm the Boss/Kohle, Kies & Knete
• Intrigue
• Lifeboats/Rette Sich Wer Kann
• Sticheln

Also nominated:

• 18xx
• Bang
• Citadels
• Die Haendler
• Domaine
• Elasund: The First City of Catan
• Family Business
• Game of Thrones
• Lowenherz
• Nicht die Bohne
• Nuclear War
• Really Nasty Horseracing Game

For comparison purposes, the top seven games from 2002:

• Cosmic Encounter
• Diplomacy
• Intrige
• Kohle, Kies & Knete
• Manhattan
• Nicht die Bohne
• Rette Sich wer Kann

Partnership

The best board & card games that are played in partnerships...

• Crokinole
• Mü und Mehr
• Password
• Tichu
• Twilight/Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde

Also nominated:

• Control Nut!
• Dia de los Muertos/Four Dragons
• Frank's Zoo
• Inkognito
• Montage
• Mystery Rummy 4: Al Capone
• Tin Soldiers
• Victory & Honor

There is no comparison list, as this category did not appear in 2002.

Young Children (6 & under)

The best games aimed at children age 6 and under...

• Chicken Cha Cha Cha
• Gulo Gulo
• Midnight Party
• Russelbande
• Viva Topo

Just missed the cut:

• Maus nach Haus

Also nominated:

• Giro Galoppo
• Hick Hack in Gackelwack/Pick Picknic
• Kids of Catan
• Monte Rolla
• Monza
• Schloss Schlotterstein
• Summ Herum/Buzzing Around
• Walk the Dogs

There are no comparison games, as this category did not appear in 2002.

Brain-Burning

The best games which can cause serious brain stress...

• Age of Steam
• Black Vienna
• Euphrat & Tigris
• Fresh Fish
• Ricochet Robot(s)

Just missed the cut:

• Code 777

Also nominated:

• Bongo
• Die Macher
• El Caballero
• Java
• RoboRally
• Tikal
• Timbuktu

For comparison, the top six games from 2002:

• Black Vienna
• Code 777
• Die Macher
• El Caballero
• Euphrat & Tigris
• Ricochet Robot

Gateway

The best board & card games to introduce non-gamers to the hobby...

• Blokus
• Can't Stop
• Carcassonne
• Settlers of Catan
• Ticket To Ride

Also nominated:

• Around the World in 80 Days
• Bohnanza
• Ingenious
• Lost Cities
• Take It Easy
• TransAmerica

For comparison purposes, the top five games from 2002:

• Bohnanza
• Can't Stop
• Carcassonne
• Lost Cities
• Settlers of Catan