I wrote my first list of the best deck building games almost three years ago. A lot of new deck builders have been released since then so I thought I should update my list. As usual I do not list games that I have not played, but if I have heard good things about them they might be listed in the Honorable Mentions section. If I have reviewed a listed game, you can click on the links to read my full review.

Here are my Top Ten Deck Building Games:

10. High Command – This army-building, deck builder comes in three varieties, WarMachine, Hordes and WarMachine: Faith & Fortune. It mixes area control with deck building using pre-built decks.

9. Pathfinder Adventure Card Game – You build a character with your deck in this cooperative game. It is exciting to watch your character evlove and grow but can get repetitive. Two core sets have been released, Rise of the Runelords and Skull & Shackles.

8. Friday – This is solo play only, but is fun and thematic. You play as Friday and must help Robinson Crusoe fight obstacles and survive long enough to defeat the pirates.

7. Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building – A semi-cooperative deck building game with super heroes we all know and love. This would be higher, but Dark City is needed to make it really shine.

6. Valley of the Kings – Compact, easy to teach and it plays fast. In this unique deck builder you must store cards to score them which takes planning and foresight.

5. Nightfall – If you are looking for direct conflict in a deck builder this is it. Lots of expansions means lots of replay value. It does have a learning curve though.

4. Thunderstone or Thunderstone: Advance – One of the most thematic deck building games. Hire heroes, buy them weapons and equipment then go raid the dungeon. Figuring out the darkness and clogged dungeons can make it run long though.

3. Star Realms – Super portable, quick and easy. You buy cards to build your deck and attack your opponent. Playing cards from the same faction can grant you bonus effects. Its straightforward game play lacks some depth but it is always fun.

2. Mage Knight: the board game – This deck builder has a ton of depth and theme. This adds complexity and time. But it is always fun and always different. It gets even better with the Lost Legion Expansion, but it isn’t necessary.

1. Dominion – The first and still the best. It is definitely showing its age, but I still think it belongs at the top of this list. Some complain it lacks theme and is dry. But its design is still smooth, tight, easy to teach and still fun to play.

Honorable Mentions: Ascension, City of Remnants, DC Deck Building Game, Eminent Domain, Mythotopia, Pixel Lincoln, Puzzle Strike, Trains

Disagree or have some to add let me know in the comments.