I played a lot of games in 2011 and wanted to let you know what games really left an impact. Not all these games were published in 2011, some are older. Last year was just the first time I played them.

Here are the top ten games I was introduced to in 2011:

10. Nightfall – This is a fun, direct-conflict deck builder. Our group tends to make this a bit political and so it ends in a king maker scenario.

9. Jaipur – Fun two-player card game with solid gameplay.

8. Word on the Street – Great for groups, educational for kids and just plain old fun.

7. Dominant Species – Great area control game with a lot of “take that”. A bit complex and long but still great.

6. Sentinels of the Multiverse – This co-op card game has a great super hero theme, can be played solo and is fun for all ages.

5. Claustrophobia – Innovative dice mechanic determines stats and actions. Intense for the human player.

4. Five Fingered Severance – Although the theme is irreverent, it still makes for a unique and fun gaming experience.

3. Summoner Wars Master Set – Great blend of resource management, skirmish tactics and luck. There is great variety and replayability with the included factions.

2. Defenders of the Realm – This co-op game is full of theme, great for solo play and a lot of fun.

1. 7 Wonders – Easy to teach, quick to play and scales well whether playing with 3 or 7. I can understand why this won a bunch of rewards.

What games did you play for the first time in 2011? Add your thoughts in the comments section.