The Half-Year Awards

Our favorite things of 2026 so far, argued over at length.

Six months in, we sat down and argued about which games actually earned their spot in the rotation this year, not which ones we wanted to like, but which ones kept getting pulled back off the shelf. These four won the argument, though not by much, and not without some shouting.

The games

Fishbowl — “The rules fit on an index card, and round three has ended at least one friendship we know of.” PLAY IT TONIGHT — ♥ maya, 41 plays

The bowl is a formality. The arguments are the game.

Spaceteam — “Everyone shouts nonsense until the ship explodes. Somehow this is cooperative.” FREE, JUST GO — ♠ sam, 17 plays

Codenames — “Reveals exactly how your best friend's brain works. Or doesn't.” WORTH OWNING — ♣ einar, 23 plays

Still the best excuse to discover your partner thinks 'ocean' clues 'horse.'

Just One — “Everyone writes a clue, duplicates get erased. Cooperative and quietly devastating.” WORTH OWNING — ♥ maya, 9 plays