Since 1980, GAMES Magazine has published a game buying guide in the December issue of the magazine. Most of the years, they rated 100 games with mini reviews, so it became known as the GAMES 100. In the early 90s, GAMES Magazine began honoring the best game in each category and then choosing an overall Game of the Year. For those of us that were not into the internet or the game hobby, this may have been our earliest contact with many of these games. It certainly was for me. The GAMES 100 issue has changed through the years (Electronic games and computers games have had their own list since 1995.) but has always been a good mass market guide to non-mass market games. Listed below are the winners but the magazine itself had many other reviews as well. If you can find a copy, it is worth the effort.

Here are the most recent winners, announced in the December 2010 issue of Games Magazine.
Traditional (Nonelectronic) Games

Game of the Year: Jump Gate
(Matt Worden Games; designer: Matt Worden)

Best New Abstract Strategy Game: Arimaa
(Z-Man Games; designer: Omar and Aamir Syed)

Best New Advanced Strategy Game: Egizia
(Rio Grande Games; designer: Acchittoca)

Best New Family Game: Burger Joint
(Rio Grande Games; designer: Joe Huber)

Best New Family Card Game: Jaipur
(Asmodée Editions; designer: Sébastien Pauchon)

Best New Family Strategy Game: Valdora
(Rio Grande Games; designer: Michael Schacht)

Best New Party Game: Telestrations
(USAOPOLY; designer: USAOPOLY)

Best New Puzzle: Anti-Virus
(Fundex; designer: Oskar van Deventer)

Best New Historical Simulation Game: Battles of Napoleon: The Eagle and the Lion
(Fantasy Flight Games; designers: Sergio Guerri and Ugo Di Meglio)

I have played Egizia (a CharCon 2010 premier game), Burger Joint, Jaipur, Valdora, and Telestrations. All are excellent choices for the awards. I enjoyed playing all of them.

Find more information about Games Magazine at there web site. http://www.gamesmagazine-online.com/...ameofyear.html