Hot Games Checked Out from the SoBo Library 2025!

Another Southern Board Game Fest is in the books, and I was very curious to see what was popular at the festival. I have my thoughts, based on wandering around the open gaming area, but the director sent me a list of the most checked out games from the library. 

Caveat: we also had a play to win section (over 65 games that we gave away for free in a lottery based on people checking them out) and these are not included. Neither were our games from the “Hot Games” section — Logan had a table set up with about 25 games from Essen and GEN CON and Kickstarter releases. Those were not tracked either. 

Enough blather, let’s talk about the hot games! Here are the top ten games checked out from the Southern Board Game Fest (“SOBO”) library in 2025:

1. Harmonies

I still have not played this beautiful abstract game. I’ve heard it’s like Azul? But I would have guessed this one anyway — it was being played constantly, and made number one even though we also had a copy in the Hot Games area that was not counted.

2. Kelp: Shark v Octopus

To me, it’s the gorgeous Weberson Santiago art that brings people in, and the awesome gameplay that keeps people playing.

3. Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game

This one is a couple of years old, but a new expansion just released and I think that made it very popular.

4. Donut Shop 

I am honestly NOT surprised by this one. Donut Shop is a lovely little abstract game from 25th Century Games (who sent us this copy). It’s puzzly but doesn’t overstay its welcome, and a perfect game for conventions. 

5. Paint the Roses 

This is another game with beautiful art, a quick playing two player game that looks good on the table. It was very popular, even though it came out in 2022. I’m wondering how many people had actually played it when it first came out? 

6. Magic Maze

MM surprised me on this list, but then someone told me that there is a new version that just came out. I’ll bet people who had never played (this one came out around 2017 or so) wanted to try it before they buy the new one. 

7. Arcs 

The ARCS train keeps chugging along. We had a very quick sell out on our guided playthrough, and I think the playthrough plus the ubiquitiousness of ARCS in board game media got people juiced to play. 

8. Wingspan
9. Flamecraft

No surprise here. These two beautiful games just keep getting played at our festival year after year. Add in the fact that the same companies have come out with similar looking games (Finspan, Critter Kitchens) and we have all the answers we need about why these two remain popular. 

10. Hamster Roll

Again, no surprise. Once that first game of Hamster Roll was played at the convention, both the library copy and the play to win stayed on the table all day. People walk by this game being played and just want to stop, watch, and try it for themselves! Our version is from 25th Century Games and it’s a great production. 

Are there any surprises for you on this list? 

I’ll have more to say on our adventures at SoBo 2025 here in beautiful downtown Lafayette, Louisiana, but until next time, laissez les bon temps rouler!