Seven Games That Make You Think (and Smile) Earn 2026 Mensa Select® Honors
The Californer/10344710

HERNDON, Va. - Californer -- After nearly four days of nonstop gameplay at Mensa's 2026 Mind Games® competition,  American Mensa has awarded its coveted Mensa Select® seal to seven standout tabletop games — titles that challenge the mind, reward creativity, and deliver unforgettable play experiences

Chosen by approximately 400 Mensa members during an intensive four-day board game marathon in Herndon, Va., the winning games rose to the top based on their scores in concept, level of challenge, and design. The Mensa Select distinction is widely recognized as a mark of excellence in tabletop gaming, signaling games that are both intellectually engaging and broadly enjoyable.

The 2026 Mensa Select winners are:

• A Place for All My Books (Smirk & Dagger Games), a delightfully clever puzzle of order, organization, and literary charm. (Creators: Alex Cutler and Michael Mihealsick)
• Critter Kitchen (Cardboard Alchemy), a whimsical strategy meets culinary competition in a lively, critter-filled kitchen. (Creators: Alex Cutler and Peter C. Hayward)
• Fromage (R2i Games), a richly layered game of timing and tactics, where every move matures with flavor. (Creators: Matthew O'Malley and Ben Rosset)
• Galileo Galilei (Capstone Games), a thoughtful, strategic journey through discovery, innovation, and scientific legacy. (Creator: Tomáš Holek)
• Got Five (Blue Orange Games), fast-paced pattern recognition and quick thinking collide in an addictive challenge. (Creator: Yoann Levet)
• Things in Rings (Allplay), a smart, social deduction game that rewards logic, creativity, and connection. (Peter C. Hayward)
• Twinkle Twinkle (Allplay), a deceptively simple experience that shines with elegance, timing, and tactical depth. (Creator: Ammon Anderson)

The annual Mind Games competition, sponsored by the Mensa Foundation, offers game manufacturers the opportunity to have their titles evaluated by one of the most discerning audiences in the country: avid tabletop gamers who are also members of American Mensa.

More on The Californer

• Attn: Media Companies: Check out a Fantastic Advertising Promotion for National Small Business Week
• New Research Reveals Gen Z Trusts Independent Sources Over Influencers — Exposing What We are Talker Calls "The Independent Validation Gap"
• New research identifies The Discovery Gap: Seven in 10 Americans say travel is no longer just about getting away
• Long Beach's Davies Boat Launch Ramp to Close April 27 for Upgrades
• Coastal Business Systems Welcomes Kyle Blake to South Territory Sales Team

The recognition comes as tabletop gaming continues to grow worldwide, with annual sales exceeding $15 billion and strong long-term growth projected. North America leads the market — evidence that games which challenge the mind are finding a wider audience.

About American Mensa: American Mensa is an organization open to anyone who scores in the top 2 percent on an accepted standardized intelligence test. Mensa has 45,000 members in the United States and more than 140,000 members globally. For more information about American Mensa, visit americanmensa.org.