Strategy board game

Few games have as clear explanatory titles as Small World. In this colourful universe of zany fantasy characters, the world is small. Too small. But its real appeal comes from its combinational variety. Amazons provide four additional tokens to conquer more territory, while Dwarves receive extra victory points when placed in provinces containing a mine, for example.

For all ages: Read our guide to the best family board games. Choose wisely which provinces to cling onto and which to let go. A rash choice may have you losing everything. A light strategy game with core mechanics based on Risk, its operation will be familiar to board game newbies, and a regular rhythm of limited, but powerful, decision making will provide an easy introduction to the world of strategy board games.

Plus, gorgeous artwork and a colourful game board are sure to keep the interest of even the most ardent naysayers. As any magnate or industrialist will tell you, the true world-defining battles are not fought on the bloody frontlines of war, but in the movements of the economy, forged on the factory floor at the beating heart of manufacturing. As a two-to-four-player economic strategy game, Brass: Birmingham understands this, challenging you to build, develop, and expand an industrial manufacturing network, playing the market to squeeze every last penny of potential profit.

Build another production facility to increase supply, construct new canals or railways to connect with new buyers, take out a loan to fund further development, and, of course, sell your stock to fund further expansion. But Brass: Birmingham also brings a heavy element of player interaction, especially for a Euro-game.

Steal the iron or beer that your opponent was eyeing up, and muscle into their city markets. But watch out. Games can be slow, but this length comes from agonizing decisions, rather than convoluted rules and adjustments.

No single strategy trumps the rest, making for brilliant replay value. Fief is a game of ambition. Not content with your life Gallic nobility, you want more for yourself and your family. Much of your time spent playing Fief will be vying for area control. Assert your authority over groups of villagers and kick out the incumbent to gain their loyalty, while earning a fancy new title for one of your family members.

Send others to the Church, establishing themselves in its hierarchy, and creaming off some of that godly gold for your own Feudal desires. Digital delights: These are best Tabletop Simulator games. But all is not as simple as it seems. Bountiful player interaction will have you scheming to upend the advances of other players, through murder, marriage, annulment, conquest, or the just hand of democracy.

Random event cards will upset the balance even further. Your family will rise and fall through the social ladder, separately clinging onto a semblance of power to reemergence and take a place as the righteous ruler of France.

Fief is a surprisingly complex game for such an understated appearance. But this is its strength. It offers three to six players a deep world of personal machinations within which to lose themselves in as much bitterness and rivalry as any of the larger grand strategy titles, but does so in a fraction of the playtime.

A game of interstellar colonisation, and the spiritual successor to the much-acclaimed terraforming Euro-game Terra Mystica, Gaia Project is large, tight, and hugely dense. Ambitions hinge on your ability to finely balance resource collection and spending. A mix of collecting resources, researching additional technology, constructing buildings, and travelling across the stars to discover new areas ripe for colonisation, the challenge comes from speed and optimisation. Your ambitions hinge on your ability to finely balance resource collection and spending, and sagely deciding how much of your efforts should be spent advancing your existing establishments than broaching new areas of exploration.

Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. By KJ Callihan. KJ Callihan. Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process. Our Top Picks. Days of Wonder Ticket to Ride at Amazon. This game is fast-paced and easy-to-learn.

Players will love traveling across the country and claiming the railways as they go. In this adventurous game, players work together to transform Mars into a habitable home. It's educational, fun and collaborative. Catan Studio Catan at Amazon. Praised for its addicting gameplay, this game can be played over and over again without feeling repetitive. Z-Man Games Pandemic at Amazon. This challenging game can be played with two to four players, all of whom will win or lose together as a team at the end.

Cephalofair Games Gloomhaven at Amazon. This Euro-inspired tactical combat game is perfect for sci-fi lovers. Players will conquer ruins, dungeons, and monsters. Requiring both luck and skill to win, this spooky game is a great pick for anyone looking for a fun narrative for game night. Disney fans will love playing as their favorite villains Maleficent, Jafar, Ursula, and more in this well-designed game.

Boasting a new twist on the classic game of Risk, this Game of Thrones-themed board game has players battling for the Iron Throne. Hilarious and wildly entertaining, this slightly inappropriate card game is great for parties or an adult game nights. This game combines dodgeball with cards and gets you moving as you try to doge squishy airborne burritos.

In This Article Expand. Our Picks. What to Look for in a Strategy Board Games. Why Trust The Spruce? Days of Wonder Ticket to Ride. View On Amazon.

What We Like Rules are simple enough to learn in 15 minutes or less The box keeps everything neatly organized Compatible with Alexa. What We Don't Like Small cards are hard to shuffle. Indie Boards and Cards Terraforming Mars. What We Like Highly replayable and enjoyable Competitive for the strategic player Artwork and illustrations are high quality. What We Don't Like Complicated instructions. Catan Studio Catan. Catan Review. What We Like Can easily learn in minutes Excellent family game Expansion sets add to the basic game and allow for more players.

What We Don't Like Some found the game too complicated to play. The 11 Best Family Board Games of Z-Man Games Pandemic.

Pandemic Review. What We Don't Like Some did not like the theme of the game and felt it was in poor taste. Cephalofair Games Gloomhaven. What We Like Rule book is thorough and helpful during play Replayable. What We Don't Like Pricey. The 8 Best Board Games for Kids in What We Like Great gift for game enthusiasts who enjoy the theme Expansion packs available Great family or adults-only game.

What We Don't Like May be too frightening for some. What We Don't Like A bit complex for some, especially younger children. What We Like Offers a unique twist on a classic game Great for fans of the show. The 9 Best Board Games of The 8 Best Party Games for Adults in What We Like Easy to learn, set up, and play The more players, the more fun Great gift for a kid or young teen.

What We Don't Like Quality of the components could be better. Monopoly Board Game. What We Like Ideal for a rainy day, or an indoor winter game This edition has 16 Community Chest cards voted on by fans Children can practice math and basic money skills.

What We Don't Like Some folks dislike the new tokens in the classic board game box. Plan B Azul Board Game. What We Don't Like Boards could use some upgrading so that the tiles can be held in place more easily. What We Like Rule book is simple and straightforward A mix of luck and strategy. What We Don't Like Some find it boring.

Starling Games Everdell. Involvement Level: Simple — this pick is quick and easy to understand for all ages. According to one reviewer : "Fun family game. It leaves itself open to various strategies and variants of game play. Fun for everyone from children to advanced board game players. Based on the European Renaissance, Splendor is an exciting game that has you vying for gem mines, trade routes, and storefronts in order to become the richest merchant in history.

Collect gem cards, build up to bigger riches, and attract the attention of nobles using weighted gem tokens, hundreds of cards, and character tiles. No wonder it has a 4. Involvement Level: Moderate — this game is "very accessible and easy to learn," but it has a good amount of game pieces and requires you to "pay attention to everyone else's strategy" in order to win.

According to one reviewer : "Love this game for 12 [years] and older. Great mix of luck and strategy. One game takes about minutes to play. If you love horror, role-playing, strategy, and immersive story-telling, Betrayal At House On The Hill is the game for you. Each player makes their way through the creepy mansion, finding new rooms and discovering unsettling secrets.

With changing stats, 50 possible scenarios, and a traitor among you in every game, this game will have everyone on the edge of their seats. Game Time: Most people say it takes less than an hour, but the more players you have, the longer it'll be — especially with people who are slow to make decisions.

Involvement Level: Intricate — this game has a definite "learning curve" and requires people to play through it at least once before fully understanding how it works. It also has various scenarios, several pages of rules, and lots of elements that change up the game every time you play.

According to one reviewer : "This is a great game for people who like exploration and strategy. The exploration phase of the game is fantastic and really encourages players to work together.

The betrayal phase of the game is also fun, and often ends up with one player pitted against all of the others in a race to the finish. Unstable Unicorns is one of Kickstarter's most backed projects of all time , and even though it contains only cards filled with cute drawings, it still requires some strategy. Draw cards and build an army of unicorns — but if you become too strong too quickly, you'll also become the target. Involvement Level: Simple — it's easy to learn and goes by quickly.

It's also a fun game for kids as young as 10, but be warned; it's not a good choice for sore losers, and a lot of it is chance-based. According to one reviewer : "My family and I love this game. I play it with my wife and my 11 year old daughter. This game is fine to play with a kid her age. The instructions are easy to understand as are the directions on the specific cards.

According to Reddit, Catan "can't be beaten" when it comes to " destroying families and friendships ," but it's that same level of investment that makes it one of the "best board games ever made. Players explore the map, craft resources, and buy development cards in order to settle the island of Catan — but other players are settling too, and they just might beat you to it. Involvement Level: Moderate — Reviewers say it's great for all ages over 10 and is "straightforward to learn," but it also requires a "poker face and a good set of bluffing skills.

According to one reviewer : "My family loves this game The game involves strategy, making trade deals, and there are several ways to win.