The best strategy board games

The game quickly develops a fast rhythm, as your actions combo, letting you sit back in glee as your simple card plays spiral into mega point parades. Undoubtedly, its charm comes from its aesthetic. 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.

The value of goods decreases as the game progresses, prompting you to unload your hand as quickly as possible. The push-pull duality of buying or selling, waiting or acting, creates a perpetual rhythm to the game. A paucity of turn operations makes it decidedly straightforward, but its contradictory incentivisation of greed and miserliness makes for fraught decision making. Best dexterity board game — Not all board games are about mental calculations, gaming probabilities, or demanding cognition.

Many ditch the mind in favour of the hands, requiring you to touch the game pieces, and physically manipulate them to win. And the very best of these games is Men at Work. For everyone: These are the best family board games. Add in some tiny bricks and beams to be balanced on their shoulders, and it soon becomes clear why your tower appears more like a rushed development than a premium property. Each player controls a pair of jolly labourers.

Move them around the small gridded board, and build glimmering white towers, one block at a time. But this is no architectural picnic. The first player to build a three-story tower, and stand atop their creation will be crowned the winner. Place a dome over any completed tower to prevent your opponent from reaching its summit, forcing them to start all over again.

Each player takes a card, and is granted a special ability, such as a new way of moving their workers, or a construction advantage. With nearly 30 cards to choose from, the game will be different every time you play. A tactical deck-builder, Mage Knight has you combine an array of spells, attacks, and manoeuvres into an action deck, before throwing you down a dark dungeon.

Play cards to defeat enemies, and combine their effects in glorious volleys. Optimisation is the name of the game, as you prioritise speed and precision in each encounter. Although it can be brutal and unforgiving, nothing about Mage Knight ever feels cheap. Its rules are meticulously crafted, and the synergies between its action cards refined. Be prepared to keep that rulebook handy, though. With a plethora of abilities and modifiers, its systems can be a little thorny.

Even better, Mage Knight can be played with up to four players. But we think the game is at its best when played solo: giving you all the time you need to scrutinise the many actions at your disposal. Best card game — Take a seat at a vibrant sushi restaurant, and choose the most delectable items on the menu. But be quick. The other patrons are fast to order, and might snap up the tastiest treats before you can fill your plate.

Sushi Go! On each turn, every player picks a piece of sushi from their hand to keep for themselves, before simultaneously revealing their choice, and passing their leftovers to their neighbouring player, ready for next pickings. While the original was fantastic, Sushi Go Party! More cards, with more actions, and even more menu combinations keep things fresh every time you play.

Plus, its artwork is gorgeously cute. Who knew that a smiling dumpling could look so good? Keep adding tiles to create a five by five grid, while trying to grab as many point-scoring crown tiles along the way, and creating the neatest realm of them all.

On each turn, the player with the fewest points in their kingdom goes first, incentivising you to rein in your expansion, so as to get first pick next time. I see fire: These are the best Dungeons and Dragons board games. Pick the tiles that will expand your kingdom, while denying your friends the vital piece they need to complete their grid. But it also leaves room for older kids, encouraging forethought and planning, as well as a friendly competitive element.

A must for all kids keen on board games, as well as parents who want a game that will keep their children entertained again, and again. Best tile game — A true board game classic, Carcassonne remains a staple of any collection.

For over 20 years, board gaming enthusiasts have been playing this charming tile game , and building their own medieval french kingdoms across the tabletop. Think that castle is shaping up to be a big one? Fancy nabbing that long road your opponent has just built? Whack down a couple of meeples to muscle them out. Being able to see the game come to life as you play, and chart the course of the gorgeous medieval world in front of you keeps even the most impatient of players engaged.

Plus, it scales well at higher player counts, and is just as fun for two players as it is for five. Find the best:. Strategy board games are great for family game nights or parties, depending upon the number of players you can allow. Certain versions of Monopoly and other games allow for additional players, but you have to make your own moving pieces or break up into teams.

Other games, like Terraforming Mars, allow for solo play, which allows for more freedom and control over your strategy. The premise of individual board games varies, but each requires the players to use decision-making skills to make plays, which will likely determine the outcome of the game.

That means thinking ahead a play, perhaps two, as well as considering how your opponent could play. You can't rely on chance with strategy games. Strategy board games are great for kids, as long as the game is age appropriate.

Think of them as a fun way to develop kids' critical thinking skills. Strategy games can also improve a child's concentration, memory, and attention span, as well as how to lose and win! Throw, Throw, Burrito by Exploding Kittens incorporates fast-paced and physical elements in a light-hearted and humorous manner. Kids as young as 7 years old can play the game.

This article was written and researched by KJ Callihan , a Spruce writer who loves creating gift and shopping guides. She has been writing guides since , so has learned a thing or two about great products.

We also consulted Dustin Stevens, of Summit Comics and Games for his wisdom and guidance in selecting great strategy board games.

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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.