Best Board Games of 2024
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Best Strategy Board Games
Quick Reference
Here are our recommended 8 strategy board games.
Board games have surged in popularity, captivating enthusiasts with their strategic depth and immersive themes. In this article, we delve into different titles that exemplify the best of modern board gaming. Each game offers a unique blend of mechanics, storytelling, and player interaction, ensuring an engaging experience for newcomers and seasoned gamers. Whether you’re commanding vast armies, exploring the far reaches of space, or vying for control of a fantastical forest, these games promise endless hours of strategic fun and adventure. Let’s explore what makes these titles a must-have for any board game collection.
Disclaimer
What you read is information that comes from either the writer’s experience or their research. We do not call ourselves experts and if you wish to learn more on this topic we highly recommend it.
Player count: 3-4 players
Duration: 60 – 90 minutes (or more)
Rules: website
Ages: 18 and up
- Why We Like It: The Settlers of Catan is a board game that has established itself as a timeless classic in modern board gaming. This game captivates players with its perfect blend of strategy, resource management, and negotiations. We especially like this game because it forces players to interact making his game find a place in the family household. Catan is a good family-friendly game for children and adults alike. Players compete to build settlements, roads, and cities by trading and managing resources like wood, brick, sheep, wheat, and ore. The game’s appeal lies in its balance of luck and skill, making it accessible for newcomers while offering depth for seasoned gamers. The game keeps everyone involved and keeps players looking at the board and their cards for the ever-changing game. The Thief lets the players attack each other without affecting the board. This can either create rivalries or a move against your opponent’s infrastructure. Catan is one of the most famous board games with them developing different expansions.
Each player starts by placing two settlements and connecting roads on the board, which is composed of hexagonal tiles representing different types of terrain. Players roll dice at the beginning of each turn to determine which terrains produce resources such as wood, brick, sheep, wheat, and ore. These resources are then used to build and upgrade settlements, construct roads, and purchase development cards. Trading resources with other players is a crucial aspect of the game, allowing players to obtain what they need to grow their settlements. The first player to reach 10 victory points, achieved through building settlements and cities, holding the longest road or largest army, and drawing certain development cards, wins the game. The modular board setup ensures a unique and engaging experience every time you play.
Player count: 2-4 players
Duration: 180 – 240 minutes (or more)
Rules: website
Ages: 14 and up
- Why We Like It: Clash of Cultures is an old and not well-known game, we put it on this list because of the strategy and civilization-building that offers an immersive and richly rewarding experience for board game enthusiasts. This game was indeed inspired by Catan by the board design and economy rules. The game stands out for its depth and complexity, featuring a modular board, diverse technology tree, and numerous paths to victory. Players engage in exploration, city-building, research, and combat, each decision shaping the growth and prosperity of their culture. This game has army units, but limitations and rules make it hard to use them against other players. When invading your neighbor to stop their progress you must plan and save your resources for the long battles ahead. Just like in Catan, there are no political game functions, which can create tension between players. The one thing we agree on is that Clash of Cultures is a fun game with large player boards that allow players to customize their factions.
In Clash of Cultures, players lead their civilization from a single settlement to a sprawling empire. The game begins with each player establishing a starting city on the modular board. Throughout the game, players explore new territories, gather resources, and expand their cities by building various structures. The technology tree offers a wide range of advancements, allowing players to customize their civilization’s development, from economic growth to military prowess. Players can engage in diplomacy, trade, and combat, all while managing resources and population growth. Victory points are earned through building cities, completing objectives, and achieving cultural milestones. The player with the most victory points at the end of the game is declared the winner.
Player count: 2-4 players
Duration: 60 – 200 minutes (or more)
Rules: website
Ages: 14 and up
- Why We Like It: Eclipse is a galaxy-conquering game where players will take the helm of their empire. We enjoyed playing this game as we were given choices between different factions with unique rules and play styles. On top of that, I enjoyed the capability to customize our ships creating intense fleet battles. The modular board and asymmetric factions ensure a unique experience every time you play. Eclipse shines with its deep and engaging mechanics, allowing players to explore star systems, research advanced technologies, build mighty fleets, and engage in thrilling combat. The economy of the game works hand and hand with your actions, this creates a fast turn order, the turns might be short but the rounds only last as long as the players can afford it. If you have a experience group of players the game can take a short amount of time, but the less experienced the players are the longer the game will take. The game’s intricate balance of economic management and tactical prowess provides a satisfying challenge for both casual players and hardcore strategy enthusiasts. This game has been linked closely to Twilight Imperium, with the galaxy expanding empires. But Eclipse, although shares similarities with T.I. has its own rules and gameplay that make it stand out.
In Eclipse, players take on the roles of galactic leaders aiming to expand their civilizations across the stars. Each game begins with a modular board representing a galaxy filled with star systems, ancient ruins, and hostile aliens. Players start with a home system and a small fleet, and they explore the galaxy by uncovering new hex tiles. Throughout the game, players manage resources such as money, science, and materials to build ships, research advanced technologies, and colonize new planets. Strategic decisions are crucial as players can engage in diplomacy, trade with others, or engage in epic space battles. The combat system involves customizing your ships with various technologies and rolling dice to resolve conflicts. Victory points are earned through exploring, building, researching, and winning battles. At the end of nine rounds, the player with the most victory points is declared the winner. Eclipse’s rich combination of exploration, resource management, and tactical combat offers a deeply engaging and dynamic gameplay experience.
Player count: 2-4 players
Duration: 60 – 90 minutes (or more)
Rules: website
Ages: 10 and up
- Why We Like It: Root is a new game that was kickstarted a few years back, and since then it has exploded in the board game community. This game has you take control and lead a faction that wants a piece of the forest. This game was so much fun to play, each faction we played had its very own turn order, which goes unsaid that a few of us had a hard learning curve. But after a few games each of us was able to pull off some insane moves to stump our opponents. One reason it attracted us was the art, it has a fun cartoon-like setting giving the game a light-hearted feel. After some years this game has grown from four unique factions to ten and counting. There are so many play styles to choose from, you could be a faction full of cats who want to control the board by sheer numbers, or a group of crusading badgers. Highly recommend this game to families, it might take some explaining and learning for kids, but the game has a quick reference handbook for those unsure about the rules.
In Root, players take on the roles of different factions vying for control of a vast woodland. Each faction has unique abilities, goals, and playstyles, creating a deeply asymmetrical game experience. The game begins with each faction setting up their pieces and preparing their strategies. For example, the Marquise de Cat focuses on industrial expansion and military control, while the Woodland Alliance relies on guerrilla tactics and spreading sympathy among the woodland creatures. Players take turns performing actions such as moving troops, battling enemies, building structures, and recruiting new units. The game also includes a deck of cards that provide additional actions and advantages. Victory points are earned by completing faction-specific objectives, building structures, and controlling key areas of the board. The first player to reach a certain number of victory points, typically 30, wins the game. Root’s blend of strategic depth, varied faction mechanics, and beautiful artwork make it a unique and engaging experience for all types of board gamers.
Player count: 2-4 players
Duration: 150 – 180 minutes (or more)
Rules: website
Ages: 13 and up
- Why We Like It: War of the Ring was an unforgettable experience. This epic strategy game, set in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, pits the forces of the Free Peoples against the relentless armies of Sauron. Playing as the Free Peoples, I felt the weight of defending Middle-earth while my friends, controlling the Shadow Armies, relentlessly pursued domination. The game masterfully combines strategic planning, tactical combat, and rich storytelling, capturing the essence of the epic tale. Each turn, we made critical decisions, managed resources, and engaged in dramatic battles, all while the Fellowship of the Ring embarked on its perilous journey to Mount Doom. The detailed miniatures and beautifully illustrated game board enhanced our immersion, making every moment feel significant. War of the Ring’s deep mechanics and narrative depth provided us with hours of intense and engaging gameplay. For fans of Tolkien’s work or a lover of strategy games, War of the Ring is a must-play that delivers a truly epic experience.
Players use action dice to perform various actions each turn, such as moving armies, attacking opponents, recruiting new units, and advancing the Fellowship. The game also includes event cards that can alter the course of the game by introducing story-driven events and powerful effects. Battles are resolved using dice and character abilities, and strategic movement and positioning are crucial. Victory can be achieved in multiple ways: the Free Peoples can win by destroying the One Ring or achieving military dominance, while the Shadow Player can win by corrupting the Ring-bearer or conquering key Free Peoples cities. This game gives an epic and immersive experience for fans of Tolkien’s world.
Player count: 2-4 players
Duration: 150 – 180 minutes (or more)
Rules: website
Ages: 13 and up
- Why We Like It: Scythe is set in an alternate-history 1920s Europe, each of us took control of a unique faction vying for dominance in a war-torn landscape. I played as the industrious Polania Republic, while my friends controlled the Saxony Empire, Crimean Khanate, and other factions. The game’s blend of strategic planning, resource management, and tactical combat kept us engaged from start to finish. We spent the game exploring territories, recruiting new units, building structures, and deploying massive mechs to assert our control. The artwork and components are stunning, adding to the atmosphere and enjoyment. Scythe’s gameplay is deep and complex, yet the rules are intuitive enough that we quickly got the hang of it. Each decision felt impactful, and the game perfectly balanced competition and strategy. Whether you’re a seasoned board gamer or new to the genre, Scythe is a must-play that promises hours of engaging and strategic fun.
Throughout the game, players explore new territories, gather resources, build structures, deploy powerful mechs, and engage in combat to expand their influence. Encounters and objectives add narrative depth and strategic variety, while the modular board setup ensures a unique experience each time. Victory points are earned through various means such as building structures, winning battles, completing objectives, and accumulating wealth. The game continues until one player places their sixth star on the Triumph Track, which triggers the endgame. The player with the most victory points at the end of the game is declared the winner.
Player count: 3-4 players
Duration: 180 – 240 minutes (or more)
Rules: website
Ages: 14 and up
- Why We Like It: In this epic strategy game, we were thrust into the heart of the Galactic Civil War, with one of us commanding the vast forces of the Galactic Empire and the others leading the scrappy Rebel Alliance. I played as the Empire, deploying massive fleets and hunting down the Rebel base, while my friends as the Rebels executed daring missions and rallied support across the galaxy. The game perfectly captures the tension and excitement of the Star Wars saga, with each turn filled with strategic decisions, covert operations, and dramatic battles. The miniatures and board are beautifully detailed, adding to the immersive experience. Star Wars Rebellion combines deep strategy with narrative-driven gameplay, making every session feel like a new chapter in the epic conflict. Whether you’re a Star Wars fan or a lover of grand strategy games, Star Wars Rebellion offers an unforgettable gaming experience you won’t want to miss.
Each game round comprises assignment, command, and refresh phases. During the assignment phase, players secretly allocate leaders to missions or to lead their fleets. In the command phase, these missions are revealed and resolved, leading to battles, sabotage, recruitment, and more. The Empire uses its vast resources to build ships, troops, and the dreaded Death Star, while the Rebels rely on guerrilla tactics and diplomacy to sway planets to their cause. Victory conditions differ for each side: the Rebels win by gaining enough reputation to incite a galaxy-wide rebellion, while the Empire wins by locating and destroying the Rebel base.
Player count: 3-6 players
Duration: 280 – 480 minutes (or more)
Rules: website
Ages: 14 and up
- Why We Like It: Twilight Imperium by Fantasy Flight Games, was a grand experience of galactic conquest and diplomacy. Each of us took control of a powerful faction, vying for dominance in the vast expanse of space. I played as the cunning Emirates of Hacan, focusing on trade and alliances, while my friends led their factions through warfare, politics, and exploration. The game’s sheer scope and depth are astounding, with a richly detailed modular board and a myriad of strategic options. Every turn was filled with critical decisions, from negotiating with other players to managing resources and planning military maneuvers. The beautifully crafted miniatures and components added to the immersive experience, making it feel like we were truly shaping the fate of the galaxy. Twilight Imperium’s blend of strategy, negotiation, and epic storytelling provided us with hours of intense and rewarding gameplay. Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or new to grand strategy games, Twilight Imperium offers an epic space opera that you won’t want to miss.
Gameplay is divided into rounds, each consisting of several phases. In the Strategy Phase, players select strategy cards that determine the order of play and provide special abilities for that round. The Action Phase is where the core of the game happens: players take turns performing various actions such as moving ships, engaging in combat, exploring new systems, building units and structures, and using special abilities. The Politics Phase involves voting on galactic laws that can drastically change the game, while the Status Phase allows players to score objectives and refresh their resources. Victory points are earned by completing public and secret objectives, and the game continues until one player reaches the pre-determined number of victory points, typically 10. Twilight Imperium combines deep strategic planning, diplomacy, trade, and epic space battles, making each game a sprawling epic that can take several hours to complete.
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