The 100 Best Board Games Checklist

An economic strategy game set during the Industrial Revolution, where players compete to build networks and develop industries.

A cooperative legacy game where players fight a global pandemic over the course of a year, with permanent changes to the game world.

A massive tactical combat game in a persistent world of shifting motives, where players take on the role of wandering mercenaries.

Plan and design a modern, scientifically managed zoo to support conservation projects and attract visitors.

The epic grand strategy game of galactic conquest, diplomacy, and trade.

A deck-building and worker placement game inspired by the legendary sci-fi universe.

Corporations compete to transform the Red Planet into a habitable world by managing resources and playing project cards.

A deep civilization-building card game where players develop their culture, military, and economy.

The ultimate strategy game based on The Lord of the Rings, featuring the Fellowship against the Shadow armies.

A complex cooperative game where players are spirits defending their island from colonizing Invaders.

A spiritual successor to Terra Mystica, focused on space colonization with unique asymmetric factions.

A two-player card-driven game simulating the geopolitical tension of the Cold War.

An epic duel between the Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance, featuring cinematic combat and secret missions.

A dice-drafting classic where players build their estates in 15th-century France.

A massive Viking-themed worker placement and polyomino puzzle game by Uwe Rosenberg.

The acclaimed two-player version of the civilization-building card game 7 Wonders.

The original industrial masterpiece, updated for a new generation with stunning artwork.

A peaceful strategy game of economic development in Roman times, using a simple card-driven system.

A bird-collection engine-building game that took the world by storm with its beautiful art and accessible play.

An alternate-history 1920s game of engine building, resource management, and area control with giant mechs.

Drive cattle from Texas to Kansas City in this intricate deck-building and hand-management game.

A cinematic sci-fi horror experience where players survive on a ship infested with hostile organisms.

Explore an uninhabited island in this blend of deck building and worker placement.

Control a fantasy faction and terraform the landscape to expand your settlements in this zero-luck classic.

A game of woodland might and right featuring four completely asymmetric factions fighting for control.

The most complex Mars colonization game, involving high-level logistics and base construction.

A fast-paced racing game that manages engine heat and hand-management to cross the finish line first.

A bag-building game where players recruit followers to perform actions in medieval France.

Build a fast-food empire in this cutthroat economic simulation with a vintage 1950s aesthetic.

Command your workers in a future where time travel is necessary to prepare for an impending cataclysm.

The polished second edition of the classic space 4X game, balancing combat and civilization management.

The definitive solo and cooperative adventure game combining deck building and tactical combat.

A trick-taking cooperative game that sends players on a series of increasingly difficult underwater missions.

Compete to build dams and generate hydroelectric power in a dystopian industrial mountain valley.

The iconic farming game where players strive to build the most prosperous homestead while feeding their family.

A deck-building adventure that evolves as players make choices through a multi-game campaign.

A charming worker-placement and tableau-building game set in a forest inhabited by animals.

Players take on roles to develop their island and ship goods to the Old World in this strategic classic.

A refined evolution of Agricola, focusing on dwarves expanding their caves and mountain farms.

A large-scale cooperative programming game set in the League of Legends universe.

A push-your-luck bag-building game where players brew potions and hope they don't explode.

Sail through the Caribbean in the 17th century in this complex strategy game from Alexander Pfister.

Create the most successful winery in rustic Tuscany by planting vines and hosting visitors.

Manage resources and build an electrical network across various countries in this economic classic.

The epic campaign expansion for Scythe that adds modular options and a deep narrative.

A unique worker placement game featuring rotating gears that represent the flow of time.

Vikings battle for glory as the world ends in this beautiful area-control and drafting game.

The first expansion and standalone sequel to the game that invented modern deck building.

An open-world narrative exploration game where players survive the Wandering Sea.

A clever social word game where players try to identify their secret agents from one-word clues.

App-driven Lovecraftian horror exploration and mystery solving.

Manage a port and build various structures in this deep economic game from Uwe Rosenberg.

A beautiful tile-laying and token-drafting game focused on creating habitats for Pacific Northwest wildlife.

Build the best underwater colony by cleverly combining cards with action slots.

Lead one of four powerful civilizations to build the most efficient empire in this card game.

The follow-up to the hit legacy game, taking place 71 years after the world almost ended.

Manage workers to build the great Pyramid of the Sun in pre-Columbian Mexico.

A team-based word game where players try to transmit secret codes without their opponents intercepting them.

Tactical combat and campaign play set in the Star Wars universe for 2 to 5 players.

A premium dice-building RPG experience featuring unique 'Gearloc' characters and heavy tactical play.

A refined version of the classic Egyptian war game, focusing on aggressive combat and mythical power-ups.

A brilliant historical game set during the Great Game in 19th-century Afghanistan.

A living card game of cosmic horror, investigation, and character development.

A boutique horror survival game focusing on hunting monsters and developing a settlement over generations.

The quintessential area-influence game set in medieval Spain, recently remastered for modern play.

A chaotic and deep card game where players advance through human history using powerful technology.

A fast-paced tile-matching game where you upgrade your polyominoes to complete puzzles.

Restore a country estate's reputation in Victorian England by hosting prestigious guests.

Advanced space expansion for expert players seeking deep asymmetric gameplay.

Reiner Knizia's classic auction game where players buy and sell paintings in a volatile market.

The cooperative game that defined the genre, where players work together to save the world from disease.

A social deduction game of secret identities and loyalty set in the world of King Arthur.

A high-interaction tile-placement game of kingdom building in ancient Mesopotamia.

Simulate the encroaching ice age as various animal classes fight for survival and dominance.

A competitive two-player quilting game that uses polyomino pieces and a unique time mechanism.

A standalone expansion that adds sandworms and new tactical options to the Dune: Imperium system.

A mid-to-heavy economic game set in 19th-century Scotland, inspired by Terra Mystica.

Rescue cats and arrange them on your boat in this colorful polyomino drafting game.

Draft beautiful resin tiles to decorate the walls of the Royal Palace of Evora.

A dark fantasy survival and exploration game with a branching narrative campaign.

A cooperative deck-building game where players defend a city from invading Nameless monsters.

An action-packed cooperative game where heroes fight the Elder Gods in a pulp-horror setting.

The predecessor to the 4th edition, widely credited for perfecting the epic space opera genre.

Manage a hotel and restaurant in Vienna, balancing guest needs and resource management.

A classic dexterity game from Canada that has become a global favorite for skill and competition.

A game of Celtic lore where players use drafting and area control to become King of the Island.

A fast-paced card game where players build galactic civilizations via secret action selection.

A unique blend of bidding and worker placement played over four rounds representing the seasons.

A highly interactive network-building game set in the Hanseatic League.

Rebuild the city of Troyes in this innovative dice-placement game from French designers.

The modern classic of railway construction that introduced millions to the hobby.

A simple yet addictive engine-building game of gem collection and Renaissance merchants.

Lead a merchant and his assistants through the bazaar of Istanbul in this clever movement puzzle.

Reiner Knizia's masterful auction game set in Ancient Egypt, recently updated with deluxe components.

A cooperative mystery game where you solve crimes in Victorian London using a map and directory.

A unique mancala-style movement game set in the 1001 Nights universe.

Alexander Pfister's heavy economic game involving card management and investment in African companies.

Dice-driven exploration and trade with powerful asymmetric character abilities.

An expansion that adds alternate history starting scenarios to the classic Cold War game.

The quintessential 'gateway' board game where players collect and trade resources to build settlements, roads, and cities on the island of Catan.