10 Best Strategy Board Games in 2022 (Stonemaier Games, Days of Wonder, and More)
Keeping various situations in mind, we’ve picked our favorite strategy board games available online. Our top pick is Stonemaier Games' Scythe. It's a competitive board game combining engine-building and area control. Continue reading our list of favorites for more! And if you still feel lost, check out our buying guide. It contains various tips and tricks to help you quickly determine the right board game for you.
Quick List - Top Strategy Board Games
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Table of Contents
- How to Choose Strategy Board Games
- Consider the Theme and the Strategy of a Game1
- Decide Between Cooperative or Competitive Games2
- Match Complexity Level to The Desired Level of Involvement3
- Look for a Game That's Expandable4
- Keep in Mind the Number of Components5
- Take Into Account the Game Length6
- Find a Game That Suits Your Group Size7
- Some Fun Family Games to Play at Home
How to Choose Strategy Board Games
Consider the Theme and the Strategy of a Game
The theme of a strategy board game is what gets players engrossed in the game. It's basically the background story and helps players understand the relationship between the mechanics, components, and how the players should behave in the game. Some common themes include fantasy, historical settings, and science fiction.
Another important factor to consider is the types of strategies used in the game. Some common strategies include resource management, engine building, as well as risk and reward. Keep in mind that games might incorporate more than one strategy.
In resource management games, you'll have to gather as many items as possible. You might have to trade with other players in order to get what you need. In engine-building games, players usually start from scratch and are tasked with building up their resources.
Many board games incorporate both luck and strategy. They resemble real-life more than those that are purely tactic-based. Monopoly is one game that fits into this category. In order to win the game, you cannot rely on your luck alone but have to purchase strategic properties.
The list of strategies used in board games is endless. If you want to know some other common strategies, click here.
Decide Between Cooperative or Competitive Games
On the other hand, if you don’t like conflict much or want to avoid temper flair-ups, it might be better to look for a game that involves cooperating towards a single goal or working in teams.
Match Complexity Level to The Desired Level of Involvement
In the product's description, you'll find the suggested ages listed. You can refer to them to see if the game is suitable for all the players.
Look for a Game That's Expandable
These games are often legacy games, which change and evolve as you play them so that the rules at the end look totally different than the rules at the beginning. However, many of these games require that the same group play every time, so if your game group changes or if someone can’t make it, you won’t be able to continue.
Do note that many legacy games cannot be replayed once you’ve completely finished them. Also, many games with limited replayability actually offer expansion packs. These add-ons give you new characters, challenges, game areas, or an extended storyline to the existing game.
Keep in Mind the Number of Components
All the pieces used in a board game are referred to as components. Some common components include dices, boards, cards, tiles, miniatures, tokens, and so on. Usually, board games that don't have a lot of components are easy to set up, while those that come with a lot of pieces might take hours.
You should also check the quality of the components as it matters a lot to the experience of playing a game. People will enjoy playing with a sturdy game board with beautiful art rather than a flimsy one that doesn't have any stunning graphics.
But it's hard to know if the components look appealing or are not easily damaged when you're purchasing online. So give the review section a careful look and see what people think!
Take Into Account the Game Length
It's equally important to consider the game length. If you're playing with a group of avid board-gamers, you might want to pick a game with a play time of more than one hour. This is because a long play time is likely to give people that feeling of being immersed in the game world.
On the other hand, if you're playing with young kids, opt for a shorter play time ranging from 10 to 30 minutes. Kids lose interest quickly and have short attention spans. So, you don't want a game that lasts too long since they might get fed up with it. Shorter games also allow for repeated play in case the child actually wants to keep going.
Find a Game That Suits Your Group Size
If you’re planning on using the same game in different scenarios—from date night to dinner parties—be sure to look for one that can accommodate a wider range of people
10 Best Strategy Board Games Ranking
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Stonemaier Games Scythe | | A Complex, Engine-Building Game | |
2 | Gigamic Quarto | | High-Quality Components in a Casual Two-Player Game | |
3 | Catan Studio Catan | | Competitive Area Settling and Resource Management | |
4 | Greater Than Games Spirit Island | | A Cooperative Game With a Compelling Theme | |
5 | Brotherwise Games Unearth | | Test Out Your Luck | |
6 | Cephalofair Games Gloomhaven | | A Legacy Game for Role-Playing Game Enthusiasts | |
7 | Plan B Games Reef | | Low-Stakes and Abstract | |
8 | Indie Boards and Cards Terraforming Mars | | Collaboratively Competitive With a Sci-Fi Theme | |
9 | Thames & Kosmos Imhotep | | A Quick Warm-Up Game | |
10 | Days of Wonder Five Tribes | | Easy-to-Understand for Beginners |
A Complex, Engine-Building Game
What's exciting about this game is that each player will start with different resources and a hidden goal. There is very little luck involved in this game, and nearly all components are based on your decisions.
According to some reviewers, this may not be the best game for more casual players. But the majority of buyers love the complexity of the game. They write that unlike many civilization building games, Scythe requires a more nuanced strategy that keeps the game feeling fresh no matter how many times you play it.
High-Quality Components in a Casual Two-Player Game
Reviewers write that the rules of this game are simple and easy to learn, but the strategy involved still requires you to do some heavy thinking. They love the quality of the wooden board and pieces, saying they are solid and stiff. Although this game is rated for eight and up, younger children should be able to play as well.
Competitive Area Settling and Resource Management
This strategy board game incorporates resource management and tile placement. In this game, players play the role of settlers on the island of Catan, who have to develop their settlements through building towns and roads.
Due to building limitations, players will have to trade resources with each other. The main aim of the game is to gather 10 victory points. while this strategy game is suitable for three to four players, there is an expansion that allows you to go up to six players.
Some buyers are disappointed with the poor quality of the components. Nonetheless, most reviewers love that the game is well-balanced and fun to play. Since it offers a lot of options to get points, players are able to get creative with strategies to give an unexpected twist to the game.
A Cooperative Game With a Compelling Theme
Buyers emphasize that this game is fairly complex and might take time for all players to learn the rules. On another note, various reviewers appreciate the game’s compelling theme and lack of reliance on luck. They also praise the solid quality of the components, mentioning that the cards, boards, and pieces are all well-made.
Test Out Your Luck
A few buyers note that the rules are a bit tough to grasp at first. But after playing a couple of times, they find it easy to play.
Many reviewers also write that this game might seem like it’s purely luck-based, but as you get playing, you’ll start to find ways to maximize your points while minimizing others’. It’s fast-paced and the rules are fairly easy to learn. Reviewers also love the beautiful graphics.
A Legacy Game for Role-Playing Game Enthusiasts
For some buyers, the rules are complicated and take time to understand. Setting the game up is time-consuming as well.
Meanwhile, most reviewers write that this is essentially a role-playing game in board game form. It’s engaging, and even though a play-through is incredibly long (over 200 hours), it never feels repetitive or tiring. Many buyers also love how well-made the components of this game.
Low-Stakes and Abstract
In this abstract strategy game, players compete to build 3D reef structures and gain the most points. Players work mostly independently and only compare points at the end of a round.
Reviewers write that it’s a beautiful game and that the gameplay is simple enough for anyone to play along. Though it isn’t as high-stakes as other games and the rules are quite easy to understand, it does require you have strategy and planning skills to win.
Collaboratively Competitive With a Sci-Fi Theme
It involves unique gameplay; each move involves various choices, and there are several paths to victory. Some buyers note that the physical build of the components is lacking, which could affect the longevity of the game. They further add that this game requires a little bit of time to get off the ground.
Nonetheless, reviewers write that this game is engaging and perfectly set up for replayability. They further mention that the in-game mechanics are well-balanced and smartly designed. In fact, the graphics on the cards make everything easy to understand, especially for kids.
A Quick Warm-Up Game
Reviewers write that it’s a quick play (about 30 minutes) and that it’s extremely quick to set up, too. Since the game is fairly simple to understand, it's a great choice for older kids and board game beginners. While the game is fun with three to four players, buyers mention that it works for two players as well.
Easy-to-Understand for Beginners
A few buyers find the components to be flimsy. Nonetheless, the majority of reviewers praise that this game is well-designed and well-balanced. They further add that it can be as simple or complex as you want it to be and there are plenty of ways to earn points. The easy-to-understand rules are another great point for many.
Some Fun Family Games to Play at Home
If you're still looking for some board games to play with your family, we have a lot of suggestions for you. Check out our articles to know more!
Top 5 Strategy Board Games
No. 1: Stonemaier Games｜Scythe
No. 2: Gigamic｜Quarto
No. 3: Catan Studio｜Catan
No. 4: Greater Than Games｜Spirit Island
No. 5: Brotherwise Games｜Unearth
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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