Strategy Board Games
While Strategy board gaming is a lot more popular among the more serious board gamer there’s also light Strategy type games that suit others that are not so serious about gaming or they’re just getting started in the hobby.
Let’s take a look at games which are suitable for various people and their playing likes.
Best Lightweight Strategy – Short Playing Time
While there are some board games suited for those that are true complexity seekers, others prefer something more lightweight with some elements of thinking and strategizing (families with teens are a good example).
Batavia
Batavia is a card drafting type of board game where players buy Asian spices to send to Europe in the hope of becoming wealthy merchants.
This auction type game plays for as little as 45 – 60 minutes and is fairly lightweight in complexity which makes it a good choice for families.
Batavia at a Glance
| Game Type Economic, Nautical, Auction/Bidding, Stock Holding | Play Time 45 mins | Skill/Complexity (2 - 5) Light |
| Age 10+ | Publisher(s) Queen Games | Published 2008 |
| Categories Family / Strategy | Players 3 - 5 | Rules Manual Official Rules PDF |
| Our Rating 7/10 | Cost $49.99 |
Best Economic Strategy Board Game
Finding an economic strategy based board game that can please the full time gamer geeks and those that put slightly less time into gaming that also want a game with some meat in it……is quite tricky, however, it was not impossible.
Power Grid
Power Grid hit the top of the board game charts in 2004 and it’s still a solid economic game with a good amount of complexity with its mechanics (auction/bidding/network building/resource management).
There’s plenty of replay value in Power Grid and playing time is around 1.5 hours or so.
Power Grid at a Glance
| Game Type Economic, Auction/Bidding, Catch the Leader, Network and Route Building | Play Time 120 mins | Skill/Complexity (3.5 - 5) Medium |
| Age 12+ | Publisher(s) Rio Grande Games | Published 2004 |
| Categories Strategy | Players 3 - 6 (4 - 5 is Ideal) | Rules Manual Official Rules PDF |
| Our Rating 9/10 | Cost $44.99 |
Best Introduction to Strategy Games
Catan
Catan is a great introduction into board gaming with more complexity and mechanisms when players have been more accustomed to easy and fun family or time filler type games.
This game does have a good balance of luck from rolling the dice and various elements of strategy.
Catan at a Glance
| Game Type Medieval Theme, Dice Rolling, Negotiating, Card Game Hexagon Grid, Building Settlements | Play Time 60 - 120 mins | Skill/Complexity (2.8 - 5) Light - Medium |
| Age 10+ | Publisher(s) Kosmos, Catan Studio and others | Published 1995 |
| Categories Family / Strategy | Players 3 - 4 | Rules Manual Official Rules |
| Our Rating 9.5/10 | Cost $48.99 |
A fan of Catan? You might like this collection of board games like Catan
Best War Board Game – High Complexity
Axis & Allies
Axis and Allies has been a favorite for history buffs of World War II that play hard with war themed strategy board games.
First published in 1981 and still going strong with many versions including a classic, Pacific, D-Day, Battle of the Bulge, Guadalcanal and WW1. There have also been a number of expansions released.
This is a highly complex game which plays out for 3 hours or more. Area movement, dice rolling and partnerships are part of the games mechanisms.
Axis & Allies at a Glance
| Game Type Wargame, Economic, Area Movement, Territory, Dice Rolling, Team Based | Play Time 3+ Hours | Skill/Complexity (3.2 - 5) Medium |
| Age 12+ | Publisher(s) Avalon Hill | Published 1981 |
| Categories Strategy | Players 2 - 5 | Cost $44.99 + |
| Our Rating 9/10 |
Best Territory Building & Area Control
Scythe
Scythe fits like a glove in terms of territory building, area control and other fantastic mechanisms that brought this Kickstarter (crowd-funding platform) board game at the top of the 2016 strategy game charts.
Replay value is tremendous that never ends and the Facebook community you can get plugged into keeps Scythe going stronger and stronger.
Scythe at a Glance
| Game Type Strategy / Territory Building Area Control | Play Time 90 - 120 mins | Skill/Complexity (3.5 - 5) Medium - Heavy |
| Age 14+ | Publisher(s) Stonemaier Games | Published 2016 |
| Categories Strategy | Players 1 - 5 | Our Rating 9.5/10 |
| Related My Little Scythe Board Game – Ages 8+ | Cost $79.99 approx | Rules Manual Official Rules PDF |
Most Popular Family Cooperative
Pandemic
While there’s plenty of other class cooperative games that have published since Pandemic – it still holds its own at the top of the charts especially for families.
One of the great aspects of this game among others, is it has appealed to the gaming senses of newbies and experienced alike.
This medical themed game has short play time of 45 + minutes that’s perfect for families playing. The working together to prevent diseases becoming an epidemic makes working together make perfect sense.
Pandemic at a Glance
| Game Type Cooperative, Medical Theme, Action Points, Point to Point Movement, Variable Player Powers | Play Time 45 mins | Skill/Complexity (2.5 - 5) Light - Medium |
| Age 8+ | Publisher(s) Z-Man Games | Published 2008 |
| Categories Strategy Family | Players 2 - 4 | Rules Manual Official Rules PDF |
| Our Rating 9.3/10 | Cost $39.99 |
Two Player Strategy – Wargame
Twilight Struggle
If two of you need some complex area control wargaming on a board then Twilight Struggle is a great option. It’s based on the cold war of 1945 – 1989 with each player needing to gain allies and control for one of the superpowers to take over Western Europe.
There’s plenty of other 2 player game options that are more fun, however, if history and a little seriousness is a cool thing in your tabletop world then Twilight Struggle is one to check out.
Twilight Struggle at a Glance
| Game Type Wargame, Political Action/Event, Area Majority / Influence, Campaign / Battle Card Driven, Dice Rolling | Play Time 2 - 3 hours | Skill/Complexity (4 - 5) Medium - Heavy |
| Age 13+ | Publisher(s) GMT Games | Published 2005 |
| Categories Strategy | Players 2 Player | Rules Manual Official Rules PDF |
| Our Rating 8.8/10 | Cost $49.99 Approx |
Latest Round Ups!
Strategy Board Game Reviews
Acquire
An economic strategy game option ‘the Acquire board game’ is an excellent choice for those into games focused on trading and buying.
Batavia
A lightweight strategy based game worth checking out that has a good go at pleasing families and gamers is the Batavia board game.
Catan
Catan the board game has been a hit since 1995 and engages many gamers and those new to the world of strategy based gaming.
Civilization (2010)
The 2010 edition of the popular Sid Meier’s Civilization Board Game series is a full on strategy game for those gamers more serious about their game play.
Dexter
From the TV crime drama hit show the Dexter Board Game hit the market in 2010 to please Dexter fans. While it’s on the strategic side of gaming it’s not a difficult play.
Diplomacy
If you like a challenge – on the strategy side of things – then the Diplomacy board game is worth checking out, although game play time puts some gamers off.
Dominion
We was a little late to the Dominion Game show that started with its first edition during 2008, however, since the first edition the game, its fans, and expansions have grown. So, was it worth the wait?
Doom
This one is addictive – ‘Doom Board Game’ and has had many tactical strategy game geeks hook line and sinkered for many of hours at the table. First released in 2016 and was designed by Jonathan Ying
Game of Thrones
An intense fantasy type play, the ‘Game of Thrones game’ was fortunate to hit the gaming market in 2003 and haa great following on to the expansions of the game. Fans of the Thrones and board games love it.
Pandemic
A real gem appeared in the co-op world of board gaming named ‘Pandemic Board Game’ that almost no-one disapproves of. Its ability to please many who are new or seasoned players is quite outstanding.
Power Grid
One for the gamers who like some complexity on the table is the Power Grid board game that’s strategy based with plenty of planning, bidding and creating going down to supply electricity to the cities.
Risk
The classic of all classics is Risk, the board game from the strategy wargame genre that first came on the market during 1959. Lots of games have took its position since it was published, but it earned its keep.
Rococo
The board game Rococo is a deck building and area control number with a great theme within the medium range of complexity for players that are into their game mechanics a bit.
Robinson Crusoe
Robinson Crusoe: Adventures of the Cursed Island, a game of adventure and challenge for survival against the elements (the game). It is a complex game and has a high complexity rating.
Scythe
Scythe the board game is a top of the charts strategy tabletop that gaming enthusiasts have embraced after reaching a whopping Kickstarter crowd source contribution .
Shogun
Since 2006 the Shogun board game has been challenging gamers around the globe to bring their building and planning skills to the tabletop. It’s a lot of strategic fun.
SmallWorld
First Published in 2009, the board game Small World quickly became popular among casual and experienced gamers. It’s still going strong more than a decade later!
SmallWorld Underground
Imagine a world full of mysterious creatures with strange abilities, eager to control a limited free space. Take your race to the top, conquering and crushing your rivals!
Sorcerer
Create a unique sorcerer and battle for control of Old London in Sorcerer. This is a dark fantasy strategy card game with deck building, shufflebuilding and duelling mechanics.
Starcraft
Starcraft the board game is designed for those enthusiastic strategy gamers that enjoy some complexity to a game to challenge their skills, and have a fair few hours to spare.
Stratego
Stratego, the board game from the battlefield type games category is a classic tabletop ‘go to battle’ type play that’s an ideal two player game to seriously consider laying out to play.
Tokaido
Travel along Japan’s “Eastern Sea Route” in Tokaido, collecting souvenirs, tasting local delicacies, experiencing the cultures, and taking in the fantastic landscapes along the way.
Twilight Struggle
Since 2005 – the Twilight Struggle board game has fought its way on to the tabletop rankings for one of the best 2 player games. with double strategic mechanisms for those that dare.
Ticket to Ride
Try this game out on the Orient Express. Train travel lovers and many families, and others really enjoy playing a Ticket to Ride board game. It gets the thumbs up here.
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Cooper Island Board Game
Cooper Island leans on the heavy side of strategy board games that has a great nautical theme. A worker placement and tile placement game with quality components and artwork to with its gameplay.
Merv: The Heart of the Silk Road
Merv with its medieval and ancient theme is a city building game. It’s primarily a resource-management and set-collection game that we had high hopes for. This is another fairly heavy weight board game.
Pendulum – Worker Placement Game
Pendulum is a worker placement game that was published in 2020. This is a game where real time gameplay and worker placement have to work together (this was a surprise for the board gaming community).
