Skip to content

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 Board Game

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 board game

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 Board Game

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

Best War Board Game – High Complexity


Axis and Allies board game

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 Board Game Box

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 board game box

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 board game

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!


Gateway board games collection collage
collection of deck building games on collage
best worker placement board games collage
economic board games collage
best cooperative board games collage
6 player board games collage
legacy board games collage
collage of tile placement board games

Strategy Board Game Reviews


acquire board game

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 the board game

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 board game

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 board game box cover

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 board game box cover

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 board game box cover

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 board game box cover

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 board game box cover

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 board game box cover

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 strategy board game box cover

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.

Small World board game box cover

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!

Small World underground box cover

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 board game box cover

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 box cover

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 board game

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 Board Game

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.

Viewed Recently

Cooper Island board game box cover

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 board game box cover

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 box cover

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).