Top 20 Board Games That Require a Lot of Strategy

Also known as Settlers, or just Catan, this game's arrival on the game scene was game... changing. It seems simple enough – players need 10 points, and each settlement equals a point. But actually getting those points? That's the challenge. The game features 19 terrains, which are designated by resource – brick, ore, wool, grain, and wood, all of which are needed for accomplishing different goals. But rather than pure greed, Catan is a game built upon negotiation, resource management, and situational awareness. It's also a platform ripe for expansion, with Cities & Knights, Trails to Rails, Seafarers of Catan and other packs available.

Everybody wants to rule the world, and if you have enough skill, luck, and good planning you just might pull it off. You'll never make the news, but you'll have made 2 to 4 enemies out of former friends. Invented by a French filmmaker, Albert Lamorisse, Risk arrived on the scene in 1957 as “ La Conquête du Monde” or The Conquest of the World. Soon after, the rights were snapped up by Parker Brothers, who also tweaked the rules slightly. Typical play lasts around two hours, but can hit the six hour mark if the delicate balance of alliances and betrayal really heats up.

Created by Klaus-Jürgen Wrede, and released in German and English speaking markets in 2000, Carcassonne won gaming awards right out of the box. And it's easy to see why. Opening up play for 2 to 5 players, the game packs plenty of excitement without claiming an entire evening, with rounds lasting about 45 minutes. Best still, no one gets eliminated, which means no one is forced to sit and watch the game peter out and the game-buzz wane. The game focuses on developing communities, and utilizing the population and resources within, and like other games, it comes with a rich array of expansion materials as well.

Based on the monumental novel “Dune”, this is an updated version of a significantly older game. Fans of the books go crazy for this, since it lets you reenact and rewrite the story. Each player controls one of six great factions, all vying for control over spice. It’s extremely strategic, on account of its punishing nature. A small mistake can cost you the entire game, which fits thematically, given the harsh climate of Arrakis. Player elimination is usually shied away from, but not in “Dune”. To some, it’s the best board game ever, however, we could say the same for most entries here, since modern board gaming is just that good.

This is currently the highest-rated board game on BoardGameGeek, and for good reason. Finding someone who has played it but didn’t enjoy it is nigh on impossible. It’s the pinnacle of industrial revolution games. Set between 1770 and 1870, players take on the role of competing entrepreneurs. It’s far from the most complicated game, with only two major resources - coal and iron, and the possible actions are rather simple. Even the best strategies can crumble when another player builds on your spot, or takes the last iron. So, you’ll have to think of almost every possible outcome to reliably win.

The Hanseatic League was an incredibly wealthy Medieval German trading league. This is the setting for “Hansa Teutonica”, where players take the role of league traders. The goal is to build the best trading house network across Germany. The original and its later Big Box edition are debatably the best commerce games ever made. It ends the instant someone hits 20 victory points, giving you little breathing room to execute game-winning strategies. No two games will ever feel the same, since the amount of strategic expression feels unlimited.

Quite a few Mars colonization games exist, but this is the most popular. Set in the 2400s, you play as CEOs competing for the best Martian settlement. So far, there are eight expansions available, adding a variety of mechanics and features. Everyone works together to convert Mars into an oasis, but whoever does it the best wins. While it’s not strictly scientifically accurate, it’s heavily inspired by real science, making it a highly immersive title. It’s been so popular, it even got a video game adaptation. Starting with nothing, and converting Mars into a habitable paradise is immensely satisfying, at least until you lose.

There’s no shortage of civilization focused board games, where you guide your people through history, advancing through the ages. It’s tough to pick just one for our list, but we believe Through the Ages is the most strategically demanding. It’s a civilization-building game, with emphasis on resource management. Its main mechanic is card drafting, with little board focus. One strategy could be to rush technology, and create a vibrant metropolis. Just don’t forget about the military aspect, or else your hard work will quickly become someone else’s crown jewel.

The original “Pandemic” was pretty popular, but players found each game felt relatively similar. Its successor, “Pandemic Legacy”, solved this issue. It’s still a cooperative game, however, a story carries between games. In total, it’ll take between 12 and 24 playthroughs to complete. The first game feels a lot like the regular “Pandemic”. As you keep going, there’ll be new rules and components added, keeping it refreshing. This means after a few games, you’ll have an entirely unique copy. There have been three seasons in total, giving “Pandemic” more replayability than ever before.

Typically, board games have the same rules and mechanics for every single player. This symmetry is completely foregone in “Root”, where everyone is playing a separate board game. Rival factions compete for control over a forest, with each one playing entirely differently. There’s the woodland alliance, who spend the game accumulating sympathy, which literally explodes at a critical mass. Or the Vagabond, a lone soldier who plays all sides. It’s a brilliant example of how much fun asymmetry can be. It also means formulating the perfect strategy requires understanding how every single faction plays. That’s a huge task, which extends its replayability by a hefty margin. Also, did we mention the art is adorable?

This is a remarkable concept for a board game. It's focused on guiding history in a fictional world, what’s unique is that your actions in one game carry over to the next. So, if you want to properly dig your teeth into “Oath”, you’ll need a dedicated group of players. Otherwise, you’ll miss out on the details shared between games. This means you’ll gradually develop an extensive history for your game. As such, your copy will be unique after a few games. An example of what carries over is a dynasty, which can exist across generations. It’s made by the same person as “Root”, with the same beautiful art style, making every game a treat.

There’s a plethora of “Lord of the Rings” board games in the world. None of these can match “War of the Rings”’s quality. It’s an asymmetric two-player game, where someone plays Mordor, and the other the Fellowship. The Mordor player will spend most of the game spamming orcs, and trying to zerg rush their opponent. The Fellowship’s playstyle is instead focused on evasion, and the occasional wildcard that lets Gandalf instantly destroy Saruman. No matter what role you play, your strategic prowess needs to be on full display in this battle for the lands of Middle-Earth.

The roaring twenties was a time of economic prosperity, instantly recognizable by flappers, Ford Model Ts, and of course mechs. Well, that last one was only present in “Scythe”, which is based in an alternate, dieselpunk 1920s. It was originally a Kickstarter project, but released in shops. Good luck getting your hands on a copy though, it immediately sold out everywhere. It’s an engine-building game, set in Eastern Europe. There’s almost zero luck involved, only big brain maneuvers that can win. It’s also asymmetrical, with each faction having unique mechanics, placing even more emphasis on a cunning strategy to achieve victory.

Commonly known as the granddaddy of RPG games, this 70s title is phenomenally complex. It’s more similar to “Dungeons and Dragons” than any other wargame. It’s been out of print since 1998, making it an item cherished by collectors. There are sixteen unique characters to play, each with drastically differing playstyles. Its age adds to its unique charm, since games like this are no longer made. Despite this, its influence is unparalleled. It takes a few games to wrap your head around, but once successful, you’ll be completely addicted. With endless combinations, and amazing replayability, this is a must-play for the most hardcore board game enthusiasts.

This mechanically cumbersome Eurogame, designed by only one person, was instantly adored. In total, it contains 100 different scenarios, with a world that changes across sessions. This makes completion a gigantic timesink. It’s not a legacy game like you may assume, it’s more of a sprawling adventure RPG. This keeps it constantly fresh, and it can take years to finish everything. It starts with 6 classes, but you can unlock 11 more through playing. Like “Dungeons and Dragons”, you create and control one character throughout the adventure. Eventually, you’ll complete their goals, and they’ll happily retire. It’s tough to summarise this immense game in just one video, you’ll have to play it yourself.

You’re not a true board game nerd until you’ve had the amazing experience of playing “Twilight Imperium”. Individually, none of its mechanics are that complex, but it’s far wider than any other space 4x[d]. Reserve an entire day for this one, because a 10-victory point game can last between 10 and 14 hours. The most intense fans may embark on an 8-player, 14-victory point adventure, which could take an entire weekend. There’ll be something for everyone here. Want to be rich? Play Hacan, and revel in your wealth. Want to be a civilization-destroying virus? It’s got that too. It’s one of the most replayable board games ever, with each game making memories to be cherished forever.

This game’s playtime average is anywhere from 1440 to 2880 minutes. It’s one of the most intricate games ever conceived. It’s considered by many to have the most expansive war system ever, allowing players to recreate World War Two in immense detail. For example, players can acquire famous named ships, and they’ll need plenty of oil to sustain them, as well as their military and air force. It’s the most successful large-scale game representing the period, and lets you live out your wildest alternate-history fantasies. For instance, what would have happened if Japan never attacked Pearl Harbor? The only way to find out is to pick up a copy, grab some friends, and spend an entire weekend gaming.

A 60,000-minute long board game is an auto-include on a list about strategy. This is arguably the most complex board game in history, and it’s unlikely to be topped, because why would anyone want to? It needs ten players, and takes 1,500 hours. No one playtested it, and we have no evidence anyone has bothered to complete a single game. In the 70s, board game players demanded larger games, and this was made to answer that call. Turns out, they weren’t that eager, with many considering it unplayable. Thankfully the board game industry learned a valuable lesson, and few games of this scale have been released since.

Who invented “Go” is anyone's guess, but it’s been agreed that it came to be during China's Zhou Dynasty. The game's popularity, and the required brain power it takes to master it, led the game to become – like calligraphy, painting, and playing the guqin – one of the four scholarly arts of ancient Chinese aristocratic society. A game for two, played with a set of black and white stones and a 19 by 19 square grid, the rules to Go couldn't be simpler, and the gameplay any more complex.

The game we know as chess first appears in history around the year 600 in Persia. Then called chatrang, it had morphed from an earlier creation called chaturanga that was found in Eastern India. By the 9th century, it had made its way to Russia and Europe and by the year 1000 it became popular with the upper classes due to its challenging nature and la-dee-da factor. Easy to learn, chess is never truly mastered and pulls upon critical thinking skills, while teaching valuable lessons on decision-making and patience. There is no room for “luck” in chess, one false move is all it takes to lose.