The best board games with exploration elements 2023

Looking for a board game that needs the explorer in you? We've created a list of the best exploration games 2023.

What are exploration games anyway?

Exploration games often encourage players to discover unknown areas or territories and search for specific objects, events and or people - for example to trade, settle new land or explore a lonely mansion.

The best exploration social games 2023

This list was last updated on November 27, 2023. We compared 2734 board games for this list and selected the top 30. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine

    All details for the board game The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine and similar games

    Nominated for 25 awards and won 13.

    ⭐️ Kennerspiel des Jahres 2020

    More details for The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  2. Silver & Gold

    All details for the board game Silver & Gold and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    More details for Silver & Gold
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  3. Trails of Tucana

    All details for the board game Trails of Tucana and similar games

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 2.

    More details for Trails of Tucana
    • 1 - 8 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  4. The Quest for El Dorado

    All details for the board game The Quest for El Dorado and similar games

    Nominated for 13 awards and won 6.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2017

    🔥 Deal: 7% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!

    More details for The Quest for El Dorado
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    🔥 Great price!25€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for The Quest for El Dorado

    • YouTube Review for the game "The Quest for El Dorado" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  5. Lost Cities

    All details for the board game Lost Cities and similar games

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 2.

    More details for Lost Cities
    • 2 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    👍 Good price!15€ atAmazon.de
  6. Destinies

    All details for the board game Destinies and similar games

    Nominated for 8 awards and won 3.

    More details for Destinies
    • 1 - 3 Players
    • 90 - 150 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  7. Karuba

    All details for the board game Karuba and similar games

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 1.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2016

    More details for Karuba
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 40 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    🔥 Great price!18€ atAmazon.de
  8. Deep Sea Adventure

    All details for the board game Deep Sea Adventure and similar games
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  9. Legacy of Dragonholt

    All details for the board game Legacy of Dragonholt and similar games
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 60 - 999 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  10. Incan Gold

    All details for the board game Incan Gold and similar games

    Nominated for 8 awards and won 3.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kinderspiel des Jahres 2005

    More details for Incan Gold
    • 3 - 8 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  11. Planet Unknown

    All details for the board game Planet Unknown and similar games

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 1.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2023

    More details for Planet Unknown
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 60 - 80 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  12. Forgotten Waters

    All details for the board game Forgotten Waters and similar games

    Nominated for 8 awards and won 1.

    More details for Forgotten Waters
    • 3 - 7 Players
    • 120 - 240 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!30€ atAmazon.de
  13. My First Adventure: Finding the Dragon

    All details for the board game My First Adventure: Finding the Dragon and similar games
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 10 - 20 Minutes
    • 4+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  14. Escape: The Curse of the Temple – Big Box

    All details for the board game Escape: The Curse of the Temple – Big Box and similar games
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 10 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Escape: The Curse of the Temple – Big Box

    • YouTube Review for the game "Escape: The Curse of the Temple – Big Box" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  15. Space Base

    All details for the board game Space Base and similar games

    Nominated for 4 awards.

    More details for Space Base
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Space Base

    • YouTube Review for the game "Space Base" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  16. Kids Chronicles: Quest for the Moon Stones

    All details for the board game Kids Chronicles: Quest for the Moon Stones and similar games
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 7+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  17. Terraforming Mars

    All details for the board game Terraforming Mars and similar games

    Nominated for 27 awards and won 14.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2017

    More details for Terraforming Mars
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 120 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Terraforming Mars

    • YouTube Review for the game "Terraforming Mars" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  18. Mansions of Madness: Second Edition

    All details for the board game Mansions of Madness: Second Edition and similar games
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 120 - 180 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  19. The Guild of Merchant Explorers

    All details for the board game The Guild of Merchant Explorers and similar games
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  20. Lost Ruins of Arnak

    All details for the board game Lost Ruins of Arnak and similar games

    Nominated for 26 awards and won 10.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2021

    More details for Lost Ruins of Arnak
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 120 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    🔥 Great price!46€ atAmazon.de
  21. Karak

    All details for the board game Karak and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    More details for Karak
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 7+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  22. Escape: The Curse of the Temple

    All details for the board game Escape: The Curse of the Temple and similar games

    Nominated for 9 awards and won 1.

    More details for Escape: The Curse of the Temple
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 10 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Escape: The Curse of the Temple

    • YouTube Review for the game "Escape: The Curse of the Temple" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  23. Unlock!: Timeless Adventures

    All details for the board game Unlock!: Timeless Adventures and similar games
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  24. Unlock! Kids: Detective Stories

    All details for the board game Unlock! Kids: Detective Stories and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    More details for Unlock! Kids: Detective Stories
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 20 - 60 Minutes
    • 6+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  25. Star Wars: Outer Rim

    All details for the board game Star Wars: Outer Rim and similar games
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 120 - 180 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    👍 Good price!60€ atAmazon.de
  26. Tiny Epic Galaxies

    All details for the board game Tiny Epic Galaxies and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    More details for Tiny Epic Galaxies
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!30€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Tiny Epic Galaxies

    • YouTube Review for the game "Tiny Epic Galaxies" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  27. The Quest for El Dorado: The Golden Temples

    All details for the board game The Quest for El Dorado: The Golden Temples and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for The Quest for El Dorado: The Golden Temples

    • YouTube Review for the game "The Quest for El Dorado: The Golden Temples" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  28. Trapwords

    All details for the board game Trapwords and similar games

    Nominated for 4 awards.

    More details for Trapwords
    • 4 - 8 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    👍 Good price!20€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Trapwords

    • YouTube Review for the game "Trapwords" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  29. Unlock!: Heroic Adventures

    All details for the board game Unlock!: Heroic Adventures and similar games
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  30. Magic Maze

    All details for the board game Magic Maze and similar games

    Nominated for 14 awards and won 3.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2017

    More details for Magic Maze
    • 1 - 8 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!24€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Magic Maze

    • YouTube Review for the game "Magic Maze" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Magic Maze" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English

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