The best combinatorial games 🧮 2023
Looking for a really good game where there is no chance? Then we have just the thing: A list of the 30 best combinatorial games 🧮.
What does "combinatorial" mean in games?
Combinatorial is a term from mathematics. Combinatorial games have finite or countably infinite discrete structures. I.e. in combinatorial games you can predict all possible moves - in contrast to games of chance.
Definition of combinatorial games
Almost all combinatorial dice, card & board games meet the following definition:
- no hidden information
- no randomness during gameplay (random setup (e.g. TZAAR, Fischer Schach 960) is allowed)
- typically two players or teams (or one player/team against one computer)
- but rarely more teams are possible (e.g. Blokus)
- finite number of rounds
- players/teams act alternately (i.e. do not move simultaneously, not in real time)
- no memory needed
- draw possible - but usually there is a winner
- theme allowed, but not mandatory
Combinatorial does not necessarily mean "abstract
Often the two categories "abstract games" and "combinatorial games" are mixed together. However, abstract refers only to the subject of the game. Abstract games do not require a story or scenario in which the game "takes place." In combinatorial games, a theme is not required (e.g. Blokus, Shōbu), but possible (e.g. Santorini, [Patchwork])(/patchwork)).
List of the best combinatorial games 2023 🧮
Patchwork
Nominated for 11 awards and won 3.
More details for Patchwork- 2 Players
- 15 - 30 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Video reviews for Patchwork
Santorini
Nominated for 7 awards.
More details for Santorini- 2 - 4 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Onitama
Nominated for 5 awards and won 1.
More details for Onitama- 2 Players
- 15 - 20 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
🔥 Great price!24€ at.de
SHŌBU
Nominated for 4 awards.
More details for SHŌBU- 2 Players
- 15 - 30 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Hey, That's My Fish!
Nominated for 8 awards and won 1.
More details for Hey, That's My Fish!- 2 - 4 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
🔥 Great price!17€ at.de
Video reviews for Hey, That's My Fish!
Caesar's Empire
Nominated for 1 award.
More details for Caesar's Empire- 2 - 5 Players
- 30 - 60 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Immediately playable
Qawale
Nominated for 1 award.
More details for Qawale- 2 Players
- 15 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
👍 Good price!30€ at.de
Hive
Nominated for 4 awards and won 2.
More details for Hive- 2 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 9+ years old
- Easy to learn
👍 Good price!29€ at.de
YINSH
Nominated for 6 awards and won 2.
More details for YINSH- 2 Players
- 30 - 60 Minutes
- 9+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Blokus
Nominated for 6 awards and won 4.
More details for Blokus- 2 - 4 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 7+ years old
- Easy to learn
🔥 Great price!26€ at.de
Northern Pacific
- 3 - 6 Players
- 60 Minutes
- 7+ years old
- Immediately playable
New York Zoo
- 1 - 5 Players
- 30 - 60 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Polyssimo Challenge
- 2 - 4 Players
- 10 - 30 Minutes
- 7+ years old
- Immediately playable
Video reviews for Polyssimo Challenge
Agricola: All Creatures Big and Small
Nominated for 6 awards and won 2.
More details for Agricola: All Creatures Big and Small- 2 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Easy to learn
First Rat
Nominated for 1 award.
More details for First Rat- 1 - 5 Players
- 30 - 75 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
👍 Good price!29€ at.de
Okiya
Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.
More details for Okiya- 2 Players
- 10 Minutes
- 7+ years old
- Immediately playable
Blokus Duo
Nominated for 3 awards.
More details for Blokus Duo- 2 Players
- 15 Minutes
- 5+ years old
- Easy to learn
TZAAR
Nominated for 4 awards and won 1.
More details for TZAAR- 2 Players
- 30 - 60 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Medium difficulty
👍 Good price!28€ at.de
Battle Sheep
Nominated for 3 awards and won 2.
More details for Battle Sheep- 2 - 4 Players
- 15 Minutes
- 7+ years old
- Immediately playable
Through the Desert
Nominated for 2 awards.
More details for Through the Desert- 2 - 5 Players
- 45 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Quarto
Nominated for 3 awards and won 3.
More details for Quarto- 2 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Six Making
- 2 Players
- 25 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Easy to learn
Blokus 3D
Nominated for 4 awards and won 2.
More details for Blokus 3D- 2 - 4 Players
- 15 - 20 Minutes
- 7+ years old
- Easy to learn
Tak
Nominated for 4 awards.
More details for Tak- 2 Players
- 20 - 60 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Easy to learn
Video reviews for Tak
Kamisado Max
- 2 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Photosynthesis
Nominated for 10 awards and won 4.
More details for Photosynthesis- 2 - 4 Players
- 30 - 60 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Video reviews for Photosynthesis
Kulami
Nominated for 2 awards and won 2.
More details for Kulami- 2 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Blokus Trigon
Nominated for 3 awards.
🔥 Deal: 21% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!
More details for Blokus Trigon- 2 - 4 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 7+ years old
- Easy to learn
🔥 Great price!26€ at.de
DVONN
Nominated for 4 awards and won 2.
More details for DVONN- 2 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 9+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Quoridor
Nominated for 2 awards and won 2.
More details for Quoridor- 2 - 4 Players
- 15 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Didn't find the game you were looking for?
We're positive that you'll find it in one of our other lists! To make the search easier for you, we split our website into different categories. The following board game categories will help you find the right list: