The best games in which you can enclose a territory or area 2025
Looking for a really good game where you can narrow down an area? Then we have just the thing for you: the list of the best "area delimitation" games 2025.
What are area delimitation games?
In area delimitation games, players place or move pieces to surround as much territory as possible with their pieces. The oldest and most famous "area enclosure" game is of course Go, but there are many newer examples as well.
Area Enclosure differs from Area Majority/Area Influence because players actually create the areas during the game on a gridded board, whereas in Area Majority/Influence the actual areas are already there and players just fight over who can control the most of them.
By the way, in English "area enclosure" is called "enclosure" or "area enclosure".
Examples of games where you can enclose an area
A good example of an "area enclosure" game is Blokus.
List of the best area enclosure games 2025
Carcassonne
Carcassonne is a renowned tile-placement game set in the picturesque landscape of Southern France. This game is beloved for its simplicity, depth, and the beautiful mosaic players create on the table.
Nominated for 9 awards and won 6.
⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 2001
More details for Carcassonne- 2 - 5 Players
- 30 - 45 Minutes
- 7+ years old
- Easy to learn
Video reviews for Carcassonne
Cat in the Box: Deluxe Edition
Cat in the Box: Deluxe Edition is a unique and innovative quantum trick-taking card game that challenges 2 to 5 players to think strategically about color and number. This deluxe edition of the game enhances the experience with high-quality components and new features.
Nominated for 9 awards and won 4.
More details for Cat in the Box: Deluxe Edition- 2 - 5 Players
- 20 - 40 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Easy to learn
Calico
Calico is a delightful, tile-laying board game that combines the art of quilt-making with the charm of cats. It's designed to offer a relaxing yet engaging puzzling experience for players.
Nominated for 12 awards and won 3.
🔥 Deal: 12% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!
More details for Calico- 1 - 4 Players
- 30 - 45 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
My First Carcassonne
My First Carcassonne, also known as Carcassonne Junior, introduces the iconic tile-laying gameplay of the classic Carcassonne to a younger audience. This game captures the essence of the original while simplifying the mechanics to make it accessible for children, making it a wonderful entry point into the world of board games.
Nominated for 6 awards and won 3.
More details for My First Carcassonne- 2 - 4 Players
- 10 - 20 Minutes
- 4+ years old
- Immediately playable
Video reviews for My First Carcassonne
Chinatown
Chinatown is a dynamic negotiation board game where players engage in the strategic acquisition and development of city blocks to establish profitable businesses. It emphasizes trading and deal-making to succeed in a competitive urban landscape.
Nominated for 3 awards.
More details for Chinatown- 3 - 5 Players
- 60 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Easy to learn
Video reviews for Chinatown
Carcassonne: Hunters and Gatherers
Carcassonne: Hunters and Gatherers is a standalone game in the Carcassonne series, transporting players to the Stone Age. This version maintains the essence of the original Carcassonne game but introduces new thematic elements and rules suitable for this prehistoric setting.
Nominated for 4 awards.
More details for Carcassonne: Hunters and Gatherers- 2 - 5 Players
- 35 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Hive
Hive is a highly strategic two-player game that stands out for its versatility and unique gameplay mechanics, involving a variety of insect-themed pieces.
Nominated for 4 awards and won 2.
More details for Hive- 2 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 9+ years old
- Easy to learn
Polyssimo Challenge
More details for Polyssimo ChallengePolyssimo Challenge is a tactical game for 2 to 4 players featuring a 12x11 square board and 24 game pieces, including 12 pentominoes and 12 hexominoes. Players take turns selecting pieces from the center of the table, and once all pieces are claimed, they alternately place them on the board. The winner is the player with the fewest remaining squares. The game emphasizes strategic thinking and allows for handicaps to level the playing field between varying skill levels.
- 2 - 4 Players
- 10 - 30 Minutes
- 7+ years old
- Immediately playable
Video reviews for Polyssimo Challenge
Blokus
Blokus is an abstract strategy game known for its simple rules and deep strategic gameplay. It features colorful Tetris-shaped pieces that players aim to place on the board.
Nominated for 6 awards and won 4.
More details for Blokus- 2 - 4 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 7+ years old
- Easy to learn
Queendomino
Queendomino is a standalone board game that builds upon the concepts introduced in Kingdomino. It offers a more complex and strategic experience, allowing players to create their kingdoms with an added layer of depth.
Nominated for 5 awards and won 1.
🔥 Deal: 7% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!
More details for Queendomino- 2 - 4 Players
- 25 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Agricola: All Creatures Big and Small
Agricola: All Creatures Big and Small offers a specialized, two-player experience derived from the popular Agricola game, focusing exclusively on the aspect of animal husbandry.
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
Through the Desert
Through the Desert is a strategic board game where players guide caravans through the desert to claim oases and territory. Often compared to the classic game Go, it combines strategic planning with a visually appealing setup featuring colorful plastic camels.
Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.
More details for Through the Desert- 2 - 5 Players
- 45 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Kingdom Builder: Big Box (Second Edition)
More details for Kingdom Builder: Big Box (Second Edition)The Kingdom Builder: Big Box includes the first four expansions: Nomads, Crossroads, Marshlands, and Harvest, along with three Queenies: Capitol, Caves, and The Island. Players create their own kingdoms by strategically building settlements to earn the most gold by the end of the game. With a variable board featuring nine different types of terrain, players play land cards and place settlements while aiming to fulfill specific conditions outlined by the game’s cards to maximize their gold earnings.
- 2 - 5 Players
- 45 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Blokus Duo
Blokus Duo, also known as Travel Blokus, is a two-player version of the popular abstract strategy game Blokus. It offers a compact and travel-friendly design, perfect for on-the-go gaming sessions.
Nominated for 3 awards.
🔥 Deal: 6% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!
More details for Blokus Duo- 2 Players
- 10 - 20 Minutes
- 5+ years old
- Easy to learn
Fjords
More details for FjordsExplore a breathtaking landscape that even a Viking would admire. Players lay down hexagonal tiles to create a game board, then traverse the landscape from their starting longhouses to claim as much land as possible. The winner is the player who has conquered the most territory through clever placements and strategic planning.
- 2 - 4 Players
- 30 - 45 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
Battle Sheep
Battle Sheep, formerly known as Splits, is a light-hearted yet strategic board game where players aim to spread their flock of sheep across the pasture to occupy the most territory. The game is known for its simple rules, quick gameplay, and fun theme, making it a great choice for families and casual gamers.
Nominated for 4 awards and won 2.
More details for Battle Sheep- 2 - 4 Players
- 15 Minutes
- 7+ years old
- Immediately playable
Kingdom Builder
Kingdom Builder is a strategic board game where players shape their domains by building settlements, with the ultimate goal of earning the most gold by the end of the game.
Nominated for 13 awards and won 2.
⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 2012
More details for Kingdom Builder- 2 - 4 Players
- 45 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Blokus 3D
Blokus 3D, originally known as Rumis, is a spatial puzzle game where players engage in building ancient Inca structures using uniquely shaped, three-dimensional pieces. Each player aims to cleverly place their pieces next to those of the same color on the board, with the challenge of accommodating different shapes to maximize space and block opponents.
Nominated for 4 awards and won 2.
More details for Blokus 3D- 2 - 4 Players
- 15 - 20 Minutes
- 7+ years old
- Easy to learn
Scarabya
As the leader of an international archaeological team, you must establish camps worldwide and uncover the long-lost golden scarabs. Scarabya is a puzzle game where the goal is to find scarabs by positioning your game pieces to form closed zones of 1 to 4 squares. Each scarab in a closed zone is worth points equal to the number of squares in that zone, and players take turns playing the same pieces simultaneously, ending the game once all 12 pieces are drawn.
Nominated for 1 award.
More details for Scarabya- 1 - 4 Players
- 15 - 20 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
My Island
Players develop their own unique islands using interconnected hexagons in a competitive legacy format inspired by a previous game. Over 24 sessions, they will uncover the story and secrets of their island, with each game introducing new rules and materials that permanently alter the landscape.
Nominated for 1 award.
More details for My Island- 2 - 4 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Era: Medieval Age
Era: Medieval Age positions itself as a groundbreaking evolution in the realm of roll-and-build board games, inheriting the legacy of Roll Through The Ages but carving out its own niche with a unique build mechanic. Players are transported to the medieval era, tasked with rolling dice to assemble a flourishing city using tangible, 3D components such as walls, keeps, and farms, making each cityscape a distinct creation by the game's conclusion.
Nominated for 1 award.
More details for Era: Medieval Age- 1 - 4 Players
- 45 - 60 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Brothers
More details for BrothersYou and your brother are peaceful farmers... or at least you used to be! In "Brothers," your herds always become too large for a shared pasture. Outsmart your brother by placing your pens in a way that makes it difficult for him, proving you're the one in the family with a knack for cattle.
- 2 - 4 Players
- 10 - 15 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
Blokus Trigon
Blokus Trigon evolves the classic abstract strategy game Blokus with a twist: the introduction of triangular pieces. This change adds a new layer of strategic depth, as players must navigate the hexagonal board to fit their pieces in the most efficient way possible. The objective remains the same as in the original Blokus: to place all of your pieces on the board while blocking your opponents from doing the same.
Nominated for 3 awards.
More details for Blokus Trigon- 2 - 4 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 7+ years old
- Easy to learn
Kingdom Builder: Big Box
More details for Kingdom Builder: Big BoxThe 2014 Big Box edition of Kingdom Builder includes the first two expansions and two of the three Queenies. Players create their own kingdoms by strategically building settlements to earn the most gold by the end of the game. The game features a variable board with nine types of terrain, and players play terrain cards to build settlements, with special actions that can be unlocked by building next to specific locations.
- 2 - 5 Players
- 45 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Blockers!
The goal is to have the fewest number of groups of stones on the board by the end of the game. Players take turns placing one of their five stones on a 9x9 grid and then drawing another stone to replace it. Players can capture an opponent's stone by placing a legal stone in its place if it does not split their own stones into more than one group.
Nominated for 5 awards and won 1.
More details for Blockers!- 2 - 5 Players
- 30 - 40 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Gunkimono
In war-torn feudal Japan, soldiers are restless and question their loyalty amid endless battles, betrayal, and broken promises. Players take on the role of Daimyo, planning military advances and deciding whether to gain victory points or save for fortifications. Throughout the game, players must also keep an eye on their opponents to prevent them from growing too strong at their expense.
Nominated for 1 award and won 1.
More details for Gunkimono- 2 - 5 Players
- 45 - 60 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Renature
Players compete in a majority game using dominoes, suitable for 2-4 participants. Each player has a game board with wooden tiles depicting grass, bushes, pines, and oaks, which are used for majority scoring on a central board. Throughout the game, players can place dominoes and plants, earn points based on their placements, and strategically acquire resources to maximize their scores. The game concludes when all players have used their dominoes.
Nominated for 1 award and won 1.
More details for Renature- 2 - 4 Players
- 45 - 60 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Kingdom Builder: Family Box
More details for Kingdom Builder: Family BoxThe Family Box includes the base game, the Nomads expansion, materials for a fifth player, and two mini-expansions: the Caves and the Capitol. Players create their own kingdoms by strategically building settlements to earn the most gold by the end of the game. The variable game board features nine terrain types, and players can gain additional actions and victory points through careful planning and fulfilling specific objectives.
- 2 - 5 Players
- 45 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Agricola
Agricola is a strategic board game where players become farmers aiming to build thriving homesteads. Manage resources, expand your home, and feed your family to win.
Nominated for 26 awards and won 15.
⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 2008
More details for Agricola- 1 - 5 Players
- 30 - 150 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Hard to learn
Waterfall Park
More details for Waterfall ParkWelcome to Waterfall Park. Players aim to trade and swap attractions to build the world's largest amusement park. The unique aspect of this park is its vertical construction on enormous towers in the middle of the ocean.
- 3 - 5 Players
- 45 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
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