The best games where victory points can be used as a resource 2024

Cascadia is a tile-laying and token-drafting board game that features the rich habitats and diverse wildlife of the Pacific Northwest. It combines strategic tile placement with wildlife conservation themes.

7 Wonders Duel takes the essence of the classic 7 Wonders and refines it for an intense two-player experience. It retains the thematic elements of building a civilization through acquiring various types of cards, but it introduces unique mechanics suited for a duel.

Patchwork is a two-player game where you compete to create the most beautiful and high-scoring patchwork quilt on your personal 9x9 game board.

Terraforming Mars is a strategic board game set in the 2400s, where players, representing giant corporations, embark on the colossal task of terraforming Mars. Sponsored by the World Government on Earth, each corporation competes to contribute most effectively to raising the planet's temperature, oxygen level, and ocean coverage to make Mars habitable. While players work together in the terraforming process, they also compete for victory points awarded for their contributions to terraforming, advancing human infrastructure throughout the solar system, and other notable achievements.

In the swashbuckling world of 1675 Jamaica, Captain Henry Morgan, after a notorious career in piracy, becomes the Governor of Jamaica. In a surprising turn of events, he invites his former pirate comrades to join him in retirement, celebrating their plundered treasures in the annual Great Challenge – a thrilling race around the island. The cunning Captain with the most gold at the end of the race claims the title of Grand Winner. Jamaica is a pirate-themed tactical race game that combines strategic ship movement, treasure hunting, and player interaction.

Step into the charming, rustic world of Viticulture Essential Edition, where players assume the roles of individuals in picturesque, pre-modern Tuscany. Inherit meager vineyards, a handful of plots, an aged crushpad, a quaint cellar, and three diligent workers. With dreams of making their wineries renowned successes, players embark on an unforgettable journey.

Engage in the captivating world of art commerce with Modern Art. As both buyer and seller, players navigate the vibrant art market, aiming to turn their transactions into lucrative endeavors. Five unique artists have contributed a plethora of paintings, and it's your task to strategically auction them for maximum profit. Each turn, players auction a painting from their hand, gaining wealth if others purchase it or incurring costs if they buy it themselves. The key lies in shrewd decision-making.

Stockpile is an engaging economic board game that simulates the thrills and strategies of the stock market. Combining classic principles of buying low and selling high with unique game mechanics, it offers a fast-paced and interactive experience where players aim to outsmart the market and each other to amass wealth.

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.

Five Tribes: The Djinns of Naqala is a strategy board game set in the mystical land of Naqala. Designed by Bruno Cathala, it puts a unique spin on the traditional German-style worker placement games.

Majesty: For the Realm is a strategic board game set in the Middle Ages, where players vie for the crown by building the most prosperous domain. The game revolves around recruiting a variety of characters from the medieval society, each contributing to the growth and wealth of your kingdom in different ways. Players must make tactical decisions to assemble the most effective combination of subjects to outmaneuver their rivals and claim supremacy.

In the turbulent 1920s Europa, a period overshadowed by the aftermath of the first great war, a city-state known as "The Factory" stands at the center of attention. This capitalistic powerhouse, renowned for its heavily armored mechs that fueled the war, has mysteriously closed its doors, leaving neighboring nations vying for its secrets.

Small World is a board game where players compete for control of a tiny world, using unique fantasy races and special powers.

The Red Cathedral is a strategic Euro-style board game set in Moscow during the construction of St. Basil's Cathedral. Players assume the roles of construction teams competing to gain the favor of Tsar Ivan the Terrible by contributing to the cathedral's construction.

In Acquire, players strategically invest in businesses, aiming to secure a majority of stock. As tile placements drive business growth and mergers, majority stockholders receive significant bonuses. These bonuses can be reinvested into other chains, creating a race among players to accumulate the greatest wealth.

Earth is an engrossing engine-building board game that celebrates the intricate ecosystems and diverse habitats of our planet. It invites players to dive into rich natural environments, crafting synergies that mirror Earth's extraordinary adaptability and abundance.

Medici is a classic auction-style board game designed by Reiner Knizia, known for its strategic bidding and set collection mechanics. Players take on the roles of merchants during the Renaissance, aiming to acquire the most valuable cargo through competitive auctions. The game is well-regarded for its ability to accommodate various player counts effectively.

Nightmare Productions, designed by Reiner Knizia, is a unique auction-based board game centered around the theme of producing movies, with a special twist in its Nightmare Productions edition that brings a horror and fantasy element to the filmmaking process. The game is structured around bidding for various components necessary to complete a movie, with a focus on strategic bidding and resource management.

Seasons is a captivating card and dice game that transports players to the mystical Argos forest, the venue for the legendary tournament of the 12 seasons. Aspiring sorcerers compete in this three-year contest to become the next archmage of the kingdom of Xidit. Players must skillfully draft cards, manage resources, and adapt to the changing seasons to emerge victorious.

Vikings is a fast-paced economic board game that, despite its title, focuses more on resource management and strategy than on traditional Viking themes like exploration or combat. The game's standout feature is its unique pricing wheel, which introduces an innovative approach to acquiring resources.

Tikal is a compelling strategy game set in the dense jungles of Central America, where players embark on an expedition to uncover lost temples and hidden treasures. As explorers, players reveal new parts of the jungle board, discovering temples that need to be excavated and treasures that can be collected. The objective is to score points by controlling these temples and treasures. Notably, Tikal is the first game in the renowned Mask Trilogy.

Irish Gauge is a compelling board game set against the picturesque backdrop of Ireland, embodying the essence of stock-based, cube-rail games that have become a signature of Winsome Games. As part of the esteemed 2014 Essen Set, this game invites players to immerse themselves in the competitive world of railway development and investment during the golden age of rail.

Santiago is a strategic board game centered around the cultivation and irrigation of fields. Players engage in auctioning plantation tiles, each representing different types of crops. The game involves careful planning and negotiation, as players vie to effectively water their plantations and maximize their yields.