The best games where you can construct your deck of cards before the game starts 2023

Looking for a really good game where you can create your deck of cards before the game? Then we have just the thing for you: the list of the best deck construction games 2023.

What are Deck Construction games?

In the games from this best list, each player creates the deck they will use in the first step or before the game starts.

Examples of games where you can create your deck before the game:

A good example of a deck construction game is Magic: The Gathering or the games of the Smash Up series.

list of the best deck-construction games 2023

This list was last updated on December 4, 2023. We compared 270 board games for this list and selected the top 30. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. Marvel Champions: The Card Game

    All details for the board game Marvel Champions: The Card Game and similar games

    Nominated for 11 awards and won 2.

    More details for Marvel Champions: The Card Game
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 90 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Marvel Champions: The Card Game

    • YouTube Review for the game "Marvel Champions: The Card Game" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  2. Summoner Wars (Second Edition)

    All details for the board game Summoner Wars (Second Edition) and similar games
    • 2 Players
    • 40 - 60 Minutes
    • 9+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  3. Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion

    All details for the board game Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion and similar games

    Nominated for 13 awards and won 5.

    More details for Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 120 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Hard to learn
  4. Gloomhaven

    All details for the board game Gloomhaven and similar games

    Nominated for 22 awards and won 10.

    More details for Gloomhaven
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Hard to learn
    👍 Good price!143€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Gloomhaven

    • YouTube Review for the game "Gloomhaven" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Gloomhaven" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  5. Challengers!

    All details for the board game Challengers! and similar games

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 2.

    ⭐️ Kennerspiel des Jahres 2023

    More details for Challengers!
    • 1 - 8 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  6. Summoner Wars: Master Set

    All details for the board game Summoner Wars: Master Set and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 9+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  7. Arkham Horror: The Card Game

    All details for the board game Arkham Horror: The Card Game and similar games

    Nominated for 13 awards and won 4.

    More details for Arkham Horror: The Card Game
    • 1 - 2 Players
    • 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Hard to learn

    Video reviews for Arkham Horror: The Card Game

    • YouTube Review for the game "Arkham Horror: The Card Game" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  8. Summer Camp

    All details for the board game Summer Camp and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Summer Camp
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  9. Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire

    All details for the board game Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire and similar games
    • 2 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  10. Android: Netrunner

    All details for the board game Android: Netrunner and similar games

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 3.

    More details for Android: Netrunner
    • 2 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  11. Kodachi

    All details for the board game Kodachi and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  12. The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game

    All details for the board game The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game and similar games
    • 1 - 2 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game

    • YouTube Review for the game "The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  13. Blue Moon Legends

    All details for the board game Blue Moon Legends and similar games
    • 2 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  14. Smash Up

    All details for the board game Smash Up and similar games

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

    More details for Smash Up
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  15. Smash Up: Cease and Desist

    All details for the board game Smash Up: Cease and Desist and similar games
    • 2 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  16. Wiz-War (Eighth Edition)

    All details for the board game Wiz-War (Eighth Edition) and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  17. The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game – Revised Core Set

    All details for the board game The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game – Revised Core Set and similar games
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 90 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  18. Magic: The Gathering

    All details for the board game Magic: The Gathering and similar games

    Nominated for 9 awards and won 6.

    More details for Magic: The Gathering
    • 2 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  19. Pagan: Fate of Roanoke

    All details for the board game Pagan: Fate of Roanoke and similar games
    • 2 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  20. Aristeia!

    All details for the board game Aristeia! and similar games
    • 2 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  21. Blue Moon

    All details for the board game Blue Moon and similar games
    • 2 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Blue Moon

    • YouTube Review for the game "Blue Moon" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Blue Moon" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  22. Allegra

    All details for the board game Allegra and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Allegra
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 30 - 40 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    👍 Good price!11€ atAmazon.de
  23. Ashes Reborn: Rise of the Phoenixborn

    All details for the board game Ashes Reborn: Rise of the Phoenixborn and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 120 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  24. Fireteam Zero

    All details for the board game Fireteam Zero and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    More details for Fireteam Zero
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  25. The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-Earth

    All details for the board game The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-Earth and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  26. Pokémon Trading Card Game

    All details for the board game Pokémon Trading Card Game and similar games
    • 2 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 6+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  27. Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Champions Trading Card Game

    All details for the board game Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Champions Trading Card Game and similar games
    • 2 Players
    • 15 - 30 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  28. Mage Wars Arena

    All details for the board game Mage Wars Arena and similar games

    Nominated for 4 awards.

    More details for Mage Wars Arena
    • 2 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Hard to learn
  29. Kick-Ass: The Board Game

    All details for the board game Kick-Ass: The Board Game and similar games
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 18+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  30. Historical Conquest: The Card Game

    All details for the board game Historical Conquest: The Card Game and similar games
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 7+ 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: