The best games where you can retrieve actions 2025

Looking for a really good game where you can get actions back? Then we have just the thing for you: the list of the best "action recovery" games 2025.

What are "recover actions" games?

Each player has a set of actions available to them, embodied in cards, tokens, or other affordances. Once executed, they are spent and cannot be executed again until they are retrieved. Retrieving actions is usually an action itself or may take an entire turn.

Examples of games where you can retrieve actions:

A good example of an action retrieval game is Century: Golem Edition or Gloomhaven.

List with the best Recovering Actions games 2025

This list was last updated on March 19, 2025. We compared 115 board games for this list and selected the top 30. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. Century: Golem Edition

    All details for the board game Century: Golem Edition and similar games

    Century: Golem Edition is an engaging and visually appealing board game that is a re-themed version of Century: Spice Road. Set in the imaginative world of Caravania, this game combines strategic planning and resource management, appealing to players who enjoy tactical decision-making.

    More details for Century: Golem Edition
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  2. Century: Spice Road

    All details for the board game Century: Spice Road and similar games

    Century: Spice Road is the first game in a series that delves into the rich and vibrant history of spice trading. Set against the backdrop of the legendary Silk Road, players take on the roles of caravan leaders, journeying across continents to trade spices and achieve fame and glory. This game combines elements of strategy and resource management, making it an engaging experience for players who enjoy economic and trading games.

    Nominated for 9 awards and won 2.

    More details for Century: Spice Road
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Century: Spice Road

    • YouTube Review for the game "Century: Spice Road" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  3. Concordia

    All details for the board game Concordia and similar games

    Concordia is a peaceful yet strategic board game set in Roman times, focusing on economic development and expansion. It is designed for 2-5 players aged 13 and up.

    Nominated for 7 awards and won 2.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2014

    More details for Concordia
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 100 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Concordia

    • YouTube Review for the game "Concordia" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Concordia" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  4. Keep the Heroes Out!

    All details for the board game Keep the Heroes Out! and similar games

    Players take on the role of monsters defending their hard-earned treasures from invading hordes of heroes. Each turn, players draw five cards to move, activate pieces, attack heroes, and manage their units. The goal is to survive three threat levels posed by the heroes while protecting the treasures in each room; if the main treasure is taken, the game ends in defeat, but successfully protecting the treasures leads to victory.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Keep the Heroes Out!
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 40 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  5. Concordia Venus

    All details for the board game Concordia Venus and similar games

    Concordia Venus is a standalone reimplementation of the classic Concordia, enhancing the peaceful strategy game set in Roman times. It's designed for 2-6 players aged 13 and up, focusing on economic development without the randomness of dice or cards. Strategy and planning are key as players expand their influence across various Roman cities.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Concordia Venus
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Concordia Venus

    • YouTube Review for the game "Concordia Venus" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Concordia Venus" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  6. Tiny Epic Galaxies

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

    In Tiny Epic Galaxies, each player commands a galactic empire, striving to expand their influence by acquiring contested planets and strengthening their cosmic armada. The game features an innovative dice-rolling combo mechanic, where the number of rolled dice corresponds to your galaxy's strength. These dice display symbols representing actions such as spaceship movement, resource acquisition, and the advancement of political or economic influence over newly discovered planets.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

    More details for Tiny Epic Galaxies
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Tiny Epic Galaxies

    • YouTube Review for the game "Tiny Epic Galaxies" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  7. Mission: Red Planet (Second/Third Edition)

    All details for the board game Mission: Red Planet (Second/Third Edition) and similar games

    Mission: Red Planet (Second Edition) is a strategic board game set in a Victorian-era Earth, where players head mining corporations competing to exploit Mars' newfound resources.

    More details for Mission: Red Planet (Second/Third Edition)
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 45 - 90 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  8. Obsession

    All details for the board game Obsession and similar games

    You are the head of a respected but financially struggling estate in mid-19th century Victorian England. Your goal is to improve your estate and gain a better standing among the influential families of Derbyshire by renovating your property and hosting prestigious social events.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Obsession
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 90 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  9. Raptor

    All details for the board game Raptor and similar games

    Raptor is an engaging, card-driven board game that offers a blend of tactical maneuvers and strategic planning, set in a thrilling scenario where science clashes with nature.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Raptor
    • 2 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 9+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Raptor

    • YouTube Review for the game "Raptor" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  10. Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion

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

    Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion is a standalone adventure game that serves as a prequel to the highly acclaimed Gloomhaven. It's designed to be more accessible to a broader audience, with streamlined rules and an integrated tutorial.

    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
  11. Arcadia Quest

    All details for the board game Arcadia Quest and similar games

    Arcadia Quest is an engaging, campaign-based board game where players lead guilds of heroes on a quest to overthrow a vampire lord and take back the city of Arcadia. It's a competitive yet cooperative game, filled with strategic battles against both other players and game-controlled monsters.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Arcadia Quest
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  12. Gloomhaven

    All details for the board game Gloomhaven and similar games

    Gloomhaven is a Euro-inspired tactical combat game set in a persistent and evolving world. Players assume the roles of adventurers, each with unique skills and motives, as they explore dungeons, ruins, and engage in cooperative battles against automated monsters.

    Nominated for 22 awards and won 10.

    More details for Gloomhaven
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Hard to learn

    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
  13. Stop Thief!

    All details for the board game Stop Thief! and similar games

    A crime has just been committed, and players must grab their investigation licenses and sharpen their deductive skills to catch the suspect. As multiple private detectives race to solve the case, only one can handcuff the culprit and claim the reward, which can lead to a sunny retirement on a tropical Caribbean beach.

    More details for Stop Thief!
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  14. Century: A New World

    All details for the board game Century: A New World and similar games

    Century: A New World is the captivating final chapter in the acclaimed "Century" series by Emerson Matsuuchi. This installment transports players to the rich and uncharted territories of the Americas during the 16th century, offering a unique blend of strategy, exploration, and resource management.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Century: A New World
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  15. Roll for the Galaxy

    All details for the board game Roll for the Galaxy and similar games

    Roll for the Galaxy is a dice-based strategy game for 2-5 players, where dice represent the populace tasked with building a space empire. It's a dice adaptation of the popular card game Race for the Galaxy.

    Nominated for 7 awards and won 2.

    More details for Roll for the Galaxy
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  16. Arcadia Quest: Inferno

    All details for the board game Arcadia Quest: Inferno and similar games

    Inferno is a standalone expansion compatible with the original Arcadia Quest. It introduces four new guilds: Sharks, Tigers, Ravens, and Serpents, along with new hero types like Alchemists and Gladiators. A branching campaign system allows players to explore a storyline centered around guilds descending into a fiery abyss, featuring hazardous Brimstone cards and a new mechanism called "Damnation" that lures heroes with powerful, corruption-inducing weapons.

    More details for Arcadia Quest: Inferno
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  17. Dwellings of Eldervale

    All details for the board game Dwellings of Eldervale and similar games

    Players control unique factions in an epic worker placement game set in a magical world filled with elemental monsters, dragons, wizards, and warriors vying for dominance over eight elemental realms. The game combines worker placement, area control, engine building, and unique worker units, allowing players to place workers, regroup, and activate adventure cards while exploring powerful action spaces. Ultimately, players with the greatest elemental dominance will rule Eldervale.

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 1.

    More details for Dwellings of Eldervale
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 60 - 150 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  18. Chakra

    All details for the board game Chakra and similar games

    Breathe deeply and let the whispers of thoughts guide you. Harmonize your chakras and release negative energies while strategically meditating toward victory. Each player manages a board featuring the seven chakras, aiming to fill them with colored gemstones that represent energy flow. Points are earned by best aligning the chakras using actions like placing gemstones or utilizing special tiles for strategic advantages. The game concludes when a player successfully aligns five chakras, triggering the final scoring round.

    More details for Chakra
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  19. Trash Pandas

    All details for the board game Trash Pandas and similar games

    Players take the role of raccoons, knocking over trash cans to find food and shiny objects. They gamble on luck to draw more cards but must keep them hidden to score points at the end of the game. When the card pile runs out, players compare their collections to see who has the most cards of each type, receiving points accordingly. The player with the highest score wins.

    More details for Trash Pandas
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 15 - 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  20. Honey Buzz

    All details for the board game Honey Buzz and similar games

    Honey Buzz is a whimsical game where players delve into the world of bees, embracing the concept of economics and entrepreneurship. In this worker bee placement game, players are tasked with expanding their beehives, foraging for nectar, making honey, and even venturing into sales at the bear market.

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    More details for Honey Buzz
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 90 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  21. Century: Golem Edition – Eastern Mountains

    All details for the board game Century: Golem Edition – Eastern Mountains and similar games

    Players take on the role of crystal merchants exploring the mountain ranges and valleys of Karvania to build a trade network. The game features vibrant manga-inspired artwork and introduces new gameplay elements. It can be combined with the previous edition for a unique experience called "The Call for Adventure."

    More details for Century: Golem Edition – Eastern Mountains
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  22. Ankh: Gods of Egypt

    All details for the board game Ankh: Gods of Egypt and similar games

    Ankh: Gods of Egypt is a deeply thematic board game that immerses players in the ancient world of Egyptian mythology. In this game, players assume the roles of Egyptian gods vying for supremacy and survival in an era where the old ways and their followers are fading. The game stands out for its blend of strategic gameplay, stunning artwork, and detailed miniatures, offering a richly immersive experience.

    Nominated for 4 awards.

    More details for Ankh: Gods of Egypt
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  23. Century: Big Box

    All details for the board game Century: Big Box and similar games

    Century Big Box includes the three titles from the Century game series: Spice Road, Eastern Wonders, and A New World, along with all published promo items and a new mini-expansion, Golden Deals. Each game can be played independently, but they can also be combined, offering seven different ways to play. The Golden Deals expansion features transparent cards that allow players to acquire new items and alter the game cards.

    More details for Century: Big Box
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  24. Spirit Island

    All details for the board game Spirit Island and similar games

    Welcome to the captivating world of Spirit Island, where the distant echoes of magic still hold sway. In this immersive cooperative board game, players are entrusted with the crucial task of defending their island paradise from the relentless onslaught of colonizing Invaders. The spirits of the land, each possessing unique elemental powers, unite to thwart the advance of those who seek to conquer and despoil. As the colonial empires expand, the islanders and the very earth itself rise in defense. Harness the power of the spirits, strategize with your fellow players, and fight back against the encroaching Invaders to protect the island's mystical heart.

    Nominated for 15 awards and won 2.

    More details for Spirit Island
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 90 - 120 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Hard to learn
  25. Root

    All details for the board game Root and similar games

    Root is an engaging board game of adventure and strategy designed for 2 to 4 players (expandable to 1 to 6 with the 'Riverfolk' expansion). Set in a vast wilderness, the game offers a unique experience where each player embodies a different faction with its own distinctive abilities and victory conditions. With beautifully designed multi-use cards, Root brings a rich asymmetrical gameplay to the table.

    Nominated for 24 awards and won 14.

    More details for Root
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Hard to learn
  26. Expeditions

    All details for the board game Expeditions and similar games

    Players embark on a new adventure in Siberia, where a massive meteorite has awakened ancient corruption. Led by Dr. Tarkovsky, they explore the taiga in search of artifacts and glory while dealing with challenges. This competitive, card-driven exploration game involves building machines, using cards to gain power and unique abilities, and improving mechs to overcome corruption.

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    More details for Expeditions
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  27. Rococo

    All details for the board game Rococo and similar games

    Rococo immerses players in the lavish Rococo era during the reign of Louis XV, where they take on the role of managing a prestigious ball. The game blends elements of deck-building and resource management, requiring players to skilfully navigate the demands of dressmaking and event planning to gain the most prestige.

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2014

    More details for Rococo
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  28. Chronicle

    All details for the board game Chronicle and similar games

    Players engage in an irregular trick-taking game that intertwines various individual abilities, shaping the narrative of the land. They must decide how to utilize their powers to navigate events and leave their mark in history. For beginners, it's advised to play with 3 or 4 players, and to remove specific story cards until familiar with the game's mechanics.

    More details for Chronicle
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Chronicle

    • YouTube Review for the game "Chronicle" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  29. Warhammer Quest: The Adventure Card Game

    All details for the board game Warhammer Quest: The Adventure Card Game and similar games

    Warhammer Quest: The Adventure Card Game immerses players in the gritty fantasy world of Warhammer, where they join forces as iconic heroes to navigate and conquer the perils of a treacherous dungeon. This cooperative game is a thrilling blend of strategy and adventure, designed for one to four players.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Warhammer Quest: The Adventure Card Game
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  30. Santo Domingo

    All details for the board game Santo Domingo and similar games

    Players have the same set of eight action cards. In each round, they choose one or two cards, reveal them simultaneously, and then execute actions in a specified order. Players can collect goods, exchange them for victory points, or earn points directly, with the strength of each card influenced by the cards played by others.

    More details for Santo Domingo
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 20 - 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Santo Domingo

    • YouTube Review for the game "Santo Domingo" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English

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