The best games with improvements via Tech Tree or Tech Tracks 2025

A dark rumor arises from Mordor, and the time has come for the Fellowship to unite once more. Players can choose to defend the free peoples as the Fellowship of the Ring or pursue Frodo and Sam as Sauron, deploying their hordes at enemy city gates. The fate of Middle-earth rests in your hands as you navigate the three chapters of the game, strengthening your skills and gathering resources to achieve one of the victory conditions.

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.

Planet Unknown is a competitive and strategic game for 1-6 players set in a future where Earth's resources are depleted. Players are tasked with developing the most efficient and habitable planet among a series of newfound worlds. Using polyomino-shaped tiles, each representing vital infrastructure, players work to efficiently cover their planets and build an effective support system for life.

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.

Hansa Teutonica: Big Box is an expansive edition of the acclaimed strategy game "Hansa Teutonica," renowned for its deep strategic gameplay and interactive mechanics. This edition not only includes the base game but also all its expansions, offering an enriched experience of the historical Hanseatic League trading theme.

Orléans is a strategic board game set in medieval France, where players compete to gain supremacy through trade, construction, and science by assembling a diverse following of characters like farmers, merchants, knights, and monks.

Brass: Birmingham is an economic strategy game and a sequel to the 2007 game Brass. It immerses players in the world of industrial revolution entrepreneurs in Birmingham between 1770-1870.

Endeavor: Age of Sail invites players to navigate the high seas and earn glory for their empires. Set during the age of exploration, players sail from Europe and the Mediterranean, establishing shipping routes and occupying cities across the globe, all while building their industrial, cultural, financial, and influential power.

My Little Scythe is a charming, family-friendly board game that offers a light and engaging experience inspired by the critically acclaimed Scythe. It's a game of adventure and whimsy, set in the enchanting Kingdom of Pomme, where players control delightful animal miniatures on a quest to earn trophies and achieve victory.

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.

Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy is an enhanced version of the original Eclipse game, first released in 2011. It's a grand strategy game set in the depths of space, where players lead their own interstellar civilizations to explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate.

Black Orchestra is a cooperative board game set in World War II, where players take on the roles of members of the German resistance seeking to overthrow Hitler's regime. The game is named after the real-life code name "Schwarze Kapelle," given by the Gestapo to this group of conspirators. It offers a blend of historical narrative and strategic gameplay, where players must balance the urgency of their mission with the need to remain undetected.

Beyond the Sun is a strategic board game that places players at the forefront of humanity's technological advancement into the Spacefaring Era. Here, players shape the progress of human civilization in space while competing to become the dominant faction through scientific development, economic growth, and galactic influence.

Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition is an engaging engine-building game where players take on the roles of corporations with the ambitious goal of terraforming Mars. The game combines strategic resource management and project development to make the red planet habitable.

Hansa Teutonica is a strategic board game that transports players back to the time of the Hanseatic League, a medieval commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds in Northwestern and Central Europe. In this game, players take on the roles of traders competing to expand their trading network, improve their skills, and gain the most victory points.

In Kingsburg, players assume the roles of Lords dispatched by the King to oversee frontier territories. The game unfolds over five years, comprising a total of 20 turns. Each year consists of three production seasons, allowing players to gather resources, construct structures, and train troops. However, every fourth turn ushers in winter, a time when all players must individually confront an invading army. Despite this threat, Kingsburg remains a competitive rather than cooperative game.

Kemet is a strategy board game set in ancient Egypt, where players command Egyptian tribes and harness the powers of gods to earn victory points through battles and territorial control.

Revive is a post-apocalyptic strategy game set 5000 years after civilization's collapse. Players lead tribes to explore a frozen Earth, harness resources, recruit survivors, build factories, and relearn ancient technologies. Designed for 1-4 players, Revive stands out with its asymmetric player powers, highly variable setup, and a focus on strategy and rebuilding over conflict.

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.

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.

In the realm of Kingsburg, monstrous invaders threaten the borders, prompting your king to entrust you with the governance of a province. As a governor, you must manage your province, influence the King's advisors, and gather resources to expand and defend your lands. But you're not alone in seeking the advisors' favor – rival governors vie for resources to strengthen their territories too.

Players draw cards to collect treasures like gems, gold, artworks, and tomes, aiming to create the most valuable collection. Each round starts with dividing cards into two groups, then passing one group to the left while receiving a choice from the player on the right. Manage your collection wisely, as different treasures yield prestige points in various ways, and strategize your trades to outmaneuver opponents.

Kemet: Blood and Sand revives the classic Kemet game with an enhanced edition that plunges players into a vividly realized Ancient Egypt. Here, you embody powerful gods commanding respect and fear across the desert and Nile delta. The game is all about asserting your dominance through strategic battles, without showing mercy to your foes. Prepare to lead your city's troops into war, showcasing your power as the ultimate ruler of Ancient Egypt.

Brass: Lancashire is a compelling economic strategy game set during the industrial revolution in Lancashire. The game chronicles the story of competing cotton entrepreneurs and requires players to develop, build, and expand their industries and networks to capitalize on the growing demand for iron, coal, and cotton.

Innovation is a dynamic card game that captures the essence of civilization building. Designed by Carl Chudyk, it offers players a unique experience of guiding a civilization's journey from the stone age to modern times.

Tapestry is a strategic board game designed by Jamey Stegmaier, intended for 1-5 players and lasting about two hours. The game invites players to weave the narrative of a civilization's journey from the dawn of humankind into the future, creating a unique and storied history that diverges from real-world events.

Embark on an epic journey of galactic conquest in Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition. As a leader of one of seventeen unique factions, you'll navigate the vastness of space, striving for dominance through military might, political maneuvering, and economic prowess. The game unfolds around Mecatol Rex, the central planet, where the throne of the galaxy awaits the faction that can skillfully navigate the challenges of a dynamic and strategically constructed universe.

Anno 1800: The Board Game is an immersive game that captures the essence of the popular Ubisoft PC game, Anno 1800. Players are tasked with developing their home island by building a robust industry, engaging in trade, and meeting the evolving needs of their population. The game emphasizes strategic planning and resource management, set against the backdrop of the 19th-century industrial revolution.

Russian Railroads is a strategic board game where players compete to build the most extensive and advanced railway network in Russia. The game combines worker placement with track building and resource management elements, offering players various paths to victory.

Endeavor is a strategic board game set during the age of exploration and expansion, where players represent growing empires vying for global dominance through various means such as exploration, colonization, and war.