The best games with square grid ◻️ 2025
Looking for a game that plays in a square grid ◻️? Then we have just the thing: The 30 best "square grid" games.
What are square grid games?
The game pieces, pieces or parts of the board are placed on a playing field mosaicked with square squares. This is used for laying pieces of the board against each other and/or placing or moving pieces. Probably the best known game with such a board is Chess, but newer games like Blokus Duo or The Isle of Cats also rely on such boards.
Distinction from hexagonal grid and movement of game pieces in the grid
To ensure a more precise distinction we have created two more categories. It should be noted that movement of game pieces and the arrangement of the game board itself should be distinguished:
List of the best games 2025 that use a square grid ◻️
Azul
Azul invites you to step into the captivating world of Portuguese artistry and craftsmanship. This board game draws inspiration from the introduction of azulejos, originally white and blue ceramic tiles, by the Moors. The tiles found a new home in Portugal when King Manuel I, during a visit to the Alhambra palace in Southern Spain, was enchanted by the exquisite Moorish decorative tiles adorning its interior. Filled with awe and inspiration, the king promptly ordered the embellishment of his own palace in Portugal with similar decorative tiles. As a skilled tile-laying artist, you are tasked with the prestigious mission of adorning the walls of the Royal Palace of Evora.
Nominated for 30 awards and won 19.
⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 2018
More details for Azul- 2 - 4 Players
- 30 - 45 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Video reviews for Azul
Patchwork
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.
Nominated for 11 awards and won 3.
More details for Patchwork- 2 Players
- 15 - 30 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Video reviews for Patchwork
Cartographers
Cartographers: A Roll Player Tale transports players to a realm where they take on the roles of mapmakers, tasked by Queen Gimnax to chart the northern territories for the Kingdom of Nalos. This game combines elements of strategy and creativity, challenging players to create the most efficient and aesthetically pleasing maps.
Nominated for 10 awards.
⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2020
More details for Cartographers- 1 - 100 Players
- 30 - 45 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Outfoxed!
Outfoxed! invites you into a whimsical detective chase after Mrs. Plumpert's missing prized pot pie. It's a cooperative game where players work together to gather clues, eliminate suspects, and catch the cunning fox before it escapes. The game introduces a unique evidence scanner mechanism that adds a fun twist to deducing the thief among a lineup of potential foxes.
Nominated for 3 awards and won 2.
More details for Outfoxed!- 2 - 4 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 5+ years old
- Immediately playable
Onitama
Immerse yourself in the world of Onitama, a dynamic two-player abstract game offering perfect information and a randomized starting setup on a 5x5 board. Both participants begin the game with five pawns each, strategically placing the main pawn at the board's center.
Nominated for 6 awards and won 1.
More details for Onitama- 2 Players
- 15 - 20 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Santorini
Santorini is a beautifully re-imagined strategy game that combines abstract elements with accessible gameplay, suitable for a wide range of players.
Nominated for 7 awards.
More details for Santorini- 2 - 4 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Bärenpark
Bärenpark is a charming and strategic board game that invites players to delve into the world of bear parks. Your task is to construct a visually appealing and efficiently designed bear park.
Nominated for 8 awards and won 4.
More details for Bärenpark- 2 - 4 Players
- 30 - 45 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Video reviews for Bärenpark
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
Planet Unknown
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.
Nominated for 11 awards and won 4.
⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2023
More details for Planet Unknown- 1 - 6 Players
- 60 - 80 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Cartographers Heroes
More details for Cartographers HeroesCartographers Heroes embarks players on a new voyage through the storied Western Lands, enhancing the acclaimed formula of its predecessor with fresh challenges and dynamic elements. As royal cartographers, players are tasked with mapping these perilous territories, their efforts now intertwined with the valorous acts of heroes who stand against the encroaching Dragul forces. This sequel not only retains the beloved core mechanics of drawing and mapping but enriches the experience with innovative map sheets, scoring cards, and explore cards, all while introducing ambush cards that bring unique abilities into play.
- 1 - 100 Players
- 30 - 45 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
boop.
Players engage in a deceptively cute and challenging abstract strategy game for two. Each time a player places a kitten on the bed, it shifts other kittens on the board, creating a dynamic gameplay experience. Align three kittens to transform them, and then align three cats to win. The game features a fabric board that fits over the game box and includes 32 adorable wooden cat figures.
Nominated for 6 awards and won 3.
More details for boop.- 2 Players
- 20 - 30 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Immediately playable
Botanik
Develop the most effective network of Mecha-Botanik, a blend of plants and science. The game features a simple mechanic with one action per turn and an intricate exchange system involving tiles of different groups and colors. Earn points by creating groups of three or more matching tiles and by having flowers on your tiles.
Nominated for 2 awards.
More details for Botanik- 2 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Easy to learn
The Isle of Cats
Embark on a delightful rescue mission in The Isle of Cats, a captivating competitive board game designed for 1-4 players (expandable to 6 with expansions). This medium-weight game combines card-drafting, polyomino cat-placement, and resource management, offering an engaging and strategic gameplay experience.
Nominated for 7 awards.
More details for The Isle of Cats- 1 - 4 Players
- 60 - 90 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Video reviews for The Isle of Cats
Targi
Targi is a strategic board game set against the backdrop of the Tuareg culture in the desert. Players assume the roles of leaders of Tuareg tribes, engaging in trade and seeking to expand their families and influence.
Nominated for 5 awards and won 1.
⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2012
More details for Targi- 2 Players
- 60 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Easy to learn
Video reviews for Targi
Under Falling Skies
Under Falling Skies is a solo board game with a focus on strategic defense against an alien invasion. It features a multi-mission campaign where players defend cities from extraterrestrial threats.
Nominated for 8 awards and won 4.
More details for Under Falling Skies- 1 Players
- 20 - 40 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Easy to learn
In the Footsteps of Darwin
Twenty years after his journey around the world, Charles Darwin writes about the origin of species and seeks new information about animal life, especially from unexplored continents. Young, adventurous naturalists board the Beagle to assist him in completing his famous work. Players study animals, conduct surveys, publish findings, and develop theories, aiming to score more points than their competitors and demonstrate their significant contributions to Darwin's research.
Nominated for 5 awards and won 2.
⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2024
More details for In the Footsteps of Darwin- 2 - 5 Players
- 20 - 30 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
The Downfall of Pompeii
The Downfall of Pompeii is a thematic and tactical board game that transports players to the ancient city of Pompeii, just before and during its catastrophic destruction by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The game combines strategic planning with an element of luck, as players attempt to save as many of their pieces as possible from the disaster.
Nominated for 1 award and won 1.
More details for The Downfall of Pompeii- 2 - 4 Players
- 45 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Arboretum
Arboretum invites 2-4 players, aged 10 and up, to embark on a strategic journey of set collection, tile-laying, and hand management, creating picturesque garden paths within a concise 25-minute playtime.
Nominated for 5 awards and won 1.
More details for Arboretum- 2 - 4 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Video reviews for Arboretum
La Boca
La Boca, the famous neighborhood of Buenos Aires, is known for its quirky skyline made from recycled fishing boats and colorful metal. Players form teams to creatively build skylines based on challenge cards while coordinating closely, as each team can only see their own view of the structure. The goal is to complete the colored blocks before time runs out, earning points, and the team with the most points after several rounds will shine as champions.
Nominated for 10 awards and won 3.
⭐️ Nominated for Kinderspiel des Jahres 2013
More details for La Boca- 3 - 6 Players
- 40 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
Tiny Towns
Tiny Towns is a charming and strategic board game where players take on the role of mayors building their own tiny towns in a forest. The game challenges players to manage resources wisely and plan their towns carefully to maximize prosperity.
Nominated for 9 awards and won 2.
More details for Tiny Towns- 1 - 6 Players
- 45 - 60 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Easy to learn
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 - 40 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
SHŌBU
SHŌBU is a beautifully designed abstract strategy game for 2 players. The game features 4 square wooden boards in two colors and 16 natural river stones for each player, along with a rope dividing the playing area. Players take turns moving their stones in a passive and then an aggressive manner, aiming to remove all four of their opponent's stones from one of the boards to win.
Nominated for 4 awards.
More details for SHŌBU- 2 Players
- 15 - 30 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Five Tribes: The Djinns of Naqala
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.
Nominated for 14 awards and won 5.
More details for Five Tribes: The Djinns of Naqala- 2 - 4 Players
- 40 - 80 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Video reviews for Five Tribes: The Djinns of Naqala
Bunny Kingdom
Bunny Kingdom is a charming and strategic board game where players lead clans of rabbits to establish their dominance over a vast kingdom. The game combines elements of drafting, resource management, and area control to create a dynamic and engaging experience.
Nominated for 2 awards.
More details for Bunny Kingdom- 2 - 4 Players
- 40 - 60 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Easy to learn
Video reviews for Bunny Kingdom
Qwirkle
The abstract game of Qwirkle unfolds with 108 wooden blocks, each featuring six different shapes in six distinct colors. Unlike traditional board games, there is no designated board; players utilize any available flat surface.
Nominated for 13 awards and won 2.
⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 2011
⭐️ Nominated for Kinderspiel des Jahres 2011
⭐️ Nominated for Kinderspiel des Jahres 2011
More details for Qwirkle- 2 - 4 Players
- 45 Minutes
- 6+ years old
- Easy to learn
Galaxy Trucker
Galaxy Trucker is a fast-paced, tile-laying board game that combines space adventure with ship construction and navigation challenges.
Nominated for 9 awards and won 1.
More details for Galaxy Trucker- 2 - 4 Players
- 60 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Burgle Bros.
Burgle Bros. is a cooperative heist game where 1 to 4 players team up as a crew of burglars attempting to pull off a daring robbery in a highly secure, multi-level building.
Nominated for 5 awards.
More details for Burgle Bros.- 1 - 4 Players
- 45 - 90 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Easy to learn
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
Forbidden Desert
Forbidden Desert is a cooperative adventure game where players work together to recover a legendary flying machine from the ruins of an ancient desert city, while surviving extreme environmental challenges.
Nominated for 7 awards and won 4.
More details for Forbidden Desert- 2 - 5 Players
- 45 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Video reviews for Forbidden Desert
Paris: La Cité de la Lumière
Paris: La Cité de la Lumière is a two-player board game designed by José Antonio Abascal, beautifully illustrated by Oriol Hernández. Set in the enchanting city of Paris during the 1889 "Exposition Universelle," the game captures the era when electricity began illuminating the city, leading to its nickname "La Cité de la Lumière" or the City of Light.
Nominated for 3 awards.
More details for Paris: La Cité de la Lumière- 2 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
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