The best games with Variable Phase Order 2024

Aeon's End: War Eternal plunges you into the desperate battle for Gravehold, the last stronghold in a world under siege by The Nameless. This standalone expansion of Aeon's End delivers a thrilling cooperative deck-building experience.

In the concealed underground city of Gravehold, survivors of a distant invasion find solace. Here, amidst the remnants of a desperate society, they unearth a revelation: the energy emanating from breaches, the very conduits exploited by hostile beings, can be harnessed. Various gems allow them to transmute malevolent energies into beneficial spells and weapons, becoming the last bastion of defense—the breach mages.

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.

Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest sails players into the adventurous world of Galecrest, where they become admirals of sky pirate ships. This game is a refreshed and expanded edition of the 2012 Libertalia, featuring new art, more characters, and additional game mechanics. It's all about strategy, treasure hunting, and outmaneuvering rivals in the pirate fleet.

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.

Jekyll vs. Hyde is a riveting two-player trick-taking game inspired by the classic novella Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. This game pits two iconic characters against each other in a battle of wits and strategy, with one player embodying Dr. Jekyll, striving to maintain his secret and sanity, and the other player taking on the role of Mr. Hyde, seeking to dominate and unveil the dual identity.

Aeon's End: Legacy immerses players into the world of breach mages, defenders of Gravehold, the last bastion of humanity. As apprentices, players are inspired by legendary mages like Brama, Dezmodia, Mist, Malastar, and Xaxos, each embodying unique traits and powers.

Dream Home is all about unleashing your inner designer to create the perfect abode. Imagine deciding every detail of your house, from a luxurious bedroom with a canopy bed to a lavish living room with a grand piano. This family-friendly game turns you and your fellow players into architects and interior decorators, competing to build the most impressive home.

Queendomino is a standalone board game that builds upon the concepts introduced in Kingdomino. It offers a more complex and strategic experience, allowing players to create their kingdoms with an added layer of depth.

San Juan is a captivating card game that is inspired by the highly acclaimed board game, Puerto Rico. It is a game of strategy and resource management, set against the backdrop of the historic city of San Juan.

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.

Puerto Rico is a strategy game where players become colonial governors in Puerto Rico, aiming to earn victory points through trade and construction.

In Libertalia, players delve into a world of piracy, vying to become the most cunning pirate of all. This game is about outsmarting your rivals through strategic use of crew member cards and seizing the opportunity to thwart their plans.

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.

In this latest collaboration between Bruno Cathala and Ludovic Maublanc, players must buy the favor of the gods in their race to be the first player to build two cities in the Ancient Greek island group known as the Cyclades.

Broom Service is a captivating and strategic card-based game where players aim to score the most victory points by adeptly delivering potions throughout a magical realm. This game is a reimagined version of the award-winning Witch's Brew, offering a fresh theme and new gameplay elements, while retaining the core mechanics that made the original game popular.

Dice Hospital is a worker placement board game where players manage a hospital and treat patients represented by dice. The lower the dice value, the more critical the patient's condition. Players aim to efficiently treat and discharge patients, increasing their hospital's reputation.

Vindication (originally known as Epoch: The Awakening) is a richly strategic and immersive fantasy board game designed for 2-5 players. Each session spans 15-30 minutes per player, offering a deep and engaging experience. In this game, players start as disgraced outcasts washed up on the shores of a mysterious island and embark on a journey to restore their honor through cunning resource management, area control, and strategic action selection.

Glory to Rome transports players back to 64 A.D., where they take on the role of architects and planners aiding Emperor Nero in rebuilding Rome after the great fire. This card-based game combines city building with resource management in a historically themed setting.

51st State: Master Set is a comprehensive and rebalanced card game set in a post-apocalyptic world where players vie for control over the remnants of the United States. As leaders of one of four powers, players work to build and establish their new country amidst the ruins. The game is renowned for its strategic depth, offering multiple ways to use each card, and it includes content from the original game as well as from the New Era and Winter expansions.

Conan is an asymmetric, semi-cooperative board game set in Robert E. Howard's universe, where players take on the roles of Conan and his companions, or the Overlord controlling opposition forces. The game, emphasizing Howard's original stories, features various scenarios and maps with diverse objectives. Players engage in strategic battles using a unique energy gem system for actions, while the Overlord manages units with a sliding tile board. Each scenario offers a distinct adventure with an approximate one-hour playtime.

In the mystical realm of legendary feudal Japan, the forgotten Kami have arisen from the underworld, dissatisfied with the ruling Shōgun. As spring heralds the Great New Year, the sacred clans gather to embark on a quest to reclaim the lands of Nippon, restoring honor and spirituality. Honorable Shōgun, you lead one of these clans, navigating a delicate balance of diplomacy, alliances, and war in the pursuit of victory. Will you uphold the ancient promise with strength, virtue, and spirit in the board game Rising Sun?

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.