The best hand management games 2023

Looking for a game where the combination of cards makes them stronger and more powerful? Then check out our list of the best hand management games.

What does "Hand Management" mean in board games?

Hand management games are games with cards that reward players for playing the cards in specific sequences or groups. The optimal sequence/grouping can vary depending on the order of players, the cards still available, and the cards played by opponents. Managing your hand means getting the most value from the cards available under the circumstances. Cards can be used for more than one purpose in some games. This can disguise one's actions.

Examples of games with hand management

A good example of a hand management game is the Ticket to Ride series. Here, one manages one's hand by first collecting different colored train cars and then cleverly combining them.

Another example is Love Letter: here you always have a choice between two cards you have in your hand. For example, if you have a baron and the princess, you can safely kick another player out of the game.

List of the best hand management games 2023

This list was last updated on November 27, 2023. We compared 10236 board games for this list and selected the top 30. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. SCOUT

    All details for the board game SCOUT and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2022

    More details for SCOUT
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 9+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  2. The Crew: Mission Deep Sea

    All details for the board game The Crew: Mission Deep Sea and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 2.

    More details for The Crew: Mission Deep Sea
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!12€ atAmazon.de
  3. Love Letter

    All details for the board game Love Letter and similar games
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Love Letter

    • YouTube Review for the game "Love Letter" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  4. Sushi Go Party!

    All details for the board game Sushi Go Party! and similar games

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 2.

    More details for Sushi Go Party!
    • 2 - 8 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  5. Jaipur

    All details for the board game Jaipur and similar games

    Nominated for 7 awards and won 4.

    More details for Jaipur
    • 2 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  6. Pandemic Legacy: Season 1

    All details for the board game Pandemic Legacy: Season 1 and similar games

    Nominated for 21 awards and won 12.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2016

    More details for Pandemic Legacy: Season 1
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    👍 Good price!54€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Pandemic Legacy: Season 1

    • YouTube Review for the game "Pandemic Legacy: Season 1" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Pandemic Legacy: Season 1" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Pandemic Legacy: Season 1" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Pandemic Legacy: Season 1" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  7. Love Letter

    All details for the board game Love Letter and similar games

    Nominated for 14 awards and won 7.

    More details for Love Letter
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Love Letter

    • YouTube Review for the game "Love Letter" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  8. Skull

    All details for the board game Skull and similar games

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 1.

    More details for Skull
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 15 - 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Skull

    • YouTube Review for the game "Skull" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Skull" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  9. The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine

    All details for the board game The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine and similar games

    Nominated for 25 awards and won 13.

    ⭐️ Kennerspiel des Jahres 2020

    More details for The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  10. Heat: Pedal to the Metal

    All details for the board game Heat: Pedal to the Metal and similar games

    Nominated for 8 awards and won 4.

    More details for Heat: Pedal to the Metal
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  11. For Sale

    All details for the board game For Sale and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for For Sale
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  12. Junk Art

    All details for the board game Junk Art and similar games

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    More details for Junk Art
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  13. Unmatched: Cobble & Fog

    All details for the board game Unmatched: Cobble & Fog and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 20 - 40 Minutes
    • 9+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!36€ atAmazon.de
  14. Love Letter: Premium Edition

    All details for the board game Love Letter: Premium Edition and similar games
    • 2 - 8 Players
    • 20 - 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    🔥 Great price!17€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Love Letter: Premium Edition

    • YouTube Review for the game "Love Letter: Premium Edition" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  15. Century: Golem Edition

    All details for the board game Century: Golem Edition and similar games
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  16. Wingspan

    All details for the board game Wingspan and similar games

    Nominated for 25 awards and won 16.

    ⭐️ Kennerspiel des Jahres 2019

    More details for Wingspan
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 40 - 70 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!39€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Wingspan

    • YouTube Review for the game "Wingspan" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  17. Star Realms: Colony Wars

    All details for the board game Star Realms: Colony Wars and similar games
    • 2 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  18. The Quest for El Dorado

    All details for the board game The Quest for El Dorado and similar games

    Nominated for 13 awards and won 6.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2017

    🔥 Deal: 7% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!

    More details for The Quest for El Dorado
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    🔥 Great price!25€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for The Quest for El Dorado

    • YouTube Review for the game "The Quest for El Dorado" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  19. Hanamikoji

    All details for the board game Hanamikoji and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Hanamikoji
    • 2 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!13€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Hanamikoji

    • YouTube Review for the game "Hanamikoji" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Hanamikoji" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  20. Flamme Rouge

    All details for the board game Flamme Rouge and similar games

    Nominated for 10 awards and won 2.

    More details for Flamme Rouge
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Flamme Rouge

    • YouTube Review for the game "Flamme Rouge" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Flamme Rouge" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Flamme Rouge" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  21. Sushi Go!

    All details for the board game Sushi Go! and similar games

    Nominated for 8 awards and won 2.

    More details for Sushi Go!
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  22. Lost Cities

    All details for the board game Lost Cities and similar games

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 2.

    More details for Lost Cities
    • 2 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    👍 Good price!15€ atAmazon.de
  23. Unmatched: Battle of Legends, Volume One

    All details for the board game Unmatched: Battle of Legends, Volume One and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 20 - 40 Minutes
    • 9+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  24. Star Realms

    All details for the board game Star Realms and similar games

    Nominated for 10 awards and won 3.

    More details for Star Realms
    • 2 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  25. Marvel United: X-Men

    All details for the board game Marvel United: X-Men and similar games
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 40 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  26. Sea Salt & Paper

    All details for the board game Sea Salt & Paper and similar games

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    More details for Sea Salt & Paper
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  27. Rhino Hero

    All details for the board game Rhino Hero and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Rhino Hero
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 5 - 15 Minutes
    • 5+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  28. Fantasy Realms

    All details for the board game Fantasy Realms and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2021

    More details for Fantasy Realms
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    🔥 Great price!15€ atAmazon.de
  29. Ticket to Ride: Europe

    All details for the board game Ticket to Ride: Europe and similar games

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 2.

    More details for Ticket to Ride: Europe
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!34€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Ticket to Ride: Europe

    • YouTube Review for the game "Ticket to Ride: Europe" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  30. Unmatched: Robin Hood vs. Bigfoot

    All details for the board game Unmatched: Robin Hood vs. Bigfoot and similar games
    • 2 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 9+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!26€ atAmazon.de

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