The best abstract♟ board, card & dice games 2021
Looking for a really good party game where the game experience and the game mechanics are the most important things? Then we have just the thing: A list of the 30 best abstract♟ games 2021.
What are abstract games?
In an abstract board, card or dice game, the theme or scenario is not important. So in abstract games, the focus is on the game experience itself.
Many classics are abstract games
Many of the classic board games around the world, including Chess, Go, Checkers, Xiangqi (Chinese chess), Shogi (Japanese chess), Backgammon, Reversi (marketed as "Othello") fit into the category of abstract games.
Some in addition also "combinatorial".
Many abstract games also happen to be "combinatorial", meaning there is no hidden information, no non-deterministic elements (such as shuffled cards or dice rolls), no simultaneous or hidden movement or set-up, and (usually) two players or teams take a finite number of alternating turns.
Abstract is more likely to be understood as "theme-less"
The term "abstract" here should be understood as a synonym for "theme-less" or "theoretical". An abstract game thus does not contain a theme and setting. Abstract games are primarily about the game experience and the game mechanics - not about the scenario in which it is set.
List of the best abstract♟ board games 2021
Azul
2 - 4 Players
30 - 45 Minutes
8+ years old
Complexity: easy
Video reviews for Azul
Patchwork
Nominated for 11 awards and won 3.
More details for Patchwork- 2 Players
- 15 - 30 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Complexity: easy
Video reviews for Patchwork
Azul: Summer Pavilion
Nominated for 5 awards and won 1.
More details for Azul: Summer Pavilion- 2 - 4 Players
- 30 - 45 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Complexity: easy
💸 Too expensive!46€ at
.deVideo reviews for Azul: Summer Pavilion
Santorini
Nominated for 6 awards.
More details for Santorini- 2 - 4 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Complexity: easy
💸 Too expensive!30€ at.deSagrada
Nominated for 10 awards.
More details for Sagrada- 1 - 4 Players
- 30 - 45 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Complexity: easy
👍 Good price!28€ at.deOnitama
Nominated for 5 awards and won 1.
More details for Onitama- 2 Players
- 15 - 20 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Complexity: easy
💸 Too expensive!21€ at.deWar Chest
Nominated for 2 awards.
More details for War Chest- 2 - 4 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Complexity: easy
Video reviews for War Chest
Mandala
Nominated for 2 awards.
More details for Mandala- 2 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Complexity: easy
💸 Too expensive!23€ at.deVideo reviews for Mandala
NMBR 9
Nominated for 4 awards.
More details for NMBR 9- 1 - 4 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Complexity: very easy
🔥 Great price!15€ at.deVideo reviews for NMBR 9
Nova Luna
- 1 - 4 Players
- 30 - 60 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Complexity: easy
Video reviews for Nova Luna
YINSH
Nominated for 5 awards and won 2.
More details for YINSH- 2 Players
- 30 - 60 Minutes
- 9+ years old
- Complexity: medium
🔥 Great price!26€ at.deSHŌBU
Nominated for 3 awards.
More details for SHŌBU- 2 Players
- 15 - 30 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Complexity: easy
Ingenious
- 1 - 4 Players
- 45 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Complexity: easy
💸 Too expensive!26€ at.deHive
Nominated for 4 awards and won 2.
More details for Hive- 2 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 9+ years old
- Complexity: easy
Noctiluca
Nominated for 1 award.
More details for Noctiluca- 1 - 4 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Complexity: very easy
TZAAR
Nominated for 4 awards and won 1.
More details for TZAAR- 2 Players
- 30 - 60 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Complexity: medium
💸 Too expensive!31€ at.deDragon Castle
Nominated for 3 awards.
More details for Dragon Castle- 2 - 4 Players
- 30 - 45 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Complexity: easy
Video reviews for Dragon Castle
Cabo
- 2 - 5 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Complexity: very easy
Tsuro
Nominated for 1 award.
More details for Tsuro- 2 - 8 Players
- 15 - 20 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Complexity: very easy
Reef
Nominated for 1 award.
More details for Reef- 2 - 4 Players
- 30 - 45 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Complexity: easy
💸 Too expensive!65€ at.deSpirits of the Forest
- 1 - 4 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Complexity: very easy
Video reviews for Spirits of the Forest
Cribbage
- 2 - 4 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Complexity: easy
Seikatsu
Nominated for 1 award.
More details for Seikatsu- 1 - 4 Players
- 15 - 30 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Complexity: easy
😕 Questionable price15€ at.deGlüx
- 2 - 4 Players
- 30 - 45 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Complexity: easy
😕 Questionable price29€ at.deVideo reviews for Glüx
Hey, That's My Fish!
Nominated for 8 awards and won 1.
More details for Hey, That's My Fish!- 2 - 4 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Complexity: very easy
👍 Good price!13€ at.deVideo reviews for Hey, That's My Fish!
Paris: La Cité de la Lumière
Nominated for 1 award.
More details for Paris: La Cité de la Lumière- 2 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Complexity: easy
Pyramid Arcade
Nominated for 1 award.
More details for Pyramid Arcade- 1 - 10 Players
- 5 - 180 Minutes
- 5+ years old
- Complexity: easy
Video reviews for Pyramid Arcade
Blokus
Nominated for 6 awards and won 4.
More details for Blokus- 2 - 4 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 7+ years old
- Complexity: easy
👍 Good price!25€ at.deSix Making
- 2 Players
- 25 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Complexity: easy
Tak
Nominated for 4 awards.
More details for Tak- 2 Players
- 20 - 60 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Complexity: easy
Video reviews for Tak
Didn't find the game you were looking for?
We're positive that you'll find it in one of our other lists! To make the search easier for you, we split our website into different categories. The following board game categories will help you find the right list: