The best action drafting board, card & dice games 2025

Players roll dice and place them on dog cards during their turn. Dice that cannot be placed are buried in their garden. If too many dice are buried, the player goes bankrupt. Completing 6 dogs wins the game!

The heron flies over the skies of Himeji while the Daimyo observes the activities of his servants from the castle's summit. Players control a clan to earn victory points by gaining influence at court, managing resources, and strategically placing their workers. The game features resource management, worker placement, and dice placement mechanics, set against the backdrop of Himeji Castle, where players engage in tending gardens, defending the castle, and climbing the social ladder. With accessible rules and a carefully crafted setting, it offers a blend of simplicity and strategic depth.

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.

Citadels is a dynamic game where players step into various roles, embodying characters they've hired to aid them in amassing wealth and constructing grand buildings. The game unfolds with a quest for dominance, culminating when a player successfully erects their eighth building. Let's delve into the key features of this intriguing game:

El Grande is a classic strategy board game set in medieval Spain, where players, as powerful lords or "Grandes," vie for control over various regions in a declining kingdom. The game is known for its blend of tactical depth and strategic planning.

Inis invites players to immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of Celtic history and lore, vying for the esteemed title of King of the Island. Rooted in strategic depth and Celtic mythology, the game offers a unique blend of victory conditions and gameplay dynamics.

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.

Players explore the smallest island of the Japanese archipelago in Tokaido Duo. They experience various landscapes from the perspectives of three distinct characters: a pilgrim visiting temples and hot springs, a merchant crafting and selling handmade goods, and an artist painting beautiful scenery. By embarking on adventures with all three characters, players collect points and deepen their connection to their journeys.

Step into the bustling Viennese modern age, where prestigious cafés vie for customers in the midst of inspiring artists, influential politicians, and global tourists. In Grand Austria Hotel, your task is to elevate your modest café into a world-renowned hotel. Hire a dedicated staff, cater to your guests' desires, and secure the favor of the emperor to transform your establishment into the illustrious Grand Austria Hotel.

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

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.

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?

Yspahan is a strategic board game set in 1598, during the period when Yspahan became the capital of the Persian empire. Players take on the roles of merchants in this flourishing city, aiming to maximize their gains through shrewd trading and development. The game stands out for its unique combination of dice-driven actions and multiple paths to victory.

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.

Orichalcum is an exciting and fast-paced strategy game, reminiscent of a short 4X experience. Each player has their own island board to explore and develop, choosing a combination of exploration tiles and actions each round. Victory comes from building majestic temples, forging orichalcum tiles, or gaining favor with titans by establishing areas of their preferred landscapes; the first to reach 5 victory points while clearing their island of monsters wins.

Arrakis is a seemingly barren desert world, harboring the galaxy's most vital resource: Spice. Control over Spice means power, and the House Atreides, initially given dominion over Arrakis by the Emperor, faces betrayal from the House Harkonnen, leading to a fierce struggle for survival. Players engage in asymmetric strategy, maneuvering factions like the Fremen and Sardaukar, while sending Spice Harvesters into the desert and challenging mighty sandworms, all within a system rich with action dice and event cards that bring the Dune saga to life with every playthrough.

Create your own botanical garden in the late 19th century as an aristocrat. Hire a gardener and seek out the finest plants, while ensuring they align with the preferences of discerning visitors. Compete for action points through a unique selection mechanism, manage resources, and gather funds to enhance your garden and attract more visitors than your rivals.

Coimbra is a historically themed board game set in the vibrant era of the 15th and 16th centuries in Portugal. It combines strategic planning, resource management, and an innovative dice mechanism, making it a compelling choice for gamers who enjoy a blend of history and strategy.

Players deploy followers to navigate through France, gather resources, construct buildings, set up trading posts, earn money, and contribute to noble deeds. The player who makes the best use of their chosen followers scores the most points and wins.

Tiletum transports players back to the splendor of the Renaissance, a period marked by the flourishing of trade and the arts across Europe. In this game, players embody wealthy merchants traversing from Flanders to Venice, engaging in commerce, constructing cathedrals, and currying favor with noble families to establish themselves as preeminent figures of the era.

Players take on the role of biologists and work together to create a connected ecosystem by carefully laying down cards. Use your skills to introduce key keystone animals and conduct wildlife research to maximize your points. The game offers multiple modes including a competitive multiplayer option and a narrative adventure through a fully illustrated Field Journal, featuring a solo or cooperative campaign with puzzles and exploration of North America's diverse ecosystems.

Puerto Rico is a redesigned version of the classic game from 2002, featuring all official expansions and promos released to date. Players take on the role of colonial governors on the island, aiming to collect victory points by shipping goods to Europe or constructing buildings. The game involves building plantations and managing resources, with a unique role selection mechanic that allows players to perform actions and gain privileges, while also weighing their options to strategically end the game.

In Tiny Epic Kingdoms, players are plunged into a world of fantasy and strategy where they lead their tiny kingdoms towards greatness amidst fierce competition.

In the Year of the Dragon is a strategic board game designed by Stefan Feld, set in ancient China around the year 1000. The game is known for its challenging gameplay that combines resource management, strategic planning, and crisis management.

New Frontiers is a standalone strategy game that expands the Race for the Galaxy universe into new realms of empire building and exploration. Players vie to construct the most powerful galactic empire by strategically selecting actions that benefit all, but with a special advantage to the chooser.

The game includes the base game and expansions, featuring various challenges faced by Chinese rulers around the year 1000. Players must manage resources and recruit characters with unique abilities to survive months filled with disasters such as disease and drought. Careful planning is essential for navigating the hardships, as well as utilizing expansions that introduce new mechanics and events.

Praga Caput Regni immerses players in the era of Charles IV, King of Bohemia, focusing on the construction and expansion of Prague during medieval times. Players act as influential citizens contributing to the city's development, seeking to gain the king's favor through strategic project management and resource allocation.

Players take on the role of farm owners along the Mississippi River in the 19th century. They must organize their workers to ensure fields are planted and harvested in time to ship goods to New Orleans. The game consists of four rounds, where players draw phase cards and then perform actions in order, including placing workers on fields, organizing the harvest, and loading riverboats for transport.

Players take the controls of their own seaplane and transport passengers to various locations in the Yukon. They pick up passengers using a drafting system and use ticket cards to deliver them to their destinations. Players earn money and can upgrade their planes when passengers find attractions that match their preferences. At the end of the game, additional money is awarded based on the locations visited, and the player with the most money wins.