The best Board Games for Hardcore Gamers 2024
Do you prefer playing complex and involved games? Is your idea of a perfect weekend a trip to Flippin' Burgers followed by a long game of board games with friends? This list is for you.
Insider tip: Blood on the Clocktower
Attached is the list of the best board games for gamers that you can buy 2024:
The Castles of Burgundy: Special Edition
The Castles of Burgundy: Special Edition revitalizes Stefan Feld's classic strategy game for 1-4 players, where participants embody aristocrats managing their princedoms. This special edition, a collaboration between Ravensburger and Awaken Realms, elevates the game with a full art redesign, premium materials, and enhanced components, offering a luxurious playing experience as players build their settlements, castles, and engage in trade.
Nominated for 4 awards and won 1.
More details for The Castles of Burgundy: Special Edition- 1 - 4 Players
- 70 - 120 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Cthulhu: Death May Die
Cthulhu: Death May Die is an intense, cooperative board game set in the 1920s, drawing inspiration from H.P. Lovecraft's universe. Players take on the roles of daring investigators, embarking on a perilous mission to confront and eliminate Elder Gods.
Nominated for 6 awards and won 1.
More details for Cthulhu: Death May Die- 1 - 5 Players
- 90 - 120 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Easy to learn
Dune: Imperium
Dune: Imperium is a strategic deck-building game inspired by the iconic Dune universe, incorporating elements from both the recent film adaptation and the classic novels. Players lead one of the Great Houses in the interstellar political landscape of the Landsraad.
Nominated for 20 awards and won 8.
⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2022
More details for Dune: Imperium- 1 - 4 Players
- 60 - 120 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Medium difficulty
👍 Good price!Check for best price now at*Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated
Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated is an innovative extension of the deck-building game Clank!, incorporating legacy-style elements. Players get the opportunity to establish and grow their own franchise of Acquisitions Incorporated, leading a team of intrepid adventurers on a quest for treasure and corporate fame. The game evolves uniquely across multiple play sessions, creating a personalized adventure campaign.
Nominated for 2 awards.
More details for Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated- 2 - 4 Players
- 90 - 120 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Destinies
Destinies is a unique blend of board gaming and digital app integration, offering a rich, competitive, story-driven experience set in a dark medieval-fantasy universe. It is the first game in a series utilizing the innovative Destinies system.
Nominated for 9 awards and won 3.
More details for Destinies- 1 - 3 Players
- 90 - 150 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Easy to learn
The Castles of Burgundy
More details for The Castles of BurgundyThe Castles of Burgundy is a strategy board game set in the Burgundy region of High Medieval France, where players assume the roles of aristocrats controlling small princedoms. The game combines tile placement and dice rolling mechanics to offer a rich and strategic experience.
- 1 - 4 Players
- 70 - 120 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Medium difficulty
👍 Good price!Check for best price now at*Forgotten Waters
Forgotten Waters is a captivating board game that plunges players into the whimsical and unpredictable world of pirate adventure. Blending storytelling and strategy, this game stands out for its immersive narrative and engaging gameplay.
Nominated for 8 awards and won 2.
More details for Forgotten Waters- 3 - 7 Players
- 120 - 240 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Easy to learn
🔥 Great price!Check for best price now at*Terraforming Mars
Terraforming Mars is a strategic board game set in the 2400s, where players, representing giant corporations, embark on the colossal task of terraforming Mars. Sponsored by the World Government on Earth, each corporation competes to contribute most effectively to raising the planet's temperature, oxygen level, and ocean coverage to make Mars habitable. While players work together in the terraforming process, they also compete for victory points awarded for their contributions to terraforming, advancing human infrastructure throughout the solar system, and other notable achievements.
Nominated for 27 awards and won 14.
⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2017
More details for Terraforming Mars- 1 - 5 Players
- 120 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Video reviews for Terraforming Mars
Mansions of Madness: Second Edition
Mansions of Madness: Second Edition is a cooperative, app-enhanced board game that combines elements of horror and mystery. It's set in the same universe as Eldritch Horror and Elder Sign, offering an immersive narrative experience.
Nominated for 9 awards.
More details for Mansions of Madness: Second Edition- 1 - 5 Players
- 120 - 180 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Lost Ruins of Arnak
Lost Ruins of Arnak is an adventurous board game that blends deck-building with worker placement, set on an unexplored island filled with remnants of an ancient civilization.
Nominated for 30 awards and won 14.
⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2021
More details for Lost Ruins of Arnak- 1 - 4 Players
- 30 - 120 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Medium difficulty
🔥 Great price!Check for best price now at*Concordia
Concordia is a peaceful yet strategic board game set in Roman times, focusing on economic development and expansion. It is designed for 2-5 players aged 13 and up.
Nominated for 7 awards and won 2.
⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2014
More details for Concordia- 2 - 5 Players
- 100 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Video reviews for Concordia
The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth
The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth invites players to immerse themselves in the rich and legendary world created by J.R.R. Tolkien. This fully cooperative, app-supported board game is designed for one to five players, offering a unique blend of adventure, strategy, and storytelling set in the iconic landscapes of Middle-Earth.
Nominated for 4 awards.
More details for The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth- 1 - 5 Players
- 60 - 120 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Dune: Imperium – Uprising
Nominated for 4 awards.
More details for Dune: Imperium – Uprising- 1 - 6 Players
- 60 - 120 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Legacy of Dragonholt
More details for Legacy of DragonholtLegacy of Dragonholt is an innovative narrative adventure game that transports players to the enchanting Realms of Terrinoth, offering a unique blend of role-playing, adventure, and storytelling without the need for a game master. Designed for one to six players, this game stands out by utilizing the Oracle system to create a rich, interactive story where every decision impacts the unfolding narrative.
- 1 - 6 Players
- 60 - 999 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Immediately playable
Concordia Venus
Concordia Venus is a standalone reimplementation of the classic Concordia, enhancing the peaceful strategy game set in Roman times. It's designed for 2-6 players aged 13 and up, focusing on economic development without the randomness of dice or cards. Strategy and planning are key as players expand their influence across various Roman cities.
Nominated for 1 award.
More details for Concordia Venus- 2 - 6 Players
- 60 - 120 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Video reviews for Concordia Venus
Star Wars: Outer Rim
Star Wars: Outer Rim is a thrilling and immersive board game that takes players into the expansive universe of Star Wars, particularly focusing on the fringes of the galaxy. This game is perfect for fans of the Star Wars saga who enjoy strategy, adventure, and role-playing elements.
Nominated for 2 awards.
More details for Star Wars: Outer Rim- 1 - 4 Players
- 120 - 180 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Medium difficulty
👍 Good price!Check for best price now at*Ark Nova
Ark Nova is a strategic board game where players take on the role of zoo planners, aiming to build and manage the most successful modern zoo.
Nominated for 24 awards and won 12.
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More details for Ark Nova- 1 - 4 Players
- 90 - 150 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Hard to learn
🔥 Great price!Check for best price now at*The Castles of Burgundy
The Castles of Burgundy is set in the medieval Burgundy region of France, where players assume the roles of aristocrats seeking to expand their princedoms. The game revolves around building settlements, constructing castles, engaging in river trade, mining for silver, and utilizing travelers' knowledge.
Nominated for 8 awards and won 2.
More details for The Castles of Burgundy- 2 - 4 Players
- 30 - 90 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Video reviews for The Castles of Burgundy
Zombicide: Black Plague
Zombicide: Black Plague is an exciting board game that takes the popular zombie apocalypse theme and transports it into a medieval fantasy world. This game is a fresh twist on the classic Zombicide series, offering players the chance to battle the undead hordes in an age of swords and sorcery.
Nominated for 2 awards.
More details for Zombicide: Black Plague- 1 - 6 Players
- 60 - 180 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Easy to learn
👍 Good price!Check for best price now at*Brass: Birmingham
Brass: Birmingham is an economic strategy game and a sequel to the 2007 game Brass. It immerses players in the world of industrial revolution entrepreneurs in Birmingham between 1770-1870.
Nominated for 13 awards and won 7.
More details for Brass: Birmingham- 2 - 4 Players
- 60 - 120 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Hard to learn
Video reviews for Brass: Birmingham
Sekigahara: The Unification of Japan
Sekigahara: The Unification of Japan is a strategic war game for two players, allowing them to relive the pivotal battle of Sekigahara in 1600, which unified Japan under the Tokugawa shogunate for over 250 years. Players take on the roles of either Ishida Mitsunari, defending the rightful heir, or Tokugawa Ieyasu, the most powerful daimyo, as they gather armies from their allies, all the while questioning their loyalty. With no use of dice, the game emphasizes strategy and loyalty through card mechanics, where cards are essential for motivating armies to fight. Loyalty is a fluctuating resource, represented by hand size, and battles involve deploying hidden units based on loyalty, with the potential for defections. The game aims to provide a historically accurate experience within a concise and intuitive set of rules, focusing on strategic deployment and the significance of loyalty without relying on luck to determine outcomes.
Nominated for 4 awards and won 2.
More details for Sekigahara: The Unification of Japan- 2 Players
- 180 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Medium difficulty
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
Exit: The Game – Advent Calendar: The Silent Storm
- 1 - 4 Players
- 45 - 800 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion
Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion is a standalone adventure game that serves as a prequel to the highly acclaimed Gloomhaven. It's designed to be more accessible to a broader audience, with streamlined rules and an integrated tutorial.
Nominated for 13 awards and won 5.
More details for Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion- 1 - 4 Players
- 30 - 120 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Hard to learn
Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders & Other Cases
Embark on a captivating journey through Victorian London alongside the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders & Other Cases. This immersive and challenging game allows you to step into the shoes of a detective, matching wits with Holmes himself.
Nominated for 4 awards and won 3.
⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 1985
More details for Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders & Other Cases- 1 - 8 Players
- 60 - 120 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Medium difficulty
👍 Good price!Check for best price now at*Video reviews for Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders & Other Cases
Sleeping Gods
Sleeping Gods is a cooperative, narrative-driven board game that immerses players in an expansive and mysterious world. Set in 1929, players take on the roles of Captain Sofi Odessa and her crew, who are lost at sea aboard the steamship Manticore in the mystical Wandering Sea. Their mission is to awaken the gods to find their way home.
Nominated for 19 awards and won 5.
More details for Sleeping Gods- 1 - 4 Players
- 60 - 1200 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Orléans
Orléans is a strategic board game set in medieval France, where players compete to gain supremacy through trade, construction, and science by assembling a diverse following of characters like farmers, merchants, knights, and monks.
Nominated for 12 awards and won 4.
⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2015
More details for Orléans- 2 - 5 Players
- 90 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Gloomhaven
Gloomhaven is a Euro-inspired tactical combat game set in a persistent and evolving world. Players assume the roles of adventurers, each with unique skills and motives, as they explore dungeons, ruins, and engage in cooperative battles against automated monsters.
Nominated for 22 awards and won 10.
More details for Gloomhaven- 1 - 4 Players
- 60 - 120 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Hard to learn
👍 Good price!Check for best price now at*Video reviews for Gloomhaven
Wonderland's War
Wonderland's War is an imaginative and strategic board game set in a war-torn Wonderland. Players take on the roles of iconic characters like Alice, the Mad Hatter, and the Red Queen, each leading their faction to vie for control in a beautifully chaotic Wonderland.
Nominated for 9 awards and won 1.
More details for Wonderland's War- 2 - 5 Players
- 45 - 125 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Nemesis
Nemesis is a semi-cooperative, survival horror board game set in a sci-fi universe, offering an intense and immersive experience as players navigate a spacecraft infested with hostile alien organisms.
Nominated for 8 awards and won 3.
More details for Nemesis- 1 - 5 Players
- 90 - 180 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Medium difficulty
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