The best board games with historical background 2024

Looking for a really good game with a historical background? We have clearly listed the best historical parlor games.

What are games with historical background?

Board games with historical background are games that refer to a specific historical event (e.g. Cold War, French Revolution) or a historical person or character (e.g. Caesar, Al Capone, Jack the Ripper).

Distinction from "historical games"

"Historical games," on the other hand, are games that are no longer played today, or are played only in greatly modified form. Most of them have been handed down through literature or discovered through archaeology (e.g. the royal game of Ur).

Historical games should also be distinguished from classic card games or classic board games - these also show some age, but are still played today.

Other categories for historical games

In addition to the general list for games based on historical events, we further divided them below into several, more detailed historical categories.

List of the best historical board games 2024

This list was last updated on February 25, 2024. We compared 4540 board games for this list and selected the top 30. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. Similo

    All details for the board game Similo and similar games

    Similo is a cooperative deduction game where players work together to guess a secret character from a set of twelve displayed in the middle of the table. Each version of Similo - such as Fables, History, or Myths - comes with a deck of thirty beautifully illustrated cards by Naïade, featuring characters that share a common theme.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Similo
    • 2 - 8 Players
    • 10 - 15 Minutes
    • 7+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  2. Pandemic Legacy: Season 0

    All details for the board game Pandemic Legacy: Season 0 and similar games

    Pandemic Legacy: Season 0 transports you to 1962, at the height of the Cold War, where a mysterious Soviet bioweapon called "Project MEDUSA" threatens global safety. As newly recruited CIA agents and medical graduates, you and your team are tasked with a critical mission: investigate and halt the development of this deadly pathogen. This game stands alone as a thrilling prequel to the earlier seasons of Pandemic Legacy, immersing players in a tense world of espionage and covert operations.

    Nominated for 5 awards.

    🔥 Deal: 6% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!

    More details for Pandemic Legacy: Season 0
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    🔥 Great price!45€ atAmazon.de*

    Video reviews for Pandemic Legacy: Season 0

    • YouTube Review for the game "Pandemic Legacy: Season 0" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Pandemic Legacy: Season 0" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Pandemic Legacy: Season 0" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Pandemic Legacy: Season 0" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  3. Undaunted: North Africa

    All details for the board game Undaunted: North Africa and similar games

    Undaunted: North Africa is an engaging two-player deck-building game that immerses players in the tactical ground combat of World War II's North African Theater. Building on the success of its predecessor, Undaunted: Normandy, this sequel introduces new mechanics and challenges, focusing on the historical skirmishes between Britain's Long Range Desert Group and Italian forces.

    Nominated for 7 awards and won 3.

    More details for Undaunted: North Africa
    • 2 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  4. Undaunted: Stalingrad

    All details for the board game Undaunted: Stalingrad and similar games

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 1.

    More details for Undaunted: Stalingrad
    • 2 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  5. Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: Jack the Ripper & West End Adventures

    All details for the board game Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: Jack the Ripper & West End Adventures and similar games

    Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: Jack the Ripper & West End Adventures is a captivating standalone expansion to the renowned detective game Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective. This expansion brings updated graphics and adds ten new cases set in Victorian-era London for players to solve. It includes essential detective tools such as a "London Directory," a map of London, and newspaper archives to aid in the investigation.

    More details for Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: Jack the Ripper & West End Adventures
    • 1 - 8 Players
    • 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: Jack the Ripper & West End Adventures

    • YouTube Review for the game "Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: Jack the Ripper & West End Adventures" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  6. Whitehall Mystery

    All details for the board game Whitehall Mystery and similar games

    Whitehall Mystery is a thrilling board game that transports players to London in October 1888, a time marked by a gruesome discovery near the future site of Scotland Yard. This game unfolds against the backdrop of a macabre treasure hunt by an unknown murderer, scattering the remains of a victim across Whitehall.

    More details for Whitehall Mystery
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  7. Architects of the West Kingdom

    All details for the board game Architects of the West Kingdom and similar games

    In Architects of the West Kingdom, set against the backdrop of the late Carolingian Empire around 850 AD, players step into the roles of royal architects. Tasked with constructing important buildings and advancing the construction of the Archbishop's cathedral, this game uniquely combines resource management, worker placement, and moral choices into a rich strategic tableau. Players vie for the King's favor and maintain their noble status in a world where virtue and vice coexist.

    Nominated for 17 awards and won 5.

    More details for Architects of the West Kingdom
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 60 - 80 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    👍 Good price!66€ atAmazon.de*

    Video reviews for Architects of the West Kingdom

    • YouTube Review for the game "Architects of the West Kingdom" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  8. Sekigahara: The Unification of Japan

    All details for the board game Sekigahara: The Unification of Japan and similar games

    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
  9. Brass: Birmingham

    All details for the board game Brass: Birmingham and similar games

    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

    • YouTube Review for the game "Brass: Birmingham" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Brass: Birmingham" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  10. Commands & Colors: Ancients

    All details for the board game Commands & Colors: Ancients and similar games

    Commands & Colors: Ancients is a historical wargame that spans a vast period from the Dawn of Military History to the onset of the Dark Ages. This game, part of the acclaimed Commands & Colors system, offers players a unique opportunity to reenact famous battles with a focus on historical accuracy and strategic depth, all while maintaining streamlined gameplay.

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 2.

    More details for Commands & Colors: Ancients
    • 2 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  11. Fall of Rome

    All details for the board game Fall of Rome and similar games

    Pandemic: Fall of Rome is a unique cooperative board game that blends the classic gameplay of Pandemic with the historical setting of the Roman Empire's decline. In this game, players work together as citizens, soldiers, and allies of Rome, tasked with defending the empire against various barbarian tribes like the Anglo-Saxons, Goths, Vandals, and Huns. The game requires players to strategically recruit armies, fortify cities, and forge alliances to halt the onslaught of invaders.

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    More details for Fall of Rome
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  12. Endeavor: Age of Sail

    All details for the board game Endeavor: Age of Sail and similar games

    Endeavor: Age of Sail invites players to navigate the high seas and earn glory for their empires. Set during the age of exploration, players sail from Europe and the Mediterranean, establishing shipping routes and occupying cities across the globe, all while building their industrial, cultural, financial, and influential power.

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    More details for Endeavor: Age of Sail
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Endeavor: Age of Sail

    • YouTube Review for the game "Endeavor: Age of Sail" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  13. Century: A New World

    All details for the board game Century: A New World and similar games

    Century: A New World is the captivating final chapter in the acclaimed "Century" series by Emerson Matsuuchi. This installment transports players to the rich and uncharted territories of the Americas during the 16th century, offering a unique blend of strategy, exploration, and resource management.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Century: A New World
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  14. Commands & Colors: Napoleonics

    All details for the board game Commands & Colors: Napoleonics and similar games

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 1.

    More details for Commands & Colors: Napoleonics
    • 2 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  15. Twilight Struggle

    All details for the board game Twilight Struggle and similar games

    Twilight Struggle offers an immersive journey through a pivotal period in history, where the world stood on the brink of nuclear annihilation. This two-player game takes place during the forty-five year rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States. Instead of traditional warfare, players engage in a dance of intrigue, prestige, and the occasional outbreak of hostilities. As the superpowers strive to make the world safe for their ideologies, you'll navigate a complex web of politics, espionage, and strategy. The game begins in the aftermath of World War II, with both superpowers scrambling for control, and concludes in 1989, leaving only one superpower standing.

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 5.

    More details for Twilight Struggle
    • 2 Players
    • 120 - 180 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Hard to learn
  16. Resist!

    All details for the board game Resist! and similar games

    Nominated for 4 awards.

    More details for Resist!
    • 1 Players
    • 20 - 40 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  17. Mystery Rummy: Jack the Ripper

    All details for the board game Mystery Rummy: Jack the Ripper and similar games

    In Mystery Rummy: Jack the Ripper, players are transported back to Victorian London, tasked with solving one of history's most enduring mysteries. Using a rummy-style card game framework, players collect and meld cards representing evidence, suspects, and victims to build a case against the infamous Jack the Ripper. The gameplay cleverly integrates historical details of the Ripper cases with unique card game mechanics, adding depth and intrigue. With the potential for Jack to escape if all Victim cards are played, the game introduces a thrilling twist that keeps players engaged till the very end.

    More details for Mystery Rummy: Jack the Ripper
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  18. Mr. Jack Pocket

    All details for the board game Mr. Jack Pocket and similar games

    Mr. Jack Pocket is a compact and strategic card game adaptation of the well-regarded board game Mr. Jack. Designed by Bruno Cathala and Ludovic Maublanc, this game transforms the original board game's concept into a more portable format. It involves deduction and strategy, set against the backdrop of a Victorian-era mystery. The game cleverly uses a grid of street cards, with characters like Holmes, Watson, and a dog maneuvering around to catch the elusive Mr. Jack.

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    More details for Mr. Jack Pocket
    • 2 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  19. In Magnificent Style: Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg

    All details for the board game In Magnificent Style: Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg and similar games
    • 1 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  20. Crusaders: Thy Will Be Done

    All details for the board game Crusaders: Thy Will Be Done and similar games

    Crusaders: Thy Will Be Done delves into the historical period of the Crusades, offering players a strategic board game experience where they lead their knights on holy quests to spread the influence of their Order. The looming threat of King Philip disbanding the Templar orders adds a layer of urgency to the gameplay, pushing players to optimize their actions and expand their influence swiftly.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Crusaders: Thy Will Be Done
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 40 - 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  21. Pairs

    All details for the board game Pairs and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Pairs
    • 2 - 8 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • Immediately playable
  22. Condottiere

    All details for the board game Condottiere and similar games

    Condottiere is a strategic game set in 13th century Italy, a period marked by flourishing trade and frequent conflicts among city-states. The game revolves around the theme of mercenary leaders, known as Condottieri, who were hired to fight for different city-states.

    More details for Condottiere
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 20 - 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  23. Julius Caesar: Caesar, Pompey, and the Roman Civil War

    All details for the board game Julius Caesar: Caesar, Pompey, and the Roman Civil War and similar games
    • 2 Players
    • 60 - 180 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  24. Mr. Jack

    All details for the board game Mr. Jack and similar games

    Mr. Jack is a captivating two-player board game that delves into the mystery and intrigue surrounding the infamous Jack the Ripper. This game involves a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase set in a historical context, requiring strategic thinking and deduction.

    Nominated for 7 awards and won 1.

    More details for Mr. Jack
    • 2 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 9+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!20€ atAmazon.de*
  25. Letters from Whitechapel

    All details for the board game Letters from Whitechapel and similar games

    Letters from Whitechapel is a thrilling and suspense-filled board game that transports players to the grim streets of London's Whitechapel district in 1888, the setting of the infamous Jack the Ripper murders. The game pits one player, taking on the role of Jack the Ripper, against others who play as police detectives. Their goal is to catch Jack before he claims his fifth victim.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Letters from Whitechapel
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Letters from Whitechapel

    • YouTube Review for the game "Letters from Whitechapel" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  26. Wings of Glory: WW2 Battle of Britain Starter Set

    All details for the board game Wings of Glory: WW2 Battle of Britain Starter Set and similar games
    • 1 - 99 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  27. Coup: Rebellion G54

    All details for the board game Coup: Rebellion G54 and similar games
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  28. 13 Days: The Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962

    All details for the board game 13 Days: The Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962 and similar games

    13 Days: The Cuban Missile Crisis is a tense, strategic two-player game set during the critical moments of the Cuban Missile Crisis. It captures the high-stakes Cold War atmosphere, offering a rich thematic experience in just 45 minutes. The game challenges players to navigate complex dilemmas, such as choosing between gaining prestige or risking global nuclear war, and strategically managing their hand of cards to outmaneuver their opponent.

    Nominated for 4 awards.

    More details for 13 Days: The Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962
    • 2 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  29. Mystery Rummy: Al Capone and the Chicago Underworld

    All details for the board game Mystery Rummy: Al Capone and the Chicago Underworld and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 20 - 40 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  30. SOS Titanic

    All details for the board game SOS Titanic and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for SOS Titanic
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn

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