The best board games with historical background 2025

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.

Players collaborate to defeat one of two villains: Mothman or the Martian Invader. Each villain has a unique battlefield with specific objectives, and if they succeed or defeat the heroes, the players lose. The game introduces four new heroes, each with distinct abilities, and remains compatible with other sets in the Unmatched series.

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.

Stalingrad, 1942, is a grueling conflict that affects the entire Eastern Front. Players must use strategy and bravery to secure this pivotal stronghold while every loss in battle decreases their forces for the entire campaign. Through up to fifteen branching scenarios, decisions influence the fate of Stalingrad and possibly the war itself, allowing for varied playthroughs despite the lasting consequences of actions taken. This standalone campaign game features over 300 unique illustrations and 150 vivid mission descriptions, immersing players in a crucial moment of history.

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.

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.

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.

Tokaido is a beautifully designed board game where players embark on a journey across the "East sea road", one of Japan's most scenic routes. The essence of the game lies in experiencing the journey itself, with players encountering various events and collecting diverse items along the way.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Commands & Colors: Napoleonics transports players to the tumultuous battlefield of the Napoleonic era, offering a unique blend of historical accuracy and strategic gameplay. This game pits the French army, led by Napoleon Bonaparte, against the forces of the British Empire, capturing the intense rivalry and the grandeur of Napoleonic warfare.

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.

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.

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.

Spain, 1936: General Franco's troops move in, leading to a long period of civil war and oppression. A group of Republicans continues the armed struggle, forming resistance groups known as the "Maquis," who risk their lives hidden in the mountains to defend democratic ideals.

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.

Players take on the role of General Longstreet during the desperate Confederate assault on July 3, 1863, at the Battle of Gettysburg, known as Pickett's Charge. They must swiftly push their troops across deadly open terrain while balancing the need to regroup for another attack. With only five rounds to achieve their goal, players face the choice between death and glory as they race against time.

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.

Paaranoia is a game where players aim to avoid pairs of cards. Using a deck of 55 cards, players are dealt one card and must decide whether to draw again or risk losing the round. If they draw a matching card, they incur penalty points and the game continues until someone exceeds a predefined threshold of penalty points and loses. Various versions of the game feature different artwork and some include unique rules related to their themes.

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.

Two players control the armies of Julius Caesar and Pompey during the Roman civil wars (49-45 BC). As they vie for control of Rome, players engage in a card-driven block game to move, seize territories, or play events on a Mediterranean map featuring 13 victory point cities. Take charge of veteran legions or train new ones and strategize your path to becoming the emperor of Rome.

Fighting Sail: Fleet Actions 1775-1815 is a tabletop miniatures wargame that focuses on naval battles during the age of sails, cannons, and wooden ships. Players take on the role of fleet admirals in encounters ranging from the American Revolutionary War to the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812, utilizing various ships, tactics, and leaders, each with unique strengths and weaknesses. The game promotes immersion over simulation, requiring players to roll dice based on crew and ship capabilities to achieve various actions, aiming to deplete the enemy fleet's morale to zero.

Players take on the role of rival spies competing in daring missions while trying to remain undercover. They use Blackjack hands to win missions and gain special abilities. The game lasts for 6 rounds unless a spy loses their cover.

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.

In the summer and autumn of 1940, following the fall of France, the German Luftwaffe confronted the Royal Air Force in the Battle of Britain, the first major military campaign fought entirely in the air. With the Wings of Glory: WW2 Battle of Britain Starter Set, you can relive the epic aerial duels between the Axis powers and the Allied aces. This complete game includes four fully assembled and painted airplanes, a color rulebook, scenario booklet, play tokens, rulers, and aircraft consoles for quick and easy gameplay.