The Best Board Games with Squids 2026

Sea Salt & Paper is a set collection card game that combines strategic decision-making with the excitement of timing your moves just right. Similar to Rummy in gameplay, it involves collecting sets of cards to score points, while also navigating the timing of when to end the round for optimal advantage.

Players need the power of memory and a bit of pirate luck to escape Captain Goldfish's island before the lava engulfs them in the game. They reveal locations connected to the last shown spot, but making a wrong connection eliminates them from the round. The last remaining pirate claims a valuable treasure, with each round building on previously gathered information for a chance at victory. Advanced players can utilize special actions triggered by connected locations for an even more exciting experience.

Players build a tower of beautifully crafted animal artifacts on their tabletop and help them evolve in a connected digital world. The goal is to create a fabulous world by strategically nurturing and developing creatures while performing skill-based wonders, all before the tower collapses. The game incorporates unique technology that recognizes the pieces and connects to devices via Bluetooth for an interactive experience.

Beware! The tentacles of a terrible octopus break through the waves. All hands on deck—grab your swords, cannons, and artillery!

Tier auf Tier: The Duel is a competitive game for two players inspired by the popular game Tier auf Tier. Players roll two dice to determine which animal to start building with and which one goes on top. The first player to complete their tower wins a coin, and the player who collects three coins wins the game.

Players navigate a labyrinthine board to reach specific symbols depicted on tiles that match hidden cards they hold. At the start of each turn, a player shifts a tile, adjusting pathways and creating new routes for themselves and their opponents. The game introduces an underwater theme, with special rules on some tiles that can affect movement, such as losing a turn or needing to return to a starting position.

Five stalls at the fish market specialize in different types of seafood. Stall owners strive to make good deals as prices fluctuate throughout the day based on demand. Players must be mindful not to be left with seafood that has plummeted in price.

Welcome, devoted ones! The celestial gaze of the Great Octopus is upon you. Players build and collect tentacles in a flexible game board called the Ink Realm, gathering resources and powerful cards representing relics, scripts, hallucinations, and constellations. Utilize the strength of these bizarre items and combinations to be the first to collect 8 tentacles and win!

Players take on the role of octopuses competing to create the most beautiful gardens. They must attract colorful seahorses and clownfish while protecting pearl-producing oysters from hungry starfish. Careful planning is essential to arrange their tiles effectively and avoid scaring delicate feather worms.

Players explore the sea to discover animals with their research ship. Beware of the giant octopus, which will try to envelop your ship. The game features an innovative tilting mechanism that activates when a ship is caught by the octopus. The player who discovers the most different animals wins the game.

The theme of the game is based on Aquasphere, with mechanics reminiscent of that board game. Players roll six dice (three white and three black) and choose two dice to form an action. You can expand your laboratory for bonus actions or points, while other players may choose actions from your roll to add to their own board. The game ends after each player has had six turns, and the player with the most points wins.

Vibrant reefs surrounding the former pirate island of Coralia create a paradise for scientists worldwide. They explore the underwater world with their remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), searching for specific species while keeping an eye out for lost pirate treasures. Players aim to score the most points through luck and strategic decisions in this family-friendly dice game.

Poseidon has lost his valuable trident, and his friends have gone missing while searching for it. They have been captured by the evil Hans, the Kraken, who plans to make a stew out of them. Players must break through the Kraken's tentacles to rescue their friends and defeat him, all while navigating a game featuring a wave mechanic that launches dice onto the board and a popular ant hill system for a compelling experience.

MAGIC REALM is a fantasy adventure set in a land filled with monsters, legendary treasures, and powerful warriors and mages. Players can embody one of sixteen detailed characters, embarking on quests in a richly crafted world where wealth and glory await. Every game offers a unique adventure with varying landscapes, unexpected challenges, and hidden treasures, resulting in an unpredictable experience that keeps players engaged.