The Best Board Games with Squids & Octopuses 🐙 2026
Looking for a really good game with squids or octopuses 🐙? Eight arms, ink clouds and the odd sea monster: cephalopods turn up in more games than you'd think. We've rounded up the 19 best squid games 2026.
Which squid game is right for you?
- For card players: In the hit card game Sea Salt & Paper octopus cards are one of the collectible sets that score more the more of them you hold.
- For engine builders: Cosmoctopus makes you a cosmic octopus whose tentacles grow ever more powerful – the most strategic game on this list.
- For tile layers: In Octopus' Garden you buy plant and animal tiles at a market and arrange your own underwater garden to attract seahorses and clownfish.
- Against the kraken: In the cooperative Kraken Attack! you repair your pirate ship and pick the right weapons to keep the giant kraken at bay; in Crash Octopus you race to grab floating cargo while the kraken closes in.
- For families and parties: Memoarrr! is a quick pirate memory game full of sea creatures, Beasts of Balance a cooperative stacking game, and Mimic Octopus a party game for 4–8 with absurd conversations.
More sea life awaits in our lists of the best games with crabs, the best games with sharks and the best games with fish.
List of the Best Board Games with Squids 2026 🐙
Does this fit your game night? Who is there, how much time, what mood – Game-Night sorts this list for you.
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Sea Salt & Paper
All details & ratingSea 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.
2–4 30–45 min 8+ Immediately playable -
Kraken Attack!
All details & ratingBeware! The tentacles of a terrible octopus break through the waves. All hands on deck—grab your swords, cannons, and artillery!
1–4 25 min 7+ Immediately playable -
Ocean Labyrinth
All details & ratingPlayers 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.
2–4 20–30 min 7+ Immediately playable -
Cosmoctopus
All details & ratingWelcome, 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!
1–4 60–90 min 10+ Easy to learn -
Memoarrr!
All details & ratingPlayers 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.
2–4 10–20 min 8+ Immediately playable -
Kraken-Alarm
All details & ratingPlayers 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.
2–4 20 min 5+ Immediately playable -
OctoDice
All details & ratingThe 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.
1–4 20–30 min 10+ Easy to learn - + 11 € above the best price31 € at Amazon*
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Coralia
All details & ratingVibrant 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.
2–4 30–35 min 10+ Easy to learn+ 11 € above the best price28 € at Amazon* - + 4 € above the best price16 € at Amazon*
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Magic Realm
All details & ratingMAGIC 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.
1–16 60–240 min 12+ For experts
Frequently asked questions
Which game ranks first on this list?
Sea Salt & Paper currently tops our list. The ranking is derived from player community ratings and is recalculated continuously.
How many players do the games on this list support?
Most games on this list support 2 to 4 players. The exact player count is listed with each game.
What age are these games suitable for?
Publisher age recommendations on this list start at 5 years. Each game carries its own age rating.
How long does a game take?
A typical game takes about 20 to 30 minutes. Each game's playing time is listed individually.
Didn't find the game you were looking for?
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