The best games from Antoine Bauza 🇫🇷👨 2026

Looking for a really good game from game designer Antoine Bauza 👨? Then we have just the thing: the list with the best Antoine Bauza games 2026.

Who is Antoine Bauza anyway?

Antoine Bauza has been designing dice, card & board games since 2007. The game designer hails from Valence, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Frankreich🇫🇷, was born in 1978 and currently lives in Valence, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Frankreich 🇫🇷.

Bauza's first game "Chabyrinthe" he developed in 2007 at the age of 29 - so he has been designing games for over 19 years. Famous Bauza games are for example 7 Wonders, 7 Wonders Duel & Hanabi.

Video game designer as a childhood dream

As a teenager, he was very interested in role-playing games and wanted to become a video game designer. However, Bauza decided against a career in the video game industry because he didn't want to move away to Shanghai or Montreal - where video game companies were hiring at the time. Instead, he became a teacher.

From hobby to profession

After hooking up with friends who started hosting their own game nights, Bauza began building his first board game prototypes in his spare time while in college in 2003.

In 2007, the time had come and his first board game was published. Since 2010, he has been working full-time as a board game inventor.

How good are "Antoine Bauza" games?

There are 9 games by Antoine Bauza in our Top1000 games list, making Bauza the #18 best game author out of a total of 708 authors in our database.

More information about Bauza

More information about Bauza can be found on:

List of best games by Antoine Bauza 2026

In this list we have listed the best board games that Antoine Bauza either designed himself - or was involved in designing.

Unfortunately, not all of Antoine Bauza's games are currently available. In the following list you can find all dice, board & card games by Antoine Bauza that you can buy 2026:

This list was last updated on June 2, 2026. There's also a print version for this list .
  1. The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-earth

    A dark rumor arises from Mordor, and the time has come for the Fellowship to unite once more. Players can choose to defend the free peoples as the Fellowship of the Ring or pursue Frodo and Sam as Sauron, deploying their hordes at enemy city gates. The fate of Middle-earth rests in your hands as you navigate the three chapters of the game, strengthening your skills and gathering resources to achieve one of the victory conditions.

    Nominated for 8 awards and won 2.

    More details for The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-earth
    • 👥 2 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  2. 7 Wonders Duel (À la carte 2016 card game award Winner)

    7 Wonders Duel takes the essence of the classic 7 Wonders and refines it for an intense two-player experience. It retains the thematic elements of building a civilization through acquiring various types of cards, but it introduces unique mechanics suited for a duel.

    Nominated for 16 awards and won 9.

    More details for 7 Wonders Duel (À la carte 2016 card game award Winner)
    • 👥 2 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn

    Video reviews for 7 Wonders Duel (À la carte 2016 card game award Winner)

    • YouTube Review for the game "7 Wonders Duel (À la carte 2016 card game award Winner)" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video
  3. Draftosaurus

    Draftosaurus is a charming and quick drafting game where players aim to build the most attractive dinosaur park. The game stands out for its use of dino meeples and unique placement restrictions, making it an engaging experience for all ages.

    Nominated for 9 awards and won 2.

    More details for Draftosaurus
    • 👥 2 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 15 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Draftosaurus

    • YouTube Review for the game "Draftosaurus" by BoardGameGeek
      Video
  4. Looking for a really good game set in Japan 🇯🇵? Then we have just the thing for you: The list with the best Japan games 2026.

    The best games set in Japan 🇯🇵 →
  5. 7 Wonders: Architects

    7 Wonders: Architects invites 2-7 players into a fast-paced race to leave a lasting legacy in the ancient world by constructing an architectural marvel. Each player starts with an unconstructed wonder and embarks on a journey to gather resources, develop their society, and achieve greatness.

    Nominated for 15 awards and won 5.

    More details for 7 Wonders: Architects
    • 👥 2 - 7 Players
    • ⏱️ 25 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  6. 7 Wonders (2nd Edition) - (Kennerspiel des Jahres 2011 winner)

    7 Wonders (Second Edition) is an acclaimed board game known for its widespread recognition and numerous international awards. This new version rejuvenates the classic 7 Wonders game, maintaining its status as a cornerstone in the world of modern board gaming. The game is celebrated for its elegant drafting mechanics, allowing up to 7 players to participate simultaneously without downtime.

    More details for 7 Wonders (2nd Edition) - (Kennerspiel des Jahres 2011 winner)
    • 👥 3 - 7 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  7. Tokaido: Deluxe Edition

    The game accommodates 2 to 5 players, immersing them in the unique atmosphere of a pilgrimage along Japan's legendary Eastern Sea Road. Players aim to collect beautiful souvenirs, discover stunning views, enjoy enriching encounters, relax in soothing hot springs, and savor the rich cuisine.

    More details for Tokaido: Deluxe Edition
    • 👥 2 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  8. Hanabi (Spiel des Jahres 2013 winner)

    Hanabi, named after the Japanese word for "fireworks," invites players to collaboratively create the perfect fireworks display. In this cooperative game, the goal is to arrange cards on the table in the correct order to achieve a stunning pyrotechnic spectacle. However, there's a catch - players must hold their cards so that they are visible only to their teammates. To succeed, you'll need to provide hints to your fellow players about the numbers and colors of their cards, working together to avoid mistakes and complete the fireworks show before running out of cards.

    Nominated for 7 awards and won 3.

    ⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 2013

    More details for Hanabi (Spiel des Jahres 2013 winner)
    • 👥 2 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 25 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  9. Ninja Academy

    As a Ninja apprentice, it's time to prove your skills through challenging and exciting tests. Players engage in collective challenges and duels in a series of randomly drawn tests. Whether challenging the whole group or going head-to-head, the objective is clear: be the best in your trial!

    More details for Ninja Academy
    • 👥 3 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 20 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  10. Takenoko

    Takenoko is a charming board game set in the Japanese Imperial court, revolving around the care of a giant panda gifted by the Chinese Emperor. Players, as court members, are tasked with managing a bamboo garden for the panda.

    Nominated for 18 awards and won 7.

    More details for Takenoko
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Takenoko

    • YouTube Review for the game "Takenoko" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video
  11. Terror in Meeple City

    In Terror in Meeple City (formerly known as Rampage), players step into the roles of colossal monsters, hungry for destruction and chaos in the heart of Meeple City. The objective is simple: create mayhem by demolishing buildings and devouring innocent meeples, all in a race to become the most fearsome monster of them all.

    Nominated for 7 awards and won 1.

    More details for Terror in Meeple City
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  12. You know the gameplay of computer games and are looking for a really good tower defense board game 🗼? Then we have just the thing - a list of 30 best tower defense games 2026.

    The best Tower Defense board games 🗼 →
  13. Welcome Back to the Dungeon

    Welcome Back to the Dungeon is an intriguing push-your-luck game set in the Abysmal Woods, filled with the allure of adventure and hidden treasures. Players find themselves at the entrance of a notorious dungeon, known from village ballads and marked by the scars of epic battles. The dungeon promises coveted treasures but is also rife with dangers left by previous adventurers. Players must decide whether to enter and face the unknown perils or let their opponents take the risk.

    More details for Welcome Back to the Dungeon
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Welcome Back to the Dungeon

    • YouTube Review for the game "Welcome Back to the Dungeon" by BoardGameGeek
      Video
  14. Paku Paku

    Who can stack cups and plates to wobbly heights? Who gets nervous when others push the dice toward them? In Paku Paku, a fast-paced dice game, 2-8 players become competitive pandas aiming for victory.

    More details for Paku Paku
    • 👥 2 - 8 Players
    • ⏱️ 10 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Paku Paku

    • YouTube Review for the game "Paku Paku" by BoardGameGeek
      Video
  15. The Little Prince: Make Me a Planet

    The Little Prince: Make Me a Planet challenges players to craft their own planets in the whimsical universe of The Little Prince. The goal is to create a harmonious world for iconic characters while avoiding an excess of baobabs and volcanoes.

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 2.

    More details for The Little Prince: Make Me a Planet
    • 👥 2 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 25 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  16. Tokaido Duo

    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.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Tokaido Duo
    • 👥 1 - 2 Players
    • ⏱️ 20 - 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  17. Monster Chase

    Monster Under the Bed is a cooperative memory game for players aged 3 to 7. Players must find the toy that scares the monsters hiding under the bed before they can encircle it. The game includes various difficulty levels to match players' experience, introducing elements like tiles that shuffle others or spawn new monsters.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Monster Chase
    • 👥 1 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 10 Minutes
    • 🧒 4+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Monster Chase

    • YouTube Review for the game "Monster Chase" by BoardGameGeek
      Video
  18. Kraken Attack!

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

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

    More details for Kraken Attack!
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 25 Minutes
    • 🧒 7+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  19. Mia London and the Case of the 625 Scoundrels

    Help detective Mia London uncover which of the 625 notorious rogues has committed a nefarious crime. Pay attention to the clues revealed, as each accessory appears on two cards except for the one belonging to the villain. Note the missing accessory in your notebook to reconstruct the villain's portrait.

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kinderspiel des Jahres 2021

    More details for Mia London and the Case of the 625 Scoundrels
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 10 - 15 Minutes
    • 🧒 5+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  20. 1001 Islands

    • 👥 2 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 7+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  21. Namiji

    Players take on the role of a fisherman in historical Japan, navigating the southern regions of the archipelago near the famous Tokaido Road. To win, a successful day at sea is essential, which includes observing sea creatures, fishing with nets or lines, and collecting crustaceans.

    More details for Namiji
    • 👥 2 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  22. Oltréé

    The empire once waged a relentless war against the Witch King, the high priest of all monsters. Although victorious, the realm suffered immense losses and fell into a dark age filled with strife and ruin. Players take on the role of brave Rangers, tasked with helping the inhabitants of a satrapy by rebuilding a stronghold and completing missions assigned by their hierarchy while overcoming various challenges and unexpected events along the way.

    Nominated for 4 awards.

    More details for Oltréé
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  23. Oceanos

    Oceanos immerses players in a vibrant underwater world where they captain their own submarines to explore the depths of the ocean. The game introduces a unique twist on card-drafting mechanics, offering a fresh and engaging experience. Players aim to discover the most diverse marine species, build the largest coral reefs, recover sunken treasures, and enhance their submarines with precious crystals while avoiding the dreaded kraken.

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    More details for Oceanos
    • 👥 2 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  24. Conan

    Conan is an asymmetric, semi-cooperative board game set in Robert E. Howard's universe, where players take on the roles of Conan and his companions, or the Overlord controlling opposition forces. The game, emphasizing Howard's original stories, features various scenarios and maps with diverse objectives. Players engage in strategic battles using a unique energy gem system for actions, while the Overlord manages units with a sliding tile board. Each scenario offers a distinct adventure with an approximate one-hour playtime.

    Nominated for 4 awards.

    More details for Conan
    • 👥 2 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 90 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Conan

    • YouTube Review for the game "Conan" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video
  25. Last Bastion

    Last Bastion is a captivating cooperative board game that plunges players into a desperate struggle to defend the last stronghold of civilization against the monstrous hordes led by the Baleful Queen. Drawing on themes of heroism, sacrifice, and collective struggle, Last Bastion offers a thrilling and immersive gameplay experience where teamwork and strategy are essential to survival.

    More details for Last Bastion
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Last Bastion

    • YouTube Review for the game "Last Bastion" by BoardGameGeek
      Video
  26. KADO

    KADO is a tactical card-laying game all about gift-giving: over twelve rounds players build a grid of twelve KADO cards in three rows and four columns. You score by the value, gift type and ribbon colour of each card — best optimiser wins.

    More details for KADO
    • 👥 2 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 15 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  27. Takenokolor

    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 20 - 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  28. Pony Express

    You have your horse, trusty pistol, and a brand new hat, but most importantly, you have a package of letters that must reach Sacramento before any other riders in the Pony Express! No one will stop you in your quest for speed and victory, not the lurking Indians nor the charming saloon girls trying to steal your gold.

    More details for Pony Express
    • 👥 3 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  29. Pocket Rockets

    Players assume the role of astronauts constructing rockets. A circular "assembly line" is formed using six special cards, and astronauts move along this circle, selecting various actions at different locations. Tasks include drawing a card, adding parts to a rocket, collecting fuel tokens, or changing the direction of play. Special privileges are granted by certain rocket tips, and the winner is determined by the comparison of completed rockets when fuel reserves run out, with the most bodies achieving victory.

    More details for Pocket Rockets
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 20 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  30. Open Sesame

    Players reenact the story of "Ali Baba & the Forty Thieves" in a memory game format. One player takes on the role of Ali, while the others act as thieves, tasked with correctly repeating an ever-growing list of treasures that Ali Baba desires. The challenge lies in whether Ali should continue or stop before his greed leads to his downfall.

    More details for Open Sesame
    • 👥 3 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 15 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  31. The Little Prince: Rising to the Stars

    Join the little girl on your biplane to meet the Little Prince! Fly from cloud to cloud, collecting precious stars along the way in this point-to-point movement game. Players use Fox cards to advance, with the goal of reaching the Little Prince's planet while gathering stars and special movement abilities. The player who collects the most stars by the end wins.

    More details for The Little Prince: Rising to the Stars
    • 👥 2 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 15 - 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 6+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  32. Ghost Stories

    Ghost Stories is a cooperative game in which the players protect the village from incarnations of the lord of hell – Wu-Feng – and his legions of ghosts before they haunt a town and recover the ashes that will allow him to return to life. Each Player represents a Taoist monk working together with the others to fight off waves of ghosts.

    Nominated for 6 awards.

    More details for Ghost Stories
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty
  33. Looking for a really good game from game designer Bruno Cathala 👨? Then we have just the thing: the list with the best Bruno Cathala games 2026.

    The best games from Bruno Cathala 🇫🇷👨 →

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