The best games by Marco Maggi 🇮🇹👨 2026
Looking for a really good game by Marco Maggi? Here is the list of the best Marco Maggi games 2026.
Who is Marco Maggi?
Marco Maggi is an Italian game designer who has collaborated with his compatriot Francesco Nepitello on virtually all of his games since the late 1980s — initially through the Roman studios Studiogiochi and Nexus Game Industries, and today primarily for Ares Games. The duo became internationally known with the epic Tolkien strategy game War of the Ring: Second Edition (War of the Ring, 2004, with Roberto Di Meglio); from the same workshop come Age of Conan, The Battle of Five Armies, Hunt for the Ring, Tripods & Triplanes, and the Hanseatic Euro Barcelona.
Marco Maggi as a game designer
The first game by Marco Maggi in our database is Goal from the year 2000 – Marco Maggi has been designing games for over 26 years. The best-known game is War of the Ring: Second Edition.
How good are games by Marco Maggi?
There are 3 games by Marco Maggi in our Top-1000 games list – making Marco Maggi #74 of the best game designers out of 12777 designers in our database.
More information about Marco Maggi
- Marco Maggi's BGG profile
- Marco Maggi at studiogiochi (Italy)
- Ares Games – the War of the Ring series
List of the best games by Marco Maggi 2026
In this list you'll find the best board, card & dice games by Marco Maggi that you can buy 2026.
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Micro Mutants: Evolution
Dexterity
Family Game
Kids' Game
Combat
Animals
Variable Powers
More details for Micro Mutants: EvolutionAn updated version of X-Bugs, this game retains the core mechanics while introducing modified armies and new components like cards for abilities and upgrades, cardboard bases, measuring rulers for special abilities, and large tiles representing unique terrains. The set includes four armies, each with three bases and various bug types, characterized as plastic pieces in different shapes and sizes. Players roll two six-sided dice to determine their movement and can defeat enemy bugs and bases by landing on them, with each bug featuring special abilities that allow for additional moves or projectile attacks.
- 👥 2 - 4 Players
- ⏱️ 30 Minutes
- 🧒 10+ years old
- 🧩 Immediately playable
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Hobbit Tales from the Green Dragon Inn
ENnie for Best Family Game Silver
Storytelling
Thematic
Licensed / IP
Card Game
Players take on the role of Hobbits telling stories over a pint of beer in their favorite Shire tavern. They alternate as narrators, improvising tales using illustrated cards, while others introduce dangers and frightening monsters to twist the narrative. The game supports 2 to 5 players and includes a rule set, game board, adventure and danger cards, coasters, game tokens, and a twelve-sided dice.
Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.
More details for Hobbit Tales from the Green Dragon Inn- 👥 2 - 5 Players
- ⏱️ 20 - 60 Minutes
- 🧒 13+ years old
- 🧩 Immediately playable
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X-Bugs
Dexterity
Family Game
2-Player
Combat
Variable Powers
More details for X-Bugsextraterrestrial bugs have survived and are ready to conquer the world after the Roswell crash. During the Cold War, American and Soviet scientists developed genetically modified terrestrial insects to counter this threat.
- 👥 2 Players
- ⏱️ 30 Minutes
- 🧒 10+ years old
- 🧩 Immediately playable
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War of the Ring: Second Edition
BGG Top 100
Fantasy
Military
Area Control
Heavyweight
Combat
More details for War of the Ring: Second EditionImmerse yourself in the epic struggle for Middle Earth in War of the Ring: Second Edition, a riveting board game that pits the Free Peoples against the formidable Shadow Armies. As the fate of Middle Earth hangs in the balance, players embark on a quest for victory through military conquest or the perilous journey of the Ringbearer.
- 👥 2 - 4 Players
- ⏱️ 150 - 240 Minutes
- 🧒 13+ years old
- 🧩 Hard to learn
Video reviews for War of the Ring: Second Edition
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Dune: War for Arrakis
Golden Geek (nominated)
Sci-Fi
Military
Area Control
Solo Mode
Heavyweight
Arrakis is a seemingly barren desert world, harboring the galaxy's most vital resource: Spice. Control over Spice means power, and the House Atreides, initially given dominion over Arrakis by the Emperor, faces betrayal from the House Harkonnen, leading to a fierce struggle for survival. Players engage in asymmetric strategy, maneuvering factions like the Fremen and Sardaukar, while sending Spice Harvesters into the desert and challenging mighty sandworms, all within a system rich with action dice and event cards that bring the Dune saga to life with every playthrough.
Nominated for 4 awards.
More details for Dune: War for Arrakis- 👥 1 - 4 Players
- ⏱️ 120 Minutes
- 🧒 14+ years old
- 🧩 Hard to learn
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Cthulhu Tales
Storytelling
Horror
Licensed / IP
Drafting
More details for Cthulhu TalesCthulhu Tales is a storytelling card game for fans of the strange tales from the Cthulhu Mythos who appreciate humor with a touch of darkness. Players are trapped in a sanatorium and must convince the staff of their sanity by narrating the horrifying events that led them there. As they share their tales, other players will attempt to disrupt their stories, aiming to appear more mentally sound and affect the outcome of the dubious treatments administered, with the goal of being the one with the least treatments to win their freedom.
- 👥 2 - 5 Players
- ⏱️ 20 - 60 Minutes
- 🧒 15+ years old
- 🧩 Immediately playable
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The Battle of Five Armies
Golden Geek (nominated)
Fantasy
2-Player
Military
Area Control
Heavyweight
The Battle of Five Armies is a strategically rich board game that transports players to the climactic scene from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. This game brings to life the epic confrontation where the forces of the Elvenking, Dwarves, and Men ally against the menacing armies of Wolves, Goblins, and Bats, under the leadership of Bolg. Key characters like Gandalf, Bilbo Baggins, and potentially even the Eagles and Beorn, play crucial roles in this battle for the fate of Middle-earth.
Nominated for 6 awards.
More details for The Battle of Five Armies- 👥 2 Players
- ⏱️ 90 - 240 Minutes
- 🧒 13+ years old
- 🧩 Hard to learn
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Hector and Achilles
2-Player
Mythology
Combat
Strategy Game
Set Collection
Card Game
More details for Hector and AchillesPlayers engage in a fast-paced and entertaining card game centered around the epic conflict of the Trojan War, designed for 2 participants. They battle with heroes from Homer's stories, striving to win skirmishes by manipulating the colors of their cards to their advantage.
- 👥 2 Players
- ⏱️ 30 Minutes
- 🧒 10+ years old
- 🧩 Easy to learn
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Hunt for the Ring
Deduction
Fantasy
Combat
Thematic
Team Game
Licensed / IP
More details for Hunt for the RingOne player takes on the role of Frodo and his companions, traveling from the Shire to Rivendell, while up to four other players represent the Nazgûl, trying to hunt them down. The game features hidden movement and is played in two chapters on different boards. In the first chapter, the player controlling Frodo must reach Bree within sixteen rounds to avoid gaining corruption points. If successful, they can choose to proceed immediately to the second chapter or save their progress for later. In the second chapter, the Frodo player uses a travel deck to navigate to Rivendell instead of directly controlling the Hobbits.
- 👥 2 - 5 Players
- ⏱️ 90 - 180 Minutes
- 🧒 13+ years old
- 🧩 Medium difficulty
Video reviews for Hunt for the Ring
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Venetia
Civilization
Area Control
Medieval
Strategy Game
More details for VenetiaPlayers aspire to become the wealthiest and most influential noble family in the history of the Serenissima Republic of Venice. Controlling a patrician household, they expand their influence beyond the city, engaging in competition for resources and the prestigious title of Doge. The game unfolds over three eras: Rise, Apogee, and Struggle, with players navigating challenges from rival powers as they shape Venice's destiny.
- 👥 2 - 4 Players
- ⏱️ 75 - 90 Minutes
- 🧒 12+ years old
- 🧩 Medium difficulty
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Age of Conan: The Strategy Board Game
+1Lucca Games Best Publishing Project
Fantasy
Civilization
Combat
Auction
Strategy Game
Age of Conan: The Strategy Board Game transports players into the tumultuous world of the Hyborian Age, famously depicted in Robert E. Howard’s tales of Conan the Barbarian. Players vie for dominance over this ancient landscape by controlling one of four powerful kingdoms—Aquilonia, Turan, Hyperborea, and Stygia—utilizing military might, magical arts, and cunning diplomacy.
Nominated for 3 awards and won 2.
More details for Age of Conan: The Strategy Board Game- 👥 2 - 4 Players
- ⏱️ 90 Minutes
- 🧒 12+ years old
- 🧩 Medium difficulty
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Marvel Heroes
Golden Geek (nominated)
Miniatures
Combat
Thematic
Licensed / IP
Variable Powers
Players control a group of superheroes from the Marvel universe, such as the X-Men, Fantastic Four, Marvel Knights, or the Avengers, while also managing their opponent's nemesis. Throughout the game, players encounter allies, enemies, and power-ups, battling various supervillains controlled by others. The game includes high-quality plastic figures for key Marvel superheroes and nemesis characters, each represented by a detailed 40mm figure and a character card that outlines their special abilities.
Nominated for 1 award.
More details for Marvel Heroes- 👥 2 - 4 Players
- ⏱️ 120 Minutes
- 🧒 12+ years old
- 🧩 Medium difficulty
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