The best games from Mike Elliott 🇺🇸👨 2026
Looking for a really good game from game designer Mike Elliott 👨? Then we have just the thing: the list with the best Mike Elliott games 2026.
Who is Mike Elliott anyway?
Mike Elliott has been designing dice, card & board games since 1993. The game designer hails from Seattle, USA🇺🇸, was born in 1962 and still lives in Seattle 🇺🇸. He is also known as Michael Elliott.
Elliott's first game Dirtside II he developed in 1993 at the age of 31 – so he has been designing games for over 33 years. Famous Elliott games are for example Thunderstone, some Magic: The Gathering Expansions or Shadowrun: Crossfire.
"Most prolific Magic Designer"
Magic lead designer Mark Rosewater called him "one of the most prolific Magic designers in the history of the game." At the 2017 Origins Game Fair, he was inducted into the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design Hall of Fame.
From bridge player to Magic expansion author
While living in Phoenix, Arizona, in the early 1990s, Elliott and several of his friends were active bridge players and regularly competed in tournaments. One night after a tournament, a friend introduced the group to the trading card game Magic: The Gathering. When Elliott returned home, he purchased the game and began participating in Magic tournaments. During a Magic tournament at Arizona State University, Elliott told two fellow players what he thought was wrong with the game. During the conversation, they revealed that they worked for Wizards of the Coast. One of them, Joel Mick, invited Elliott to fly to Seattle and interview for a job with the company.
How good are "Mike Elliott" games?
There are 9 games by Mike Elliott in our Top1000 games list, making Elliott the #18 best game designer out of a total of 708 designers in our database.
More information about Elliott
More information about Elliott can be found on:
- Elliott's BGG profile
- Elliott's Twitter feed
- official Mike Elliott website
- Wikipedia entry for Elliott
List of best games by Mike Elliott 2026
In this list we have listed the best board games that Mike Elliott either designed himself – or was involved in designing.
Unfortunately, not all of Mike Elliott's games are currently available. In the following list you can find all dice, board & card games by Mike Elliott that you can buy 2026:
-
Mechwarrior Solaris VII
All details & ratingThe quest for glory has drawn many mech warriors to the gladiatorial arenas of Solaris VII. Legends like Danai Liao-Centrella and Yulri Wolf gained fame through their battles in the intense mech-on-mech duels of the planet. Solaris VII features hex-based terrain cards and a simultaneous heat and damage system, allowing for quick and engaging gameplay.
2–8 20 min 12+ Immediately playable -
Speechless
All details & ratingSpeechless is an exciting party game for 3 to 8 players where participants desperately express words without speaking. One player takes on the role of the "host" and has 90 seconds to present 6 words for others to guess, writing their guesses down on a dry-erase board. Points are awarded for correct guesses, with bonus scoring for matching incorrect guesses from other players.
3–8 45–90 min 14+ Immediately playable -
Battle Spirits: Trading Card Game
All details & ratingA new trading card game from BANDAI JAP, with the English version published by BANDAI AMERICA, features a unique anime style not initially based on a specific anime. Players use cards represented by six different gemstones—Ruby, Diamond, Amethyst, Sapphire, Topaz, and Emerald—each with unique powers and abilities. The core concept involves starting with 5 life points and 4 reserve cores, with the goal of reducing an opponent's life to zero or depleting their deck.
2–4 45 min 10+ Immediately playable -
Quarriors!
All details & ratingQuarriors! is a dynamic and innovative dice-rolling game where players become mystical warriors known as Quarriors, battling for supremacy and glory. This game blends the excitement of dice battles with a unique deckbuilding twist, offering a fresh take on strategy and resource management.
2–4 30 min 14+ Easy to learn -
Final Touch
All details & ratingEarning a living as an artist would be ideal, but what if you're not creative? Players take on the role of art forgers, competing to replicate masterpieces while using the right colors to complete their works. The first player to add the finishing touch to a forgery earns money, and the goal is to be the first to reach $25. In a four-player game, teams compete in pairs.
2–4 15 min 8+ Immediately playable -
Marvel Dice Masters: Avengers vs. X-Men
All details & ratingMarvel Dice Masters: Avengers vs. X-Men is a thrilling dice-building tabletop game that blends the excitement of Marvel superheroes with strategic gameplay. Created by Michael Elliott and Eric M. Lang, known for their work on Quarriors!, this game invites players to assemble and lead a team of iconic Marvel heroes in a head-to-head battle.
2 60 min 14+ Easy to learn -
Thunderstone Quest
All details & ratingThunderstone Quest revitalizes the Thunderstone series with an enhanced deck-building experience, inviting players to assemble a team of heroes and delve into dungeons filled with new challenges. This iteration introduces novel dungeon tiles, each presenting unique obstacles and rewards, and is structured around distinct quests that guide players through a narrative-driven adventure.
2–4 60–90 min 14+ Medium complexity -
Star Trek: Conflick in the Neutral Zone
All details & ratingResource-rich planets have been discovered in the Neutral Zone, and both the Federation and the Klingon Empire aim to exploit them. Players flick discs representing various starships to gather resources or attack opposing ships. Collecting energy and command points involves bringing a collection ship close to specific planets. Attacks are made by using an attacking ship to hit an opponent's ship, earning command points for successful strikes, while players can also add asteroids to block shots and protect their vessels. Expanding your fleet by purchasing additional ships strengthens your forces, ultimately allowing you to claim planets. The game ends when a player claims ten command points, leading to their victory.
2–4 20 min 14+ Immediately playable -
Dungeons & Dragons Dice Masters: Battle for Faerûn
All details & ratingPlayers assume the roles of warlords in Dungeons & Dragons Dice Masters: Battle for Faerûn, using the Dice Building Game system to collect and assemble adventure dice. They roll dice each round to determine available resources, purchase additional dice, and unleash their party against an opposing warlord. Players can customize their dice selection with multiple card options and expand their collection using expansion packs that include new cards and dice featuring iconic characters and monsters from the Forgotten Realms universe.
2 30–60 min 14+ Easy to learn -
Marvel Dice Masters: Uncanny X-Men
All details & ratingMarvel Dice Masters: Uncanny X-Men brings the fierce battles of the X-Men universe to the tabletop in a collectible dice-building game crafted by the minds behind Quarriors!, Michael Elliott and Eric M. Lang. This game immerses players in the Marvel universe, featuring iconic characters such as Wolverine, Magneto, and Cyclops, each represented through custom dice and character cards that unlock unique abilities.
2 60 min 14+ Easy to learn -
DC Comics Dice Masters: Justice League
All details & ratingThe DC Comics Dice Masters: Justice League Starter Set offers everything needed for two players to dive into the game, making it perfect for new players or those looking to expand their collection. Players can enjoy iconic characters like Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman while engaging in epic dice battles. The game allows participants to create their own version of the Justice League or even the Legion of Doom.
2 60 min 14+ Easy to learn -
Agent Hunter
All details & ratingTwo players act as rival agents trying to eliminate their opponent's hideouts, represented by hidden cards valued between 0 and 9. Players can launch attacks, swap agents, or attack from their hideouts, but must manage risks carefully as they attempt to outsmart each other. The game continues until one player has all three of their hideouts eliminated.
2 15 min 12+ Immediately playable -
Terror Below
All details & ratingTerror Below involves government experiments gone awry in the Nevada desert. Players collect valuable worm eggs and deliver them to locations in the nearby town to earn bounty points while navigating dangerous terrain and avoiding aggressive underground worms. Gathering items and weapons to hunt these worms is also a crucial strategy for survival.
1–5 45–60 min 10+ Easy to learn -
Marvel Dice Masters: The Amazing Spider-Man
All details & ratingPlayers collect their favorite characters like Spider-Man, Ghost Rider, and Kingpin in this game designed by the creators of Quarriors!. The starter set introduces exciting mechanics featuring the Sinister Six and allows players to assemble their own teams for epic dice battles. With over 30 heroes and villains to choose from, it promises to be a standout addition to any collection.
2 60 min 14+ Easy to learn -
Axis & Allies: War at Sea
All details & ratingThe game includes 64 authentically detailed miniatures, featuring carriers, battleships, destroyers, cruisers, submarines, aircraft, and other WWII vessels. Players can reenact historical battles or engage in competitive fights on large battle maps. Unique ships like the BB Bismarck and the IJN Yamato come with their distinctive markings, while all units are pre-painted and ready to play right out of the box.
2 60 min 12+ Easy to learn -
Thunderstone Advance: Towers of Ruin
All details & ratingThunderstone Advance: Towers of Ruin continues the epic saga from Thunderstone: Heart of Doom, where players faced and defeated the ancient evil, Doom. This victory, however, had unforeseen consequences, unleashing Doom into other worlds. Now, in this next chapter, players embark on a new journey, fully compatible with all previous Thunderstone games. The objective is to build a formidable party of heroes to challenge and defeat Thunderstone Bearers in various dungeons and wilderness settings. The game introduces fresh challenges and strategies, as players contend with monsters equipped with new tricks, making the path to victory more complex and exciting.
1–5 45 min 12+ Medium complexity -
Thunderstone
All details & ratingThunderstone is a fantasy-themed deck-building game that combines elements of strategy and role-playing. Players compete to gather powerful cards and defeat monsters, ultimately aiming to secure the Thunderstone and thwart the Doom Knights.
1–5 60 min 12+ Medium complexity -
DC HeroClix: Batman
Alpha
All details & ratingThe standalone version of the HeroClix Alpha line offers a faster and less complex gameplay experience than traditional HeroClix. Each booster pack contains a fixed Batman figure, and with a total of 30 figures released, it's easier to collect than standard versions. An exclusive 31st figure is available in certain boosters sold at Target stores, featuring a unique sculpture.
2 30 min Immediately playable -
DC Comics Dice Masters: World's Finest
All details & ratingPlayers assemble a team of superheroes, represented by custom dice featuring characters like Batman and Superman. Each team consists of 15 dice, and players can only purchase dice from their own team using energy gathered through gameplay. The introduction of new keywords and abilities enhances strategy, while over 30 heroes and villains add variety to the available cards and dice.
2 60 min 14+ Easy to learn -
Dungeons & Dragons Dice Masters: Faerûn Under Siege
All details & ratingPlayers take on the role of warlords in a head-to-head battle using adventure dice in a Dice Building Game format. In each round, they roll dice to gather resources, buy additional dice, send out party members, and attack their opponent. Additional cards and dice can be found in expansion packs, allowing players to enhance their collection and build teams with their favorite fantasy characters from the Forgotten Realms universe.
2 60 min 14+ Easy to learn -
Marvel Dice Masters: Age of Ultron
All details & ratingMarvel Dice Masters: Age of Ultron is a collectible dice game developed by the creators of Quarriors!, Michael Elliott and Eric M. Lang. Players assemble teams of superheroes, represented by custom dice, and each team must include 15 dice. They use these dice to gather energy, recruit new heroes, and compete against each other, aiming to reduce their opponent's life to zero. The starter set includes custom dice, cards, dice bags, and a rulebook, while booster packs offer additional dice and character cards for enhanced team customization.
2 60 min 14+ Easy to learn -
DC Comics Dice Masters: War of Light
All details & ratingPlayers form superhero teams, representing characters like Batman, Wonder Woman, and Hal Jordan with custom dice. Each team consists of 15 dice, and players can only purchase dice for their own team. Players use these dice to gather energy, recruit new heroes, and battle against each other, aiming to reduce their opponent's life to zero. The game includes unique action cards available for all players, adding depth to team customization.
2 60 min 14+ Easy to learn -
Yu-Gi-Oh! Dice Masters
All details & ratingPlayers bring a set of custom dice representing characters from the 4K Media show to form their teams. Each player also adds two basic action cards to the center, available for both to purchase. During their turns, players draw and roll their dice, buy additional ones, and use character dice to attack the opponent, winning when the opponent's life points reach zero.
2 60 min 14+ Easy to learn -
Star Trek: Fleet Captains
All details & ratingStar Trek: Fleet Captains immerses players into the vast universe of Star Trek, pitting the iconic factions of the Federation and the Klingons against each other in a strategic game of exploration, combat, and mission completion. This game offers a dynamic and thematic experience, capturing the essence of the Star Trek "Prime Universe" through detailed ship miniatures, a variety of mission scenarios, and the strategic use of character and ship abilities.
2–4 90–120 min 14+ Medium complexity -
Dice Masters
All details & ratingDice Masters is a two-player card and dice game featuring custom dice from popular characters in Marvel, DC, Dungeons & Dragons, and WWE. Players compete in a "dice-building" style game, purchasing character dice from their own eight-character team to use in battles, aiming to reduce their opponent's life from 20 to 0. The game is both collectible and non-collectible, with all sets being interchangeable and playable together.
2 15–35 min 14+ Medium complexity -
Marvel Dice Masters: Civil War
All details & ratingMarvel Dice Masters: Civil War is a collectible dice game developed by Michael Elliott and Eric M. Lang. The set will include starter sets, foil packs, a team box, a collector's box, a playmat, and a dice bag, with a release scheduled for May.
2 60 min 14+ Medium complexity -
Shadowrun: Crossfire
All details & ratingShadowrun: Crossfire plunges players into the perilous depths of the Shadowrun universe, a world where magic meets machinery and danger lurks in every shadow. This cooperative deck-building game invites two to four players to form a team of shadowrunners, those who operate on the fringes of society, undertaking high-stakes missions for profit and survival. With a dynamic mix of strategy and teamwork, players navigate through a series of challenging scenarios, from corporate espionage to street-level skirmishes, all while enhancing their abilities and arsenal.
1–4 30–60 min 13+ Medium complexity -
Star Wars PocketModel TCG
All details & ratingPlayers combine classic trading card game elements with constructible strategy game mechanics in this unique TCG. They use characters and action scenes from the movies to command fleets of PocketModel ships while aiming to destroy opponents' objectives. The models consist of pre-painted plastic cards that fit together, and each model's statistics are summarized on its base. Players need a set of thirty cards and thirty models to play, with the cost of models varying based on their rarity and size.
2–8 20 min 8+ Easy to learn -
Halo ActionClix
All details & ratingThe game brings the incredible content of the Halo universe to the tabletop using an award-winning miniatures engine. Players can dive straight into action with new mechanics like weapon swapping, respawning, and vehicle-based combat. The first set will feature over 80 unique miniatures, including advance content from Halo 3, along with vehicle packs and a special surprise planned for the San Diego Comic-Con.
2–8 60 min 10+ Easy to learn -
Dreamblade
All details & ratingIn the near future, specially trained seers known as Dream Lords venture deep into the dream world. They explore a shifting landscape filled with ancient archetypes, modern horrors, and mismatched elements from the waking world, reflecting the collective subconscious of humanity. The Dreamblade collectible miniature game allows players to project their minds into this realm and wage war against endless rivals using supernatural energies to create fearsome creatures.
2 60 min 13+ Medium complexity
Frequently asked questions
Which game ranks first on this list?
Mechwarrior Solaris VII 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 are designed for exactly 2 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 8 years. Each game carries its own age rating.
How long does a game take?
A typical game takes about 60 minutes. Each game's playing time is listed individually.
Didn't find the game you were looking for?
We're positive that you'll find it in one of our other lists! To make the search easier for you, we split our website into different categories. The following board game categories will help you find the right list: