The best games from Richard Garfield 🇺🇸👨 2026
Looking for a really good game from game designer Richard Garfield 👨? Then we have just the thing: the list with the best Richard Garfield games 2026.
Richard Garfield has become world famous for his smash hit "Magic the Gathering" – but he has also invented some other very good board & card games. We bring light into the darkness and have picked out the best for you.
Who is Richard Garfield anyway?
Richard Garfield has been designing dice, card & board games since 1993. The game designer hails from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA🇺🇸, was born in 1963 and currently lives in Kirkland, Washington, USA🇺🇸. His full name is Richard Channing Garfield.
Garfield's first game "Magic: The Gathering" he developed in 1993 at the age of 30 – so he has been designing games for over 33. Famous Garfield games include King of Tokyo, Magic: The Gathering, Android: Netrunner & RoboRally.
In 1998, Garfield was inducted into the Origins Award Hall of Fame.
Inventor of collectible card games... and patent holder
Richard Garfield is one of the most famous game designers in the world. He was granted a patent on trading card games for his first game, Magic: The Gathering – now a multi-billion dollar industry worldwide. Since then, he has designed many award-winning collectible card games and board games.
Garfield's childhood & youth
Richard Garfield spent his childhood traveling the world as his father worked in architecture. Eventually, they moved to Oregon when he was 12 years old. While initially interested in puzzles, his passion for games began with the discovery of Dungeons & Dragons. Richard Garfield designed his first game "RoboRally" at the age of 13 – but did not find a publisher until 1991, when he published it in 1994.
Professional career
Garfield earned a Bachelor of Science degree in computational mathematics in 1985. He then initially worked at Bell Labs, but eventually continued his studies at the University of Pennsylvania, this time in combinatorial mathematics. He then received a PhD in mathematics from the same university in 1993.
He was then a professor of mathematics at Whitman College before co-founding Wizards of the Coast (WofC) – also abbreviated as "Wizards" and the original publisher of Magic. Today, WofC is now owned by Hasbro.
Then, when Magic was published in 1993, Garfield decided to take a full-time job as a game developer.
How good are "Richard Garfield" games?
There are 9 games by Richard Garfield in our Top1000 games list, making Garfield the #18 best game designer out of a total of 708 designers in our database.
More information about Garfield
More information about Garfield can be found on:
- Garfield's BGG profile
- Richard Garfield's Facebook page
- official Richard Garfield website
- english Wikipedia entry for Richard Garfield
- german Wikipedia entry for Garfield
List of best games by Richard Garfield 2026
In this list we have listed the best board games that Richard Garfield either designed himself – or was involved in designing.
Unfortunately, not all of Richard Garfield's games are currently available. In the following list you can find all dice, board & card games by Richard Garfield that you can buy 2026:
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King of Tokyo: Dark Edition
All details & ratingKing of Tokyo: Dark Edition is a limited collector's edition of the popular game King of Tokyo. Set in an alternative, darker version of Tokyo, this edition brings a new level of intensity to the battle for control of the city.
2–6 30 min 8+ Easy to learn -
King of Tokyo: Monster Box
All details & ratingAll the King of Tokyo fun comes in a Monster Box. The battle for dominance in Tokyo has never been more intense, packed with excitement and adrenaline! It includes the essential Power Up! and Halloween expansions, evolution cards to enhance your monsters, and even a new version of Gigazaur with exclusive cards and a new dice tray for stylishly wreaking havoc in Tokyo.
2–6 30 min 8+ Immediately playable -
Mindbug: First Contact
All details & ratingMindbug: First Contact is an innovative and strategic duel card game where players summon unique hybrid creatures to battle their opponent. However, the twist lies in the Mindbug cards, which can turn the tide of the game by allowing players to take control of an opponent's creature.
2 15–25 min 8+ Easy to learn+ 8 € above the best price22 € at Amazon* -
Hive Mind
All details & ratingRichard Garfield presents Hive Mind, an exciting new party game about conformity! Players answer interesting questions based on their experiences and opinions. The more answers they share with others, the more points they earn. Represented by bee figures called Beeples, players navigate the hive, and those with the fewest points each round move closer to the exit. The game ends when one or more bees leave the hive, with all remaining bees winning and surviving the winter! It accommodates three to as many players as you like.
3–12 30–90 min 8+ Immediately playable -
The Great Dalmuti
All details & ratingThe Great Dalmuti is a light and engaging card game that revolves around players striving to improve their social status by being the first to discard all their cards. The game is a commercial adaptation of the traditional card game President, and it offers a fun, fast-paced experience.
4–8 60 min 8+ Immediately playable -
King of Tokyo: Origins
All details & ratingPlayers take on the role of monsters battling for supremacy in a standalone game designed for newcomers. It features four new monsters, a mix of power cards, energy dice, and special yellow dice. The objective is to be the first to reach 20 points or be the last monster standing. Players roll six dice to gain points, energy, heal, or attack others, with various strategic options for each turn.
2–4 30 min 8+ Immediately playable -
Mindbug: Beyond Evolution
All details & ratingThis standalone expansion introduces the Evolve effect on certain cards, allowing for a three-stage evolution line with changing creature abilities. Players summon hybrid creatures to battle against their opponent, but must beware, as the opponent can use one of their Mindbugs to take control. Mindbug blends the accessibility of a simple card game with the strategic depth of a complex one, resulting in a skill-based card duel that offers a unique experience.
2 15–25 min 8+ Easy to learn -
Bunny Kingdom
All details & ratingBunny Kingdom is a charming and strategic board game where players lead clans of rabbits to establish their dominance over a vast kingdom. The game combines elements of drafting, resource management, and area control to create a dynamic and engaging experience.
2–4 40–60 min 12+ Easy to learn15 € below the next retailer47 € at Amazon*Video reviews 3 -
Dice Hunters of Therion
All details & ratingPlayers take on the role of a dice hero, confronting villains that plague the kingdom. They use their dice to secure rewards and discover valuable treasures. With courage and the favor of the dice, they will achieve glory and honor in the name of Therion.
2–4 30 min 8+ Immediately playable -
Dungeons, Dice & Danger
All details & ratingGather your courage, grab your sword, and roll the dice as you travel through the realm in search of treasure and glory. Explore deep, dark dungeons filled with treasures and monsters. Will you become a legendary hero?
1–4 45–60 min 12+ Easy to learn+ 1 € above the best price8 € at Amazon* -
Monstrolicious
All details & ratingOriginally known as "Auf die Palme," this card game by Richard Garfield and George Elias features two players competing with 12 birds of various values to claim the top 10 feeding spots in a palm tree. Only one bird is allowed per spot, creating a contest of strategy. Players must cleverly position their birds, bluff, and resist the temptation to cheat, as the goal is to secure the best feeding locations.
2 20 min 8+ Immediately playable -
Carnival of Monsters
All details & ratingThe Royal Monstrological Society includes the most renowned experts in monster studies. Each year, only one new member is allowed to join, and applicants must compete to capture the most extraordinary monsters they can find. Players collect cards to capture and display exotic monsters, hire talented assistants, and pursue secret goals, earning points through monster exhibitions, achieving objectives, and collecting crowns over four seasons. The player with the most profitable and spectacular carnival at the end wins!
2–5 45 min 12+ Easy to learnVideo reviews 1 -
King of Tokyo: Duel
All details & ratingAs night falls over Tokyo, two giant silhouettes rise from the smoke of destroyed skyscrapers. Only one can be crowned the King of Tokyo, either by defeating their rival or instilling fear in the crowd. King of Tokyo Duel is a dice game for two players. Choose your unique monster and roll new dice to gain glory and destruction points, or crush your rival with new special power cards to become the ultimate King of Tokyo!
2 20 min 8+ Easy to learn -
Treasure Hunter
All details & ratingTreasure Hunter is a fast-paced and strategic drafting game where players become adventurers in search of valuable treasures over the course of five thrilling rounds. The game cleverly combines elements of strategy, luck, and foresight as players select from a hand of cards to assemble their team of treasure hunters, all while navigating the ever-changing opportunities and pitfalls presented by the treasures themselves.
2–6 40 min 8+ Easy to learn -
Robo Rally
original 1994 Edition
All details & ratingRoboRally is a dynamic and chaotic racing board game where players control robots in a high-stakes race through a hazardous factory. The game combines strategy, quick thinking, and a bit of luck to create an engaging and often humorous experience.
2–8 45–120 min 12+ Easy to learnVideo reviews 1 -
Twitch
All details & ratingZack! is a frantic reaction game based on new information. Players must quickly determine if a played card points to them and respond by throwing the top card from their pile onto the stack. If they are too slow, another player can challenge them, forcing them to take all cards in the stack. The first to empty their pile wins.
3–6 15 min 10+ Immediately playable -
Android: Netrunner
All details & ratingAndroid: Netrunner is an asymmetrical Living Card Game for two players, set in a cyberpunk future. It involves strategic card play, where one player controls a megacorporation and the other plays as a lone runner.
2 45 min 14+ Medium complexity -
KeyForge: Call of the Archons
All details & ratingKeyForge: Call of the Archons is a groundbreaking card game from the mind of Richard Garfield, offering a unique experience where each deck is one-of-a-kind. In this game, traditional deckbuilding and boosters are replaced by a world of endless discovery and strategic depth.
2 15–45 min 14+ Easy to learnVideo reviews 1 -
The Hunger
All details & ratingPlayers optimize their deck of vampire cards while hunting humans for victory points and completing secret missions. The goal is to acquire a rose and return to the castle before sunrise. As players hunt more, both they and their deck slow down, creating a challenging race against time. The game ends at sunrise, and the surviving player with the most victory points wins.
2–6 60 min 12+ Easy to learn -
Dilbert: Corporate Shuffle
All details & ratingA fast-paced card game featuring Dilbert, the cartoon hero of the workplace. Players aim to get rid of their cards as quickly as possible to climb the corporate ladder. Based on the card game Great Dalmuti, it includes unique Dilbert comics on each card along with new rules and cards.
4–6 15 min 10+ Immediately playable -
Magic: The Gathering
All details & ratingMagic: The Gathering (MTG) is a highly influential collectible card game (CCG) that has shaped the genre since its inception. Players take on the roles of planeswalkers, powerful wizards engaging in strategic duels.
2–6 20 min 13+ Medium complexity -
Robo Rally
2016 Edition
All details & ratingRobo Rally is a dynamic and strategic board game where players navigate their robots through a chaotic factory floor, aiming to hit designated checkpoints in sequence amidst a plethora of obstacles and hazards. This high-energy game combines elements of planning, race, and sabotage, making it a thrilling competition of wits and speed.
2–6 20–120 min 12+ Easy to learn -
King of Monster Island
All details & ratingA new ruler rises: King of Monster Island. Unusual movements have been detected on Monster Island as the volcano erupts like never before. Monsters from all over the world gather on the island, not to fight each other but to confront a greater threat that endangers them all.
1–5 45–60 min 10+ Easy to learn -
Shadow Blades
All details & ratingBecome a master spy tasked with dominating the covert intelligence world by deploying agents for crucial missions. In SpyNet, 2 to 4 players work solo or in teams to gather the information needed to recruit the best agents and disrupt their opponents' plans.
2–4 30–45 min 10+ Easy to learn -
Ghooost!
All details & ratingGhooost! is a fast-paced, easy-to-learn card game with a Halloween theme full of twists. Players aim to get rid of ghosts, undead, vampires, and other spooky creatures from their manor by playing cards that match or exceed the previously played cards. The game consists of two phases where players can play or draw cards, and the first player to empty their hand loses, while others continue playing until only one player remains.
2–6 20 min 8+ Immediately playableVideo reviews 1
Frequently asked questions
Which game ranks first on this list?
King of Tokyo: Dark Edition 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 8 years. Each game carries its own age rating.
How long does a game take?
A typical game takes about 30 minutes. Each game's playing time is listed individually.
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