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 author out of a total of 708 authors in our database.

More information about Garfield

More information about Garfield can be found on:

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:

This list was last updated on June 6, 2026. There's also a print version for this list .
  1. King of Tokyo: Dark Edition

    King 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.

    More details for King of Tokyo: Dark Edition
    • 👥 2 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  2. King of Tokyo: Monster Box

    All 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.

    More details for King of Tokyo: Monster Box
    • 👥 2 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  3. Mindbug: First Contact

    Mindbug: 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.

    Nominated for 6 awards.

    More details for Mindbug: First Contact
    • 👥 2 Players
    • ⏱️ 15 - 25 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  4. In this 2026 top list we have selected for you the best dice, card & board games from the game publisher "Wizards of the Coast" 🇺🇸🏢.

    The Best Games from Wizards of the Coast 🇺🇸🏢 →
  5. Hive Mind

    Richard 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.

    More details for Hive Mind
    • 👥 3 - 12 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 - 90 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  6. The Great Dalmuti

    The 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.

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    More details for The Great Dalmuti
    • 👥 4 - 8 Players
    • ⏱️ 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  7. King of Tokyo: Origins

    Players 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.

    More details for King of Tokyo: Origins
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  8. Mindbug: Battlefruit Kingdom

    • FantasyFantasy
    • 2-Player2-Player
    • Bluffing & BettingBluffing & Betting
    • CombatCombat
    • Take ThatTake That
    +4 more
    • 👥 2 Players
    • ⏱️ 15 - 25 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  9. Mindbug: Beyond Evolution

    • Sci-FiSci-Fi
    • 2-Player2-Player
    • CombatCombat
    • Strategy GameStrategy Game
    • Take ThatTake That
    • Card GameCard Game
    +3 more

    This 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.

    More details for Mindbug: Beyond Evolution
    • 👥 2 Players
    • ⏱️ 15 - 25 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  10. Mindbug: Battlefruit Galaxy

    • Sci-FiSci-Fi
    • 2-Player2-Player
    • Bluffing & BettingBluffing & Betting
    • CombatCombat
    • Take ThatTake That
    +3 more
    • 👥 2 Players
    • ⏱️ 15 - 25 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  11. Bunny Kingdom

    Bunny 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.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Bunny Kingdom
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 40 - 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Bunny Kingdom

    • YouTube Review for the game "Bunny Kingdom" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video
    • YouTube Review for the game "Bunny Kingdom" by BoardGameGeek
      Video
    • YouTube Review for the game "Bunny Kingdom" by BoardGameGeek
      Video
  12. Looking for a really good game set in the city of Tokyo in Japan🇯🇵? Then we have just the thing for you: the list with the best Tokyo games 2026.

    The best games set in the city of Tokyo in Japan🇯🇵 →
  13. Dice Hunters of Therion

    • Family GameFamily Game
    • Push Your LuckPush Your Luck
    • CombatCombat
    • Dice GameDice Game
    +3 more

    Players 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.

    More details for Dice Hunters of Therion
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  14. Mindbug: Beyond Eternity (Expansion)

    • FantasyFantasy
    • Sci-FiSci-Fi
    • 2-Player2-Player
    • CombatCombat
    • Strategy GameStrategy Game
    • Take ThatTake That
    +2 more
    • 👥 2 Players
    • ⏱️ 15 - 25 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  15. Dungeons, Dice & Danger

    Gather 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?

    More details for Dungeons, Dice & Danger
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  16. Monstrolicious

    • Family GameFamily Game
    • 2-Player2-Player
    • Bluffing & BettingBluffing & Betting
    • AuctionAuction
    • AnimalsAnimals
    • Card GameCard Game
    +1 more

    Originally 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.

    More details for Monstrolicious
    • 👥 2 Players
    • ⏱️ 20 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  17. Carnival of Monsters

    The 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!

    More details for Carnival of Monsters
    • 👥 2 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Carnival of Monsters

    • YouTube Review for the game "Carnival of Monsters" by BoardGameGeek
      Video
  18. King of Tokyo: Duel

    • Golden Geek (nominated)Golden Geek (nominated)
    • Family GameFamily Game
    • Sci-FiSci-Fi
    • 2-Player2-Player
    • CombatCombat
    • Licensed / IPLicensed / IP
    +3 more

    As 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!

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for King of Tokyo: Duel
    • 👥 2 Players
    • ⏱️ 20 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  19. Treasure Hunter

    • FantasyFantasy
    • Family GameFamily Game
    • AdventureAdventure
    • Large GroupsLarge Groups
    • DraftingDrafting
    • Simultaneous ActionSimultaneous Action
    +3 more

    Treasure 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.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Treasure Hunter
    • 👥 2 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 40 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  20. Robo Rally (original 1994 Edition)

    RoboRally 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.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 2.

    More details for Robo Rally (original 1994 Edition)
    • 👥 2 - 8 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 - 120 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Robo Rally (original 1994 Edition)

    • YouTube Review for the game "Robo Rally (original 1994 Edition)" by BoardGameGeek
      Video
  21. Twitch

    Zack! 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.

    More details for Twitch
    • 👥 3 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 15 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  22. Android: Netrunner

    Android: 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.

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 3.

    More details for Android: Netrunner
    • 👥 2 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty
  23. KeyForge: Call of the Archons

    KeyForge: 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.

    Nominated for 9 awards and won 3.

    More details for KeyForge: Call of the Archons
    • 👥 2 Players
    • ⏱️ 15 - 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn

    Video reviews for KeyForge: Call of the Archons

    • YouTube Review for the game "KeyForge: Call of the Archons" by BoardGameGeek
      Video
  24. The Hunger

    Players 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.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

    💰 16% cheaper on Amazon than at other retailers

    More details for The Hunger
    • 👥 2 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  25. KeyForge: Winds of Exchange

    • FantasyFantasy
    • 2-Player2-Player
    • CustomizableCustomizable
    • CombatCombat
    • Take ThatTake That
    +1 more
    • 👥 2 Players
    • ⏱️ 15 - 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty
  26. Dilbert: Corporate Shuffle

    • Party GameParty Game
    • Family GameFamily Game
    • Licensed / IPLicensed / IP
    • HumorHumor
    • Card GameCard Game
    +2 more

    A 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.

    More details for Dilbert: Corporate Shuffle
    • 👥 4 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 15 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  27. Magic: The Gathering

    • Origins Awards Best Graphic Presentation of a Boardgame+5Origins Awards Best Graphic Presentation of a Boardgame
    • FantasyFantasy
    • Deck-BuildingDeck-Building
    • CustomizableCustomizable
    • Bluffing & BettingBluffing & Betting
    • Large GroupsLarge Groups
    +7 more

    Magic: 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.

    Nominated for 9 awards and won 6.

    More details for Magic: The Gathering
    • 👥 2 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 20 Minutes
    • 🧒 13+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty
  28. Robo Rally (2023 Edition)

    • Sci-FiSci-Fi
    • MiniaturesMiniatures
    • Large GroupsLarge Groups
    • Modular BoardModular Board
    • Simultaneous ActionSimultaneous Action
    +5 more
    • 👥 2 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 - 90 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  29. Robo Rally (2016 Edition)

    Robo 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.

    More details for Robo Rally (2016 Edition)
    • 👥 2 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 20 - 120 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  30. King of Monster Island

    • CooperativeCooperative
    • Family GameFamily Game
    • Sci-FiSci-Fi
    • Solo ModeSolo Mode
    • Push Your LuckPush Your Luck
    • CombatCombat
    +1 more

    A 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.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for King of Monster Island
    • 👥 1 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  31. Shadow Blades

    • Area ControlArea Control
    • Crime & MysteryCrime & Mystery
    • Bluffing & BettingBluffing & Betting
    • Strategy GameStrategy Game
    • Team GameTeam Game
    +1 more

    Become 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.

    More details for Shadow Blades
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  32. Ghooost!

    • Mensa SelectMensa Select
    • Family GameFamily Game
    • HorrorHorror
    • Large GroupsLarge Groups
    • Card GameCard Game
    +1 more

    Ghooost! 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.

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    More details for Ghooost!
    • 👥 2 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 20 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Ghooost!

    • YouTube Review for the game "Ghooost!" by The Dice Tower
      Video
    • YouTube Review for the game "Ghooost!" by The Dice Tower
      Video
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    The Best Card Games of the Year 2025 in Comparison →

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