The best games in which you can enclose a territory or area 2026

Looking for a really good game where you can narrow down an area? Then we have just the thing for you: the list of the best "area delimitation" games 2026.

What are area delimitation games?

In area delimitation games, players place or move pieces to surround as much territory as possible with their pieces. The oldest and most famous "area enclosure" game is of course Go, but there are many newer examples as well.

Area Enclosure differs from Area Majority/Area Influence because players actually create the areas during the game on a gridded board, whereas in Area Majority/Influence the actual areas are already there and players just fight over who can control the most of them.

By the way, in English "area enclosure" is called "enclosure" or "area enclosure".

Examples of games where you can enclose an area

A good example of an "area enclosure" game is Blokus.

List of the best area enclosure games 2026

This list was last updated on June 29, 2026. There's also a print version for this list .
  1. Kingdomino

    Kingdomino

    Embark on a noble quest to expand your kingdom in Kingdomino. As a lord, your mission is to explore vast lands filled with wheat fields, serene lakes, and towering mountains. Competing with fellow lords, you must identify the choicest plots to claim as your own.

    All details & rating
    2–4 15–25 min 8+ Immediately playable
    + 4 € above the best price
    14 € at Amazon*
    Video reviews 1
  2. Cartographers

    Cartographers

    Cartographers: A Roll Player Tale transports players to a realm where they take on the roles of mapmakers, tasked by Queen Gimnax to chart the northern territories for the Kingdom of Nalos. This game combines elements of strategy and creativity, challenging players to create the most efficient and aesthetically pleasing maps.

    All details & rating
    1–100 30–45 min 10+ Easy to learn
    + 4 € above the best price
    20 € at Amazon*
  3. Cat in the Box: Deluxe Edition

    Cat in the Box: Deluxe Edition

    Cat in the Box: Deluxe Edition is a unique and innovative quantum trick-taking card game that challenges 2 to 5 players to think strategically about color and number. This deluxe edition of the game enhances the experience with high-quality components and new features.

    All details & rating
    2–5 20–40 min 13+ Easy to learn
    + 10 € above the best price
    25 € at Amazon*
  4. My First Carcassonne

    My First Carcassonne

    My First Carcassonne, also known as Carcassonne Junior, introduces the iconic tile-laying gameplay of the classic Carcassonne to a younger audience. This game captures the essence of the original while simplifying the mechanics to make it accessible for children, making it a wonderful entry point into the world of board games.

    All details & rating
    2–4 10–20 min 4+ Immediately playable
  5. Calico

    Calico

    Calico is a delightful, tile-laying board game that combines the art of quilt-making with the charm of cats. It's designed to offer a relaxing yet engaging puzzling experience for players.

    All details & rating
    1–4 30–45 min 10+ Easy to learn
  6. Kingdomino Origins

    Kingdomino Origins

    Travel back to the prehistoric era of Kingdomino. Players will experience familiar gameplay with new components that introduce additional actions and scoring opportunities. Regions in your territory earn points when they contain fire, which can be gained either through terrain or by adding dominoes with volcanoes. The game features three play modes that incorporate fire, wood resources, and cave people tiles, allowing for varied strategies and rewards.

    All details & rating
    2–4 20–40 min 8+ Easy to learn
  7. Blokus

    Blokus

    Blokus is an abstract strategy game known for its simple rules and deep strategic gameplay. It features colorful Tetris-shaped pieces that players aim to place on the board.

    All details & rating
    2–4 30 min 7+ Easy to learn
    6 € below the next retailer
    32 € at Amazon*
  8. Hive

    Hive

    Hive is a highly strategic two-player game that stands out for its versatility and unique gameplay mechanics, involving a variety of insect-themed pieces.

    All details & rating
    2 20 min 9+ Easy to learn
    + 2 € above the best price
    29 € at Amazon*
  9. Land vs Sea

    Land vs Sea

    Players take on the roles of land or sea, using double-sided hex tiles that represent land and water shapes. Each player places tiles alternately to create a shared map, aiming to complete land or sea areas for points. The game concludes when the last tile is played, and the player or team with the highest score wins. Additional scoring options can be unlocked for added complexity, allowing for strategic play in varying player modes.

    All details & rating
    2–4 40 min 14+ Easy to learn
  10. Through the Desert

    Through the Desert

    Through the Desert is a strategic board game where players guide caravans through the desert to claim oases and territory. Often compared to the classic game Go, it combines strategic planning with a visually appealing setup featuring colorful plastic camels.

    All details & rating
    2–5 45 min 10+ Easy to learn
  11. Blokus Duo

    Blokus Duo

    Blokus Duo, also known as Travel Blokus, is a two-player version of the popular abstract strategy game Blokus. It offers a compact and travel-friendly design, perfect for on-the-go gaming sessions.

    All details & rating
    2 10–20 min 5+ Easy to learn
  12. Blokus Shuffle: UNO Edition

    Blokus Shuffle: UNO Edition

    Blokus Shuffle: UNO Edition is a wild twist on traditional Blokus. The goal remains the same: players must place as many of their pieces on the board while following the rule that pieces can only touch at corners. Each player has a set of action cards inspired by UNO, allowing for a variety of moves, including skipping turns and drawing cards, as well as unique abilities like Warp and Edge-to-Edge. The game ends when no players can make a move, and the player with the fewest unplayed pieces wins.

    All details & rating
    2–4 30–45 min 7+ Immediately playable
  13. Kingdom Builder: Big Box

    Kingdom Builder: Big Box

    Second Edition

    The Kingdom Builder: Big Box includes the first four expansions: Nomads, Crossroads, Marshlands, and Harvest, along with three Queenies: Capitol, Caves, and The Island. Players create their own kingdoms by strategically building settlements to earn the most gold by the end of the game. With a variable board featuring nine different types of terrain, players play land cards and place settlements while aiming to fulfill specific conditions outlined by the game’s cards to maximize their gold earnings.

    All details & rating
    2–5 45 min 8+ Easy to learn
  14. Agricola: All Creatures Big and Small

    Agricola: All Creatures Big and Small

    Agricola: All Creatures Big and Small offers a specialized, two-player experience derived from the popular Agricola game, focusing exclusively on the aspect of animal husbandry.

    All details & rating
    2 30 min 13+ Easy to learn
  15. Scarabya

    Scarabya

    As the leader of an international archaeological team, you must establish camps worldwide and uncover the long-lost golden scarabs. Scarabya is a puzzle game where the goal is to find scarabs by positioning your game pieces to form closed zones of 1 to 4 squares. Each scarab in a closed zone is worth points equal to the number of squares in that zone, and players take turns playing the same pieces simultaneously, ending the game once all 12 pieces are drawn.

    All details & rating
    1–4 15–20 min 8+ Immediately playable
  16. DONUTS
    2 10–15 min 8+ Immediately playable
  17. Blokus Trigon

    Blokus Trigon

    Blokus Trigon evolves the classic abstract strategy game Blokus with a twist: the introduction of triangular pieces. This change adds a new layer of strategic depth, as players must navigate the hexagonal board to fit their pieces in the most efficient way possible. The objective remains the same as in the original Blokus: to place all of your pieces on the board while blocking your opponents from doing the same.

    All details & rating
    2–4 20 min 7+ Easy to learn
    13 € below the next retailer
    45 € at Amazon*
  18. Era: Medieval Age

    Era: Medieval Age

    Era: Medieval Age positions itself as a groundbreaking evolution in the realm of roll-and-build board games, inheriting the legacy of Roll Through The Ages but carving out its own niche with a unique build mechanic. Players are transported to the medieval era, tasked with rolling dice to assemble a flourishing city using tangible, 3D components such as walls, keeps, and farms, making each cityscape a distinct creation by the game's conclusion.

    All details & rating
    1–4 45–60 min 8+ Easy to learn
  19. My Island

    My Island

    Players develop their own unique islands using interconnected hexagons in a competitive legacy format inspired by a previous game. Over 24 sessions, they will uncover the story and secrets of their island, with each game introducing new rules and materials that permanently alter the landscape.

    All details & rating
    2–4 30 min 10+ Easy to learn

Frequently asked questions

Which game ranks first on this list?

Kingdomino (Spiel des Jahres 2017 winner) 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 4 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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