The best games set in the Renaissance 2025

Love Letter is a charming and strategic card game where players vie for the affection of a noble Princess, aspiring to become her most trusted confidant. Utilizing a blend of deduction, risk, and luck, players must navigate the royal court by enlisting influential characters to deliver their love letter to the Princess.

Azul invites you to step into the captivating world of Portuguese artistry and craftsmanship. This board game draws inspiration from the introduction of azulejos, originally white and blue ceramic tiles, by the Moors. The tiles found a new home in Portugal when King Manuel I, during a visit to the Alhambra palace in Southern Spain, was enchanted by the exquisite Moorish decorative tiles adorning its interior. Filled with awe and inspiration, the king promptly ordered the embellishment of his own palace in Portugal with similar decorative tiles. As a skilled tile-laying artist, you are tasked with the prestigious mission of adorning the walls of the Royal Palace of Evora.

In Love Letter, you must compete with other suitors to deliver a romantic letter to Princess Annette, who has secluded herself in the palace.

Splendor Duel is an intriguing two-player game that builds upon the foundation of its predecessor, Splendor, enhancing it with new layers of strategy and competitiveness. Designed specifically for two players, this standalone game maintains the core elements of Splendor while introducing novel twists and mechanics, making it more dynamic and interactive.

Splendor beckons you into the vibrant world of Renaissance merchants, where the pursuit of gem mines, modes of transportation, and opulent shops is the path to acquiring prestigious points. In this strategic game of chip-collecting and card development, your goal is to amass wealth and influence that will make you the most renowned merchant of the era. Perhaps, if fortune smiles upon you, nobility may even grace your endeavors, further enhancing your prestige.

Azul: Stained Glass of Sintra is a visually striking and strategic board game designed by Michael Kiesling. It offers a unique twist on tile drafting, focusing on creating beautiful stained glass windows.

El Grande Big Box is the definitive edition of the classic area control game El Grande, celebrating its 20th anniversary with a comprehensive collection that includes the base game and all its expansions. In this strategic board game, players assume the roles of Grandes in medieval Spain, competing to exert their dominance over the various regions as the king's power wanes. Through cunning deployment of caballeros (knights represented by meeples), players seek to secure majorities in Spain's diverse territories, leveraging power cards for turn order and action cards for strategic moves.

Endeavor: Age of Sail invites players to navigate the high seas and earn glory for their empires. Set during the age of exploration, players sail from Europe and the Mediterranean, establishing shipping routes and occupying cities across the globe, all while building their industrial, cultural, financial, and influential power.

Century: A New World is the captivating final chapter in the acclaimed "Century" series by Emerson Matsuuchi. This installment transports players to the rich and uncharted territories of the Americas during the 16th century, offering a unique blend of strategy, exploration, and resource management.

Rajas of the Ganges is a strategy board game set in 16th century India, during the rise of the Great Mogul Empire. Players take on the roles of influential nobles, striving to transform their estates into prosperous provinces.

Medici is a classic auction-style board game designed by Reiner Knizia, known for its strategic bidding and set collection mechanics. Players take on the roles of merchants during the Renaissance, aiming to acquire the most valuable cargo through competitive auctions. The game is well-regarded for its ability to accommodate various player counts effectively.

Nations: The Dice Game is a fast-paced, dice-driven game that captures the essence of civilization-building. Designed for 1-4 players, it condenses the expansive experience of the original Nations board game into a more streamlined and quicker format, ideal for players looking for a shorter playtime without sacrificing strategic depth.

Crypt introduces an intriguing blend of strategic decision-making with a dice placement mechanism that captivates players from the get-go. Designed for 1 to 4 players, this compact game offers a rich and engaging experience despite its small box size. The goal is straightforward - to amass the most valuable collection of treasures. However, the path to achieving this is layered with tactical choices and risks.

The Castles of Tuscany is set in the picturesque region of Tuscany during the 15th century, where you, as an influential prince, aim to expand your domain during the Italian Renaissance. Through strategic card play, you'll support the growth of towns, villages, and monasteries, extract marble, and transport goods, all to see your lands prosper and score victory points.

Bruges is a strategic board game set in the bustling 15th-century city of Bruges, known for its thriving culture and commerce. The game revolves around the theme of merchant competition and maintaining influence in this wealthy Belgian Hanseatic city.

Medici: The Card Game is a new design by Reiner Knizia that shares the framework and feel of the classic Medici board game, without using its auction mechanics. Set in 15th-century Florence, players acquire valuable goods for their trading ships by drawing 1-3 cards from a common deck each round. Players earn points based on their ships' cargo values and the quantity of goods in their storage, with the highest earnings over three days determining the winner.

Lorenzo il Magnifico is a strategic board game set in the Italian Renaissance, where players embody heads of noble families vying for prestige and fame. This game is a blend of resource management, strategic planning, and careful maneuvering.

Notre Dame: 10th Anniversary includes the base game and the "New Persons" expansion, along with a new set featuring nine characters. Players take on the roles of leading families in 14th-century Paris, competing for wealth and prestige around the Notre Dame Cathedral. Each family manages city districts and must balance their actions to maintain public health while striving for the highest prestige. The new character expansions offer diverse actions, enhancing gameplay variety.

Dogs of War is a beautifully crafted board game that transports players into a steampunk-renaissance universe, where noble houses clash in a struggle for dominance. Players assume the roles of the eponymous Dogs of War, mercenary captains who wield their private armies to sway the outcomes of battles between these houses for profit and influence.

Fresco is a thematic board game that immerses players in the world of Renaissance artistry, specifically in the restoration of a fresco in a church. This game combines resource management, strategy, and a unique wake-up mechanic to create an engaging experience.

The Emperor is weak, challenged by the power of the Shogun. Clan leaders ally with either side, using the turmoil to settle old scores and conquer new territories.

Notre Dame is a strategic board game set in 14th century Paris, where players assume the roles of heads of influential families vying for prosperity and reputation around the iconic Notre Dame cathedral.

As a master of the Renaissance, players are important citizens of Florence, aiming to increase their fame and reputation. They gather resources from the market to buy new cards and expand their influence in the city and surrounding areas. Each card grants production power, transforming resources for storage, and players should leverage leader abilities while demonstrating their devotion to the Pope.

Keyflower is a strategic board game designed for 2-6 players that spans over four rounds, each representing a different season: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The game combines elements of auction, tile placement, and resource management set in a medieval world. Players start with a "home" tile and a team of workers, using them to bid for new tiles, gather resources, and build their village.

Citizens of Verona are weary of the constant feud between the Capulets and Montagues. Prince Escalus has established a council to help resolve the conflict and create lasting peace. Players assume the roles of influential citizens, using their power to either invite individuals to the council or send them into exile. By managing their cards wisely and strategically placing influence tokens, players earn victory points based on character plans, with the player holding the most points declared the winner.

Big Box includes various games from the Alhambra universe. It features Granada, The Gardens of Alhambra, Alhambra: The Card Game, and Alhambra: The Dice Game.

Navegador immerses players in the enthralling Portuguese Age of Discoveries, spanning the 15th and 16th centuries. In this game, players embark on a journey of expansion, trade, and strategic development, starting with a humble fleet and workforce, aspiring to build a prosperous empire.

Players reenact important battles from Japanese history using flexible troop formations and terrain features. The game includes scenarios that vary in scale, with some representing entire clans while others depict just a few brave warriors.

Endeavor is a strategic board game set during the age of exploration and expansion, where players represent growing empires vying for global dominance through various means such as exploration, colonization, and war.

Coimbra is a historically themed board game set in the vibrant era of the 15th and 16th centuries in Portugal. It combines strategic planning, resource management, and an innovative dice mechanism, making it a compelling choice for gamers who enjoy a blend of history and strategy.