The best games where game pieces move additionally based on inertia 2026

Looking for a really good game where characters move based on inertia? Then we have just the thing for you: the list of the best "physical inertia" games 2026.

What are games where characters move based on inertia?

Game characters automatically move in a certain direction - or it is easier to move in a certain direction.

This is often used to simulate wind (Windward), currents (Primordial Soup), gravity (Demon's Run), conveyor belts (Robo Rally), and other environmental features.

By the way, "physical inertia" is also called "bias".

List with the best physical inertia games 2026

This list was last updated on June 6, 2026. There's also a print version for this list .
  1. The King's Dilemma

    The King's Dilemma presents a captivating blend of narrative storytelling and strategy, set in the fictional Kingdom of Ankist. As players, you step into the roles of leaders of various noble houses, each with your own agendas and influence, making critical decisions that shape the fate of the kingdom.

    Nominated for 7 awards.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2020

    More details for The King's Dilemma
    • 👥 3 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn

    Video reviews for The King's Dilemma

    • YouTube Review for the game "The King's Dilemma" by BoardGameGeek
      Video
    • YouTube Review for the game "The King's Dilemma" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video
  2. Flip Ships

    • Golden Geek (nominated)Golden Geek (nominated)
    • CooperativeCooperative
    • DexterityDexterity
    • Family GameFamily Game
    • Sci-FiSci-Fi
    • Solo ModeSolo Mode
    +5 more

    A raid has begun with a mothership appearing out of nowhere, casting a giant shadow over the city. As pilots launch their ships to defend the planet, they must courageously fight against the onslaught, facing explosions and taking hits without giving up. Players take on the role of brave pilots in a cooperative skill game, defending their home against waves of attacking forces.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Flip Ships
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  3. Fromage

    • Origins Awards Best Light Strategy GameOrigins Awards Best Light Strategy Game
    • Area ControlArea Control
    • Worker PlacementWorker Placement
    • Solo ModeSolo Mode
    • Economy & TradeEconomy & Trade
    • Nature & FarmingNature & Farming
    +7 more

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 1.

    More details for Fromage
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  4. Looking for a really good game by the game designer Virginio Gigli👨? Then we have just the thing: the list of the best Virginio Gigli games 2026.

    The best games by Virginio Gigli 🇮🇹👨 →
  5. Evergreen

    • Graf Ludo Best Family Game Graphics+1Graf Ludo Best Family Game Graphics
    • Family GameFamily Game
    • Solo ModeSolo Mode
    • PuzzlePuzzle
    • DraftingDrafting
    +7 more

    Players aim to create a lush ecosystem by planting seeds, growing trees, and placing natural elements on their planet to make it the greenest and most fertile of all. They select biome cards from a shared pool to develop different areas each round, while unchosen cards increase the fertility and value of those regions. To build a vast forest, players plant trees and shrubs, and create lakes, strategically positioning them to maximize light without overlapping.

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 2.

    More details for Evergreen
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  6. Forbidden Desert

    Forbidden Desert is a cooperative adventure game where players work together to recover a legendary flying machine from the ruins of an ancient desert city, while surviving extreme environmental challenges.

    Nominated for 7 awards and won 4.

    More details for Forbidden Desert
    • 👥 2 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  7. Gravwell: Escape from the 9th Dimension

    • Mensa SelectMensa Select
    • Family GameFamily Game
    • Sci-FiSci-Fi
    • Solo ModeSolo Mode
    • DraftingDrafting
    • Simultaneous ActionSimultaneous Action
    +3 more

    Gravwell: Escape from the 9th Dimension places players in the roles of spaceship commanders, each stranded in a bizarre dimension due to a black hole incident. The goal is to navigate through space using the gravity of nearby objects, primarily other ships, to reach a warp gate and escape back to familiar space. The game is a thrilling mix of strategy, prediction, and a bit of luck, as players draft movement cards and attempt to outmaneuver their opponents.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

    More details for Gravwell: Escape from the 9th Dimension
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 20 - 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  8. The Adventurers: The Temple of Chac

    • Golden Geek (nominated)Golden Geek (nominated)
    • Family GameFamily Game
    • MemoryMemory
    • AdventureAdventure
    • ExplorationExploration
    • Push Your LuckPush Your Luck
    +3 more

    The Adventurers: The Temple of Chac is an action-packed board game that takes players on a thrilling and perilous journey through the ruins of a Mayan temple. The game is designed to simulate an Indiana-Jones-style adventure, filled with danger, excitement, and the quest for ancient treasures.

    Nominated for 6 awards.

    More details for The Adventurers: The Temple of Chac
    • 👥 2 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  9. Fast Flowing Forest Fellers

    • Golden Geek (nominated)Golden Geek (nominated)
    • Family GameFamily Game
    • RacingRacing
    • SportsSports
    • Modular BoardModular Board
    +3 more

    A fast-paced river rafting game where brave lumberjacks gather for their traditional rafting race. Players use clever maneuvers to outsmart opponents and gain an edge in this action-filled race. With simple rules and engaging gameplay, it offers a fun experience for families and hardcore gamers alike, featuring double-sided game boards for varied racing scenarios. Beautiful graphics and uniquely designed game pieces enhance the immersive atmosphere.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Fast Flowing Forest Fellers
    • 👥 2 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  10. Lost Valley of the Dinosaurs

    • Family GameFamily Game
    • AdventureAdventure
    • AnimalsAnimals
    • Take ThatTake That
    +4 more

    An ancient map revealing a lost valley has been discovered. It indicates that the valley was once home to a wild tribe that amassed great wealth and used fierce dinosaurs for protection. Now, with no humans in the valley and the hidden treasure still there amid dormant threats, multiple expeditions are racing to uncover its secrets before a slumbering volcano erupts.

    More details for Lost Valley of the Dinosaurs
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  11. Photosynthesis

    Photosynthesis is a green strategy board game where players engage in the growth and development of a forest. The game revolves around the central theme of photosynthesis, the process by which trees and plants use sunlight to produce energy.

    Nominated for 11 awards and won 4.

    More details for Photosynthesis
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Photosynthesis

    • YouTube Review for the game "Photosynthesis" by BoardGameGeek
      Video
    • YouTube Review for the game "Photosynthesis" by BoardGameGeek
      Video
  12. Looking for a really good game where you can pre-program movement? Then we have just the right thing for you: The list of the best programmed movement games 2026.

    Best games where you can pre-program movement →
  13. 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
  14. Solenia

    • As d'Or (nominated)As d'Or (nominated)
    • FantasyFantasy
    • Family GameFamily Game
    • Solo ModeSolo Mode
    • ExplorationExploration
    • Modular BoardModular Board
    +3 more

    Solenia is a beautifully thematic board game that takes players on a journey across a unique planet divided into eternal day and eternal night. Each player acts as a space traveler, delivering essential goods to the inhabitants of both hemispheres, with the Day people needing rare gems and stones, and the Night people requiring basic supplies like wood and wheat. The goal is to be the most efficient in these deliveries to earn gold stars, which determine the winner at the game's conclusion.

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    More details for Solenia
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Solenia

    • YouTube Review for the game "Solenia" by BoardGameGeek
      Video
  15. Niagara (Spiel des Jahres 2005 winner)

    • Game of the Year+2Game of the Year
    • Family GameFamily Game
    • NauticalNautical
    • Set CollectionSet Collection
    • Simultaneous ActionSimultaneous Action
    +4 more

    Niagara is a captivating board game that transports players to the perilous and competitive world of 18th-century waterfall expeditions. Set against the backdrop of rushing Niagara Falls, players take on the roles of adventurers, directed by the Shawnee and Iroquois Indians, to discover hidden jewels. The game combines strategic planning with an innovative movement mechanism, all brought to life through a stunning three-dimensional representation of the falls.

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 3.

    ⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 2005

    More details for Niagara (Spiel des Jahres 2005 winner)
    • 👥 3 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  16. Octopus' Garden

    • Canadian Game Design AwardCanadian Game Design Award
    • Family GameFamily Game
    • Tile-LayingTile-Laying
    • Nature & FarmingNature & Farming
    • AnimalsAnimals
    • Set CollectionSet Collection
    +6 more

    Players take on the role of octopuses competing to create the most beautiful gardens. They must attract colorful seahorses and clownfish while protecting pearl-producing oysters from hungry starfish. Careful planning is essential to arrange their tiles effectively and avoid scaring delicate feather worms.

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    More details for Octopus' Garden
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  17. Bosk

    • Area ControlArea Control
    • AbstractAbstract
    +1 more

    Players cultivate trees from majestic maple to ancient oak in a beautiful national park, aiming to thrive throughout the year. They carefully plant trees in spring and score points as hikers enjoy summer walks on the trails. In autumn, falling leaves drift in the wind, covering the terrain and competing players’ foliage, while winter rewards the best coverage in each park region.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Bosk
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 20 - 40 Minutes
    • 🧒 13+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  18. Mississippi Queen (Spiel des Jahres 1997)

    Mississippi Queen is a charming, family-friendly board game that has players steering their paddleboats down the iconic Mississippi River. The goal is simple: race to the finish line while navigating the river's unpredictable twists and turns, and picking up passengers along the way. However, the challenge comes from managing your limited coal supplies, crucial for fueling your boat's movements and strategic maneuvers.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 2.

    ⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 1997

    More details for Mississippi Queen (Spiel des Jahres 1997)
    • 👥 3 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  19. Perry Rhodan: The Cosmic League

    • Family GameFamily Game
    • Sci-FiSci-Fi
    • 2-Player2-Player
    • Economy & TradeEconomy & Trade
    • Take ThatTake That
    • Card GameCard Game
    +4 more

    Set in the Perry Rhodan universe, players assume the role of traders transporting goods between planets. They can also carry passengers for additional profit and invest in upgrades for their spaceships. The gameplay involves strategic card actions, including loading and unloading goods, with the aim of accumulating victory points to win.

    More details for Perry Rhodan: The Cosmic League
    • 👥 2 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  20. 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
  21. Egizia

    • Games Magazine Best New Advanced Strategy GameGames Magazine Best New Advanced Strategy Game
    • Worker PlacementWorker Placement
    • Nature & FarmingNature & Farming
    • Ancient WorldAncient World
    • Strategy GameStrategy Game
    • DraftingDrafting
    +3 more

    Egizia sets players in the role of builders in Ancient Egypt, competing for fame as they construct various monuments demanded by the Pharaoh, such as the Sphinx, the Obelisk, the Temple, and the Pyramid. This strategic game combines resource management and worker placement with a unique twist based on the geography of the Nile.

    Nominated for 7 awards and won 1.

    More details for Egizia
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 90 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty
  22. 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
  23. Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar

    Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar is a unique board game that introduces a dynamic worker placement mechanism set against the backdrop of the ancient Mayan civilization.

    Nominated for 20 awards and won 9.

    More details for Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 90 Minutes
    • 🧒 13+ years old
    • 🧩 Hard to learn
  24. Rum & Bones

    • FantasyFantasy
    • Area ControlArea Control
    • MiniaturesMiniatures
    • ThematicThematic
    • Large GroupsLarge Groups
    • Variable PowersVariable Powers
    +1 more

    Beware, pirates! Gather your crews and set sail for high-seas adventures in Rum & Bones!

    More details for Rum & Bones
    • 👥 2 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  25. Merchants & Marauders

    • Golden GeekGolden Geek
    • AdventureAdventure
    • CombatCombat
    • PiratesPirates
    • ThematicThematic
    • Variable PowersVariable Powers
    +4 more

    Merchants & Marauders offers an immersive experience of the Caribbean during the Golden Age of Piracy, where players choose the life of either a powerful merchant or a fearsome pirate, each path filled with adventure and peril.

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 1.

    More details for Merchants & Marauders
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 180 Minutes
    • 🧒 13+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty
  26. Egizia: Shifting Sands

    • Worker PlacementWorker Placement
    • Nature & FarmingNature & Farming
    • Ancient WorldAncient World
    • Strategy GameStrategy Game
    • DraftingDrafting
    +2 more

    Players travel down the Nile, placing boats to collect resources for constructing some of Egypt's most famous monuments. The game introduces new monuments and cards, along with a constantly shifting river, making it accessible to both veteran fans and newcomers. Strategic placement affects opponents and resource management, requiring careful planning to succeed, especially with the addition of the new Colonnade and the mysterious statues that offer unique benefits and challenges.

    More details for Egizia: Shifting Sands
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 90 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty
  27. Ulm - Tempora in Priscum Aurum

    • Area ControlArea Control
    • MedievalMedieval
    • RenaissanceRenaissance
    • Strategy GameStrategy Game
    • Set CollectionSet Collection
    +1 more

    Ulm invites players into the bustling heart of the historic city during the peak of its prosperity in the early 16th century. This strategic board game, set against the backdrop of one of the Holy Roman Empire's most flourishing cities, challenges 2-4 players to navigate the complexities of social influence and economic success amidst the construction of the iconic Ulm Cathedral.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Ulm - Tempora in Priscum Aurum
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 - 75 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Ulm - Tempora in Priscum Aurum

    • YouTube Review for the game "Ulm - Tempora in Priscum Aurum" by BoardGameGeek
      Video
  28. Primordial Soup

    • Games Magazine Best New Family Strategy GameGames Magazine Best New Family Strategy Game
    • Strategy GameStrategy Game
    • Variable PowersVariable Powers
    +4 more

    Primordial Soup is a unique strategy game where each player guides a species of amoeboid organisms in an evolving ecosystem. Players must navigate a world where species depend on each other’s excreta for survival. The goal is to evolve your species to enhance its population and genetic sophistication. The game involves moving organisms, feeding, adapting to environmental changes, acquiring new genes, reproducing, and ultimately scoring points. The game ends when a species reaches 42 points or the environment cards run out. The available genes offer various abilities like improved movement control, efficient metabolism, and enhanced reproductive or defensive capabilities.

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    💰 10% cheaper on Amazon than at other retailers

    More details for Primordial Soup
    • 👥 3 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 90 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty
  29. Ice Flow

    • UK Games Expo Best BoardgameUK Games Expo Best Boardgame
    • Family GameFamily Game
    • Tile-LayingTile-Laying
    • ExplorationExploration
    • Strategy GameStrategy Game
    • AnimalsAnimals
    +3 more

    Ice Flow is a strategic family game that offers plenty of tactical decisions. Players guide their explorers across the Bering Strait from Alaska to Siberia, riding on ice floes, avoiding polar bears, and collecting useful items along the way. Each player controls three explorers and manages limited resources, navigating a dynamically shifting board made up of hexagonal ice floes. The winner is the first to overcome all obstacles and safely reach Siberia with their explorers.

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    More details for Ice Flow
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 - 75 Minutes
    • 🧒 11+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  30. Chocolate Factory

    • Solo ModeSolo Mode
    • Economy & TradeEconomy & Trade
    • Strategy GameStrategy Game
    • DraftingDrafting
    • Action PointsAction Points
    +1 more

    Set in the early 20th century, players take on the role of chief chocolatiers experimenting with new ways to create and market chocolates. Chocolate Factory is a Euro game featuring factory building and movement, where players must create the largest assortment of confections to sell to retailers for maximum value. It includes wooden chocolate pieces and a movable conveyor belt, blending physicality with Euro mechanics for a unique experience.

    More details for Chocolate Factory
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 - 90 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty
  31. Train Heist

    • CooperativeCooperative
    • Family GameFamily Game
    • Trains & RailTrains & Rail
    • Variable PowersVariable Powers
    • Action PointsAction Points
    +1 more

    The corrupt sheriff has gone too far! He rides with his wealthy friends while good people are stuck in poverty. Players must work together to rob the train, plunder its passengers and cargo, and escape with the loot before the sheriff catches them. Return enough goods to each town before the train arrives to keep the sheriff at bay, but beware of dangerous events that can end the game for everyone.

    More details for Train Heist
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  32. The Battle at Kemble's Cascade

    • Golden Geek (nominated)Golden Geek (nominated)
    • Sci-FiSci-Fi
    • Solo ModeSolo Mode
    • ThematicThematic
    • Team GameTeam Game
    • Licensed / IPLicensed / IP
    +1 more

    The Battle at Kemble's Cascade is a board game adaptation of a classic shoot 'em up video game. Players assume the roles of brave space pilots flying agile but powerful starfighters, searching asteroid fields for universal fame and ancient technology. They compete to earn the most glory by completing missions, finding lost treasures, and battling alien entities, while also facing off against each other.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for The Battle at Kemble's Cascade
    • 👥 1 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 75 Minutes
    • 🧒 13+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty
  33. We have clearly listed and compared the list with all games of the audience award "Hunter & Cron🇩🇪 2018". In 2018, unlike 2017, the award was no longer given in 17 different categories, but only 10. For each category, 10 games were nominated by Hunter & Cron - the audience or Patreon supporters then voted for their favorites.

    All games of the "Hunter & Cron Patreon Award 2018" list 🇩🇪 →

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