The best games where the map is gradually reduced in size 🗺 2023

Looking for a really good game where the map gets smaller and smaller 🗺? Then we have just the thing for you: the list of the best "map reduction" games 2023.

What are map shrinking games?

In the games on this list, as the game progresses, the map shrinks. This creates fewer and fewer options for the players.

Examples of games where the map gets progressively smaller

A good example of a map reduction game are Isola/Isolation, The Island/Survive: Escape from Atlantis! and Jaws.

List with the best downsizing map games 2023 🗺

This list was last updated on June 1, 2023. We compared 60 board games for this list and selected the top 27. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. Santorini

    All details for the board game Santorini and similar games

    Nominated for 7 awards.

    More details for Santorini
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  2. Survive: Escape from Atlantis!

    All details for the board game Survive: Escape from Atlantis! and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  3. Blood Rage

    All details for the board game Blood Rage and similar games

    Nominated for 14 awards and won 2.

    More details for Blood Rage
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    👍 Good price!65€ atAmazon.de
  4. Hey, That's My Fish!

    All details for the board game Hey, That's My Fish! and similar games

    Nominated for 8 awards and won 1.

    More details for Hey, That's My Fish!
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Hey, That's My Fish!

    • YouTube Review for the game "Hey, That's My Fish!" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  5. Forbidden Desert

    All details for the board game Forbidden Desert and similar games

    Nominated for 7 awards and won 4.

    More details for Forbidden Desert
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Forbidden Desert

    • YouTube Review for the game "Forbidden Desert" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  6. Forbidden Island

    All details for the board game Forbidden Island and similar games

    Nominated for 13 awards and won 5.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2011

    More details for Forbidden Island
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Forbidden Island

    • YouTube Review for the game "Forbidden Island" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  7. TZAAR

    All details for the board game TZAAR and similar games

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 1.

    More details for TZAAR
    • 2 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  8. That's Life!

    All details for the board game That's Life! and similar games

    Nominated for 8 awards.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kinderspiel des Jahres 2005

    ⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2005

    More details for That's Life!
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  9. Survive: Escape from Atlantis!

    All details for the board game Survive: Escape from Atlantis! and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  10. Jaws

    All details for the board game Jaws and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Jaws
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!23€ atAmazon.de
  11. Ninja Camp

    All details for the board game Ninja Camp and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 15 - 30 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  12. Tacocat Spelled Backwards

    All details for the board game Tacocat Spelled Backwards and similar games
    • 2 Players
    • 15 - 20 Minutes
    • 7+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  13. DVONN

    All details for the board game DVONN and similar games

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 2.

    More details for DVONN
    • 2 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 9+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    👍 Good price!30€ atAmazon.de
  14. Escape from Atlantis

    All details for the board game Escape from Atlantis and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  15. The Mole in the Hole

    All details for the board game The Mole in the Hole and similar games

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 3.

    More details for The Mole in the Hole
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  16. Costa Rica

    All details for the board game Costa Rica and similar games
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  17. ZÈRTZ

    All details for the board game ZÈRTZ and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    More details for ZÈRTZ
    • 2 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 9+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    👍 Good price!31€ atAmazon.de
  18. Survive: Space Attack!

    All details for the board game Survive: Space Attack! and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  19. LYNGK

    All details for the board game LYNGK and similar games

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

    More details for LYNGK
    • 2 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  20. The King Is Dead

    All details for the board game The King Is Dead and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 50 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  21. Rescue Polar Bears: Data & Temperature

    All details for the board game Rescue Polar Bears: Data & Temperature and similar games
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  22. Save Doctor Lucky

    All details for the board game Save Doctor Lucky and similar games
    • 3 - 7 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  23. König von Siam

    All details for the board game König von Siam and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  24. The Bridges of Shangri-La

    All details for the board game The Bridges of Shangri-La and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    More details for The Bridges of Shangri-La
    • 3 - 4 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  25. Vineta

    All details for the board game Vineta and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kinderspiel des Jahres 2008

    More details for Vineta
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  26. Isolation

    All details for the board game Isolation and similar games
    • 2 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  27. Black Angel

    All details for the board game Black Angel and similar games
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Hard to learn

    Video reviews for Black Angel

    • YouTube Review for the game "Black Angel" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English

Didn't find the game you were looking for?

We're positive that you'll find it in one of our other lists! To make the search easier for you, we split our website into different categories. The following board game categories will help you find the right list: