The best games where you can invest in objects 2026

Startups is a competitive card game where players take on the roles of savvy investors looking to make their fortune by investing in the most promising companies. With a mix of strategy, luck, and keen observation, players must outmaneuver their opponents to become the wealthiest shareholder and dominate the market.

Concordia is a peaceful yet strategic board game set in Roman times, focusing on economic development and expansion. It is designed for 2-5 players aged 13 and up.

Pan Am is an engaging board game that immerses players in the era of pioneering air travel, where they compete to build and expand their own airline empires. The game cleverly integrates strategy, bidding, and economic elements, allowing players to navigate through the historical landscape of the aviation industry.

Welcome to Waterfall Park. Players aim to trade and swap attractions to build the world's largest amusement park. The unique aspect of this park is its vertical construction on enormous towers in the middle of the ocean.

Khôra: Rise of an Empire immerses players in the role of leaders of burgeoning city-states in the classical era of Ancient Greece. The game is a strategic exploration of governance, military might, cultural development, and economic management, all rolled into an engaging board game experience. Players must navigate the complexities of statecraft through a combination of strategic planning and adaptation to the outcomes of their dice rolls.

As an ambitious journalist, you search for evidence of some of the world's greatest mysteries, believing that mystical creatures from legends truly exist. To convince your editor and make the front page, you need solid proof, which means digging through rumors linked to six different creatures found around the globe. Each rumor has a value indicating its likelihood of truth, but only one card hides the actual evidence, keeping players engaged in a strategic battle to uncover the truth while racing against competitors.

Players create and expand companies, acquire smaller businesses, and buy stocks. The game is heavily inspired by the classic Acquire, but mergers are less common and not as critical. Key differences include a three-dimensional aspect and a strong financial incentive to expand companies that players do not control.

Players navigate their boats in areas determined by the cards they draw, aiming to be part of a capture team with nearby boats. Sometimes, a player takes on the role of the "Flying Dutchman," able to reach more locations but vanishing once a capture happens. Additionally, players can position themselves as the main trader during a conquest, allowing them to pay surrounding boats while ultimately earning more money by the end of the game.

Imperial is a strategy board game that plunges players into the heart of European imperialism. Unlike traditional war or area control games, players in Imperial take on the roles of international investors vying for influence over six major imperial nations. The game stands out for its unique approach to strategy, eschewing the randomness of dice and cards, and instead focusing on the players' abilities to manipulate and control the political landscape of Europe.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, shipping companies sought to expand trade between the West and the Far East. Players manage a large shipping company engaged in trade with distant trading posts in India, overseeing their ships and investing in shares of their own or competitors' companies. They must keep a close eye on the fluctuating market prices to decide whether to invest in the stock market or purchase goods, and their strategies will affect those of their opponents.

In Acquire, players strategically invest in businesses, aiming to secure a majority of stock. As tile placements drive business growth and mergers, majority stockholders receive significant bonuses. These bonuses can be reinvested into other chains, creating a race among players to accumulate the greatest wealth.