The best games where you can retrieve actions 2026
Looking for a really good game where you can get actions back? Then we have just the thing for you: the list of the best "action recovery" games 2026.
What are "recover actions" games?
Each player has a set of actions available to them, embodied in cards, tokens, or other affordances. Once executed, they are spent and cannot be executed again until they are retrieved. Retrieving actions is usually an action itself or may take an entire turn.
Examples of games where you can retrieve actions:
A good example of an action retrieval game is Century: Golem Edition or Gloomhaven.
List with the best Recovering Actions games 2026
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Century: Golem Edition
All details & ratingCentury: Golem Edition is an engaging and visually appealing board game that is a re-themed version of Century: Spice Road. Set in the imaginative world of Caravania, this game combines strategic planning and resource management, appealing to players who enjoy tactical decision-making.
2–5 30–45 min 8+ Easy to learn -
Century: Spice Road
All details & ratingCentury: Spice Road is the first game in a series that delves into the rich and vibrant history of spice trading. Set against the backdrop of the legendary Silk Road, players take on the roles of caravan leaders, journeying across continents to trade spices and achieve fame and glory. This game combines elements of strategy and resource management, making it an engaging experience for players who enjoy economic and trading games.
2–5 30–45 min 8+ Easy to learnVideo reviews 1 - + 20 € above the best price62 € at Amazon*
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Tiny Epic Galaxies
All details & ratingIn Tiny Epic Galaxies, each player commands a galactic empire, striving to expand their influence by acquiring contested planets and strengthening their cosmic armada. The game features an innovative dice-rolling combo mechanic, where the number of rolled dice corresponds to your galaxy's strength. These dice display symbols representing actions such as spaceship movement, resource acquisition, and the advancement of political or economic influence over newly discovered planets.
1–5 30–45 min 14+ Easy to learn -
Keep the Heroes Out!
All details & ratingPlayers take on the role of monsters defending their hard-earned treasures from invading hordes of heroes. Each turn, players draw five cards to move, activate pieces, attack heroes, and manage their units. The goal is to survive three threat levels posed by the heroes while protecting the treasures in each room; if the main treasure is taken, the game ends in defeat, but successfully protecting the treasures leads to victory.
1–4 40 min 10+ Medium complexity -
Stop Thief!
All details & ratingA crime has just been committed, and players must grab their investigation licenses and sharpen their deductive skills to catch the suspect. As multiple private detectives race to solve the case, only one can handcuff the culprit and claim the reward, which can lead to a sunny retirement on a tropical Caribbean beach.
1–5 30–60 min 10+ Immediately playable -
Raptor
All details & ratingRaptor is an engaging, card-driven board game that offers a blend of tactical maneuvers and strategic planning, set in a thrilling scenario where science clashes with nature.
2 30 min 9+ Easy to learn+ 11 € above the best price40 € at Amazon*Video reviews 1 -
Obsession - Pride, Intrigue, and Prejudice in Victorian England
All details & ratingYou are the head of a respected but financially struggling estate in mid-19th century Victorian England. Your goal is to improve your estate and gain a better standing among the influential families of Derbyshire by renovating your property and hosting prestigious social events.
1–4 30–90 min 14+ Medium complexity -
Arcadia Quest
All details & ratingArcadia Quest is an engaging, campaign-based board game where players lead guilds of heroes on a quest to overthrow a vampire lord and take back the city of Arcadia. It's a competitive yet cooperative game, filled with strategic battles against both other players and game-controlled monsters.
2–4 60 min 13+ Medium complexity -
Roll for the Galaxy
All details & ratingRoll for the Galaxy is a dice-based strategy game for 2-5 players, where dice represent the populace tasked with building a space empire. It's a dice adaptation of the popular card game Race for the Galaxy.
2–5 45 min 13+ Medium complexity -
Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion
All details & ratingGloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion is a standalone adventure game that serves as a prequel to the highly acclaimed Gloomhaven. It's designed to be more accessible to a broader audience, with streamlined rules and an integrated tutorial.
1–4 30–120 min 14+ For connoisseurs+ 8 € above the best price50 € at Amazon* -
Gloomhaven
All details & ratingGloomhaven is a Euro-inspired tactical combat game set in a persistent and evolving world. Players assume the roles of adventurers, each with unique skills and motives, as they explore dungeons, ruins, and engage in cooperative battles against automated monsters.
1–4 60–120 min 14+ For connoisseurs+ 38 € above the best price183 € at Amazon*Video reviews 2 -
Dwellings of Eldervale
All details & ratingPlayers control unique factions in an epic worker placement game set in a magical world filled with elemental monsters, dragons, wizards, and warriors vying for dominance over eight elemental realms. The game combines worker placement, area control, engine building, and unique worker units, allowing players to place workers, regroup, and activate adventure cards while exploring powerful action spaces. Ultimately, players with the greatest elemental dominance will rule Eldervale.
1–5 60–150 min 14+ Medium complexity -
Century: Golem Edition – Eastern Mountains
All details & ratingPlayers take on the role of crystal merchants exploring the mountain ranges and valleys of Karvania to build a trade network. The game features vibrant manga-inspired artwork and introduces new gameplay elements. It can be combined with the previous edition for a unique experience called "The Call for Adventure."
2–4 30–45 min 10+ Easy to learn -
Ankh: Gods of Egypt
All details & ratingAnkh: Gods of Egypt is a deeply thematic board game that immerses players in the ancient world of Egyptian mythology. In this game, players assume the roles of Egyptian gods vying for supremacy and survival in an era where the old ways and their followers are fading. The game stands out for its blend of strategic gameplay, stunning artwork, and detailed miniatures, offering a richly immersive experience.
2–5 90 min 14+ Medium complexity+ 8 € above the best price105 € at Amazon* -
Santo Domingo
All details & ratingPlayers have the same set of eight action cards. In each round, they choose one or two cards, reveal them simultaneously, and then execute actions in a specified order. Players can collect goods, exchange them for victory points, or earn points directly, with the strength of each card influenced by the cards played by others.
2–6 20–30 min 8+ Easy to learnVideo reviews 1 -
Expeditions
All details & ratingPlayers embark on a new adventure in Siberia, where a massive meteorite has awakened ancient corruption. Led by Dr. Tarkovsky, they explore the taiga in search of artifacts and glory while dealing with challenges. This competitive, card-driven exploration game involves building machines, using cards to gain power and unique abilities, and improving mechs to overcome corruption.
1–5 60–90 min 14+ Medium complexity+ 5 € above the best price63 € at Amazon* -
Rococo
All details & ratingRococo immerses players in the lavish Rococo era during the reign of Louis XV, where they take on the role of managing a prestigious ball. The game blends elements of deck-building and resource management, requiring players to skilfully navigate the demands of dressmaking and event planning to gain the most prestige.
2–5 60–120 min 12+ Medium complexity -
Spirit Island
All details & ratingWelcome to the captivating world of Spirit Island, where the distant echoes of magic still hold sway. In this immersive cooperative board game, players are entrusted with the crucial task of defending their island paradise from the relentless onslaught of colonizing Invaders. The spirits of the land, each possessing unique elemental powers, unite to thwart the advance of those who seek to conquer and despoil. As the colonial empires expand, the islanders and the very earth itself rise in defense. Harness the power of the spirits, strategize with your fellow players, and fight back against the encroaching Invaders to protect the island's mystical heart.
1–4 90–120 min 13+ For connoisseurs+ 4 € above the best price58 € at Amazon* -
La Habana
All details & ratingHavana is a vibrant and strategic board game that simulates the competitive atmosphere of building construction in the city. Players vie for victory points by carefully selecting and constructing buildings, each requiring a unique combination of resources such as money, workers, and materials. The game stands out for its blend of strategic planning and tactical adaptability, driven by a clever card-play mechanism.
2–4 30–45 min 10+ Easy to learn -
Mission: Red Planet
All details & ratingMission: Red Planet is a strategic board game set in the year 1888, where Steampunk technology has enabled mankind to reach Mars. Designed by Bruno Faidutti and Bruno Cathala, this game immerses players in a competitive race to colonize Mars and exploit its valuable resources: the explosive element Celerium, the dense material Sylvanite, and water from Martian glaciers, which could potentially terraform the planet.
3–5 60 min 10+ Easy to learn
Frequently asked questions
Which game ranks first on this list?
Century: Golem Edition 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 8 years. Each game carries its own age rating.
How long does a game take?
A typical game takes about 40 to 60 minutes. Each game's playing time is listed individually.
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