The best games with a tug-of-war marker that keeps the game score 2024

Looking for a really good game with a tug-of-war marker that keeps score? Then we have just the thing for you: the list of the best tug-of-war marker games 2024.

What are tug-of-war marker games?

In the games in this best list, a marker is moved up and back on a track toward or away from a neutral position.

Examples of games with a tug of war marker keeping score

Twilight Struggle implements this as a way to determine victory, and also acts as a sudden death mechanism when one of the players reaches the end of the line.

Churchill implements a 3 player tug-of-war to resolve issues debated during the game.

List of best tug-of-war marker games 2024

This list was last updated on February 25, 2024. We compared 89 board games for this list and selected the top 27. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. 7 Wonders Duel

    All details for the board game 7 Wonders Duel and similar games

    7 Wonders Duel takes the essence of the classic 7 Wonders and refines it for an intense two-player experience. It retains the thematic elements of building a civilization through acquiring various types of cards, but it introduces unique mechanics suited for a duel.

    Nominated for 16 awards and won 9.

    More details for 7 Wonders Duel
    • 2 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    🔥 Great price!22€ atAmazon.de*

    Video reviews for 7 Wonders Duel

    • YouTube Review for the game "7 Wonders Duel" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  2. Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game

    All details for the board game Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game and similar games

    Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game brings the epic conflict between the Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance to your tabletop. This two-player game captures the essence of the Star Wars universe, offering a dynamic and strategic experience where players build their decks and battle to destroy each other's bases.

    More details for Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game
    • 2 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  3. Set & Match

    All details for the board game Set & Match and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 15 - 30 Minutes
    • 7+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  4. Watergate

    All details for the board game Watergate and similar games

    Watergate thrusts players into the historical tug-of-war between the Nixon Administration and a determined journalist from the Washington Post. This game recreates the infamous political scandal, requiring strategic card play and keen decision-making.

    Nominated for 9 awards and won 4.

    More details for Watergate
    • 2 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Watergate

    • YouTube Review for the game "Watergate" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  5. Caper: Europe

    All details for the board game Caper: Europe and similar games

    Caper: Europe thrusts players into the heart of a high-stakes game of thievery and strategy, set against the backdrop of Europe's most iconic locations. As rival criminal masterminds, players draft a crew of skilled thieves, dispatch them across the continent, and equip them with various gear to pull off daring heists. The challenge lies in outsmarting your opponent by efficiently managing your resources, controlling key locations, and securing valuable stolen goods. With only six rounds to enact your master plan, the pressure is on to be the most cunning and successful mastermind.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Caper: Europe
    • 2 Players
    • 25 - 35 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  6. Twilight Struggle

    All details for the board game Twilight Struggle and similar games

    Twilight Struggle offers an immersive journey through a pivotal period in history, where the world stood on the brink of nuclear annihilation. This two-player game takes place during the forty-five year rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States. Instead of traditional warfare, players engage in a dance of intrigue, prestige, and the occasional outbreak of hostilities. As the superpowers strive to make the world safe for their ideologies, you'll navigate a complex web of politics, espionage, and strategy. The game begins in the aftermath of World War II, with both superpowers scrambling for control, and concludes in 1989, leaving only one superpower standing.

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 5.

    More details for Twilight Struggle
    • 2 Players
    • 120 - 180 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Hard to learn
  7. 13 Days: The Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962

    All details for the board game 13 Days: The Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962 and similar games

    13 Days: The Cuban Missile Crisis is a tense, strategic two-player game set during the critical moments of the Cuban Missile Crisis. It captures the high-stakes Cold War atmosphere, offering a rich thematic experience in just 45 minutes. The game challenges players to navigate complex dilemmas, such as choosing between gaining prestige or risking global nuclear war, and strategically managing their hand of cards to outmaneuver their opponent.

    Nominated for 4 awards.

    More details for 13 Days: The Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962
    • 2 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  8. En Garde

    All details for the board game En Garde and similar games
    • 2 Players
    • 20 - 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  9. Royal Visit

    All details for the board game Royal Visit and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Royal Visit
    • 2 Players
    • 20 - 30 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  10. Dogs of War

    All details for the board game Dogs of War and similar games
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 75 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  11. Sun Tzu

    All details for the board game Sun Tzu and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Sun Tzu
    • 2 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  12. Why First?

    All details for the board game Why First? and similar games
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 15 - 25 Minutes
    • 7+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  13. Schnapp die Möpse

    All details for the board game Schnapp die Möpse and similar games
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 5 - 15 Minutes
    • 15+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  14. Dual Powers: Revolution 1917

    All details for the board game Dual Powers: Revolution 1917 and similar games
    • 1 - 2 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  15. 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
  16. Heave Ho!

    All details for the board game Heave Ho! and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Heave Ho!
    • 2 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  17. 300: Earth & Water

    All details for the board game 300: Earth & Water and similar games
    • 2 Players
    • 40 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  18. Maria

    All details for the board game Maria and similar games

    Maria is a strategic board game set during the tumultuous period of the War of the Austrian Succession, offering a rich blend of military strategy and historical diplomacy. Designed primarily for three players, it casts them into the roles of the major powers of the time: Austria, France with Bavaria, and Prussia along with the Pragmatic Army. Utilizing a unique map that is divided into two parts—Flanders and Bohemia—Maria challenges players to navigate the complexities of warfare and alliance, demanding not just military might but also political sagacity to emerge victorious.

    Nominated for 4 awards.

    More details for Maria
    • 2 - 3 Players
    • 210 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Hard to learn
  19. Fight for Olympus

    All details for the board game Fight for Olympus and similar games
    • 2 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  20. Europe in Turmoil: Prelude to the Great War

    All details for the board game Europe in Turmoil: Prelude to the Great War and similar games
    • 2 Players
    • 180 - 240 Minutes
    • Medium difficulty
  21. Churchill

    All details for the board game Churchill and similar games

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 1.

    More details for Churchill
    • 1 - 3 Players
    • 60 - 300 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  22. Days of Ire: Budapest 1956

    All details for the board game Days of Ire: Budapest 1956 and similar games
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  23. Labyrinth: The War on Terror, 2001 – ?

    All details for the board game Labyrinth: The War on Terror, 2001 – ? and similar games

    Labyrinth: The War on Terror, 2001 - ? is a strategic board game that delves into the complex geopolitical conflicts of the early 21st century, focusing on the rise of Islamic extremism and the subsequent global war on terror.

    Nominated for 7 awards and won 2.

    More details for Labyrinth: The War on Terror, 2001 – ?
    • 1 - 2 Players
    • 180 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Hard to learn
  24. Warriors of Japan: A Country Aflame 1335-1339

    All details for the board game Warriors of Japan: A Country Aflame 1335-1339 and similar games
    • 1 - 2 Players
    • 150 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  25. Wir sind das Volk!

    All details for the board game Wir sind das Volk! and similar games

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 2.

    More details for Wir sind das Volk!
    • 2 Players
    • 60 - 150 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Hard to learn
  26. InBetween

    All details for the board game InBetween and similar games

    🔥 Deal: 43% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!

    More details for InBetween
    • 2 Players
    • 20 - 40 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    🔥 Great price!20€ atAmazon.de*
  27. Darkness Comes Rattling

    All details for the board game Darkness Comes Rattling and similar games
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

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