The best games with action points 2026

Looking for a really good game with action points? Then we have just the thing for you: the list with the best action points games 2026.

What are action point games?

A player receives a number of action points when it is his turn. He can spend them any way he wants on a variety of actions.

Examples of games with action points

A good example of an action points game is the Pandemic series.

List of best action points games 2026

This list was last updated on June 6, 2026. There's also a print version for this list .
  1. Pandemic Legacy: Season 1

    • BGG Top 100+11BGG Top 100
    • CooperativeCooperative
    • Nature & FarmingNature & Farming
    • CampaignCampaign
    • LegacyLegacy
    • Strategy GameStrategy Game
    +67 more

    Pandemic Legacy: Season 1 offers an extraordinary gaming experience as a cooperative campaign game, immersing players in an overarching story-arc that unfolds over 12-24 gripping sessions. The duration depends on your group's performance and the fate of the world. Here's an overview of this thrilling journey:

    Nominated for 21 awards and won 12.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2016

    More details for Pandemic Legacy: Season 1
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 13+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty
  2. Unmatched: Cobble & Fog

    Unmatched: Cobble & Fog is a captivating expansion to the Unmatched system, featuring a quartet of iconic characters drawn from literary lore, each with their unique playstyle and abilities. This expansion introduces the Invisible Man, Sherlock Holmes with Dr. Watson, Dracula along with the sisters, and the duo of Jekyll & Hyde, all brought to life in a highly asymmetrical miniature fighting game.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

    💰 7% cheaper on Amazon than at other retailers

    More details for Unmatched: Cobble & Fog
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 20 - 40 Minutes
    • 🧒 9+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  3. Project L

    Project L is a dynamic and visually appealing board game that combines tile-matching with engine-building elements. It's designed to challenge players with its strategic depth, encapsulated within an elegant and simple design. The game features unique triple-layer 3D puzzles and attractive acrylic pieces, making it not only a test of intellect but also a delight to play.

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 1.

    More details for Project L
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 20 - 40 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  4. Looking for a really good miniatures game? We've tracked down the best miniatures games 2026 and compiled them into a list.

    The best miniatures board games →
  5. Zombie Teenz Evolution

    Zombies are attacking the entire city! Collaborate with your friends to embark on an expedition and drive away the overwhelming hordes. Collect the four ingredients and brew the antidote that will save the world!

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 1.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2021

    More details for Zombie Teenz Evolution
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 20 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Zombie Teenz Evolution

    • YouTube Review for the game "Zombie Teenz Evolution" by The Dice Tower
      Video
    • YouTube Review for the game "Zombie Teenz Evolution" by Meeple University
      Video
    • YouTube Review for the game "Zombie Teenz Evolution" by Scorpion Masqué
      Video
  6. Cthulhu: Death May Die

    Cthulhu: Death May Die is an intense, cooperative board game set in the 1920s, drawing inspiration from H.P. Lovecraft's universe. Players take on the roles of daring investigators, embarking on a perilous mission to confront and eliminate Elder Gods.

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 1.

    More details for Cthulhu: Death May Die
    • 👥 1 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 90 - 120 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty
  7. Karuba Since 2015

    • 👥 2 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 - 40 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  8. Clank!: A Deck-Building Adventure

    Clank!: A Deck-Building Adventure is an exciting board game where players become daring thieves, sneaking into a dragon's lair to steal artifacts while avoiding making noise to prevent waking the dragon.

    Nominated for 11 awards and won 3.

    More details for Clank!: A Deck-Building Adventure
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  9. Survive The Island

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    More details for Survive The Island
    • 👥 2 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  10. Horrified

    Horrified is a cooperative board game that plunges players into a classic horror movie scenario. Set in a town besieged by not one but seven iconic monsters, it's a race against time to save the day.

    Nominated for 5 awards.

    More details for Horrified
    • 👥 1 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Horrified

    • YouTube Review for the game "Horrified" by BoardGameGeek
      Video
  11. The Search for Planet X

    The Search for Planet X is a captivating board game that immerses players in the world of astronomy and scientific discovery. Aspiring astronomers use a combination of observation, deduction, and a companion app to unravel the mystery of a hidden planet in our solar system.

    Nominated for 6 awards.

    More details for The Search for Planet X
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 60 - 75 Minutes
    • 🧒 13+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  12. Looking for a really good Pandemic variant⎇? Then you've come to the right place. We have compared all Pandemic versions and listed the best variants 2026.

    The best Pandemic games and variants⎇ →
  13. Radlands

    Radlands is a competitive and tactical dueling card game set in a post-apocalyptic world. Players lead groups of survivors, each fighting to protect their camps from a rival tribe. The game emphasizes the importance of strategic card synergy and resource management, with water being a crucial element in gameplay.

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 4.

    More details for Radlands
    • 👥 2 Players
    • ⏱️ 20 - 40 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  14. Takenoko

    Takenoko is a charming board game set in the Japanese Imperial court, revolving around the care of a giant panda gifted by the Chinese Emperor. Players, as court members, are tasked with managing a bamboo garden for the panda.

    Nominated for 18 awards and won 7.

    More details for Takenoko
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Takenoko

    • YouTube Review for the game "Takenoko" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video
  15. Hansa Teutonica: Big Box

    Hansa Teutonica: Big Box is an expansive edition of the acclaimed strategy game "Hansa Teutonica," renowned for its deep strategic gameplay and interactive mechanics. This edition not only includes the base game but also all its expansions, offering an enriched experience of the historical Hanseatic League trading theme.

    More details for Hansa Teutonica: Big Box
    • 👥 3 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 - 90 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty
  16. Zombicide (2nd Edition)

    Zombicide: 2nd Edition revitalizes the beloved cooperative board game franchise, offering both new and seasoned players an enhanced zombie-slaying experience. Since its original release in 2012, Zombicide has captivated gamers worldwide with its thrilling cooperative gameplay, where players band together as survivors in a zombie-infested apocalypse. This new edition breathes fresh life into the game with refined rules, updated mechanics, and new components designed to streamline play and enhance immersion.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Zombicide (2nd Edition)
    • 👥 1 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  17. Pandemic: Iberia

    Pandemic: Iberia is a historical variant of the popular Pandemic series, set in the Iberian Peninsula during the year 1848. This version of the game introduces unique roles and challenges as players work together to combat historical diseases like malaria, typhus, yellow fever, and cholera.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Pandemic: Iberia
    • 👥 2 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Pandemic: Iberia

    • YouTube Review for the game "Pandemic: Iberia" by BoardGameGeek
      Video
  18. Pandemic

    Pandemic is a highly acclaimed cooperative board game where players take on the roles of disease-fighting specialists. Their mission is to contain and cure four deadly diseases that have broken out across the globe. The game is set on a board depicting major world population centers and requires players to strategize and work together to manage the outbreaks and develop cures before the diseases spiral out of control.

    Nominated for 30 awards and won 9.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2009

    💰 25% cheaper on Amazon than at other retailers

    More details for Pandemic
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  19. Krosmaster: Arena – Duel Pack 2

    • FantasyFantasy
    • 2-Player2-Player
    • Push Your LuckPush Your Luck
    • MiniaturesMiniatures
    • CombatCombat
    • Variable PowersVariable Powers
    +4 more

    Experience the intensity of battles in Krosmaster Arena with two brand-new heroes in a fast, fun, and strategic duel! The Duel Pack 2 includes exclusive figures Nidas and Queen of Thieves, along with their character cards, a game board, two token sheets, and two engraved dice. This standalone game for two players can also expand the Krosmaster: Arena experience.

    More details for Krosmaster: Arena – Duel Pack 2
    • 👥 2 Players
    • ⏱️ 10 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  20. Endeavor: Deep Sea

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 2.

    ⭐️ Kennerspiel des Jahres 2025

    More details for Endeavor: Deep Sea
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty
  21. Revolver Noir

    • DeductionDeduction
    • Family GameFamily Game
    • 2-Player2-Player
    • Action PointsAction Points
    • Card GameCard Game
    +2 more

    Investigating an abandoned villa should be an easy job, but a gunshot shatters the silence, indicating you're not alone. In this game for two players, one takes on the role of a private detective trapped with an unknown enemy. Use your detective skills and strategic shots in the dark to locate and eliminate your foe before they do the same to you.

    More details for Revolver Noir
    • 👥 2 Players
    • ⏱️ 15 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  22. Summoner Wars (Second Edition)

    Summoner Wars (Second Edition) revitalizes the classic tactical dueling card game with new art, streamlined rules, and an expandable game system. Players take on the roles of summoners, commanding unique factions in a strategic battle to dominate the war-torn planet of Itharia. This edition not only updates fan-favorite factions but also introduces new ones to the fray, ensuring fresh and engaging gameplay for newcomers and veterans alike.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Summoner Wars (Second Edition)
    • 👥 2 Players
    • ⏱️ 40 - 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 9+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty
  23. World Wonders

    Players take on the role of great rulers from the past to build their own ancient city. Each round, players invest gold to construct tiles that enhance their city’s economy. There are five building types that yield resources, helping the city grow, while monuments and wonder tiles provide victory points but require all your gold. Once a player reaches the maximum population, they are declared the winner of the game.

    Nominated for 4 awards.

    More details for World Wonders
    • 👥 1 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 50 - 70 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  24. The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth

    The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth invites players to immerse themselves in the rich and legendary world created by J.R.R. Tolkien. This fully cooperative, app-supported board game is designed for one to five players, offering a unique blend of adventure, strategy, and storytelling set in the iconic landscapes of Middle-Earth.

    Nominated for 4 awards.

    More details for The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth
    • 👥 1 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty
  25. Istanbul: The Dice Game

    Istanbul: The Dice Game is a vibrant standalone dice game set in the bustling bazaar of Istanbul, where players vie to collect rubies as a symbol of their prosperity and victory. Utilizing dice as the core mechanic, participants must strategically acquire money and goods through the roll of the dice. These resources are then cleverly traded for the coveted rubies. The game encapsulates the essence of the Istanbul bazaar's lively trade and commerce atmosphere, demanding clever strategy and a bit of luck from its players to navigate the market's opportunities and secure the precious jewels that signify triumph.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 2.

    More details for Istanbul: The Dice Game
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 20 - 40 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  26. Detective: City of Angels

    Set in the dark and violent world of 1940s Los Angeles, this game is filled with mystery, deception, and investigations for 1-5 players. Most players assume the roles of LAPD murder detectives, eager for fame and willing to do whatever it takes to solve a case, including intimidating suspects and hiring informants. One player, however, takes on the role of The Chisel, whose goal is to thwart the detectives with bluffing and manipulation.

    🔥 Deal: 3% cheaper on Amazon than at other retailers — at a recent low!

    More details for Detective: City of Angels
    • 👥 1 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 - 150 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  27. Blood Rage

    In the midst of Ragnarök, the cataclysmic end of the world, seize your opportunity for glory in Blood Rage. Each player commands a Viking clan, complete with fearless warriors, a formidable leader, and a mighty ship. As the world crumbles, it's the Vikings' last chance to seek Valhalla, to be forever remembered at Odin's side. In this epic battle, there are myriad paths to honor, from plundering the land and crushing opponents to fulfilling quests, enhancing your clan's strength, or embracing a glorious demise.

    Nominated for 14 awards and won 2.

    More details for Blood Rage
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty
  28. Star Wars: The Clone Wars

    Traverse a galaxy where iconic Jedi heroes utilize familiar Pandemic mechanics. Players assume the roles of legendary Jedi, joining forces to combat the threat posed by the Separatists while defending besieged planets. They must work together to fend off droid assaults, conquer blockades, complete missions, and face iconic villains to turn the tide of war.

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    More details for Star Wars: The Clone Wars
    • 👥 1 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  29. Fireball Island: The Curse of Vul-Kar

    Fireball Island: The Curse of Vul-Kar is a thrilling adventure board game that is a restoration of the classic 1986 game Fireball Island. Players embark on a daring quest on Fireball Island, a place teeming with dangers like volcanic upheavals, feral tigers, lethal trees, and swarms of bees. The goal is to capture snapshots across the island while racing down treacherous paths and avoiding a barrage of hazards, including the iconic fireballs.

    Nominated for 4 awards.

    More details for Fireball Island: The Curse of Vul-Kar
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 7+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Fireball Island: The Curse of Vul-Kar

    • YouTube Review for the game "Fireball Island: The Curse of Vul-Kar" by BoardGameGeek
      Video
  30. Reign of Cthulhu

    Pandemic: Reign of Cthulhu is a thrilling adaptation of the classic Pandemic game, infused with a chilling Lovecraftian theme. Players take on the roles of investigators, tasked with a daunting mission to prevent the awakening of ancient evils, known as Old Ones, from their cosmic prison.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Reign of Cthulhu
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 40 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  31. Pandemic Legacy: Season 0

    Pandemic Legacy: Season 0 transports you to 1962, at the height of the Cold War, where a mysterious Soviet bioweapon called "Project MEDUSA" threatens global safety. As newly recruited CIA agents and medical graduates, you and your team are tasked with a critical mission: investigate and halt the development of this deadly pathogen. This game stands alone as a thrilling prequel to the earlier seasons of Pandemic Legacy, immersing players in a tense world of espionage and covert operations.

    Nominated for 6 awards.

    More details for Pandemic Legacy: Season 0
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Pandemic Legacy: Season 0

    • YouTube Review for the game "Pandemic Legacy: Season 0" by BoardGameGeek
      Video
  32. Raptor

    Raptor 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.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Raptor
    • 👥 2 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 9+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Raptor

    • YouTube Review for the game "Raptor" by BoardGameGeek
      Video
  33. Looking for a really good game from the year 2020? Then we have just the thing for you: our recommendation list with the best board games that were newly released in 2020.

    The best games released in 2020📆 →

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