The best games with improvements via Tech Tree or Tech Tracks 2024

Looking for a really good game with improvements via tech tree? Then we have just the thing for you: the list of the best tech tree games 2024.

What are Tech Tree games?

In tech tree games (also called technology or research tree or path), new actions become available to certain players during the game, or existing actions are improved. These are often themed as technologies, but don't have to be. In computer games, this principle made the [Civilazation series](https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sid_Meier%E2%80%99s_Civilization) popular starting in 1991.

Technique Tree & Technique Path

Sometimes this is expressed as a tree, where achieving one tech unlocks several other techs. Or it can be a linear path, where progressing along the tech path unlocks improved or new actions.

"Tech Tree" is sometimes also referred to as "Tech Path" or "Tech Tracks".

Examples of games with improvements via tech tree

A good example of a tech tree game is Brass Birmingham.

List of best tech tree games 2024

This list was last updated on February 25, 2024. We compared 187 board games for this list and selected the top 30. 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. Planet Unknown

    All details for the board game Planet Unknown and similar games

    Planet Unknown is a competitive and strategic game for 1-6 players set in a future where Earth's resources are depleted. Players are tasked with developing the most efficient and habitable planet among a series of newfound worlds. Using polyomino-shaped tiles, each representing vital infrastructure, players work to efficiently cover their planets and build an effective support system for life.

    Nominated for 8 awards and won 2.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2023

    More details for Planet Unknown
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 60 - 80 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    🔥 Great price!54€ atAmazon.de*
  3. Terraforming Mars

    All details for the board game Terraforming Mars and similar games

    Terraforming Mars is a strategic board game set in the 2400s, where players, representing giant corporations, embark on the colossal task of terraforming Mars. Sponsored by the World Government on Earth, each corporation competes to contribute most effectively to raising the planet's temperature, oxygen level, and ocean coverage to make Mars habitable. While players work together in the terraforming process, they also compete for victory points awarded for their contributions to terraforming, advancing human infrastructure throughout the solar system, and other notable achievements.

    Nominated for 27 awards and won 14.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2017

    More details for Terraforming Mars
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 120 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Terraforming Mars

    • YouTube Review for the game "Terraforming Mars" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  4. Hansa Teutonica: Big Box

    All details for the board game Hansa Teutonica: Big Box and similar games

    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
    👍 Good price!37€ atAmazon.de*
  5. Orléans

    All details for the board game Orléans and similar games

    Orléans is a strategic board game set in medieval France, where players compete to gain supremacy through trade, construction, and science by assembling a diverse following of characters like farmers, merchants, knights, and monks.

    Nominated for 12 awards and won 4.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2015

    More details for Orléans
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  6. Brass: Birmingham

    All details for the board game Brass: Birmingham and similar games

    Brass: Birmingham is an economic strategy game and a sequel to the 2007 game Brass. It immerses players in the world of industrial revolution entrepreneurs in Birmingham between 1770-1870.

    Nominated for 13 awards and won 7.

    More details for Brass: Birmingham
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Hard to learn

    Video reviews for Brass: Birmingham

    • YouTube Review for the game "Brass: Birmingham" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Brass: Birmingham" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  7. Endeavor: Age of Sail

    All details for the board game Endeavor: Age of Sail and similar games

    Endeavor: Age of Sail invites players to navigate the high seas and earn glory for their empires. Set during the age of exploration, players sail from Europe and the Mediterranean, establishing shipping routes and occupying cities across the globe, all while building their industrial, cultural, financial, and influential power.

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    More details for Endeavor: Age of Sail
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Endeavor: Age of Sail

    • YouTube Review for the game "Endeavor: Age of Sail" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  8. Scythe

    All details for the board game Scythe and similar games

    In the turbulent 1920s Europa, a period overshadowed by the aftermath of the first great war, a city-state known as "The Factory" stands at the center of attention. This capitalistic powerhouse, renowned for its heavily armored mechs that fueled the war, has mysteriously closed its doors, leaving neighboring nations vying for its secrets.

    Nominated for 21 awards and won 10.

    More details for Scythe
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 90 - 115 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    👍 Good price!67€ atAmazon.de*

    Video reviews for Scythe

    • YouTube Review for the game "Scythe" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  9. Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy

    All details for the board game Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy and similar games

    Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy is an enhanced version of the original Eclipse game, first released in 2011. It's a grand strategy game set in the depths of space, where players lead their own interstellar civilizations to explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate.

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 2.

    More details for Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 60 - 200 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Hard to learn
    👍 Good price!123€ atAmazon.de*
  10. Black Orchestra

    All details for the board game Black Orchestra and similar games

    Black Orchestra is a cooperative board game set in World War II, where players take on the roles of members of the German resistance seeking to overthrow Hitler's regime. The game is named after the real-life code name "Schwarze Kapelle," given by the Gestapo to this group of conspirators. It offers a blend of historical narrative and strategic gameplay, where players must balance the urgency of their mission with the need to remain undetected.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Black Orchestra
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Black Orchestra

    • YouTube Review for the game "Black Orchestra" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  11. Beyond the Sun

    All details for the board game Beyond the Sun and similar games

    Beyond the Sun is a strategic board game that places players at the forefront of humanity's technological advancement into the Spacefaring Era. Here, players shape the progress of human civilization in space while competing to become the dominant faction through scientific development, economic growth, and galactic influence.

    Nominated for 7 awards and won 1.

    More details for Beyond the Sun
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  12. Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition

    All details for the board game Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition and similar games

    Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition is an engaging engine-building game where players take on the roles of corporations with the ambitious goal of terraforming Mars. The game combines strategic resource management and project development to make the red planet habitable.

    Nominated for 4 awards.

    More details for Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  13. Kemet

    All details for the board game Kemet and similar games

    Kemet is a strategy board game set in ancient Egypt, where players command Egyptian tribes and harness the powers of gods to earn victory points through battles and territorial control.

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    More details for Kemet
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 90 - 120 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Kemet

    • YouTube Review for the game "Kemet" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Kemet" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  14. Kingsburg

    All details for the board game Kingsburg and similar games

    In Kingsburg, players assume the roles of Lords dispatched by the King to oversee frontier territories. The game unfolds over five years, comprising a total of 20 turns. Each year consists of three production seasons, allowing players to gather resources, construct structures, and train troops. However, every fourth turn ushers in winter, a time when all players must individually confront an invading army. Despite this threat, Kingsburg remains a competitive rather than cooperative game.

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 1.

    More details for Kingsburg
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  15. Hansa Teutonica

    All details for the board game Hansa Teutonica and similar games

    Hansa Teutonica is a strategic board game that transports players back to the time of the Hanseatic League, a medieval commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds in Northwestern and Central Europe. In this game, players take on the roles of traders competing to expand their trading network, improve their skills, and gain the most victory points.

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 3.

    More details for Hansa Teutonica
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 45 - 90 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  16. Revive

    All details for the board game Revive and similar games

    Revive is a post-apocalyptic strategy game set 5000 years after civilization's collapse. Players lead tribes to explore a frozen Earth, harness resources, recruit survivors, build factories, and relearn ancient technologies. Designed for 1-4 players, Revive stands out with its asymmetric player powers, highly variable setup, and a focus on strategy and rebuilding over conflict.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

    More details for Revive
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 90 - 120 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  17. Ankh: Gods of Egypt

    All details for the board game Ankh: Gods of Egypt and similar games

    Ankh: 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.

    Nominated for 4 awards.

    More details for Ankh: Gods of Egypt
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    🔥 Great price!40€ atAmazon.de*
  18. Era: Medieval Age

    All details for the board game Era: Medieval Age and similar games

    Era: Medieval Age positions itself as a groundbreaking evolution in the realm of roll-and-build board games, inheriting the legacy of Roll Through The Ages but carving out its own niche with a unique build mechanic. Players are transported to the medieval era, tasked with rolling dice to assemble a flourishing city using tangible, 3D components such as walls, keeps, and farms, making each cityscape a distinct creation by the game's conclusion.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Era: Medieval Age
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  19. Kingsburg (Second Edition)

    All details for the board game Kingsburg (Second Edition) and similar games
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 90 - 120 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Kingsburg (Second Edition)

    • YouTube Review for the game "Kingsburg (Second Edition)" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Kingsburg (Second Edition)" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  20. Brass: Lancashire

    All details for the board game Brass: Lancashire and similar games

    Brass: Lancashire is a compelling economic strategy game set during the industrial revolution in Lancashire. The game chronicles the story of competing cotton entrepreneurs and requires players to develop, build, and expand their industries and networks to capitalize on the growing demand for iron, coal, and cotton.

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 1.

    More details for Brass: Lancashire
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Hard to learn

    Video reviews for Brass: Lancashire

    • YouTube Review for the game "Brass: Lancashire" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  21. Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition

    All details for the board game Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition and similar games

    Embark on an epic journey of galactic conquest in Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition. As a leader of one of seventeen unique factions, you'll navigate the vastness of space, striving for dominance through military might, political maneuvering, and economic prowess. The game unfolds around Mecatol Rex, the central planet, where the throne of the galaxy awaits the faction that can skillfully navigate the challenges of a dynamic and strategically constructed universe.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 240 - 480 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Hard to learn
    👍 Good price!118€ atAmazon.de*

    Video reviews for Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition

    • YouTube Review for the game "Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  22. Kemet: Blood and Sand

    All details for the board game Kemet: Blood and Sand and similar games

    Kemet: Blood and Sand revives the classic Kemet game with an enhanced edition that plunges players into a vividly realized Ancient Egypt. Here, you embody powerful gods commanding respect and fear across the desert and Nile delta. The game is all about asserting your dominance through strategic battles, without showing mercy to your foes. Prepare to lead your city's troops into war, showcasing your power as the ultimate ruler of Ancient Egypt.

    🔥 Deal: 33% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!

    More details for Kemet: Blood and Sand
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 90 - 120 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    🔥 Great price!46€ atAmazon.de*
  23. Tapestry

    All details for the board game Tapestry and similar games

    Tapestry is a strategic board game designed by Jamey Stegmaier, intended for 1-5 players and lasting about two hours. The game invites players to weave the narrative of a civilization's journey from the dawn of humankind into the future, creating a unique and storied history that diverges from real-world events.

    Nominated for 8 awards and won 3.

    More details for Tapestry
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 90 - 120 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  24. Innovation

    All details for the board game Innovation and similar games

    Innovation is a dynamic card game that captures the essence of civilization building. Designed by Carl Chudyk, it offers players a unique experience of guiding a civilization's journey from the stone age to modern times.

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    More details for Innovation
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  25. Anno 1800: The Board Game

    All details for the board game Anno 1800: The Board Game and similar games

    Anno 1800: The Board Game is an immersive game that captures the essence of the popular Ubisoft PC game, Anno 1800. Players are tasked with developing their home island by building a robust industry, engaging in trade, and meeting the evolving needs of their population. The game emphasizes strategic planning and resource management, set against the backdrop of the 19th-century industrial revolution.

    Nominated for 4 awards.

    🔥 Deal: 11% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!

    More details for Anno 1800: The Board Game
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 120 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    🔥 Great price!40€ atAmazon.de*
  26. First Empires

    All details for the board game First Empires and similar games
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!24€ atAmazon.de*
  27. Russian Railroads

    All details for the board game Russian Railroads and similar games

    Russian Railroads is a strategic board game where players compete to build the most extensive and advanced railway network in Russia. The game combines worker placement with track building and resource management elements, offering players various paths to victory.

    Nominated for 10 awards and won 4.

    More details for Russian Railroads
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 120 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  28. Endeavor

    All details for the board game Endeavor and similar games

    Endeavor is a strategic board game set during the age of exploration and expansion, where players represent growing empires vying for global dominance through various means such as exploration, colonization, and war.

    Nominated for 8 awards.

    More details for Endeavor
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  29. Khôra: Rise of an Empire

    All details for the board game Khôra: Rise of an Empire and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 75 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  30. Endless Winter: Paleoamericans

    All details for the board game Endless Winter: Paleoamericans and similar games

    Journey back to North America around 10,000 BCE in Endless Winter: Paleoamericans, a game designed by Stan Kordonskiy, developed by Jonny Pac, and illustrated by The Mico. In this immersive experience, you guide your tribe's evolution across generations, from nomadic hunter-gatherers to thriving tribal societies. With each passing era, your tribes will migrate, establish traditions, hunt massive prehistoric creatures, and construct magnificent megalithic structures.

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    🔥 Deal: 28% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!

    More details for Endless Winter: Paleoamericans
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    🔥 Great price!45€ atAmazon.de*

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