The best games with Worker Placement with dice instead of figures 2026

Players take on the roles of a pilot and a co-pilot in a cooperative game for two. The objective is to work together to land your airplane at various airports around the world. Successful landing requires silently coordinating dice placement in your cockpit to balance the aircraft, control speed, deploy flaps, and even brew coffee to enhance focus. Each airport presents unique challenges, so stay alert for turbulence—it could be a bumpy ride!

The Castles of Burgundy is set in the medieval Burgundy region of France, where players assume the roles of aristocrats seeking to expand their princedoms. The game revolves around building settlements, constructing castles, engaging in river trade, mining for silver, and utilizing travelers' knowledge.

The heron flies over the skies of Himeji while the Daimyo observes the activities of his servants from the castle's summit. Players control a clan to earn victory points by gaining influence at court, managing resources, and strategically placing their workers. The game features resource management, worker placement, and dice placement mechanics, set against the backdrop of Himeji Castle, where players engage in tending gardens, defending the castle, and climbing the social ladder. With accessible rules and a carefully crafted setting, it offers a blend of simplicity and strategic depth.

Life in the forest is fun, as long as the sun is shining and the leaves are on the trees. However, these days don't last forever. Wise animals start gathering supplies for the long, cold winter before the weather changes, transforming their homes into cozy hideaways with soup, comfortable chairs, and games to pass the dark days.

The Taverns of Tiefenthal is a strategic and immersive board game that transports players to a bustling village tavern, where they must attract guests and manage resources to become the most successful establishment in Tiefenthal.

Roll 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.

Rajas of the Ganges is a strategy board game set in 16th century India, during the rise of the Great Mogul Empire. Players take on the roles of influential nobles, striving to transform their estates into prosperous provinces.

Alien Frontiers is a competitive board game where players vie to colonize an uncharted planet. As deep space colonists, players must skillfully manage resources, expand their fleet, research alien technology, and establish colonies to gain control of the new world.

Lorenzo il Magnifico is a strategic board game set in the Italian Renaissance, where players embody heads of noble families vying for prestige and fame. This game is a blend of resource management, strategic planning, and careful maneuvering.

Discoveries: The Journals of Lewis & Clark is a strategy board game that transports players back to the iconic Lewis and Clark Expedition. The game blends historical exploration with a unique dice-based gameplay mechanism.

Alea Iacta Est presents a fascinating blend of dice placement and strategic decision-making, set against the backdrop of Ancient Rome. Players vie for prestige and power in the guise of Caesars, using their dice as resources to gain advantages across various influential buildings.

Human progress threatens the survival of many species. It’s up to you and your team to save them by collaborating with other conservationists to protect tigers and sea otters from extinction. Players must influence the UN to enact a resolution; if four ambassadors vote in favor, they win, but they must manage destruction and keep the animals alive until then.

Steampunk Rally is an inventive strategy game that skillfully blends the steampunk aesthetic with dynamic gameplay. Players embody famous historical inventors like Nikola Tesla and Marie Curie, building extraordinary machines powered by steam, heat, and electricity. The goal is to outmaneuver opponents in a thrilling race through the Swiss Alps using these fantastical contraptions.

Coimbra is a historically themed board game set in the vibrant era of the 15th and 16th centuries in Portugal. It combines strategic planning, resource management, and an innovative dice mechanism, making it a compelling choice for gamers who enjoy a blend of history and strategy.

Generations before you relied on the seas for survival. As the 19th century comes to a close, your fishing village in northern Norway faces changes and new opportunities. Players must decide whether to expand their settlement with new buildings, send their boats to fish, engage in trade, or introduce new technologies to improve daily life.

The neon-clad city of Dicetopia awaits, a bubbling cauldron of petty thieves, conniving corporations, and ruthless smugglers. Players deploy their agents to take over neighborhoods, seize loot, perform cunning actions, and complete treacherous missions. The game features a mix of area control, dice manipulation, worker placement, secret objectives, and player interaction, ensuring no two games feel the same.

Teotihuacan: City of Gods invites you to traverse time, immersing yourself in the splendor and twilight of the powerful pre-Columbian civilization of Mesoamerica. Strategize, accumulate wealth, seek the favor of the gods, and embark on the monumental task of constructing the awe-inspiring Pyramid of the Sun.

The Magnificent is a strategic Eurogame set in an enchanting, mystical world, inviting players to dazzle audiences with their traveling show of performers. Illustrated by Martin Mottet, this game challenges players to skillfully manage resources, expand their camps with Tetris-like tiles, and execute performances to attract the biggest crowds. Each decision, from selecting dice to planning shows, impacts your strategy and potential to score points.