The best Steampunk games 🚂 2026
Looking for a smart game from the steampunk 🚂 genre? We have compared many steampunk games and listed the best 30.
What is steampunk anyway?
Steampunk is a retrofuturistic subgenre of science fiction or science fantasy that involves technology and aesthetic constructions inspired by industrial steam-powered machines of the 19th century. Although its literary origins are sometimes associated with the cyberpunk genre, steampunk works are often set in an alternate history of the Victorian era or the American "Wild West" where the steam engine remains in mainstream use - or in a fantasy world that also employs steam power.
Term "steampunk" defined in 1987, coined much earlier
The term "steampunk" itself was named by K.W. Jeter in 1987, but the theme was coined primarily in the 1950s and 1960s, and even earlier. A popular example is the 1869 Jules Verne work "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" which was made into a movie by Disney in 1954.
Wonderful steampunk board games
The very aesthetic steampunk scenario has inspired game developers as well as many other artists. In the process, hundreds of great steampunk board games have been created. We have listed the best ones for you.
Cyberpunk is something different
If you are looking for games from the related genre "Cyberpunk", we have created a separate list for you: The Best Cyberpunk Games.
List of the best steampunk games 2026 🚂
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Botanik
All details & ratingDevelop the most effective network of Mecha-Botanik, a blend of plants and science. The game features a simple mechanic with one action per turn and an intricate exchange system involving tiles of different groups and colors. Earn points by creating groups of three or more matching tiles and by having flowers on your tiles.
2 30 min 12+ Easy to learn -
Forbidden Desert
All details & ratingForbidden Desert is a cooperative adventure game where players work together to recover a legendary flying machine from the ruins of an ancient desert city, while surviving extreme environmental challenges.
2–5 45 min 10+ Easy to learn -
Smash Up: Awesome Level 9000
All details & ratingSmash Up: Awesome Level 9000, also known as Smash Up II, is an exciting expansion to the Smash Up base game, introducing four new factions and eight new bases. This expansion not only adds variety but also brings unique combinations and fresh strategic layers to the already dynamic gameplay of Smash Up.
2 45 min 12+ Easy to learn -
Oceanos
All details & ratingOceanos immerses players in a vibrant underwater world where they captain their own submarines to explore the depths of the ocean. The game introduces a unique twist on card-drafting mechanics, offering a fresh and engaging experience. Players aim to discover the most diverse marine species, build the largest coral reefs, recover sunken treasures, and enhance their submarines with precious crystals while avoiding the dreaded kraken.
2–5 30–45 min 8+ Easy to learn -
Time Bomb Evolution
All details & ratingPlayers are secretly assigned roles as either terrorists or SWAT officers. Each player receives cards, which are placed face down in front of them. SWAT officers win by revealing all SUCCESS cards to deactivate the time bomb, while terrorists win if four threats of the same color are uncovered. Players can discuss which card to reveal, but they must be cautious as terrorists can mislead the SWAT team.
4–6 25–30 min 10+ Easy to learn -
Dogs of War
All details & ratingDogs of War is a beautifully crafted board game that transports players into a steampunk-renaissance universe, where noble houses clash in a struggle for dominance. Players assume the roles of the eponymous Dogs of War, mercenary captains who wield their private armies to sway the outcomes of battles between these houses for profit and influence.
3–5 75 min 14+ Medium complexity -
Wolsung Steampunk Skirmish Game
All details & ratingWolsung Steampunk Skirmish Game is set in a world where unusual gentlemen and ladies vie for power, glory, and wealth amid steam, magic, and strange inventions. Players choose from powerful factions in the city of Lyonesse, each with its unique characteristics, and engage in battles while aiming for victory through challenging gameplay that balances simplicity and depth. The game uses standard card decks to reduce luck and enhance epic actions, focusing on action, challenge, and fun.
2–4 40 min 14+ Easy to learn -
Koryŏ
All details & ratingKoryŏ is set in a politically steampunk universe. Players simultaneously choose a political family from their hand and play as many cards as they wish from that family. Each family has a value from 1 to 9, determining both the number of cards and the victory points earned by the controlling player. The game lasts for eight rounds, with each family providing specific powers that are crucial for success. As players gain influence, the number of cards drawn per round decreases, complicating their choices.
2–4 10–20 min 13+ Easy to learn+ 3 € above the best price15 € at Amazon* -
Steampunk Rally
All details & ratingSteampunk 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.
2–8 45–60 min 14+ Medium complexity -
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 - + 1 € above the best price16 € at Amazon*
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Munchkin Steampunk
All details & ratingMunchkin Steampunk Deluxe adds a twist of gears, goggles, and steam-powered robots to the mischievous humor of the classic Munchkin card game. Players kick down doors, battle monsters, collect treasures, and race to reach level ten before their opponents. It is a standalone game that can also be integrated with any Munchkin game or expansion.
3–6 60–90 min 12+ Easy to learn -
The Phantom Society
All details & ratingWelcome to Scotland, a land famous for its whisky, Highlands, castles, and of course, its ghosts! Players take on the role of clever spirits aiming to ruin a manor hotel or bold ectoplasm hunters chasing them down. The goal for ghosts is to inflict at least £45,000 in damage to the manor, while hunters must stop them before they succeed.
2–4 20 min 8+ Immediately playable -
Noxford
All details & ratingWelcome to Noxford, a timeless city in constant construction that expands with the rhythm of the gears that hold it. Players lead a criminal syndicate, relying on their lieutenants and thugs to become the most influential in the wealthy districts of the city.
2–4 20–40 min 8+ Easy to learnVideo reviews 1 -
oddball Äeronauts
All details & ratingPlayers engage in fun airship battles in a quirky fantasy world using a simple, light strategy game played in hand without a board. Each player selects a faction and customizes their deck with event cards before the game starts. During each round, players declare and compare abilities, apply bonuses, and utilize special card actions to gain advantages. The player with remaining active cards at the end of the game wins.
2 15–20 min 9+ Easy to learn -
In Her Majesty's Name: Steampunk Skirmish Wargaming Rules
All details & ratingPlayers found adventurous companies in a technologically advanced Victorian era, engaging in a secret war for artifacts and new technologies on behalf of great world powers. Each company consists of 4-15 figures, incorporating everyday Steampunk technology alongside bizarre science and mystical forces. The system is versatile and easy to learn, with an election campaign system included.
2 60–180 min Medium complexity - 19 % cheaper than at other retailers30 € at Amazon*
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Empire Engine
All details & ratingThe world of Mekannis was once united under the Great Machine, a massive intellect built into the molten heart of the planet. After centuries of transformation and a catastrophic malfunction, four realms now vie for supremacy: the Kestrel Dominion, Nova Centralis, the Sylphian Commonwealth, and the Gralsprälatur. Players represent one of these powerful realms, choosing actions to attack, defend, salvage, export resources, or collect inventions to score points and restore the Great Locomotive, the source of ultimate power.
2–4 30 min 14+ Easy to learn70 % cheaper than at other retailers10 € at Amazon*
Frequently asked questions
Which game ranks first on this list?
Botanik 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 45 minutes. Each game's playing time is listed individually.
Didn't find the game you were looking for?
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