The best strategy board, dice & card games 2026

We have selected and compared over 2000 strategic board games for you. The result is this list with the 30 best strategy card, dice & board games 2026.

What are strategy board games?

A strategy game is a game in which the players' decision-making skills have a high impact on the outcome of the game. Strategy games often require a good analysis of the decision tree or, in games with random elements, of probability distributions. Strategy games include abstract games with artificial rules and little or no theme, and simulations (including War games) with rules designed to simulate and reproduce a real or fictional scenario.

List with the best strategy games

This list was last updated on June 6, 2026. There's also a print version for this list .
  1. Terraforming Mars: Prelude

    • Golden Geek (nominated)Golden Geek (nominated)
    • Sci-FiSci-Fi
    • Tile-LayingTile-Laying
    • Solo ModeSolo Mode
    • Economy & TradeEconomy & Trade
    • Strategy GameStrategy Game
    +2 more

    Terraforming Mars: Prelude offers an expansion to the core game, setting the stage for the terraforming process and enhancing your corporation's journey with new strategic options.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Terraforming Mars: Prelude
    • 👥 1 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 90 - 120 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Terraforming Mars: Prelude

    • YouTube Review for the game "Terraforming Mars: Prelude" by BoardGameGeek
      Video
    • YouTube Review for the game "Terraforming Mars: Prelude" by BoardGameGeek
      Video
  2. The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-earth

    A dark rumor arises from Mordor, and the time has come for the Fellowship to unite once more. Players can choose to defend the free peoples as the Fellowship of the Ring or pursue Frodo and Sam as Sauron, deploying their hordes at enemy city gates. The fate of Middle-earth rests in your hands as you navigate the three chapters of the game, strengthening your skills and gathering resources to achieve one of the victory conditions.

    Nominated for 8 awards and won 2.

    More details for The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-earth
    • 👥 2 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  3. The Castles of Burgundy: Special Edition

    The Castles of Burgundy: Special Edition revitalizes Stefan Feld's classic strategy game for 1-4 players, where participants embody aristocrats managing their princedoms. This special edition, a collaboration between Ravensburger and Awaken Realms, elevates the game with a full art redesign, premium materials, and enhanced components, offering a luxurious playing experience as players build their settlements, castles, and engage in trade.

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 1.

    More details for The Castles of Burgundy: Special Edition
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 70 - 120 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty
  4. Medium-weight board games offer the perfect balance between accessibility and strategic depth. They are complex enough to captivate experienced players, but not so complicated that beginners are deterred. We have selected the best medium-weight games for you.

    The best medium-weight board games →
  5. 7 Wonders Duel (À la carte 2016 card game award Winner)

    • BGG Top 100+8BGG Top 100
    • 2-Player2-Player
    • CivilizationCivilization
    • Economy & TradeEconomy & Trade
    • Strategy GameStrategy Game
    • DraftingDrafting
    +80 more

    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 (À la carte 2016 card game award Winner)
    • 👥 2 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn

    Video reviews for 7 Wonders Duel (À la carte 2016 card game award Winner)

    • YouTube Review for the game "7 Wonders Duel (À la carte 2016 card game award Winner)" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video
  6. Wingspan: European Expansion

    • Golden Geek+1Golden Geek
    • Solo ModeSolo Mode
    • Economy & TradeEconomy & Trade
    • Strategy GameStrategy Game
    • AnimalsAnimals
    • DraftingDrafting
    +4 more

    The Wingspan: European Expansion broadens the horizons of the original Wingspan game, introducing a captivating array of European birds, each with unique abilities that enhance gameplay and player interaction.

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 2.

    More details for Wingspan: European Expansion
    • 👥 1 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 40 - 70 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  7. Splendor Duel

    Splendor Duel is an intriguing two-player game that builds upon the foundation of its predecessor, Splendor, enhancing it with new layers of strategy and competitiveness. Designed specifically for two players, this standalone game maintains the core elements of Splendor while introducing novel twists and mechanics, making it more dynamic and interactive.

    Nominated for 14 awards and won 3.

    More details for Splendor Duel
    • 👥 2 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. Century: Golem Edition

    Century: Golem Edition is an engaging and visually appealing board game that is a re-themed version of Century: Spice Road. Set in the imaginative world of Caravania, this game combines strategic planning and resource management, appealing to players who enjoy tactical decision-making.

    More details for Century: Golem Edition
    • 👥 2 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  11. Star Realms: Frontiers

    Star Realms: Frontiers is a dynamic standalone game within the Star Realms series, offering fast-paced space combat with deckbuilding elements. Designed for 1-4 players, it can be enjoyed on its own or integrated with other Star Realms sets for expanded play.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Star Realms: Frontiers
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 20 - 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  12. Looking for a really good game where you harm opponents without eliminating them? Then we have just the right thing for you: The list of the best take that games 2026.

    Best games where you harm opponents without eliminating them →
  13. Carcassonne Big Box 6

    Carcassonne Big Box 6 is a comprehensive edition of the beloved tile-laying game Carcassonne, combining the base game with its two major expansions and several mini-expansions into one grand package. Players build the landscape of a medieval fortress city one tile at a time, placing their followers on roads, cities, cloisters, and fields to gather points. This edition not only includes the core game that has captivated millions worldwide but also enriches the experience with expansions that introduce new tiles, mechanics, and strategies.

    More details for Carcassonne Big Box 6
    • 👥 2 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 35 Minutes
    • 🧒 7+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  14. Dominion: Prosperity (3. Expansion)

    • Golden GeekGolden Geek
    • Deck-BuildingDeck-Building
    • MedievalMedieval
    • Strategy GameStrategy Game
    • DraftingDrafting
    • Card GameCard Game
    +4 more

    Dominion: Prosperity is the fourth expansion in the acclaimed Dominion series, released in 2010. This expansion enriches the Dominion universe by focusing on the theme of wealth and prosperity.

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    More details for Dominion: Prosperity (3. Expansion)
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 13+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  15. Forest Shuffle: Alpine (Expansion)

    • Golden Geek (nominated)Golden Geek (nominated)
    • Family GameFamily Game
    • Nature & FarmingNature & Farming
    • ExplorationExploration
    • Strategy GameStrategy Game
    • DraftingDrafting
    +5 more

    New cards are added to the base game to bring even more variety to your gaming tables. Players aim to attract the most valuable species to their forest, with some cards being removed from play based on the number of players. This first expansion introduces 36 new multifunctional cards, including two new tree species, along with some changes to the base game rules.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Forest Shuffle: Alpine (Expansion)
    • 👥 2 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  16. Clank!: Catacombs

    The catacombs of the skeleton dragon Umbrok Vessna are mysterious and dangerous. Portals lead you through the depths of the dungeon, while shrines offer great riches to fearless explorers. Each trip into the catacombs is unique as you tile the dungeon layout, and you can play with the new dungeon deck or incorporate cards from previous games.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Clank!: Catacombs
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 - 90 Minutes
    • 🧒 13+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  17. Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game

    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.

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    More details for Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game
    • 👥 2 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 - 90 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  18. For Northwood! A Solo Trick-Taking Game

    • 👥 1 Players
    • ⏱️ 15 - 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  19. Slay the Spire: The Board Game

    The board-game adaptation of the popular deck-building video game. Craft a unique deck, discover powerful relics and climb the Spire together.

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 2.

    More details for Slay the Spire: The Board Game
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 - 150 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty
  20. Air, Land, & Sea

    Air, Land, & Sea is a strategic two-player game where you take on the role of a Supreme Commander, deploying military forces across three theaters of war: Air, Land, and Sea. The game is a delicate balance of power and cunning, requiring players to outmaneuver their opponent to control the majority of the theaters or compel them to withdraw.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Air, Land, & Sea
    • 👥 2 Players
    • ⏱️ 20 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  21. Hero Realms

    Hero Realms is a captivating, fantasy-themed deck-building game that builds on the mechanics of the highly acclaimed Star Realms. It offers a versatile gaming experience suitable for different player formats and styles.

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 1.

    More details for Hero Realms
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 20 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  22. My City

    My City is a groundbreaking competitive legacy game where players develop their own city across multiple epochs. This game uniquely blends city-building with the evolving challenges and narratives of a legacy format.

    Nominated for 12 awards and won 4.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2020

    More details for My City
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn

    Video reviews for My City

    • YouTube Review for the game "My City" by BoardGameGeek
      Video
  23. Rebirth

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2026

    More details for Rebirth
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  24. Lords of Waterdeep: Scoundrels of Skullport

    • Golden Geek+1Golden Geek
    • FantasyFantasy
    • Worker PlacementWorker Placement
    • Strategy GameStrategy Game
    • City BuildingCity Building
    • Large GroupsLarge Groups
    +1 more

    Scoundrels of Skullport adds rich, new dimensions to the popular board game Lords of Waterdeep with two complete expansions: Undermountain and Skullport. Each module brings unique gameplay elements, further immersing players in the depths of Waterdeep.

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 2.

    More details for Lords of Waterdeep: Scoundrels of Skullport
    • 👥 2 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty
  25. Cartographers Heroes

    • FantasyFantasy
    • Family GameFamily Game
    • Solo ModeSolo Mode
    • Simultaneous ActionSimultaneous Action
    • Take ThatTake That
    • Roll & WriteRoll & Write
    +7 more

    Cartographers Heroes embarks players on a new voyage through the storied Western Lands, enhancing the acclaimed formula of its predecessor with fresh challenges and dynamic elements. As royal cartographers, players are tasked with mapping these perilous territories, their efforts now intertwined with the valorous acts of heroes who stand against the encroaching Dragul forces. This sequel not only retains the beloved core mechanics of drawing and mapping but enriches the experience with innovative map sheets, scoring cards, and explore cards, all while introducing ambush cards that bring unique abilities into play.

    More details for Cartographers Heroes
    • 👥 1 - 100 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  26. 7 Wonders: Leaders (1st Expansion)

    • Golden Geek (nominated)Golden Geek (nominated)
    • Family GameFamily Game
    • CivilizationCivilization
    • Ancient WorldAncient World
    • Strategy GameStrategy Game
    • DraftingDrafting
    +2 more

    7 Wonders: Leaders enhances the base game of 7 Wonders with a fresh dynamic, adding 42 new cards including new guilds, a wonder, and a set of white "Leader" cards, enriching the gameplay with new strategic possibilities.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for 7 Wonders: Leaders (1st Expansion)
    • 👥 2 - 7 Players
    • ⏱️ 40 Minutes
    • 🧒 13+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  27. Battle Line

    Battle Line is a strategic card game that pits two opponents against each other with the aim of capturing flags by creating powerful formations.

    More details for Battle Line
    • 👥 2 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  28. Mindbug: First Contact

    Mindbug: First Contact is an innovative and strategic duel card game where players summon unique hybrid creatures to battle their opponent. However, the twist lies in the Mindbug cards, which can turn the tide of the game by allowing players to take control of an opponent's creature.

    Nominated for 6 awards.

    More details for Mindbug: First Contact
    • 👥 2 Players
    • ⏱️ 15 - 25 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  29. Lost Ruins of Arnak: Expedition Leaders (Expansion)

    • Golden Geek+2Golden Geek
    • Deck-BuildingDeck-Building
    • Worker PlacementWorker Placement
    • Solo ModeSolo Mode
    • AdventureAdventure
    • ExplorationExploration
    +2 more

    Lost Ruins of Arnak: Expedition Leaders is an expansion to the acclaimed board game Lost Ruins of Arnak. This expansion enhances the game by introducing six unique leaders, each with their own distinct abilities, skills, and starting decks. These leaders add new strategic dimensions and gameplay styles, allowing players to experience and explore the mysterious island of Arnak in different ways.

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 3.

    More details for Lost Ruins of Arnak: Expedition Leaders (Expansion)
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 - 120 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty
  30. Biblios

    Biblios is a strategic and competitive board game that immerses players in the role of abbots at a medieval monastery. The primary goal is to build the most impressive library of sacred texts, balancing resource management, strategic planning, and a bit of luck.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Biblios
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  31. Dune: Imperium

    Dune: Imperium is a strategic deck-building game inspired by the iconic Dune universe, incorporating elements from both the recent film adaptation and the classic novels. Players lead one of the Great Houses in the interstellar political landscape of the Landsraad.

    Nominated for 20 awards and won 8.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2022

    💰 5% cheaper on Amazon than at other retailers

    More details for Dune: Imperium
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty
  32. Planet Unknown

    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 11 awards and won 4.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2023

    More details for Planet Unknown
    • 👥 1 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 60 - 80 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  33. Looking for a really good game where children learn something 👩‍🎓? We have picked out the best educational games and made sure that they are fun despite all the learning.

    The best educational board, card & dice games 👩‍🎓 →

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