The best worker placement games 2024
Worker placement is a game mechanic for board games. We have selected the best worker placement games for you.
What are worker placement games?
Worker Placement is a game mechanic and also known as "drawing actions". The worker placement mechanism requires players to select individual actions from a set of actions available to all players. In general, players select actions one at a time and in order. There is generally a limit to the number of times a single action may be performed. Once this limit is reached for an action, it usually either becomes more expensive to perform again - or it cannot be performed for the rest of the round. Therefore, not all actions can be performed by all players in a given round, and "blocking" of the action occurs. If the game is structured in rounds, all actions are usually refreshed at the beginning or end of each round, so that they become available again.
Different variants of action-drawing Worker Placements.
Actions are usually selected by placing tiles or tokens on the selected actions. Each player usually has a limited number of tokens with which to participate in the process. Some games achieve the same effect in reverse: the round begins with action spaces filled with tokens that players claim for a fee.
The various professions gave the game its name
From a thematic point of view, the tiles that players use to design actions often represent workers in a particular occupation (but this category of mechanism is not necessarily limited to or by this thematic representation). In other words, players often "thematically place workers" to show which actions were designed by individual players. In Agricola, for example, each player starts with two pieces representing family members that can be placed on action spaces to gather resources or perform other actions such as building fences. When someone places a piece on a particular space, that action is no longer available until the next turn.
Examples of worker placement games
Keydom, released in 1998, is widely recognized as the first game of the worker placement genre. Early design experiments with this mechanism include Way Out West (2000) and Bus (1999). Well-known worker placement examples include Agricola (2007), Caylus (2005), and Stone Age (2008).
For more details on the topic, see the Wikipedia article on Worker Placement.
List of the best Worker Placement games 2024
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
More details for Dune: Imperium- 1 - 4 Players
- 60 - 120 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Medium difficulty
👍 Good price!Check for best price now at*PARKS
PARKS is a visually stunning board game that celebrates the beauty and splendor of U.S. National Parks. With artwork from Fifty-Nine Parks, this game offers players a unique blend of strategy and adventure as they embark on a journey through nature.
Nominated for 10 awards and won 2.
More details for PARKS- 1 - 5 Players
- 30 - 60 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
👍 Good price!Check for best price now at*Forgotten Waters
Forgotten Waters is a captivating board game that plunges players into the whimsical and unpredictable world of pirate adventure. Blending storytelling and strategy, this game stands out for its immersive narrative and engaging gameplay.
Nominated for 8 awards and won 2.
More details for Forgotten Waters- 3 - 7 Players
- 120 - 240 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Easy to learn
🔥 Great price!Check for best price now at*Lords of Waterdeep
Lords of Waterdeep immerses players in the vibrant and politically charged city of Waterdeep, the Crown Jewel of the Forgotten Realms. In this strategic board game designed for 2-5 players, you assume the identity of one of the enigmatic Lords of Waterdeep, the city's clandestine rulers. As a Lord, you'll navigate a web of intrigue and compete with other powerful figures to exert control over this remarkable city. Let's explore the game's key features:
Nominated for 9 awards and won 3.
More details for Lords of Waterdeep- 2 - 5 Players
- 60 - 120 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Easy to learn
Everdell
Everdell invites players to immerse themselves in the enchanting valley of Everdell, where a thriving civilization of forest critters seeks to expand their territories and establish new cities beneath towering trees, meandering streams, and mossy hollows. As the leader of a group of ambitious critters, you have a busy year ahead, filled with construction, character encounters, and hosting events. Can you ensure that the sun shines brightest on your city before the winter moon rises?
Nominated for 16 awards and won 7.
More details for Everdell- 1 - 4 Players
- 40 - 80 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Video reviews for Everdell
Lost Ruins of Arnak
Lost Ruins of Arnak is an adventurous board game that blends deck-building with worker placement, set on an unexplored island filled with remnants of an ancient civilization.
Nominated for 30 awards and won 14.
⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2021
More details for Lost Ruins of Arnak- 1 - 4 Players
- 30 - 120 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Medium difficulty
👍 Good price!Check for best price now at*Targi
Targi is a strategic board game set against the backdrop of the Tuareg culture in the desert. Players assume the roles of leaders of Tuareg tribes, engaging in trade and seeking to expand their families and influence.
Nominated for 5 awards and won 1.
⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2012
More details for Targi- 2 Players
- 60 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Easy to learn
👍 Good price!Check for best price now at*Video reviews for Targi
Viticulture Essential Edition
More details for Viticulture Essential EditionStep into the charming, rustic world of Viticulture Essential Edition, where players assume the roles of individuals in picturesque, pre-modern Tuscany. Inherit meager vineyards, a handful of plots, an aged crushpad, a quaint cellar, and three diligent workers. With dreams of making their wineries renowned successes, players embark on an unforgettable journey.
- 1 - 6 Players
- 45 - 90 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Raiders of the North Sea
Raiders of the North Sea is a vibrant board game set during the Viking Age, where players embody Viking warriors vying for the Chieftain's recognition through strategic raiding and resource management.
Nominated for 7 awards and won 3.
⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2017
More details for Raiders of the North Sea- 2 - 4 Players
- 60 - 80 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Dune: Imperium – Uprising
Nominated for 4 awards.
More details for Dune: Imperium – Uprising- 1 - 6 Players
- 60 - 120 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Under Falling Skies
Under Falling Skies is a solo board game with a focus on strategic defense against an alien invasion. It features a multi-mission campaign where players defend cities from extraterrestrial threats.
Nominated for 7 awards and won 4.
More details for Under Falling Skies- 1 Players
- 20 - 40 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Easy to learn
Flamecraft
In Flamecraft, you delve into a whimsical world where artisan dragons, smaller yet magically adept relatives of their larger kin, are the stars. As a Flamekeeper, your role is to communicate with these dragons, finding them the perfect shop to call home and using enchantments to coax them into creating marvelous things. Your success in aiding the dragons and shopkeepers boosts your reputation, with the goal of becoming the Master of Flamecraft.
Nominated for 11 awards and won 3.
More details for Flamecraft- 1 - 5 Players
- 60 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
👍 Good price!Check for best price now at*Stone Age
Stone Age catapults players into the challenging era of our ancestors, a time when survival hinged on the relentless pursuit of progress. In roles as hunters, collectors, farmers, and toolmakers, players will experience the hardships and triumphs of this prehistoric age. Here's an overview of the game:
Nominated for 22 awards and won 3.
⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2008
More details for Stone Age- 2 - 4 Players
- 60 - 90 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Video reviews for Stone Age
Fabled Fruit
Fabled Fruit is a unique and evolving board game set in a vibrant forest teeming with delectable fruits. Players find themselves in a race to gather and mix these fruits into the most delicious juices. As part of the innovative Fable game series, Fabled Fruit offers a dynamic gameplay experience that changes and evolves with each play, yet unlike legacy games, it can be reset and replayed from scratch without permanent alterations.
Nominated for 4 awards.
More details for Fabled Fruit- 2 - 5 Players
- 20 - 30 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Video reviews for Fabled Fruit
Champions of Midgard
Champions of Midgard is a Viking-themed board game that blends worker placement mechanics with dice rolling for combat. The game is set in a Norse harbor town besieged by mythical creatures, and players lead Viking clans to defend it and earn glory.
Nominated for 2 awards.
More details for Champions of Midgard- 2 - 4 Players
- 60 - 90 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Stone Age: Anniversary
- 2 - 4 Players
- 60 - 90 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Everdell: Collector's Edition
- 1 - 4 Players
- 40 - 80 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Tokaido
Tokaido is a beautifully designed board game where players embark on a journey across the "East sea road", one of Japan's most scenic routes. The essence of the game lies in experiencing the journey itself, with players encountering various events and collecting diverse items along the way.
Nominated for 5 awards.
More details for Tokaido- 2 - 5 Players
- 45 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Video reviews for Tokaido
Architects of the West Kingdom
In Architects of the West Kingdom, set against the backdrop of the late Carolingian Empire around 850 AD, players step into the roles of royal architects. Tasked with constructing important buildings and advancing the construction of the Archbishop's cathedral, this game uniquely combines resource management, worker placement, and moral choices into a rich strategic tableau. Players vie for the King's favor and maintain their noble status in a world where virtue and vice coexist.
Nominated for 17 awards and won 5.
More details for Architects of the West Kingdom- 1 - 5 Players
- 60 - 80 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Video reviews for Architects of the West Kingdom
Imhotep
Imhotep invites players into the ancient world of Egypt, where they compete as builders trying to leave their mark on history by constructing notable monuments.
Nominated for 7 awards and won 2.
⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2016
More details for Imhotep- 2 - 4 Players
- 40 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Istanbul
Istanbul is a strategic board game set in the bustling environment of Istanbul's grand bazaar, where players compete as merchants trying to outmaneuver their rivals to collect precious rubies.
Nominated for 11 awards and won 3.
⭐️ Kennerspiel des Jahres 2014
More details for Istanbul- 2 - 5 Players
- 40 - 60 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Video reviews for Istanbul
My Lil' Everdell
- 1 - 4 Players
- 30 - 60 Minutes
- 6+ years old
- Easy to learn
A Song of Ice & Fire: Tabletop Miniatures Game – Night's Watch Starter Set
- 2 Players
- 45 - 60 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Easy to learn
Pan Am
Pan Am is an engaging board game that immerses players in the era of pioneering air travel, where they compete to build and expand their own airline empires. The game cleverly integrates strategy, bidding, and economic elements, allowing players to navigate through the historical landscape of the aviation industry.
🔥 Deal: 44% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!
More details for Pan Am- 2 - 4 Players
- 60 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Easy to learn
🔥 Great price!Check for best price now at*The White Castle
Nominated for 12 awards and won 6.
More details for The White Castle- 1 - 4 Players
- 80 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Medium difficulty
👍 Good price!Check for best price now at*Mint Works
More details for Mint WorksMint Works is a compact and accessible worker placement board game, perfect for introducing new players to the genre and for gaming on the go. It stands out for its simplicity and portability, offering a straightforward yet engaging gameplay experience.
- 1 - 4 Players
- 10 - 20 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Easy to learn
Quadropolis
Quadropolis is a competitive city-building game where players strategically construct their own metropolises while vying for various urban structures like shops, parks, and public services. The game is characterized by its unique architect placement mechanic and the strategic allocation of resources.
Nominated for 6 awards.
More details for Quadropolis- 2 - 4 Players
- 30 - 60 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Video reviews for Quadropolis
Century: A New World
Century: A New World is the captivating final chapter in the acclaimed "Century" series by Emerson Matsuuchi. This installment transports players to the rich and uncharted territories of the Americas during the 16th century, offering a unique blend of strategy, exploration, and resource management.
Nominated for 1 award.
More details for Century: A New World- 2 - 4 Players
- 30 - 45 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Agricola: All Creatures Big and Small
Agricola: All Creatures Big and Small offers a specialized, two-player experience derived from the popular Agricola game, focusing exclusively on the aspect of animal husbandry.
Nominated for 6 awards and won 2.
More details for Agricola: All Creatures Big and Small- 2 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Easy to learn
Little Town
Little Town is a charming and strategic board game where players take on the roles of architects with the goal of developing their own little town over four rounds. Through careful placement of workers on the game board, players gather essential resources, construct buildings, and earn victory points. The game challenges players to make the most out of their workers each round, strategically planning to gather resources, and cleverly positioning themselves in relation to buildings for optimal gain.
Nominated for 4 awards.
More details for Little Town- 2 - 4 Players
- 30 - 60 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Didn't find the game you were looking for?
We're positive that you'll find it in one of our other lists! To make the search easier for you, we split our website into different categories. The following board game categories will help you find the right list: