Best Collection Board Games 2026: Top 10 Reviewed
Looking for the best collection board games? We played tons and picked our favorites to help you start your own epic collection!
Top 10 Collection Board Games: Our Must-Try Picks for New Players
Finding the best collection board games can feel harder than finding matching socks after laundry day. We focus on games that bring out the fun in gathering sets, easy rules, and quick setup. Our list spotlights games with engaging themes and lots of replay value. Whether you love building trains, collecting birds, or stacking colorful tiles, our picks help new players discover collection board games that keep everyone at the table laughing, thinking, and maybe stealing a card or two. Get ready for some friendly competition and heaps of fun!
On this list:
10 Splendor
Splendor shines in the world of collection board games. You play as a wealthy Renaissance merchant, but honestly, we just pretend to be jewel-crazed raccoons. You collect gems, buy cards and flex your shiny engine-building skills. It’s simple, fast to learn, and perfect for introducing new folks to this type of game. We’ve played this on a Friday night, and it didn’t melt any brains, but it tickled our collecting itch. The best part? You feel richer than you actually are. We call that cheap therapy.
9 Ticket to Ride
Ticket to Ride is like collecting train routes while plotting to block your friends. We once lost a lifelong friendship over a single Seattle-Vancouver connection. It’s that good. You collect sets of colored cards to claim railways across a map, racing against others for routes. It’s easy to teach, so grandma can join, just don’t let her win or she’ll bring it up every Christmas. A timeless classic in collection board games, with satisfying cardboard trains.
8 Azul
Azul is the only time tiling walls felt like a competitive sport. You collect colorful tiles to build patterns on your player board. It’s simple, but you’ll want to smack your friends when they mess up your perfect score. In our group, the person who wins Azul gets to pick snacks for next game night. Collection board games don’t get much prettier than this one, and it’s perfect for anyone who hates math, but loves pretty tiles.
7 Sushi Go!
Sushi Go! turns sushi into a fast and adorable card drafting game. You collect sets of sashimi and pudding, but forget to grab chopsticks and you’ll regret it later. We once played this waiting for actual sushi, and our stomachs were grumbling as much as our table. It’s super fast and everyone can pick up the rules after a round. If you want collection board games that cause playful food envy, this is your stop.
6 Century: Spice Road
Century: Spice Road makes us feel like spice traders crossing deserts, except with fewer camels and more table snacks. You collect spices and trade them for points, managing your hand with the grace of a caffeinated octopus. It’s quick to set up, and new players get the hang of it in no time. If you want collection board games with a dash of strategy and a sprinkle of luck, you can’t go wrong here.
5 Seven Wonders
Seven Wonders is the king of card drafting and collection board games. You collect cards to build your ancient city, but don’t get too distracted or you’ll run out of bricks for your wonder. The first time we played, we spent more time reading the symbols than actually playing the game. Once you get it, games are smooth and fast. It’s best with more players, and scoring feels like math homework, but with better bragging rights.
4 Wingspan
Wingspan lets you collect birds and pretend to be a fancy birdwatcher. We once spent half the game just admiring the art on the cards. You build up habitats, collect eggs and make food chains, which is much better than real birdwatching (no bug bites). It’s got tons of replay value, and it’s one of the prettiest collection board games out there. Plus, you pick up bird facts to annoy your friends later.
3 Point Salad
Point Salad is a set collection board game about making salad, and yes, it’s more fun than eating one. You draft veggie cards and scoring cards, and the mix changes every round. It’s fast, easy, and things can get cutthroat when someone grabs your precious tomatoes. In our games, we always end with a debate about what counts as a real salad. It’s a fresh, light-hearted choice for new players searching for collection board games.
2 Quacks of Quedlinburg
Quacks of Quedlinburg jumps into the wild side of collection board games, letting you brew potions by pulling ingredients from a bag. It’s chaotic fun, and our potions exploded more times than we’d like to admit. It’s got a great mix of luck and strategy, and the push-your-luck mechanic keeps everyone on their toes. If you like a little risk with your collecting, and don’t mind the giggles when things explode, this one’s a hit.
1 Set
Set is the boss of collection board games and our top pick. You race to collect sets of shapes and colors quicker than anyone else. We’ve ruined friendships and spilled drinks on this fast-paced game. It’s brain-meltingly simple: find three cards that form a ‘set’, shout it out, and watch your friends squint and groan. It’s pure, unfiltered collection joy and perfect for all ages and groups. Set is easy to bring anywhere, plays in minutes, and never gets old – that’s why it’s the best.
