11 Best Custom Board Games of 2024 Reviewed
The 11 Best Custom Board Games for a Personalized Play Experience
On this list:
11 Kingdom Death: Monster
This game is a deep and immersive experience. It allows players to create and customize their own characters. From crafting weapons to upgrading gear, every playthrough feels different. It’s on the intense side, so not for the faint-hearted, but for those who love a challenge, this game is a fantastic pick.
10 Gloomhaven
Gloomhaven is a widely acclaimed game where you can customize your character’s skills and abilities as you progress. The story-driven campaign keeps you hooked. With tons of scenarios and branching storylines, it’s a game you could play for years.
9 Scythe
Scythe offers a unique mix of strategy and customization. Players control different factions and can develop their territories differently through upgrades and resource management. The game’s beautiful artwork and detailed minis make it a visual treat.
8 Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy
Eclipse lets you build massive fleets and colonize the galaxy. Customizable tech trees and ship upgrades allow for diverse strategies each game. It offers a good balance of strategy, exploration, and combat.
7 Charterstone
Charterstone is a legacy game that evolves over multiple sessions. Players customize their own village, and decisions made in one game affect future ones. It’s a great mix of worker placement and city-building.
6 Xia: Legends of a Drift System
Xia is a sandbox style game where you can choose to be a merchant, pirate, or anything in-between. The game is highly modular, allowing for tons of customization. The open-ended nature gives you freedom to explore and create your own path.
5 Western Empires
Western Empires offers deep, strategic gameplay with a civilization-building theme, similar to Sid Meier’s Civilization: A New Dawn. It features customizable elements and epic scale.
4 Terraforming Mars
In Terraforming Mars, players customize their corporations and strategies to make Mars habitable. With different cards and project combinations, each game presents new challenges. It’s a strategic gem that rewards long-term planning.
3 Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated
Mixing the popular deck-building game Clank! with a legacy format, you get to customize your game board and character as you play. The humor and story elements keep everyone engaged.
2 Roll Player
This dice-based board game lets you create and customize your own characters. Whether you’re adjusting your stats or buying equipment, it’s a fun take on the character-building process.
1 Root
Root stands out due to its asymmetrical gameplay. Each faction has its own unique abilities and strategies. The customization comes in how you develop and use your faction’s strengths. The interplay between factions makes every game a new experience.
0 Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition
We saved the best for last. Twilight Imperium is the granddaddy of custom board games. The sheer scope of customization in this game is mind-boggling. You can customize your faction, ships, and strategies in an epic galactic battle that can last an entire day. If you’re looking for the ultimate in-depth experience, this is it.
