11 Best Action Point Allowance System Board Games Ranked

Discover the finest board games offering meticulous balance of strategy and theme with Action Point Allowance Systems.
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Dominion coverEldritch Horror coverAgricola cover

Hey fellow board game enthusiasts! When assembling our top list for ‘The 11 best Action Point Allowance System board games’, we’ve rolled the dice, so to speak, to ensure we bring you a diverse array of high-quality games that leverage the mechanic in exciting ways. Each game on our list was handpicked based on its strategic depth, thematic integration of the action points, and the uniqueness each brings to your table. Whether you’re plotting out your moves on a desolate island or casting spells in a mystical land, these games have been put through their paces at many of our game nights, providing countless hours of challenging fun.

Games on this list:

11 Dominion

Dominion cover

  • Age Range: 13+
  • Players: 2-4
  • Play Time: 30-45 mins

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We started off with Dominion, a trendsetter for the deck-building genre that cleverly integrates the Action Point Allowance System. It’s always a blast deciding how to spend our limited actions to build the most efficient deck and manage resources. Plus, the vast array of expansion sets keeps the game fresh and intensely replayable.

10 Eldritch Horror

Eldritch Horror cover

  • Age Range: 14+
  • Players: 1-8
  • Play Time: 120-240 mins

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Delving into the lore of H.P. Lovecraft’s universe, Eldritch Horror offers us teamwork-fueled expeditions where decision-making on how to allot our actions impacts the global quest against the Ancient Ones. The thematic encounters and rich storytelling elements ensure that each game night is a memorable one.

9 Agricola

Agricola cover

  • Age Range: 12+
  • Players: 1-5
  • Play Time: 30-150 mins

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In Agricola, we’re challenged to manage a farm and grow our family, all while laboring under the scrutiny of a tight action economy. The need to balance food supply with farm development crafts a deeply engaging strategic experience that resonates strongly with fans of worker placement and resource management.

8 Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island

Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island cover

  • Age Range: 14+
  • Players: 1-4
  • Play Time: 60-120 mins

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Like setting foot on a treacherous but exhilarating island, playing Robinson Crusoe throws us into survival scenarios that tug at every decision-making fiber. The breadth of actions and how we allocate them directly translate into our success or failures in this thematic gem. Plus, the game tells a captivating story with every playthrough.

7 The 7th Continent

The 7th Continent cover

  • Age Range: 14+
  • Players: 1-4
  • Play Time: 5-1000 mins

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Exploring The 7th Continent gives us a sense of adventure and mystery like no other. Navigating its vast card-based system depending on how we spend our actions leads to surprising discoveries and intense survival situations. Each choice on using actions affects our long-term journey through the cursed lands.

6 Le Havre

Le Havre cover

  • Age Range: 12+
  • Players: 1-5
  • Play Time: 30-150 mins

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The waterside game of Le Havre allows us to step into the shoes of a harbor master, smartly utilizing actions to construct buildings and ships. We get hooked on its clever economic intricacies and careful planning requirements, all nestled within the compelling Action Point Allowance System. Its depth through simple mechanics keeps us coming back.

5 Arkham Horror: The Card Game

Arkham Horror: The Card Game cover

  • Age Range: 14+
  • Players: 1-2
  • Play Time: 60-120 mins

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Sketching out our next move in Arkham Horror: The Card Game often feels like tiptoeing along the edge of a dark abyss. It isn’t just about our personal enjoyment; choosing which actions to perform also sets the scene for storytelling that engulfs the entire gaming group in a Lovecraftian atmosphere.

4 Mage Knight Board Game

Mage Knight Board Game cover

  • Age Range: 14+
  • Players: 1-4
  • Play Time: 60-240 mins

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We plunge into the fantasy realm with every session of Mage Knight Board Game. Every action point is both a valuable resource and a tough decision; balancing exploration, fighting and spell casting on a personal puzzle that is satisfying to solve. It’s an immersive and complex adventure each time the box opens.

3 Pandemic

Pandemic cover

  • Age Range: 8+
  • Players: 2-4
  • Play Time: 45-60 mins

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Alleviating global diseases in Pandemic isn’t only about the satisfaction that comes from saving the world; it’s how we meticulously plan our four actions per turn that creates the tension and team spirit we love. Every game is a tight scramble of action economy, strategy, and cooperation.

2 Spirit Island

Spirit Island cover

  • Age Range: 13+
  • Players: 1-4
  • Play Time: 90-120 mins

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We are captivated by the unique twist Spirit Island brings to cooperative gameplay, as we become powerful spirits protecting the island. Action Point management isn’t just a mechanic here; it embodies the spirits’ growing influence and our struggles against the invaders, making it as thematic as it is strategic.

1 Gloomhaven

Gloomhaven cover

  • Age Range: 14+
  • Players: 1-4
  • Play Time: 60-120 mins

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Topping our list as the best Action Point Allowance System board game is none other than Gloomhaven. Its combination of tight action mechanics with strategic combat and an ongoing campaign offers an unparalleled gaming saga. We’ve spent countless game nights engrossed in its challenging puzzles and character progression, making every action count in the perilous realm of Gloomhaven.

Jamie in his proper element: With all of his board games
Jamie Hopkins

With years of dice-rolling, card-flipping, and strategic planning under my belt, I've transformed my passion into expertise. I thrive on dissecting the mechanics and social dynamics of board games, sharing insights from countless game nights with friends. I dive deep into gameplay mechanics, while emphasizing the social joys of gaming. While I appreciate themes and visuals, it's the strategy and camaraderie that truly capture my heart.