Top 11 Best Drafting Board Games of 2024 Reviewed
Who doesn’t love a good game night with pals, especially when it’s chilly outside? Now, if drafting’s your jam, we’ve got a treat for ya! Drafting board games are where it’s at for us because they bring that perfect mix of strategy, surprise, and downright fun. We looked for games that balance easy-to-grasp rules with enough depth to keep things spicy game after game. So, whether you’re into building ancient wonders, crafting the most appealing sushi platter, or terraforming Mars, we’ve handpicked games that promise a boatload of fun. Let’s get the party started with these top drafting picks!
On this list:
11 Fairy Tile
Kicking off our list, we stumbled upon Fairy Tile at a friend’s party. It’s a lightweight drafting game that tells a story as you play. You draft cards to move characters around a kingdom, trying to match setups on your story cards. It’s like drafting your own fairy tale. Plus, its simplicity makes it a hit for those new to drafting mechanics.
10 Sushi Go!
Sushi Go! is the perfect appetizer for drafting games. It’s quick to learn and deliciously fun. We laughed so much trying to grab the best combo of sushi dishes as they whizzed by. It introduces drafting in such a smooth, understandable way, making it great for families and casual game nights.
9 7 Wonders
7 Wonders is a classic that had to be on our list. It scales beautifully from 3 to 7 players, making it super versatile. You’re building an ancient civilization through drafting cards that can skyrocket your science, bolster your military, or stack your coin. It’s a little more complex, but oh-so rewarding once you get the hang of it.
8 Blood Rage
This one’s for the Viking in all of us. In Blood Rage, you draft cards to build up your Viking tribe before going into battle. What makes it stand out is how drafting affects your strategy in combat and pillaging. It’s a heavier game, but it’s epic once you dive into… I mean, once you start playing.
7 Draftosaurus
We couldn’t believe how much strategy was packed into such a cute game. Draftosaurus has you drafting dinosaur meeples to place in your personal zoo. The challenge? Each area of your zoo has specific placement rules. It’s accessible, quick, and those dino meeples are just adorable. A must-try for a light, family-friendly drafting experience.
6 Terraforming Mars
Terraforming Mars is a beast of a drafting game where you’re working to make Mars livable. The card drafting here is intense, with each card offering various paths towards victory. The depth of strategy involved in choosing cards and when to play them blew our minds. It’s a longer game, but every minute is packed with decision-making.
5 Azul
Azul is a drafting game that’s more about tiles than cards. It’s beautifully simple yet deep in strategy. You draft colored tiles to create patterns on your board, trying not to waste any pieces. It might sound easy, but the decision-making can get super tense. We found it to be a perfect blend of relaxing and brain-burning.
4 Inis
Inis is an incredible mix of drafting, area control, and card management. You’re drafting cards that allow you to expand your tribes, move around, or even mess with your opponents. The artwork is stunning, and the drafting mechanic feels like a fresh take in the genre. It’s strategic, it’s thematic, and every playthrough feels like a new adventure.
3 Wingspan
Wingspan isn’t just a game; it’s an experience. You draft bird cards into your wildlife preserves, each with unique powers that chain off one another. The drafting is seamless, blending perfectly with the engine-building aspect of the game. It’s stunningly illustrated and wonderfully educational. For us, it’s a game that gets better with every play.
2 Dominion
Dominion is the granddaddy of deck-building, a cousin to drafting, and it’s a blast. Every game starts with a common pool of cards that players draw from to build their personal decks. The combos you can create are mind-blowing. It’s like crafting your drafting strategy on the fly, which keeps every game fresh and exciting.
1 Spirit Island
At the top of our list, Spirit Island stands tall. Why? Because it flips the script on typical drafting mechanics. Instead of competing for resources, you’re co-operatively drafting powers to protect your island from invaders. It’s a game that combines deep strategy, collaboration, and thematic richness. The way drafting integrates into the larger game mechanics is pure genius. Every session is a nail-biting, brain-teasing adventure. It’s our top pick for its innovative use of drafting in a co-op format, making it a unique gem among board games.
