10 Best Economic Board Games to Play in 2026
We love economic board games. They mix trading, strategy, and fun. Perfect for new players who want to build their money empire.
Top 10 Economic Board Games for New Players Who Love Money Moves
If you get a kick out of counting your cash and crushing your friends at trading, you’re in the right place. We’ve gathered the 10 best economic board games that are perfect for both newbies and old pros. When picking games for this list, we focused on clear rules, fun money systems, and the kind of deals that make you feel like a genius—or a broke potato. Whether you love bidding, building, or outsmarting your pals, you’ll find something special here. Welcome to the world of economic board games!
On this list:
10 Power Grid
We played Power Grid and wow, the tension was real. This economic board game puts you in charge of building a power network. You’ll get sweaty palms as you bid against friends for power plants, buy resources, and figure out how to outsmart everyone at the table. We still bring up the time Dave bought all the coal and left us weeping over our useless plants. It’s a great starter for anyone new to economic games, easy to learn, and yet every match feels different. You’ll learn a lot about supply, demand, and why friends suddenly become arch-enemies when oil runs out.
9 Acquire
Acquire is the economic board game for anyone who likes to yell, ‘Buy low, sell high!’ across the table. We all got obsessed with mergers and stocks in this game—one friend even wore a tie for the occasion. You build hotel chains, buy shares, and sometimes sabotage your buddy’s plans with a well-timed merger. It’s fast, slightly chaotic, and perfect for players who like a bit of luck blended with clever choices. Prepare to argue about who is really the richest person in the room. Spoiler: it’s never the loudest.
8 Brass: Birmingham
If you ever wanted to pretend you’re an industrial tycoon from the olden days, Brass: Birmingham is the economic board game for you. We spent hours building and selling coal, iron, beer, and various factories, all while doing bad English accents. This game packs tons of strategy, and we kept changing our plans as markets shifted. No two games felt the same. Expect backstabbing, clever trading, and a wild ride through the Industrial Revolution. It’s a bit complex at first, but the replay value is massive. Just remember, friends may leave with a fake British accent.
7 Food Chain Magnate
Food Chain Magnate proves that running a fast food empire isn’t just about fries. It’s an economic board game packed with quirky humor and sharp elbows. We fought over burger recipes, crashed each other’s marketing plans, and learned that being ruthless is key. Between hiring staff and stealing customers, it got intense—one friend hid the ketchup in real life. This game takes a bit of time to set up and learn, but once you get going, you’ll laugh, plot, and probably end up hungry for pizza after.
6 Le Havre
Le Havre is the economic board game we love for its deep strategy mixed with simple actions. One minute you’re building a shipping empire, the next you’re hoarding bread and fish like a seagull. There’s a ton to do: build ships, construct buildings, and try not to starve. Every turn feels important, and the stress when you can’t feed your workers is hilarious—unless you’re the one with no food. This game rewards planning, but there’s plenty of room for sneaky moves and last-minute saves.
5 1846: The Race for the Midwest
1846: The Race for the Midwest is a train game, but with more spreadsheets and less soot. We got hooked on buying railroads, running companies, and sabotaging each other’s profits at every turn. It’s a classic economic board game that rewards smart investments and wise timing. We ended up arguing about route planning for days. If you love economic games and don’t mind a few heated debates with friends, this one’s a must. Be prepared for a longer game and occasional ‘analysis paralysis’.
4 The Estates
The Estates is the economic board game for those who like their auctions trashy and unpredictable. We’ve laughed, groaned, and thrown fake money around as we tried to build the city—or sink everyone else’s chances. Every game is full of risky moves, bold bluffs, and hilarious betrayals. If you like watching your friends lose everything over a single bad bid, this is it. It’s easy to learn, quick to play, and always ends with someone demanding a rematch.
3 Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization
We picked Through the Ages because, like Civilization, it challenges you to build an empire from humble beginnings to greatness, juggling economy, science, and military. We had epic moments of famine, war, and the occasional shouting match over who stole whose leader.
2 Container
Container is an economic board game that takes shipping to a whole new level. We went from broke to billionaires (and back) faster than you can say ‘freight’. The game is pure economy: produce, ship, and auction goods, but don’t get tricked into selling too early. It’s simple to learn but full of tricky choices. Everyone gets a chance to be the villain, and the auction phase is worth the price of admission alone. Be ready for some wild swings and laugh-out-loud moments.
1 Terraforming Mars
Terraforming Mars is our pick for the best economic board game. Why? Because we never get tired of it. You’re corporations working together (and competing!) to make Mars habitable, but underneath all that science is a serious economic engine. We’ve each tried different paths—plant-moguls, mining-tycoons, energy barons—and every game goes off the rails in new ways. It blends engine-building, resource management, mean card combos, and a little luck. It’s easy to learn but keeps us coming back for years. If you want one must-have economic game that balances theme, depth, and pure fun, this is it.
