Best 9 Economic Board Games of 2025 Reviewed
Looking to flex your financial muscles in a fun setting? We’ve got our hands on the top 9 economic board games for your next game night. These picks focus on deep strategy, interactive gameplay, and a splash of fun. Whether you’re building empires, trading resources, or sneaking a few cheeky moves past your friends, we’ve got something for everyone. We carefully selected games that balance complexity with entertainment, ensuring both new players and seasoned gamers have a blast. So, get ready to manage money, resources, and your friends’ trust as you conquer the world of economic board games!
On this list:
9 Power Grid
Once we got the hang of spinning dials and flipping switches in Power Grid, we were hooked. It’s like Monopoly grew up, put on a tie, and decided to make real cash. You don’t just play with play money; you juggle actual resources like coal and trash. Watching your friends outbid each other in auctions? Priceless! Power Grid is for those who enjoy a little competitive elbowing while balancing a budget.
8 Terraforming Mars
Oh, Terraforming Mars. It’s like Space Monopoly, but with a green thumb! We spent hours making Mars habitable, launching rockets, planting forests, and making lakes. The game is all about strategy. You need to plan and invest wisely, while others might sneakily snatch your plans. It gives brain cells a good workout, all with an economic twist!
7 Brass: Birmingham
If you can handle a few coal-stained fingers, Brass: Birmingham is a gem. We felt like Victorian tycoons, strategically building and trading. The market is dynamic, and there’s loads of interaction. It’s got complexity without being a headache. Factories rise and fall, like friendships over money. One wrong move can lead to domino effects that keep us laughing or crying!
6 Viticulture
If sipping wine and running a vineyard is your jam, Viticulture is your game. We found ourselves transported to Tuscany, managing workers, planting vines, and filling orders. The blend of economy and strategy is delightful. It’s all about deciding when to sell, when to grow, and when to taste. The game brings the romanticism of winemaking right to the table.
5 Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico has us debating economic strategies with a tropical flavor. Each player takes on the role of a colonial governor managing plantations and shipping goods. We loved the decision-making and the balance of roles. The economic mechanics are strong and the game feels fresh each time. It’s a head-to-head competition, and we love every moment of it!
4 Food Chain Magnate
Warning: You may suddenly crave burgers. We built fast food empires while sabotaging each other like kids in a candy shop. It’s a cutthroat game where economic strategies rule. Hire the right staff and build the best marketing strategy. Food Chain Magnate can become the highlight of the night with its quirky humor and tough economics.
3 The Estates
Shady deals and bidding wars – all in the name of real estate! The Estates put us in the shoes of greedy developers in an economy-driven land grab. The thrill is in the auctions and shifty alliances. You never know which building will be worth the most. This game is a short and ruthless economic battleground where planning and deception rule.
2 Monopoly: Cheaters Edition
Monopoly, but with a twist! Cheaters Edition had us giggling as rules slipped through the cracks. The developers leaned into what the game has always been: an economic mess. We loved the chaos of trying to sneak cash while avoiding the plastic handcuffs. It’s the same old Monopoly madness with a hilarious take on economic chaos.
1 Catan
Catan takes the biscuit for the top spot. We can’t get enough of the wheeling and dealing, trading sheep for brick with a shifty eye on other players’ settlements. It is the game that brought economic intrigue to family nights everywhere. Easy to learn but hard to master, Catan has something for everyone. The mix of luck and skill keeps it exciting and fresh each time. There’s always that one friend who bargains their way into victory!
