Best Top 15 Eurogames of 2024: Ultimate Strategy Board Games
Hey, board game lovers! Jamie here, diving into the world of eurogames to bring you the 15 best picks for your gaming table. Eurogames, those strategy-heavy, often economically themed beauties, stole our hearts. We’re talking about games where you build empires from tiles, race across continents, manage farms, and even power cities. What do we look for? Innovation, fun, and the ability to make us obsess over our next move. Plus, we’ve played these with our friends to make sure they’re top-notch. Whether you’re new to eurogames or looking to expand your collection, we’ve got something for everyone. Let’s get strategic!
On this list:
15 Carcassonne
Kicking off our eurogames journey, we dove into Carcassonne, a tile-placement classic that turns us into landscape architects overnight. We lay down tiles to build cities, roads, and cloisters, aiming to dominate the medieval countryside. What makes this game a hit is its simplicity blended with strategic depth. The joy of claiming a massive city with a well-placed meeple is unmatched. Plus, it’s a fantastic gateway game for eurogame newbies!
14 Ticket to Ride
Next stop, Ticket to Ride! This game had us connecting cities with trains across America (or Europe, if you grab that version). It’s easy to learn but offers enough strategic choices to keep us on our toes. Collecting cards to claim routes before your friends do adds a competitive edge that’s just right. Not to mention, it’s another superb entry point into the world of eurogames.
13 Agricola
Ever dreamt of running your farm but without the actual dirt? Agricola lets us do just that, with more sheep and vegetables than you can count. It’s a complex game of resource management and strategy, challenging us to balance food production with building a cozy farm. We learned the hard way that neglecting your family’s food needs leads to a points penalty. This game rewards planning and adaptability, hallmark traits of a solid eurogame.
12 Puerto Rico
In Puerto Rico, we stepped into the shoes of colonial governors on the quest for economic supremacy through crop cultivation and city building. Turns feel like a puzzle as we select roles to maximize our gains while also potentially benefiting our opponents. It’s a balancing act of strategy that had us hooked, showcasing the depth that eurogames offer.
11 Power Grid
Power Grid turned us into power moguls, fiercely competing to supply cities with electricity. The auction mechanic for power plants, combined with the fluctuating resource market, ensures that no two games are alike. It’s a game of efficiency and adaptability, pushing us to think ahead and outmaneuver our friends. A clever blend of economics and strategy that’s electrifyingly fun!
10 Dominion
Dominion, the granddaddy of deck-building games, had us starting with a few measly coins and estates, aiming to expand our dominion. The satisfaction of crafting a well-oiled card combo engine is sheer bliss. Each game feels fresh with the vast variety of card combinations, making it a game we return to time and again. A true testament to the inventiveness of eurogames.
9 7 Wonders
Building wonders of the world has never been as accessible and fun as in 7 Wonders. This game introduced us to drafting, where we pass around cards to select the ones that best fit our strategy. It’s fast-paced, scales well with the number of players, and every game feels like a new challenge. Plus, it’s a great lesson in ancient history, packaged as a competitive game of resource management!
8 Stone Age
In Stone Age, we went back in time to live as prehistoric people, striving for survival through resource gathering and tool making. It’s a dice-rolling game that combines luck and strategy beautifully. Deciding whether to go for food, resources, or building is a constant dilemma. Plus, it’s a great way to introduce worker placement mechanics to newbies in the world of eurogames.
7 Terra Mystica
Terra Mystica had us embody different factions, each with unique abilities, terraforming the landscape to our advantage. The depth of strategy, from managing resources to expanding territory, is immense. It’s a game with no luck element, meaning every victory or defeat is down to skill. This complexity and the satisfaction of a well-executed plan make it a standout in the eurogames genre for those ready for a deeper challenge.
6 The Castles of Burgundy
The Castles of Burgundy let us dive into estate building in the lush valleys of medieval France. It’s all about strategic tile placement, resource management, and making the best out of your dice rolls. The gameplay is smooth yet complex, offering a satisfying puzzle that feels rewarding to solve. It’s a shining example of what makes eurogames so engaging.
5 Scythe
Scythe transported us to an alternate 1920s universe, where mechs and agriculture coexist. It blends resource management, area control, and strategy seamlessly. The artwork and components are breathtaking, but it’s the deep, strategic gameplay that truly wowed us. Each faction offers a different play style, demanding adaptability and foresight. Scythe is a heavyweight in the eurogame category that always delivers a memorable table experience.
4 Concordia
Concordia had us stepping into the sandals of Roman merchants, trading goods across the ancient Mediterranean. It’s a card-driven game that’s deceptively simple but rich in strategy. The harmony of planning and flexibility needed to win is what sets this game apart. It’s a game that grows on you, revealing more depth with each play, exemplifying the eurogames’ appeal of strategic depth without overcomplication.
3 Brass: Birmingham
Brass: Birmingham thrust us into the industrial revolution, challenging us to build networks, develop industries, and navigate the fluctuating market. It’s a masterpiece of economic strategy and competition, demanding careful planning and cunning. The satisfaction of seeing your industrial empire flourish due to smart decisions is unparalleled. It’s a complex game that rewards strategic thinking and adaptability, making it a must-play for serious eurogame enthusiasts.
2 Wingspan
Wingspan had us bird enthusiasts building aviaries in a beautifully illustrated, competitive yet peaceful game of bird collection. It’s a card-driven, engine-building game that’s as educational as it is fun. The unique theme, combined with deep strategic gameplay, makes it accessible yet captivating for both newcomers and veterans of eurogames. It’s a breath of fresh air in the genre, proving that games can be both beautiful and brainy.
1 Catan
And finally, crowning our list, is none other than Catan. It’s the quintessential eurogame that has introduced countless players to the genre. Trading, building, and blocking roads, Catan is a perfect balance of strategy and interaction. Its simplicity makes it accessible, but it’s the endless strategies that keep us coming back for more. It’s the game that defined eurogames for a generation, blending competitive and cooperative elements seamlessly. This is why we chose it as our top pick!
