The word ‘strategy’ is used in many different contexts, so we often find it in the board game world. So when we talk about ‘Strategy Board Games’, what do we mean?
At its heart, strategy is about having a long term plan to achieve a goal, unlike a tactic, which is used to solve a shorter term problem. So, a strategic board game is a game that requires players to formulate a long term plan. It will use skill, planning, and solid decision-making rather than relying on chance-based mechanics like dice rolling or card drawing games. A strategy board game may require players to think multiple turns ahead, planning moves carefully to mastermind a victory. When we think of strategy games, we often think of games with complexity and some decision tree mechanics.
Strategy games often require resource management that must be managed throughout the game to achieve victory. Often, key strategies revolve around acquiring and using limited resources to achieve your aims. This could be currency, materials or even units in the game.
These games are often highly competitive and will combine the creation of personal strategy and the ability to adapt and respond to opponents as you vie for victory.
The roots of the modern strategy game can be found in ancient abstract games such as the Egyptian game Senet (3100BCE) believed to be a race game of two players racing to the afterlife. In the middle ages games like Chess became popular with nobility in around 600CE. War games came onto the scene in the 1800s, then later in the 1950s French filmmaker Albert Lamorisse designed Risk. For many of us a gateway game into the strategy / wargame world as children!
If you want to read more about the history of board games, you can find an interesting article here - The History of board games
On this page, we will showcase some of the most popular strategy board games, give you some things to think about when buying a new strategy game and answer some popular FAQs for the category. There is more information available on our blog covering different types of board games.
Top Picks for 2024
If you are looking for inspiration, here are some of the games we’re most excited about in 2024:
-Undaunted 2200 Callisto - The award-winning Undaunted series takes to the stars: build your decks, ready your mechs, and battle for dominance over the bleak, resource-rich moon of Callisto.
-Wyrmspan - Wyrmspan is inspired by the mechanics of Wingspan though they have added more than 16 new unique elements to this brilliant game. In Wyrmspan, you will design a sanctuary for dragons of all kinds. You start with 3 spaces that you have already dug out—the first space in your Crimson Cavern, your Golden Grotto, and your Amethyst Abyss. As the game progresses, you will dig more spaces in your sanctuary and attract dragons to live there, triggering powerful effects and gaining the respect of the Dragon Guild. You can read our full review of Wyrmspan here.
-Daybreak - Daybreak is a cooperative board game about stopping climate change. It presents a hopeful vision of the near future, where you get to build the mind-blowing technologies and resilient societies we need to save the planet. You can read our full review of Daybreak here.
-Dune Imperium Uprising - Uprising is a stand-alone expansion that expands on Dune: Imperium's blend of deck-building and worker placement. Continue to balance military might with political intrigue, wielding new tools to pursue victory. Spies will shore up your plans. Vital contracts will expand your resources. Or learn the ways of the Fremen and ride mighty sandworms into battle! You can read our full review of Dune Imperium: Uprising here.
-Slay The Spire - Slay the Spire: The Board Game is a cooperative deck-building adventure. Craft a unique deck, encounter bizarre creatures, discover relics of immense power, and finally become strong enough to slay the Spire!
-Gloomhaven Buttons and Bugs - Buttons & Bugs gives you the same deep strategy combat of Gloomhaven but in a fraction of the size. Its compact footprint and streamlined system mean you can set up and play a scenario in under 20 minutes, and it fits on your coffee table or even an aeroplane tray table!
-Arcs - Arcs is a sharp sci-fi strategy game for 2–4 players, set in a dark yet silly universe. Ready yourself for dramatic twists and turns as you launch into this galactic struggle. Seize the initiative, declare ambitions, and crush your foes.
-Lord of the Rings Duel for Middle-earth - You’ll have to choose sides in the Duel for Middle-earth. Play as the Fellowship of the Ring, prevent the Enemy from gaining ground and destroy the One Ring. Or play as Sauron and send your Nazgûls after Sam and Frodo, spreading your hordes over enemy cities. The fate of Middle-earth is in your hands!
Strategy Board Games Buying Guide
When choosing a strategy board game, it is essential to think about who you are gaming with - whatever the board game category, this is always the most important thing to consider. The Strategy board game category is broad and varied, so it's good to know whether you are looking for a game with a strong theme, a focus on conflict or more indirect player interaction with firm mechanics.
Complexity is also significant to think about. Some strategy games can be incredibly complicated and will need more investment from your gaming group. BoardGameGeek gives you a helpful representation of complexity by giving each game a weighted score out of 5, with 5 being the most complex of games. Strategy games do not need to be deeply complicated to be great, so look for what works for you, not what others may consider the right strategy game. Depth, complexity and length of game time can vary so check this out first. Twilight Imperium represents a fantastic space 4X game for many, but do you have 8 hours and a group who will commit to a significant game experience?
Finally if you are looking for a complex strategy game, do some research! Often these games can be quite an investment, so spend some time looking at board game reviews and playthroughs. Shut Up & Sit Down provide great and entertaining board game content, whilst Watch It Played is a great place to see tutorials and help your group learn a new game.
