Strategy board games are games where your choices, not luck, decide who wins. Good first picks are Ticket to Ride, Azul, Splendor and Carcassonne, while Chess and Go are the classics. Most fall into four kinds: abstract, economic or engine building, area control and deck building.
The real question isn't which strategy game is best. It's which kind suits the people at your table. A group that loves quiet puzzles wants something different from a group that loves bluffing and fighting over a map. The sections below sort the main kinds, compare popular games side by side and give you a simple way to teach one.
The main kinds of strategy game
Abstract strategy games
Abstract games have little or no theme. They're about pure decisions on a board, and luck is low or absent. Chess and Go are the oldest and best known. Azul is a newer, colourful tile-drafting game that feels abstract too. If you want to start with the classics, my guide to free offline chess board games for Android is a handy place to practise.
Economic and engine-building games
In these games you build something that grows stronger over time, such as a collection of cards that produces more resources each turn. Splendor, Wingspan and Terraforming Mars are the popular examples. You're mostly racing your own plan rather than attacking other players, which makes them friendly for people who dislike direct conflict.
Area control games
Area control games are about claiming and holding spaces on a map or board. Risk, Small World and Carcassonne all live here, though they feel very different. Risk is open conflict with dice, Small World is a squeezed map where your tribe's power fades, and Carcassonne is a gentle tile-laying game where you claim roads, cities and fields.
Deck-building games
In a deck builder, everyone starts with the same small deck of cards and buys new ones during the game to improve it. Dominion is the game that started the style. Each turn you play cards from your hand, buy better ones and watch your deck grow. It's a good fit for card players who like to optimise.
Two other popular games sit between the groups. Catan is about trading and building, and Ticket to Ride is about collecting cards to claim train routes. Both are friendly gateways for new players.
Strategy board games compared
Player counts are as printed on the boxes, so check the current edition. The weight column is my own rough guide to how heavy each one feels when you first play.
| Game | Type | Players | How heavy it feels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chess | Abstract | 2 | Medium, deep to master |
| Go | Abstract | 2 | Simple rules, very deep |
| Azul | Abstract | 2 to 4 | Light |
| Catan | Trading and building | 3 to 4 | Light to medium |
| Ticket to Ride | Route building | 2 to 5 | Light |
| Splendor | Engine building | 2 to 4 | Light |
| Carcassonne | Area control | 2 to 5 | Light |
| Wingspan | Engine building | 1 to 5 | Medium |
| Terraforming Mars | Engine building | 1 to 5 | Heavy |
| Risk | Area control | 2 to 6 | Light to medium |
| Small World | Area control | 2 to 5 | Medium |
| Dominion | Deck building | 2 to 4 | Medium |
Most of the lighter games take a short time to learn, while the heavier ones need a patient first play. Don't judge a heavy game by its first session. Many only click on the second go.
Here's how I'd read the table. If your group is brand new to modern board games, stay in the light rows. If you've played a few, the medium rows are where the fun really starts. The heavy row is for a group that's happy to sit down for an evening and talk about the game afterwards.
One more thing to watch is analysis paralysis. That's when a player freezes on their turn because there are too many options. Games like Chess and Terraforming Mars can bring it on. It's not a flaw, but it's worth knowing before you invite a friend who likes quick games.
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A good first strategy game for each type of person
- If you like quiet puzzles: Azul or Chess. Both reward patient thinking.
- If you like building something: Splendor, then Wingspan when you're ready for more.
- If you like friendly competition: Ticket to Ride or Carcassonne. You can take on each other without much sting.
- If you like conflict and drama: Risk or Small World.
- If you like cards: Dominion.
- If you like long, deep games: Go or Terraforming Mars.
- If you want to play with a partner: Splendor, Azul, Carcassonne and Dominion all play with two.
You can also try games on a screen before you commit to a box. I rounded up some options in free offline board game apps for family night, and the logic side of strategy is the same skill you use in chess-based puzzle games.
How to teach a strategy game in ten minutes
The fastest way to lose a table is a long rules lecture. These steps keep it short and let people learn by playing.
- Start with the goal. Say in one sentence how you win, such as "get the most points by the end".
- Name what a turn looks like. Most strategy games boil down to two or three choices on your turn, so say them out loud.
- Show one example turn on the board, using the actual pieces. Seeing it beats hearing it.
- Leave out the rare rules. Explain exceptions only when they come up.
- Play the first round open-handed, so everyone can ask questions and take a move back.
- Point out the main way to score before you start, so no one finds out too late.
- Check understanding with a quick question, such as "what would you do here?"
- Keep the rule sheet nearby. Looking up a rule mid-game is fine.
If someone's turn drags, ask them to plan while others play. A simple sand timer is a gentle way to keep things moving without nagging. You'll find most groups settle into a pace by the second round.
Don't try to win your first game while teaching. Let new players try risky plans, and talk through what happened afterwards. They'll want to play again.
Make a strategy board game? See how to get it featured on this list.
Frequently asked questions
What is a strategy board game?
A strategy board game is one where your decisions matter more than luck. Chess, Go, Azul and Ticket to Ride are all examples.
What is the best strategy board game for beginners?
Ticket to Ride, Azul, Splendor and Carcassonne are popular first picks because the rules are short and the turns are simple.
What is the difference between abstract and economic strategy games?
Abstract games are pure decisions with little theme, like Chess. Economic or engine-building games let you grow something over time, like a set of cards that produces more each turn.
Can you play strategy board games with two players?
Yes. Chess and Go are made for two, and Azul, Splendor, Carcassonne and Dominion also work well with two. Check the box for the player counts.
