When someone mentions board games, usually people think of a game that involves dice or the basic "roll and move" mechanism in games. (I blame monopoly.)
Although rolling the bones can be exciting and satisfying with its clickity-clacks, dice-driven games tend to be incredibly luck-based. (Cue "A Whole New World") Imagine not needing to hold your breath hoping the right pips turn up so that you can slay the monster or gain the resources you need. Prepare yourself, because a whole world of non-dice-rolling games awaits! If you're tired of dice-focused games or just want to step outside your comfort zone, check out the best board games without dice in 2024.
Flamecraft
Best Family Game See at AmazonArk Nova
Best Heavy Game See at AmazonHoney Buzz
Premium Pick See at AmazonTrekking Through History
Best Light Game See at AmazonBoop
Best Two Player Game See at Amazon- See More
Wyrmspan: A Wingspan Game
Editor's Choice See at Amazon
Flamecraft
Adorable Dragons Make Potions
Flamecraft is a worker-placement style game in which the goal is to build shops in a tiny town, gather resources at the shops, and learn spells to enchant the stores in order to earn victory points.
Pros & Cons- Easy gameplay while still being interesting
- Adorable artwork
- Great for families
- Fancy dragons can be hard to obtain
Not only does this game have adorable dragon-artwork and cute components, the gameplay is engaging for children and adults! It is definitely a great game for families, but is still appealing for seasoned gamers due to the element of worker placement and resource management. If you're looking to score a ton of hearts (or victory points), load up on Fancy Dragons as much as you can.
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Posts Best Heavy GameArk Nova
Complex, Yet Engaging
Ark Nova is an action selection and tile placement game in which players try to build the best zoo by balancing conservation and general zoo appeal.
Pros & Cons- Never the same game twice
- Variety of end game scoring
- So many options for turns
- Can be overwhelming at first
Don't let the theme of making a zoo fool you. While the theme may sound like it's a light, easy game, it is actually heavy with strategy. Players must build enclosures to house animals, but the animals each have requirements that can only go into specific places. Players must also work to move forward on different tracks, which can enhance what players can do on a turn. In order to succeed in this game or have any chance of winning, a player must balance zoo appeal with conservation. The conservation track is the hardest to move forward on, so go for the advancing on the conservation track whenever you can!
Premium PickHoney Buzz
Tactile With Great Worker Placement Method
In Honey Buzz, players are building hives, producing honey and fulfilling honey orders for woodland creatures.
Pros & Cons- Stellar components
- Outstanding worker placement game
- Individual starting patterns
- Not great with only two players
See what all the buzz is about and check out Honey Buzz! Seriously though, this is a fantastic worker placement game. One of the best things is that if someone but one of their bee workers, or beeples, on the spot you want to go, you just add an additional beeple. The goal is to build your individual hive, make cells, fill them with nectar, produce honey, and fulfill orders. Getting the New Bee tiles, which produce more beeples, as quickly as possible will give you more turns earlier in the game. Although this game has an adorable theme, it packs a good amount of strategy.
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Posts Best Light GameTrekking Through History
Easy To Play, Easy To Understand
Trekking Through History involves spending "time" to gain cards to take "trips" through time.
Pros & Cons- Great at any player count
- Can be played in a short amount of time
- Great components
- Player order changes depending on player moves
- Can be a little lucky with the cards
Trekking Through History has some of the best use of icons that make the gameplay very intuitive. The board is very self-explanatory even for those who don't play games very often. Certain cards will gain players tokens that will help them fill out an itinerary for their trip through time, and each player starts with a different itinerary. The game is relaxed, yet there are some interesting choices player have to make on their "trips." After playing the game once, if it's too light and easy for you, add the time warp module as it adds extra spice to each "day," or round.
Best Two Player GameBoop
A Game For Two Cool Cats
Boop is a two-player game that has slightly abstract-style gameplay. In this game, players try to maneuver their cats and knock their opponents off the bed.
Pros & Cons- Great abstract thinking game
- Cute components and theme
- Easy to learn
- Can be a mean game
For players that enjoy abstract strategy, this is the game for you. Even if you aren't normally an abstract strategy game player, definitely give this one a try. Boop is an incredibly cute game about trying to knock the other player's cats and kittens off the bed, or board. The rules are easy, but it definitely takes some thinking in order to win.
Editor's ChoiceWyrmspan: A Wingspan Game
Dragons Have More Fun
Wyrmspan is a game about excavating caves and enticing dragons to dwell in them. It is an engine-building game in the same vein as Wingspan.
Pros & Cons- Intuitive "engine triggering" with exploring the caves from left to right
- Caves give additional boons to help achieve goals
- Less luck involved than Wingspan
- Unique dragon artwork
- Gorgeous speckled eggs
- Needs more eggs
Yes, this game is very similar to Wingspan, however, this version is so much more than just a cash grab. The game has the same engine building mechanism in the game, but in Wyrmspan you have to excavate caves before enticing a dragon to set up residence.
These caves give you instant advantages when played, which help the game run smoother. There is also a dragon guild track that also gives benefits and victory points. This is a highly intuitive game with so many good and interesting qualities it is hard to list them all. Just try this game! You won't be disappointed!
FAQ
Can board games without dice still have an element of luck in them?
Yes. Usually, if a game involves drawing cards off the top of the deck rather than choosing one from a selection or "market," the game has a fair amount of luck in it.
Are there games that are mainly dice-driven?
Yes. There are quite a few games in which the main part is rolling dice and reacting to what turns up.
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