Strategy Board Games offer a unique way to test your wits and develop your problem-solving skills, in the comfort of your own home. Keeping this in mind, we’ve compiled a list of the best strategy board games for adults released in 2017. Each game offers an engaging story line, creative elements, and interesting challenges that will push your strategic capabilities to the limits.
The first strategy board game on this list is Go. With its simple premise and intuitive rulesets, Go has quickly become one of the best-selling puzzle games of 2017. Players take turns placing pieces on a 19×19 grid, with their goal being to surround more territory than their opponent.
As the game progresses, the board undergoes dramatic transformations as players block out areas with their pieces – making it quite unpredictable in terms of where each turn will lead. Go also features great replayability as no two matches are ever quite alike. This makes it great for repeat play or tournaments with friends and family.
Next up is Catan: Explorers & Pirates – a two-player or four-player expansion pack for regular Settlers of Catan. This campaign driven expansion allows players to explore far off lands, encountering lengthy adventures along their travels to uncover hidden treasures that can boost their scoring opportunities during the main game.
It adds elements such as special utilities which expands upon Catan’s already rewarding gameplay experience tremendously. With its 60 scenarios built into 3 campaigns; Explorers & Pirates successfully builds upon Catan’s already highly successful franchise while providing wonderful new twists from one game session to another – truly worthy of recognition for being among the best strategy board games of 2017.
Finally on our top three selection is 7 Wonders Duel – winners of both the 2016 Spiel Des Jahres Kennerspiel and Golden Geek Awards Best 2 Player Board Game. In 7 Wonders Duel you build up Egyptian civilization from ancient times until today using resources (wood, stone etc) gained from trading and card drafting (picking promotional cards out of limited available hands).
7 Wonders Duel provides gamers with enough strategies applicable both short term (card drafting) and long term (building wonder boards) that can affect victory conditions significantly mid-gameplay making this title an incredibly exciting 2 player experience perfect for couples or friends wanting to engage both tirelessly while passing time away casually but still enjoying a deeply immersive exploration based strategic world like how only 7 Wonders provides.
Best Board Games of 2017
When it comes to playing board games, adults can use their tremendous skills, knowledge and logic to come up with the best strategies. Whether you are looking for a brand new game or one that’s been around for decades, there is something fun for adults of any background or experience level. With so many great offerings on the market, here are some criteria that make a great adult strategy board game:
Depth
A good quality adult board game should have rules that are deep and layered which allows people to play the game on many levels. As tactics and understanding develops among players, they will be able to discover new ways of playing the game – adding depth and longevity. It’s always nice when games surprise you every time you learn the rules – allowing for more surprises and unexpected outcomes with each round.
Balance
A well-balanced board game is also important for successful play as neither side should be too overpowered or favored over the other – creating an even playing field where both sides can compete evenly. Every player should have a small group of strategic resources available so that ingenious plans can be implemented while taking into account what your opponents are doing at all times.
Games like chess or Go demonstrate this perfectly as their complex depths allow for endless permutations depending on how players use their pieces over time.
Competitive Interplay
At the heart of every great boardgame is its competitive interplay between each player – making it a thrilling experience every stage of he way. A compelling adult boardgame offers players choices to think carefully about their actions in order to out manoeuvre their opponent while getting them engaged in anticipating what may come next from other players. This adds a unique conversational layer which drastically improves player interaction as strategies become clearer during play.
Top Picks for the Best Board Games of 2017
Finding a board game that everyone in your party can enjoy can be difficult, but fear not. We’ve compiled a list of the best board games of 2017 to help you find the perfect game.
- Codenames
- Sid Meier’s Civilization: A New Dawn
- Mysterium
Codenames is an award-winning word game released in 2015 and has been dominating board game night ever since. All you need is two teams and a spymaster for hours of fun for both adults and children alike.
The object of the game is for each team to make contact with their agents first by giving them one-word clues about the identity of other agents on the board. It’s easy to learn yet challenging enough to keep players entertained and coming back for more.
First released in 2016, Sid Meier’s Civilization: A New Dawn is an updated version of classic turn-based strategy game based in the world of Sid Meier’s Civilization series. Players take turns developing their own empires while managing resources, conducting diplomatic negotiations, and engaging in battle with other civilizations competing for victory points.
With multiple paths to victory, it offers players an all new way to experience civilization building making it a great choice for the strategy gamer looking to do something new.
Mysterium offers a unique deduction gaming experience unlike any other. One player takes on the role of ghost while the other players act as psychics attempting to solve mysteries that haunt them from beyond. Through visually stunning communication between spirit and psychics by supplying clues that only they can interpret, Mysterium delivers intriguing puzzles requiring teamwork between players as they strive to discover who murdered the ghost before time runs out.
Catan
Catan is an enduring classic that has held its own as one of the best strategy board games for adults since it’s release in 1995. As a tabletop game, it allows up to four players a chance to build and grow their own cities on the mythical island of Catan. By collecting resources and dealing with other settlers, you must strategically build roads, settlements and cities or risk being left behind in a competitive world.
While often dismissed as purely luck based due to its use of dice rolls, there are actually a lot of strategy involved in making sure you can get enough resources while stopping your opponents from expanding too quickly. The overall goal is simple; be the first player to collect 10 victory points by building excellently managed settlements and leaving your competitors in the dust.
In the years since its release, Catan has spawned many expansions that have allowed players further customization options while tackling opponents from around the world online or on tablets through virtual editions. Gone are days where only physical boards were available for game night fun – now you can hook up with friends all over the place no matter where you live.
Its timeless reputation makes it an ideal choice for those wanting something more strategic than Monopoly but still offering immediate pay-off without going deep into complex set ups like many modern board games do. Whether it’s played around a physical board or virtually, Catan remains an evergreen game choice for adult gamers looking for some satirical realism through a backdrop of friendly competition and development planning.
For non-players dipping their toes in traditional board gaming water; It may seem intimidating but Catan requires patience rather than vast knowledge which makes it perfect when learning the ropes. Rules are relatively easy to grasp while ensuring players employ smarter tactics rather than indulging outbursts at opponents just because they’re doing well; it’s all about good old fashioned stick-to-it-iveness combined with some shrewd planning skills.
And finally, every player’s character keeps evolving so expect plenty of surprises along each playthrough as progress is made over time towards grand ambitions of mastery over Catan’s governing city halls and markets. All in all, this excellent strategic adventure will take familiar settlers far beyond what they think they know as they battle out decisions between buying roads or raising armies against marauding invaders.
Ticket to Ride
Ticket to Ride is a classic strategy board game first released in 2004 and still going strong. Players take on the role of different 19th century train tycoons, leading a nation’s railway expansion from coast-to-coast in an effort to build the longest railroad.
During their travels, they must seek out the best deal when buying tickets for their trains and gathering resources as they traverse different maps around the world. The main feature of Ticket to Ride is its competitive aspect, where players battle against each other while working together to build the longest railway network.
There is no true winner or loser in Ticket to Ride and that makes it incredibly satisfying no matter who ends up with the most points at game’s end. It’s about resource management, planning ahead, and outsmarting your opponents while still helping them move towards a common goal – connecting nations through the adventure of train building.
It takes 7-10 minutes for every player’s turn in this fast-paced game, requiring them to manage various ticket cards as well as cart cards for rail lines around intercontinental cities on the map.
As one of my favorite family board games growing up, Ticket to Ride always held a nostalgic place in my heart but I was unaware how global its presence really was until very recently. Across over 60 countries Ticket to Ride can be found becoming increasingly popular among all ages due to its simple yet entertaining rules that make strategizing fun for everyone involved.
When it comes down to it, you don’t need prior experience playing board games nor do you have to be an avid board gamer – all you need is a drive and willingness to win as there exists both luck and strategy embedded within this game.
With so many people around the world playing this timeless classic each year, I think it’s safe to say that Ticket To Ride has become not only a staple strategy board game but also an international phenomenon.
Azul
Azul is one of the best strategy board games of 2017 for adults, taking a traditional tile-placement game and bringing it into the modern age. Released in 2017, Azul has quickly become a favorite of strategy game lovers, offering up simple rules with balanced, different strategies that allow for golden moments of escape from reality. The game is designed around the Portuguese word “azulejos” – shaped ceramic tiles – that are often used to decorate buildings throughout the world.
Players must “draft” tiles and place them on their boards or rack in order to complete a pattern on their wall. Placing these symmetrical rows earns you bonus points while also making it easier to select more intricate patterns as the game goes on.
The game was created by Michael Kiesling, an award-winning designer who previously designed other popular titles such as Labyrinth: The War on Terror, Witness and Haunted Abbey. Azul takes elements from classic abstract strategy games like Chess and Go while also incorporating special features and complex decisions unique to its own gameplay – resulting in an enjoyable but challenging experience for players of all ages and skill levels.
It’s no surprise that Azul’s goal of “timeless elegance” has won the hearts and minds of gamers far and wide since its release just two years ago. In a world where technology reigns supreme, this perfect mix of tradition and innovation allows us go back to simpler times for an hour or two each day – without sacrificing fun or complexity.
Whether you’re new to board gaming or just looking for something that brings out your inner strategic mind, it’s definitely worth trying out Azul.
For those looking for even more excitement than mere tile placement can offer up, there are several expansions available as well – such as Wintertide Blankets which introduces winter tiles with unique effects when placed against certain sides. These practice games will indulge any strategist at heart; racing against others through a variety of courtyard scenarios that involve betting coins instead of placements.
It is especially interesting because both versions don’t overcomplicate the main concept yet still provide numerous variations and challenges which will keep players absorbed within the timeless world of azulejos.
Other Notable Board Games of 2017 For Adults
- Azul – An abstract strategy game with a mediterranean feel, Azul has players competing to create beautiful artifacts using tiles. Broken into several rounds for an ultimate experience.
- Grand Austria Hotel – Players are managing hotels across the region of Austria in this game set at the dawn of industrialisation. It requires players to manage resources and staff, with plenty of strategic decisions needed to win.
- Clank. – This deck-building game sees players fighting their way through a dungeon filled with monsters and relics. Players compete over who can escape with the most treasure from the monster-filled depths.
- Star Wars: Legion – A classic wargame taken to new intergalactic heights. Using squad level miniatures, command units and field craft worthy of an authentic Star Wars movie experience.
The list above has offered up several amazing games that will be sure to test your skills as well as entertain your friends and family. With that being said, these are not the only board games available for adults in 2017. There is actually a wide selection of choices available including several popular classics that have been around for years such as Monopoly, Catan, Risk and others.
Newer titles on the market include intense games like Scythe. In this game, players must build armies, accumulate resources, and forge relationships throughout a 1920s steampunk Eastern Europe in order to expand their reign over its hostile lands.
For those looking for something slightly different; Cooper Island is worth looking into. Here players vie for control over islands in a unique narrative-focused build up competition. Featuring plenty of opportunities for creative play style and evolving strategies; Cooper Island is definitely making waves in 2017 board gaming circles
Time to Play
The best strategy board games of 2017 had something to offer for everybody. Whether you’re looking for a grand diplomacy game such as Terraforming Mars, a dynamic and exciting civilization builder like Age of Conquest III, or a cooperative puzzle like Pandemic Legacy, there was a game that caught your interest.
And I haven’t even mentioned the innovative mix of light wargaming with strong thematic elements found in Scythe yet. The hobby has exploded over the last few years, and today’s board gamers have access to many different types of gameplay and can explore an incredible variety of game settings and themes.
This year spawned many unique independent titles such as Spirits of the Forest – one of my personal favourites – which blends tactical card play and area control into an enticing package.
Also taking the industry by storm this year is Blood Rage – one of Kickstarters bigger success stories that features multi-faceted combat mechanics combined with exacting RPG elements.The rise in popularity for these indie titles suggests that gamers are less interested in dry eurogames and boring mechanics and instead take pleasure from playing more immersive experiences that dazzle both mind and soul alike.
There’s no denying it: 2017 has been an incredible year for tabletop gaming, with plenty to offer pretty much any type player interested in trying something new out. From abstracts like Quantum to worker placement gems such as Charterstone, players really enjoyed getting their hands on some off-the-wall designs this year.
What’s so great about the medium is that game proposals often revolve around clever concepts that just weren’t possible back when Dungeons & Dragons reigned as king among roleplaying games back a couple decades prior.
Whether you’re looking for party games, dexterity challenges, epic intergalactic campaigns, complex engine builders, economic simulations or adventure modules full of loot – this past year has given us all some interesting opportunities to enjoy games both old and new alike. From arena combat to dungeon crawls – 2017 delivered again tactically solid entry after another whose rulebooks brimmed over with visions of curious possibilities.
I love playing all kinds of games – from classics like Monopoly to modern favourites like Ticket to Ride.
I created this blog as a way to share my love of board games with others, and provide information on the latest releases and news in the industry.
