Euro board games are some of the most popular ones in the hobby. They are intricate and beautiful designs that reward those who are interested in strategizing their every move. Often contrasted to American board games as more mature and accomplished in design and execution, euro board games are some of the best to try if you love a challenge. Today, we bring you a list of the best euro board games available in our hobby that have stood the test of time.
Best Euro Board Games List
Each of the euro board games on this list have been played, reviewed, and ranked based on our collective knowledge of the game and experience with them. These are without doubt the most worthwhile euro board games you can find on the market today.
- Brass: Birmingham
- Terra Mystica
- Great Western Trail
- Caverna: The Cave Farmers
- Terraforming Mars
- Agricola
- A Feast for Odin
- Concordia
- Ticket to Ride
- Clans of Caledonia
- Puerto Rico
- Age of Steam
- Power Grid
- Stone Age
- Trajan
- Castles of Burgundy
- Tigris & Euphrates
- Troyes
- Russian Railroads
- Hansa Teutonica
1. Brass: Birmingham
- Designers: Gavan Brown, Matt Tolman, Martin Wallace
- Players: 2-4 players
- Play Time: 60-120 minutes
- Age: 14+
- Complexity: 4/5
Brass: Birmingham is the critically acclaimed, fine-tuned installment of the Brass series, set in the gloomy 18th-19th century. What makes the game stand out among the other euro board games is its simplicity, both in terms of gameplay and aesthetics. The game lacks vivid, vibrant colors, and extravagant meeples and board game pieces, which is strange at first glance – until you realize it perfectly fits with the 18th-19th century theme. In terms of gameplay, Brass: Birmingham has just two resources players need to worry about coal and iron. Some players might dislike the lack of resource variety, but there is elegance in simplicity – something Brass: Birmingham takes full advantage of. The game is incredibly balanced and well-designed, and the more people are added to the player pool – the more fun it gets. A true must-play for every Euro game fan, this is one of the best euro board games on our list.
Buy Brass: Birmingham on Amazon US.
2. Terra Mystica
- Designers: Jens Drögemüller, Helge Ostertag
- Players: 2-5 players
- Play Time: 60-150 minutes
- Age: 12+
- Complexity: 4/5
In contrast to the previous title, Terra Mystica’s stand-out feature among the euro board games world is its complexity. It’s easily called one of the best heavy euro board games there is. The game is best played with 4 players for maximum action and strategic depth. There are no less than 14 different factions, each with its own identity, playstyle, and mechanics. This not only makes the game extremely fun, but it also adds a ton of replay value. There are players on Boardgame Arena who have been playing Terra Mystica for years now, clocking in thousands of games. As hard as it is to imagine, all 14 factions are perfectly balanced and fun to play, which means that players naturally want to explore every single one before choosing which is their favorite and what their favorite strategy is. All of these factors are a true testament to the game’s amazing design. Another amazing feature is the game’s app, which only adds to the experience – players can try their strategies against an AI opponent, and the app’s tracker ensures you are right on track and don’t miss anything, which is extremely convenient.
Buy Terra Mystica on Amazon US.
3. Great Western Trail
- Designer: Alexander Pfister
- Players: 2-4 players
- Play Time: 75-150 minutes
- Age: 12+
- Complexity: 4/5
Great Western Trail offers its players the absolute freedom and possibilities of the so-called wild west. And the theme of freedom is exactly what sets it apart from other euro board games. Players can choose multiple paths to victory. You can choose to be a real cowboy, controlling livestock and various herds of animals. If that isn’t your fancy, you can choose to become involved in the railroad business and help bring glorious train transportation across the land. If that still isn’t attractive to you, then the game offers you a way into the construction business, controlling your own brigade and bringing civilization to the barren lands of the wild west. You choose the focus of your strategy – whatever gets you to Kansas City (the game’s objective) faster! The game is harsh, and extremely strategic, but incredibly addictive.
Buy Great Western Trail on Amazon US.
4. Caverna: The Cave Farmers
- Designer: Uwe Rosenberg
- Players: 1-7 players
- Play Time: 30-210 minutes
- Age: 12+
- Complexity: 4/5
The lengthiest and one of the best euro board games on this list by far, Caverna: The Cave Farmers, puts players in the role of adventurous dwarf farmers looking to shape the land by building caves. As odd as that concept seems, it ended up working for designer Uwe Rosenberg. The game plays for 12 rounds, with the goal being to expand your cave and farm systems as much as possible while ensuring you can feed your workforce. Caverna: The Cave Farmers is essentially a fantasy revamp of Uwe’s critically acclaimed Agricola, with some noticeable differences in gameplay. The addition of expeditions to Caverna seems to be the most noticeable one, which not only gives players another way to achieve victory but further adds strategic depth to an already complex game. This, along with the massive potential player base makes Caverna: The Cave Farmers stand out from the rest of the games in this category.
Buy Caverna: The Cave Farmers on Amazon US.
5. Terraforming Mars
- Designer: Jacob Fryxelius
- Players: 1-5 players
- Play Time: 120 minutes
- Age: 12+
- Complexity: 3/5
Terraforming Mars stands out from other Euro board games with its beautiful implementation of various strategic elements into its gameplay – the game has tile placement, engine building, and hand management involved. This doesn’t mean that the game is overly complex or confusing in any way shape or form. On the contrary, it’s a beautiful and perfectly balanced mix of moving parts, which blend into a deep strategy game that has players colonize and terraform the infamous red planet. Players take on the roles of major corporations that need to find a way to generate a variety of resources via Oxygen, Temperature, and Oceans. Placing those terraforming tools is absolutely critical to success, and with each card being unique – your strategy needs to constantly change and evolve while the game progresses. This not only adds complexity and variety, but also replayability – no matter how many times you play the game, you will never have the same experience.
Buy Terraforming Mars on Amazon US.
6. Agricola
- Designer: Uwe Rosenberg
- Players: 1-5 players
- Play Time: 30-150 minutes
- Age: 12+
- Complexity: 4/5
As we previously mentioned, Agricola is the game that inspired the Caverna series. In it, players take on the roles of a family of farmers, looking to distinguish themselves from the rest. The goal is to have the best possible farm after 14 rounds, much like Agricola. The rounds are additionally broken down into 6 stages, each ending with a Harvest Phase. This is the time when farmers obtain their food, then their respective animals give birth, and finally – feed the family. Players need to carefully choose their actions after each round and be mindful of which path to victory they choose to take. The euro board game punishes the lack of any resources and rewards abundance. For instance, not having any animals will cost players a point, but having an abundance of them grants them points. Such is the case for every resource. This elegant simplicity is what distinguishes Agricola.
7. A Feast for Odin
- Designer: Uwe Rosenberg
- Players: 1-4 players
- Play Time: 30-120 minutes
- Age: 12+
- Complexity: 4/5
The third game by Uwe Rosenberg on this list, A Feast for Odin, stands out from the otherbesteuro board gamesby its focus. Unlike most of the board games on this list, players don’t actually have to constantly worry about resource management. Much like in a real feast, A Feast for Odin has an abundance of everything, allowing players to let themselves loose and show what they’re really made of. Every strategy is possible, nothing is restricted. That doesn’t mean that the game lacks strategic depth, however. Players need to resist the urge of becoming too careless and spend their abundance of resources to maximum efficiency. A Feast for Odin also has a highly-praised solo mode to satisfy every need, but it is still highly recommended that you play the game with 4 players to get the maximum “Viking” experience.
Buy A Feast for Odin on Amazon US.
8. Concordia
- Designer: Mac Gerdts
- Players: 2-5 players
- Play Time: 100 minutes
- Age: 13+
- Complexity: 3/5
Set in the times of the Roman Empire, Concordia sets players in the roles of Mediterranean merchants. While some of you might think this is an overused theme, there is far more than meets the eye in the case of Concordia – which is exactly why it’s different from most “Mediterranean merchant” euro board games. The game offers players a simple rule set, tense and meaningful decisions, a lot of player interaction without it being overbearing, and near-limitless replayability. The game forces players to use all available resources and advantages at their disposal, which means that no matter how many times you play Concordia with your friends, there is never a dull moment. Each decision matters, and every play is game-changing, making every game of Concordia a uniquely fun experience.
9. Ticket to Ride
- Designer: Alan R. Moon
- Players: 2-5 players
- Play Time: 30-60 minutes
- Age: 8+
- Complexity: 2/5
Ticket to Ride might be the most relaxing best euro board games on this list, making it perfect for beginners to the tabletop hobby. The game puts players in the roles of railway magnates, aiming to create train lines across the continent. The trick is that some lines grant more points than others, and there’s limited space to build. This naturally pits players against each other in the best way possible. They have to make strategic decisions and plan ahead in order to get the most points at the end of the game. But they have to make those decisions fast, though – any delays might see their desired train lines taken away from under their noses. There are also Route Cards, which potentially grant more points if a player’s trail lines link two cities together. And while this seems like a solid idea, failure to accomplish this task will lead to points being taken away from the player that undertook the Route Card. An instant classic, Ticket to Ride is a guaranteed fun experience for everybody involved.
Buy a Ticket to Ride on Amazon US.
10. Clans of Caledonia
- Designer: Juma Al-JouJou
- Players: 1-4 players
- Play Time: 30-120 minutes
- Age: 12+
- Complexity: 3/5
Set in 19th-Century Scotland, Clans of Caledonia is an economic strategy game focused on the Whiskey trade. This makes Clans of Caledonia stand out from the other euro board games on this list and additionally makes it especially suitable for lovers of the esteemed alcoholic beverage. Players are put in the roles of one of the many Scottish clans, set to increase Scotland’s trade and exports. The game comes with eight different clans, all of which have very different ways of changing how the game is played. There are eight unique clans, each with its unique trait and strengths, which forces players to focus on different aspects of the game while allowing for a ton of replay value at the same time. To further add to the replayability factor, each map is randomly generated, so each game feels different and unique. Furthermore, due to their unique clan traits, some clan bonuses might bring hidden advantages every time the game is played.
Buy Clans of Caledonia on Amazon US.
11. Puerto Rico
- Designer: Andreas Seyfarth
- Players: 3-5 players
- Play Time: 90-150 minutes
- Age: 12+
- Complexity: 3/5
A must-play for any euro board gamesfan. Andreas Seyfarth’s Puerto Rico is set in the controversial era of colonialism. Players are put in the roles of Governors of the new land of Puerto Rico, and as such will have to transform it into a prospering colony. Being a Governor is never easy, and players will have to manage various state-building tasks, such as the planting of crops, overseeing harvests, shipping, maintaining a stable workforce, and other important tasks. Additionally, Governors have the option to build various buildings to improve life in the new colony. There are various special units in the game, such as the mayor, captain, and builder. Each of them has a distinct role to play and must be carefully used in order to gain an advantage. The rules are easy to understand, but the game is difficult to master.
12. Age of Steam
- Designers: John Bohrer, Martin Wallace
- Players: 1-6 players
- Play Time: 120 minutes
- Age: 13+
- Complexity: 4/5
Euro board gamescome in all shapes and sizes, but Age of Steam comes in several. Indeed, the game has 6 different maps, which are actually scaled according to player size – the more players there are, the bigger the map will be. Age of Steam has players take on the role of an investor in their very own company. Running a company isn’t easy, however, which means investors need to spend their resources carefully in order to build tracks to various towns to gain access to their resources. While this may seem easy at first glance, the colors of resources and towns are matched, which means that a red city, for example, only pays for red resources. This makes resource management a key element for victory and also makes the game that much more exciting.
Buy Age of Steam on Amazon US.
13. Power Grid
- Designer: Friedemann Friese
- Players: 2-6 players
- Play Time: 120 minutes
- Age: 12+
- Complexity: 3/5
Power Grid belongs to a niche of euro board gamesthat lack any elements of luck in them, not that it’s a bad thing. On the contrary, I personally find such games quite enjoyable. But personal opinion aside, the game is not suitable for players looking for a chaotic element in their Euro board game. Power Grid is all about strategy and is all about supplying electricity to as many cities in your network as possible when the game ends. Players are forced to keep an eye on each other, their every move, and anticipate the intentions of their adversaries – much like chess. And while that might not be appealing to some, which is very understandable, it is still worth giving the Power Grid a go and using that brain power to supply electrical power to as many cities as possible.
14. Stone Age
- Designer: Bernd Brunnhofer
- Players: 2-4 players
- Play Time: 60-90 minutes
- Age: 10+
- Complexity: 2/5
Stone Age is among the worker-placement euro board gamesthat are more than meets the eye. In fact, the game provides new additions to the genre, and perhaps its most distinguishing feature seems to be the game’s somewhat punishing resource-gathering system. To summarize, you can place multiple gatherers on a resource at once, but their number can’t be changed for the rest of the round, meaning that if things don’t work out and you need to replace workers urgently – you can’t do that, not easily at least. You can see Stone Age forces players to use critical thinking and planning when formulating their strategy going forward. Another interesting system is the use of Tools, which you can place on any worker after a die roll, thereby improving the result of that particular roll. Hunting is also an aspect of the Stone Age, which is an innovative way to feed your work supply. All in all, the game’s mechanics are deep, satisfying, and very much in theme with the setting – something every gamer will appreciate.
15. Trajan
- Designer: Stefan Feld
- Players: 2-4 players
- Play Time: 60-120 minutes
- Age: 12+
- Complexity: 4/5
Another game set in the height of the Roman Empire, Stefan Feld’s Trajan has players take on the roles of leading Roman figures, striving to fulfill every wish of the Empire’s citizens (a bit historically unrealistic if you ask me, but it works with the theme of the game). The game uses the Victory Point system quite elegantly, with players having various means of obtaining them – via building, military campaigns, trading, or voting in the Senate. These elements add strategic depth and replayability to Trajan, with players having options to try a different strategy with every playthrough – something for which the game is highly praised. The night-infinite replayability and strategic depth make Trajan an instant classic among euro board games.
16. Castles of Burgundy
- Designer: Stefan Feld
- Players: 2-4 players
- Play Time: 30-90 minutes
- Age: 12+
- Complexity: 3/5
An instant classic, Castles of Burgundy has earned its place among the best euro board gamesever created with its simple, but effective gameplay. Another Stefan Feld classic, Castles of Burgundy is considered to be one of the simplest, but most fun games the board game designer has ever produced, and for good reason. The gameplay is surprisingly simple – players roll dice, after which they have two options: pick up a hex tile from a pile matching one of the numbers rolled, or place a previously claimed time on the tabletop, provided their numbers match. As the game progresses and the available tiles begin to shrink, players are forced to analyze what their opponents are doing and react accordingly. The available tiles become increasingly valuable, and the fights for them become increasingly dogged. Naturally, whoever has scored the most points at the end is declared the winner.
Buy Castles of Burgundy on Amazon US.
17. Tigris & Euphrates
- Designer: Reiner Knizia
- Players: 2-4 players
- Play Time: 90 minutes
- Age: 12+
- Complexity: 4/5
Based on the Tigris-Euphrates river system, historically dubbed the “cradle” of human civilization, Tigris & Euphrates is a tile-placement civilization-building board game. Players control their very own river kingdom and strive to collect Victory Points via their leaders. There are four types of leaders: farming, trading, religion, and government. Each leader is specialized for collecting points in their given category, so players need to use them carefully. In an interesting twist, however, your weakest category determines your endgame score, which incentivizes players not to specialize in any specific category. Naturally, this incentivizes expansion, which in turn leads to players interacting with each other in a brilliant way. This is a “forced” conflict done right, which is why Tigris & Euphrates is one of the best euro board games ever made.
Tigris & Euphrates is not currently available on Amazon US.
18. Troyes
- Designers: Sébastien Dujardin, Xavier Georges, Alain Orban
- Players: 1-4 players
- Play Time: 60 minutes
- Age: 12+
- Complexity: 3/5
Set in the popular Champagne region of France, Troyes belongs to the civilization-building niche of euro board games, with players having to perform various actions to ensure their feudal fiefdom is the best one. Those actions range from sending merchants to various locations, battling your foes in epic battles, and taking on various events. Troyes uses dice rolling mechanics as its engine, and as such is more luck-based than other games on this list. Still, even low dice rolls may be used to gain an advantage over your opponents, potentially blocking them or delaying their plans. The strategic depth is definitely there, hidden beneath a supposed upper layer of luck. The game ends after four rounds, with the player with the most Victory Points being declared the winner.
19. Russian Railroads
- Designers: Helmut Ohley, Leonhard “Lonny” Orgler
- Players: 2-4 players
- Play Time: 120 minutes
- Age: 13+
- Complexity: 3/5
Russian Railroads has been dubbed the best worker placement and best euro board gamesever. The game has a fresh take on the concepts of city linking, road building, goods delivery, and other typical mechanics in the genre due to its forgiving worker placement system. This means that players are free to focus on the bigger picture, not just on game mechanics, which gives a unique perspective and gameplay experience. Set in imperial Russia, players will have to build the absolutely massive Trans-Siberian Railroad, in addition to two smaller railroads, linking Moscow to St. Petersburg and Kyiv. Overall, Russian Railroads is a cutthroat game of patience and critical thinking. Much like most board games involving railroads, you have to know what your opponents are thinking, anticipate their moves, and counter them. Hard.
Russian Railroads is not currently available on Amazon US.
20. Hansa Teutonica
- Designer: Andreas Steding
- Players: 2-5 players
- Play Time: 45-90 minutes
- Age: 12+
- Complexity: 3/5
Dubbed as an innovator of the “cube pushing” genre of euro board games, where players take on the roles of powerful merchants, looking to expand their influence and trade network as much as possible by controlling trade in cities, various bonus markets, and outsmarting (and outtrading) their respective opponents. Hansa Teutonica loves player interaction, so the more players are involved – the better the experience will be. There are only a few available actions each turn, which means players will have to carefully spend them on the very few contested trading opportunities. You will definitely have to hone your trade skills in Hansa Teutonica, which is exactly what makes the game so fun to play. It will leave you wondering what you could have done better days after a single playthrough, which will leave you itching to play it over and over again.