When you get the itch for a strategictabletop experiencethere are countless board game options. Strategy games can include a wide variety of sub-genres from the mostextensive and grandto the simple to play. For a more focused approach to the genre, there are the highly tactical games.
Tactics and strategy are often thought to be similar in terms of meaning, although there are some differences. In a few words, strategy is the big-picture view, and tactics are the smaller specific actions. In this list we’ve picked some board games to provide you with sweet satisfying tactical thinking.
Gloomhaven
You’ll need tactics and teamwork if you want to live
A tile-based TTRPG wrapped up in a box. Gloomhaven lets you become an adventurer seeking treasure and danger through in-depth mechanics.
Starting with a community favorite, Gloomhaven gained significant traction among tabletop gamers for its deep gameplay and RPG elements. Gloomhaven can provide an excellent TTRPG experience in the shape of a board game, but the major draw for this list are its tactics.
Most of your time in Gloomhaven is spent on hex-grid tiles facing off against horrible creatures. It offers everything you’d want from a close combat tactical game but better, because there’s magic and swords.
Especially in harder delves, group tactics and precise cooperation will be needed to survive. To add to the fun, you may play solo or with up to three others for a four player adventuring team. Gloomhaven also holds a wide collection of expansions should you become a diehard fan and want more.
Hive Pocket
Simple to learn but with endless tactical depth
The pocket edition of Hive includes some of its best expansions. It can be stored in a conveinent bag to take strategic fun with you anywhere.
Hive offersa unique twistto unit movement in games, as the pieces also compose the board. As you place new bugs and move them around the field the state of the game can change dramatically.
Although the rules of Hive are fairly simple to understand, it has more tricks for added depth. Every game piece moves in their own way, and the connected pieces of the hive must never be broken. This constantly provides opportunities and limitations that keep play engaging.
On the surface, it does not appear to be such a strategy heavy game, but Hive is capable of giving you years of tactical study should you want to master it. As such a great game it can be a little sad it only supports two, but the one-on-one gameplay is incredible and certainly worth picking up a copy.
Star Wars: Imperial Assault
Play close combat in the fantastic Star Wars universe
Imperial Assault is a tactical combat card-and-miniatures wargame set in the Star Wars universe.
When you tell someone you want to play a tactical tabletop game, they are likely suggest miniatures combat, and for good reason. Mini-based combat is a classic tabletop activity and one of the best ways to flex your tactical skills.
Skirmishing with miniature forces lets you hone in on close-quarter combat, and Star Wars: Imperial Assault also includes a campaign mode if you want some longterm strategy in your game. The box includes everything needed for multiple players which is a nice bonus for groups.
Mostwargame experienceslike this can be unapproachable at first, with many units and rules to memorise. Starting with small skirmishes and keeping the rules handy will help learning, and turn you into a strategic genuis.
Small World
Carve out a space and keep it for yourself
Small World is the acclaimed area control game, with new fantasy combinations in every playthrough.
Small World is another tactical game that has some long term strategy. However, the nature of the game makes planning an interesting endeavor. The factions you play as are made randomly out of jumbled fantasy races and traits.
Once you choose your starting faction with a bidding system, you’ll need to act on their strengths in the moment. The game state can evolve constantly, and the fact you won’t know what faction combos will come up means you need to be flexible.
The goal of the game is to take land so you can earn coins, and end the game with the greatest legacy. Eventually, you must retire your faction and choose another, meaning each player will use many different tactics to hold land for an engaging experience.
Zombicide 2nd Edition Strategy Board Game
Every move must be carefully considered to live
The second edition of the strategy zombie board game. Zombiecide is a cooperative close tactics game where you must overcome the horde to survive.
Zombies, tactics, cool weapons, Zombicide has it all. Strategy in this game is heavily reliant on cooperation, as the zombies will outnumber and overrun you otherwise. Each turn you want to advance your goals if you wish to achieve victory.
The teamwork of planning routes and attacks is great and familiar to miniature combat games in many ways. If you enjoy tight character-focused strategy like Gloomhaven, then you’re sure to love Zombicide as well.
Air, Land, & Sea - Revised Edition
Deploy your forces better than the enemy to win the day
Air, Land, & Sea presents a deep strategic experience through simple gameplay. Take control of the theatres of war through thoughtful play and claim victory.
When it comes to quick tactical gameplay, the majority games are a great choice. You can make small decisions that have major impact on the game. Anyone who regularly plays Marvel Snap will know the feeling well.
A fairly small collection of cards makes up the entirety of Air, Land, & Sea, while providing a great deal of depth. Special abilities on some cards spice things up, including flipping other cards, with card backs having a value of two. Exciting and tricky strategies can be executed through this flip mechanic.
Learning to play Air, Land, & Sea takes a few minutes, and after a handful you’ll remember what every card does. The limited number of cards also add tactical choice, as what you’re holding can help inform what your enemy has available.
FAQ
What separates tactical games from strategy games?
When it comes to game genres and types exact definitions can be difficult to draw lines around. In the case of tactical games they are considered part of the strategy category but is often used to clarify a given kind of strategy.
For this article we are using tactical in the term of a smaller focus rather than larger-scale strategy. While games could fall on one side or the other, most strategy games will have tactical elements, and might be called by either category when they are discussed.
How many types of strategy games are there?
The overarching genre of strategy holds numerous subsections, some major examples are grand strategy, abstract strategy, and strategic wargames. Many of these subsections also overlap across games and can be subdivided even further into new categories.
