Best Kingdom Builder Board Games of 2026

Blue Orange Kingdomino is a strategy tabletop board game that is perfect for families or adults. This 2 to 4 players game is easy to play and recommended for ages 8 and up. With medieval kingdoms made of high-quality cardboard tiles and castles, this top-rated game has a colorful table presence. The game is played by connecting dominoes to your existing kingdom, making sure at least one of its sides connects to a matching terrain type already in play. The game ends when each player has completed a 5 x 5 grid, and then points are counted based on the number of connecting tiles and crowns. Blue Orange Kingdomino is a great addition to your board game collection and can be enjoyed by both beginners and advanced players.

PK Snug as a Bug in a Rug is an award-winning cooperative preschool skills builder board game for 2 to 4 kids aged 3 and up. The game has 3 levels of play to help kids learn colors, numbers, shapes, counting, matching, and the concept of big and little. Playing this game can improve social skill development, cognitive benefits, emotional well-being, and cultivate shared decision making, positive self-esteem, and creative problem solving in a non-stressful play environment.

Carcassonne is a strategy board game that requires players to develop the landscape of a medieval fortress city. With one-step-at-a-time tile-placement, players can add followers and plan carefully to make the best use of their knights, monks, farmers, or thieves to score points. The game offers high replayability with 84 tiles that can be configured into numerous combinations, and appeals to beginners and veteran gamers alike. Average Playtime: 45 minutes.

Forbidden Island is a Mensa favorite cooperative strategy board game that requires 2 to 4 players, ages 10 and up, to work together to capture four sacred treasures in 30 minutes. The game promotes strategic thinking, problem solving, and cooperation skills among players.

CATAN Junior Board Game is the perfect introduction to the CATAN series of games for kids and families. It is designed for players as young as 6, offering a simpler playing style that allows younger players to experience the world of CATAN. The game takes place on a ring of tropical isles, each generating a specific resource such as wood, goats, molasses, or cutlasses. Players start with 2 pirate lairs and build ships to expand their network and collect resources. They can also trade in the nearby market and seek help from Coco the Parrot. The first player to control 7 pirate lairs wins! CATAN Junior Board Game is not just for kids, but a fun family game that can be enjoyed by adults and young children alike. It offers hours of fast-paced, interactive fun for game nights.

Dominion 2nd Edition is a tactical deckbuilding game for 2-4 players aged 13 years and above. It features updated cards and artwork, and streamlined rules, allowing players to enjoy a 30-minute playing time. The game is a winner of the Spiel des Jahres award and made in the USA.

Gamewright Forbidden Jungle is an exciting cooperative board game that invites you to explore a thrilling new environment. You’ll team up with fellow players to uncover jungle secrets, strategically position crystals, and activate a portal to make your escape. The game features stunning artwork and detailed components, enhancing your gaming experience. Suitable for both families and adults, it's perfect for 2-5 players aged 10 and up, with each session lasting 30-45 minutes. Enjoy the challenge and camaraderie as you work together to survive the wild!

Ravensburger El Dorado Board Game is perfect for families who love to play games together. This game features all new art, larger cards, and an in-game mini-expansion. The game is easy to understand with high-quality instructions, and games only take 60 minutes. The variable game board has more than 100,000 possible layouts, and with a deck-building strategy component, this game can be played endlessly to different results. You get 7 terrain tiles, 2 terrain strips, 1 ending tile, 6 blockages, 8 playing pieces, 4 expedition boards, 1 starting player hat, 1 market board, 86 expedition cards, 36 cave tokens, and instructions. With Ravensburger El Dorado Board Game, you can enjoy a fun play experience with great replay value.