The best board games under $ 30
The best board games under $ 30
Some think video game systems are expensive, but these people have never seen some of our massive shelves for board games. It can be quite expensive, but you don’t always have to break the bank.
Thousands of games each year range from AAA production values to intricately designed minis. So many designs are poured into them that they fall into the category of works of art. If you were to go out and buy them, you would have to get another mortgage as well.
As many of you know, although a higher price is not necessarily the same as a better game.
In this article, we will explore the budget options for playing board games with some of the best games that can be found under (or about) $ 30.
Our best selections for the best board games under $ 30
Are you in a hurry? Check out our favorites below.
Best player for two players
The best euro
Best overall
# 1. Kingdom Death Monster…
Kidding.
# 1. Tiny epic whatever
I love the philosophy of the company behind the Tiny Epic series. Gamelyn Games tries to throw as many games as possible into the smallest possible package and they succeed wonderfully.
Each Tiny Epic game has a different theme and chief mechanic, but they all share the epic feel of a great box game.
If you’re looking for a budget game to get a ton of repeatability, check out Tiny Epic Galaxies (my personal favorite) or whatever else interests you.
# 2. Cities of Burgundy
There is a lot going on in the Castle Castles.
Players take control of a competing princess and strive to build their own principality by laying tiles. Burgundy Castles is a European-style game , but with an interesting touch. Use the dice to determine which tiles you can lay at any time.
bridge Games in the European style do not use dice at all and it rarely seems that the factors are excluded from the game, but the Castles of Burgundy embrace this mechanics.
It works extremely well as a game with five players and there is a lot of strategy and depth involved in the successful management of the principality.
It was also posted by Ravensburger, which is a company I really adored.
See our in-depth guide and overview of the Castles of Burgundy here .
- ENTERTAINMENT OF FUN GAMES - In the castles of Burgundy players ...
- HIGH QUALITY COMPONENTS - This board game has 164 ...
- GREAT REPEAT VALUE - Playback time is 30-90 minutes, for 2-4 ...
# 3. Star Kingdoms
Star Realms is a 2-player deck building card game. It is set in an epic sci-fi world where four factions fight for control.
For less than $ 30, you can get one of my favorite card games of all time. It’s easy to learn, fast and I adore the sci-fi theme and artwork.
Best of all, Star Realms can be literally in your back pocket , and although there are extensions, you don’t have to buy them to buy the game.
- Fun Incredibly rich yet easy to learn to play games
- Portable The entire game is in a box that fits your ...
- Expandable One copy supports 2 players Add additional copies for ...
# 4. 7 Wonders: Duel
7 Wonders: The duel is a version of the big field for two players 7 Wonders . They have managed to shrink the entire builder of civilization into a handful of cards and they are doing very well.
Each perfect circle represents the age of civilization. Once players draw cards from the pile, they will add them to their place to defeat an opponent with the help of economics, technology, or military power.
There aren’t many games that give you that epic sense of creating your own civilization, but 7 wonders: The duel cuts off perfectly to that all-encompassing sense of growth you’d expect from a civic builder.
This is a great game and also has a dual task as a two player game only. If you often find yourself with a double during a night game, it’s nice to have a few games that you can only play with two people.
- STRATEGIC GAME: Experience an intense battle for two players for ...
- TAKE YOUR CIVILIZATION: Decide to invest in science, ...
- CIVILIZATION IS BORN FROM EVOLUTION: one match 7 Wonders Duel ...
# 5. Race for the Galaxy
The race for the galaxy offers a whole new world to explore in a small box.
Each player represents a competitive species / civilization and must develop their technology, economy and spread throughout the Galaxy.
Race for the Galaxy uses tracking mechanics that allow players to perform the same action as their opponents, so you need to be aware of what everyone is doing at all times.
Because you are a card game, the Rio Grande Games has managed to cram a very fun and tight builder of civilizations into a handful of cards.
- For 2-4 players
- 60 minute playing time
- See all the great Race for the Galaxy extensions
# 6. Resistance: Avalon
Avalon will always have a special place in my heart. I first played Avalon at Oxford in the UK. It was also the first time Kendra and I really connected ... and it was over the game of Avalon.
Avalon is a fun group game where players try to go on missions to save the kingdom. The problem is that there are two competing factions. Faithful knights of Arthur and servants of Mordred. Not everyone knows who’s who, so everyone argues with each other to get involved in the mission. It can be quite tense, but it’s still a lot of fun.
The only reason I don’t play Avalon as much as I’d like is that you need at least 5 players and it works best at about 7. For a game available around $ 15, I’m definitely worth my money.
- The Resistance: Avalon is a standalone game and while The ...
- For 5 to 10 players
- Playback lasts 30 minutes
# 7. Pandemic
I discussed whether or not the Pandemic should actually be put on this list. IFRS is higher than $ 30, but usually , you can find it on sale for only $ 30. The price of games always fluctuates a bit, but at the time of writing this article and then we can find it for only $ 30, maybe $ 0.20 more.
The pandemic is a powerful board game for me. This is what many new players start with, and modern classics.
The first example of most players a co-op board game will be Pandemic, but after many shows and versions it is still fun. If you haven’t played a pandemic game yet, I highly recommend you try it out the next game night.
Check out our in-depth Pandemic Overview here or see our guide to all of its extensions .
- STRATEGY GAME: Players must participate in their ...
- GAME COOPERATIVE: Only by working in groups will you keep ...
- ACT TOGETHER AND SAVE HUMANITY: Four diseases threaten ...
# 8. Jaipur
Jaipur is a very colorful card game for two players. Each player plays as a rival trader and tries to get the seal of excellence to become a master trader. The Maharaja may only be visited by the seal holder.
Jaipur is a game of chance. They will be able to sell goods per player, but they will only be able to sell one type of goods. The first one to sell their goods will earn the most money, but selling sets of goods will be more valuable. So you sell early? Do you wait and sell in bulk?
There is no right or wrong answer, but it is part of the fun and strategy.
- SUBTLE TRADING GAME: In Jaipur, players take on the role of two ...
- STRATEGIC GAME: Collect and exchange goods in the market, then sell ...
- TWO PLAYERS COMPETITIVE GAME: Sell your opponent to win ...
# 9. Carcassonne
Carcassonne is a weird game and there’s not much in it, but I still find myself drawn to more.
Carcassonne is a classic tile-playing game in which players build a city and a countryside. Yes, there is a strategy and yes, there is a competitive element in the base game, but there is something else special about Carcassonne.
As we slowly build our city / countryside and think about all the possibilities that tiles can offer, I go into an almost meditative state. It’s a little weird and maybe I’m going too far down the rabbit hole, but there’s something calm in Carcassonne.
This is an amazing game, travel friendly , child friendly and fun. It is definitely worth the price.
See our guide to ALL the best Carcassonne Extensions here .
- STRATEGY GAME - PLAN YOUR WAY FOR VICTORY: Develop the landscape ...
- ONE STEP IN TIME PLAYING ON THE TILE: Players complete ...
- JACK OF ALL TRADES: Followers can take on many different roles ...
# 10. Forbidden Desert
I really like the Matt Leacock series of games. He did an amazing job of making challenging cooperative games that feel like a real accomplishment when you manage to win.
The banned series is one of those games. Players crashed in the middle of the desert and had to find pieces of their Steampunk airship before they were all eaten by sand or died of dehydration.
There are currently three different games in the series, I may be biased, but Forbidden Desert is my favorite. Kendra and I both grew up in Arizona and we know how miserable it is to be trapped in the heat without water, which is one of the main threats of the Forbidden Desert.
From Components to Playing Forbidden Desert is a knockout, which makes it all the more impressive to be so cheap.
- Thirst for survival
- 2 to 5 players
- Play time: 45 minutes
# 11. Sushi Go!
Sushi Go! is wonderfully wonderful. Honestly, most players on board already have a copy on their shelf. If you don’t, I highly recommend you go out and get it now.
Great fun game, wonderful artwork, easy to learn and lots of fun. Sushi Go! is an age-appropriate game for everyone. It has enough strategy and ingenuity to keep everyone interested, and costs less than $ 30.
Sushi Go! I don't really care when it comes to board games with a budget.
Check out our in-depth review of Sushi Go! Have fun here .
- Includes 108 cards
- Game rules
- Strengthens likelihood, visual discrimination and strategic ...
# 12. Love letter
Of all the games in my collection, Love Letter has probably seen the most playback time.
There are a total of 16 cards in the entire game. That's it.
It’s extremely portable and we’ve basically taken it everywhere we’ve gone in recent years.
That makes it worth a look, but is it a good game? Love Letter is a very simple card game where players try to complete a round with the card with the highest value. Each card value has a different ability that you can play against an opponent or defend yourself.
It’s very easy to teach new players and players on board for beginners, most importantly, a ton of fun. What makes Love Letter even more amazing is that the game probably costs the same as a combined meal at McDonald’s.
- In the package with the Again Products guarantee: authentic, real, ...
- Small packaging for easy carrying Two new character roles ...
- Brand new illustrations give the classic game a fresh, modern ...
# 13. Tokaido
Who doesn't go on vacation?
Tokaido is a journey with friends where players meander through ancient Japan. How you spend your vacation and the most successful holidaymaker is the winner.
Tokaido is a wonderful minimalist game that offers fair strategy and depth. Winning points can be earned by players with meals they eat along the way, painting, shopping and countless other options.
You can always discover something new and with so many options he will see the table more often than not.
I was lucky enough to put my copy up for sale for $ 30, and at the time of writing this is just a little over budget at $ 33. Given the amount of wonderful play in the box, I thought it was worth adding $ 3 to the list for the difference.
- For 2 to 5 players, 45 minutes of play
- Independent game by designer 7 Wonders, Antoine Bauza ....
- 5th Anniversary Edition updates the basic Tokaido game with all ...
# 14. Katan
There are many different versions of Catan Island and smaller versions like Catan Cubes or rivals for Catan can easily be found for less than $ 30. The IFRS of the original game is usually around 35-40, but you can often find it much cheaper when it comes to sales.
There’s even a travel version that folds completely and you can find it for about $ 30.
Catan is one of the biggest names in the board game industry and a modern classic. Honestly, if you don’t own or haven’t played Catan yet, stop reading and go for it now.
See our complete guide to the best Catana extensions here .
# 15. Lotus
Lotus is a wonderful game, which is not surprising since it is about flowers in the garden.
In Lotus, players will add petals to different types of flowers. When the flower is finished, the person who contributed the most influence will win the winning points.
Players can also influence the flower by adding insects to each flower.
It is very easy to learn and there is a huge table for a small game.
- Grow flowers one petal at a time using smart and original ...
- Turn your desk into a work of art
- Call the creatures from the garden to help you control the most ...
# 16. Cartagena
Cartagena is a remake of the classic board game of the same name. It is a pirate - themed racing game based on the infamous historic prison of Cartagena in 1672.
Each player leads a group of pirates trying to escape prison. A ship is waiting for them at the docks, ready to take their freedom.
Cartagena uses a card-based movement system where players will bounce forward. To get a new card, players will have to jump back to their farthest counterpart in their group. It takes some strategy to not take a step forward or two backwards.
The latest add-on has been updated with some new scenarios and upgraded components. This is a nice little game that can add some real suspense when trying to beat the competition.
- Country of origin: China
- Model number: RIO546
- Item package dimensions: 7.5 "L x 2,625" W x 10.75 "H
# 17. Epic Wizarding Wars of Wizards of War
The artwork alone is worth the entry price for this game. There is a lot going on on each individual card. The guys at Cryptozoik are familiar with card games and with Epic Spell Wars they did really weird.
Take part in an EPIC wizard duel as you put together the craziest spells you can think of and blow your opponents to oblivion.
If you’re a fan of the absurd and have a budget, Epic Spell Wars definitely fits the bill. Just looking at the cards breaks me and we usually enjoy some adult drinks every time we play. One of the cards is called "Tests-Kill". You need beer for that.
Check out our in-depth review of Epic Spell Wars here .
- Explosive spell card game for 2-6 players aged 15 or over, ...
- A box bursting at the seams with super cool works of art - playing cards ...
- A cheerful mechanic who combines spells, creates endless playing ...
# 18. Lights: Harvest Festival
Lights is a light, relaxing family game.
The lights use simple tiling and a collection of mechanics. Players will lay out colored tiles and collect Lantern cards to earn their honor (winning points).
This is a very colorful game with surprisingly high quality components and works very well with only two players.
I really enjoy Lučke, especially because it is a family-friendly game and can be adapted to the way your group plays. If you have players who want to play aggressively, you can completely try to block and be covert when playing tiles, or you can relax and focus on your honor and points.
IFRS is over $ 30, but it can often be found on sale. At the time of writing, there are currently about $ 25 online.
- The most anticipated abstract strategy game of 2015 on board ...
- Nicely crafted components
- Tones of repeat values
# 19. Munchkin
Munchkin is a stupid game.
He needs all the fantasy tropes and seduces them into two actions: Kick Down the Door and Loot the Room.
Just because it’s stupid doesn’t mean I don’t like it. This is a simple card game that is not taken seriously and should not be taken either. I’ve often heard that it’s either you like it or you hate it.
I personally love this game. Kendra and I played it several times. It comes with us as we travel and on road trips and it’s a silly game that is always fun.
If you know old school RPGs you will find a lot of jokes that you will recognize and there is a lot of play in the price box.
- You can play the whole game out of the box
- 3 to 6 players
- 1 2 hours to play
Wrap-Up
Board games can become an expensive hobby ... but they don't have to be. I know a lot of players who have multiple games on their shelves that they’ve only played once or twice, and among us there are also those whose shelves are full of games still shrunk.
This, in my opinion, does the bear a favor and can also accumulate old credit card debt. Hopefully you’ve found a game on this list that won’t break the banks, but will also see the table often.
What is your favorite game under $ 30? Did your favorite not make the list? Leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you.
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