Hey, guys! This is Board Game King and today we’re going to share a very special top of board games about architecture. Yes, that’s right! Have you ever wanted to build the city of your own without any strings attached? This can be as easy as can be with the games from our today’s top 10. Architecture is all about building a better place to live in both practical and aesthetical way. Just take a look at HARPA Concert Hall and Conference Center in ReykjavÍk or Gardens by the Bay in Singapore! These are the masterpieces of the modern architecture and maybe the people who built them have played the games from today’s top 10. So, let’s get to it without further ado!
10. Dream Home
2-4 Players • Ages 7+ • 30 minutes to play
No. 10 from the list is Dream Home. So, the name shines through – what would be a dream home of yours? That’s for you to decide! You may transform any room of your house as you want it. You want a grand piano in your living room? There you go! A huge bedroom with an ocean view? Why not! You’re the one to design a house of your own! In order to win the game, you have to get the maximum points as possible for functionality, design, quality and furnishing or your house. That’s a nice and simple game for the whole family!
9. Blueprints
2-4 Players • Ages 13+ • 30 minutes to play
Here comes no. 9 from our list of architecture board games! Blueprints is about the competition of architects. As an architect, you will have to use all the materials at hand. Wood, glass, stone, and even recycled materials may be useful to create an absolute architecture masterpiece. You may build a tall tower to gain extra points or use more recycled materials to increase your score even more. There are four colors of dice that you can use for construction. In total, it makes 32 dices, which is eight each of four colors. So, be creative and you’ll be awarded with prizes. You have three rounds to do that – the more prizes you have the more chances you’ll win the game!
8. Tiny Towns
1-6 Players • Ages 14+ • 45-60 minutes to play
No. 8 from the list is one of the best city building board games. Please, welcome Tiny Towns! You’re stepping in as a mayor of a tiny town in the forest. You’re leading your community into a better future by using any materials and resources you can get. Remember to use them wisely and plan the construction of your town in advance. To do so, you’ll need to place special resource cubes on a 4×4 grid. The more buildings you have the more VPs you’re gonna get. The game ends when there are no resources left and nothing to construct. The player with the most VPs wins the game!
7. Castles of Mad King Ludwig
1-4 Players • Ages 13+ • 90+ minutes to play
It’s time to take a look at no. 7 from the list – Castles of Mad King Ludwig! This one’s a real marvel in the world of architecture card games that uses a tile-laying mechanics. The main task here is to build the most sophisticated castle for King Ludwig II of Bavaria. In order to complete this task, players build one room at a time. Moreover, they may offer their services to other players as a contractor. The game ends after several rounds of building rooms and materials’ purchasing. The player who has a room which is the most suitable for the King’s demand is the winner!
6. Rome & Roll
1-4 Players • Ages 14+ • 60-90 minutes to play
Okay, we’re getting close to the top 5 of our best architecture games and now it’s time to have a look at Rome & Roll! Players are trying to build their own empire by using resources, gathering armies, and building cities. Also, it’s possible to make a powerful alliance that makes it easier to win the game. There are seven unique classes available, such as merchant and military leader. Each class has its features and strategy. There are four possible ways to gain scores: buildings construction, resources trading, conquering of new colonies, and renovating the road network of the Roman Empire. Choose your path wisely and lead your empire into Glory!
5. Barrage
1-4 Players • Ages 14+ • 60-120 minutes to play
We’re hitting the top 5 of the building board games and now it’s time for the most epic games! Here’s the no. 5 from our list – Barrage! Welcome to the alternative reality of 1930s… The fossil-based resources have reached the limit due to the industrial revolution. Power is all that matters now. Players have to build an enormous dams to deliver the energy right into the city. Players are represented by four international companies which are trying to get the best engineers around to build the most advanced machinery. During five rounds players have to meet the specific requirements of their personal contracts and to intercept as much water as they can to provide the powerhouses with energy.
4. CitiesUP
2-4 Players • Ages 10+ • 45-90 minutes to play
Okay, guys we’re getting pretty close to the end of our list, so now let’s have an eye on no. 4 – CitiesUP! This game offers you a chance to be an investor and build a whole city of your own. Of course, there are other players that you’ll need to outperform. To do so, you’ll have to build industrial sites, banks, farms, and houses and then provide them with all kinds of resources. Remember, that all your residents have needs that you have to meet as well. The goal is to purchase as much buildings as possible and to provide them with all the necessary resources. The player who has the most buildings and provided resources wins the game!
3. Cities: Skylines – The Board Game
1-4 Players • Ages 10+ • 70+ minutes to play
Well, what do we have here? No. 3 from our list is Cities: Skylines – The Board Game! It is based on a famous PC game with the same name. The main goals here are to complete the milestones of your city and make inhabitants happy. Also, one of the critical aspects of the game is money, that you have to add to a city treasury. If you need to build something or add a new board you just take money from the treasury. There are several scenarios that teach the game mechanics step-by-step, providing players with new challenges and milestones.
2. The Good Architect
2-8 Players • Ages 12+ • 30-60 minutes to play
The closer to the top of our list the more it’s hot! So, here’s no. 2 from the list – The Good Architect! The game is about the architecture history of the Western civilization. Players collect different items from different eras, that are historically significant. For example, there are much to choose from Mesopotamia, ancient Egypt, Renaissance, and even Greece. So, you have to gather the coolest features from each era and design your own buildings. Moreover, you’ll have to evade the plague and even Vesuvius eruption to survive. The player who has the best building at the end of the game wins!
1. Architects of the West Kingdom
1-5 Players • Ages 12+ • 60-80 minutes to play
My friends, it’s time to announce the winner! No. 1 in our list is Architects of the West Kingdom! Welcome to the 850 AD, the dark medieval times. Players are King’s glorious architects that are trying to impress their noble ruler. To do so, they have to collect resources necessary for building, as well as find new apprentices. By the way, remember to watch your workforce closely. The main goal here is to gain the most VPs as possible by constructing different buildings and improving the Archbishop’s cathedral. Also, there are other architects which want to slow you down in your journey. The game ends after a specific number of buildings is completed.
This is it! We hope that our today’s top 10 will help you in finding the game you need. It doesn’t really matter which number from the list is taken by the game that you like. All of them are brilliant and meet any needs – from family and fast-paced to a rather hardcore like No. 1. Whichever you choose is the good one. That’s all for now! Thank you for being with Board Game King and stay safe!