Take Over the World with These Games Like Risk

For folks who love strategy and war games, additional board games like Risk can only add to the quality of your collection. Because, after all, as much as you love that classic, there are many other game mechanics, gameplay strategies and components, and player numbers to explore. In this collection of the best games like Risk, you’ll find cards, dice, tile laying, and many other components among alternate worlds crafted around World War II, Japan, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, and even fantasy realms with a strong fantasy theme. Gather the crowd for a competitive game night and you won’t regret it with these games.

Introduction to Risk-Style Board Games

Risk-style board games have been a staple of the gaming community for decades, offering a unique blend of strategy, luck, and competition. These games have captivated players of all ages and skill levels, from casual gamers to seasoned veterans. But what makes Risk-style games so appealing, and what are the key elements that define this genre?

Understanding the Appeal of Risk

Risk-style games offer a unique combination of strategic depth, social interaction, and luck, making them appealing to a wide range of players. The game’s simple ruleset and intuitive gameplay make it easy for new players to learn, while the complexity of the game’s mechanics and the need for strategic thinking keep experienced players engaged. Additionally, the social aspect of Risk-style games, where players negotiate, form alliances, and betray each other, adds a layer of excitement and unpredictability to the game.

Key Elements of Risk-style Games

So, what are the key elements that define Risk-style games? Here are some of the most important features:

• Territory control: Players compete to control territories, which provide resources, bonuses, and strategic advantages.

• Resource management: Players must manage their resources, such as troops, cards, and dice, to achieve their goals.

• Strategic planning: Players must plan their moves carefully, taking into account the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents.

• Luck and unpredictability: Dice rolls, card draws, and other random elements add an element of luck and unpredictability to the game.

• Social interaction: Players interact with each other, forming alliances, negotiating, and betraying each other to achieve their goals.

The Nine Best Games Like Risk to Challenge Your Gaming Crew

Dust

Age: 12+ (Community 10+) Players: 2-6 Time: 60-180 minutes

For a medium- to long-game play session with board games like Risk, consider the popular game of Dust, a strategy game about conquest and control. The game uses infrastructure development, high-tech armies, and seized power sources and capitals to project players toward total world domination. The map of Earth, minus borders and nations, forms the board for Dust, in which an unending war with constantly advancing technologies has altered the reality in which humans live.

During each turn of play, players select cards from their hands that represent their strategy for the upcoming moves they’ll make. During production phases, players may spend points to buy factories and units that impact abilities via statistics and effects, and this is largely where the strategy comes into the game. Choose the wrong combination or numbers and you’ll kneecap your efforts at world domination.

Gameplay also includes, of course, combat, with players alternating dice rolls. Eliminations and destruction occur, or players may declare a cease-fire, retreat, and regroup for the next round. Each round ends with players scoring victory points for their newly acquired capitals, power sources, and the majorities controlled. Whoever controls the most land, sea, or production centers earns bonus victory points. Ultimately, whichever player first controls both a capital and amasses a set number of victory points wins.

Inis

Age: 14+ (12+ Community) Players: 2-4 Time: 60-90 minutes

Sink into the world of the Ancient Celts in Inis, a board game like Risk that makes kings through leadership, land ownership, and/or religious gains. The Inis, or elected Kind of the Island, may claim this title through growing clans larger than anyone else’s, claiming at least six different territories, or collectively containing six religious sanctuaries within their territories.

Gameplay evolves through rounds of play in which players draft four action play cards during the Assembly. Players then earn deeds by invoking bards and master crafters, playing out their actions, accessing leadership prowess, gaining territories, and collecting “epic tales” cards that depict the deeds of their ancient gods like Lugh and Cuchulainn. These epic tales inspire additional actions under the right circumstances, such as adding or moving clans or building and exploring territories.

Throughout Inis, players must engage with intentional drafting, strategic hand management, proper timing strategies, and bluffing skills to develop a balance of power and claim victory. The first player to claim one (or multiple) victories and become King wins.

Antarctica: Global Warming

Age: 8+ Players: 2-4 Time: 120 minutes

For a bit longer gameplay and a twist on “world domination” storylines, grab a copy of Antarctica: Global Warming. This board game like Risk explores the problems of climate change and how melting polar ice caps impact the planet in an alternate or projective history story. In this setting, the polar caps have all melted, all icebergs are gone, and the water levels have risen more than 80 meters (262 feet) around the world. Beaches are gone, gorgeous harbors have been washed away, and fertile plains have been wiped out. The world is in dire distress and four factions must save the world for what more will come – or at least their part of it.

In Antarctica: Global Warming, the race ensues as armies rise to stave off the problems that come with less land, warmer temperatures, and the tension all this causes across the world. And your goal? Be the first to take over Antarctica and save your people.

Smallworld

Age: 8+ Players: 2-5 Time: 40-80 minutes

If you’ve always wanted a great game like Risk that adds elements of silliness, then Smallworld is the category winner for you. This zany game is populated with fantasy characters from numerous races, all vying for control of the world. But, the catch is, this world in which they live is simply too small for all of them. Dwarves, wizards, giants, orcs, amazons, humans, and several others must use their troops to occupy territory, conquer bordering lands, and push the other races off the world.

A total of 14 different fantasy creature races and 20 potential special powers frame the universe for SmallWorld warlords, and players must choose the right combinations from among them to expand the empires. Growth and intentional decline of populations both come into play, allowing these fantasy races to develop and dominate accordingly.

Each turn consists of players using multiple tiles to occupy territories, wage war against weaker bordering neighbors, or drive your own race into decline to bolster numbers at the right time (and, perhaps tempt opponents to your strategically planned “weak” territories). Points are scored at the end of each turn when territories are established. Each player may have one active and one declined race on the board at a time, with occupation changes occurring due to special abilities and strategies engaged. The ultimate winner is the player with the most coins after the final round.

A War of Whispers

Age: 14+ (Community 12+) Players: 2-4 Time: 30-60 minutes

Five empires face off in the game A War of Whispers. The two- to four-player game pits these empires against each other to take over the world. Yet players are not the mighty rulers seeking world domination themselves; they represent secret societies that rig events to change the outcome of the war. Engage with hidden agendas, deep strategies, and shifting loyalties for anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes in this unique board game like Risk.

The game begins with five loyalty tokens distributed to each player, and the excitement of rolling dice to determine initial placements. These tokens, which you keep hidden, attribute your loyalty levels to the five empires. As the game unfolds, each player aims to ensure that they are the most loyal to the ultimately winning empire. The gameplay works in four phases: deployment of agents, empire turns, cleanup, and swapping.

In the deployment phase, players, in order, remove and deploy agents to empire councils. In the empire turn phase, every council position (Sheriff, Marshall, Chancellor, and Steward) takes an action using acquired cards. During the cleanup phase, turn markers are added to the spaces on the turn trackers, and cards are discarded, resulting in players holding no more than five cards. And finally, in the swap phase, players, in order, may swap two of their loyalty tokens out for new ones. The game repeats these phases four times until the last space on the turn track is filled and the game ends. At this phase, scores are tallied, and the player with the most loyalty points to a given empire wins.

Cyclades

Age: 13+ (Community 12+) Players: 2-5 Time: 60-90 minutes

Set in Ancient Greek times and mythos, Cyclades provides players a different take on games like Risk, appealing to those who enjoy high levels of strategic thinking and various play options, including expansions that enhance player dynamics. It keeps the general war components in play for a mixture of defensive and offensive strategies, making it a great choice for those who play Risk.

Players must buy the gods’ favor as quickly as they can as they build two cities on the ancient island of Cyclades.

In this game, players earn victory by honoring the gods, sacrificing to all of them as they’re able, and specifically by paying homage to 1 of 5 gods each turn. Sacrifices are paid through bids, with only one player each turn winning that particular god’s favor.

Ultimately, the winner comes out as the one who has garnered the most favor and won the most territory through construction. But these outcomes vary based on how well you can win their favor, as each god grants different abilities to players. Work quickly to strategically sacrifice your way to victory.

Shogun

Age: 12+ Players: 3-5 Time: 90-120 minutes

During the “Warring States” or Sengoku period between 1467 and 1573 (part of the Shogun era which lasted from 1185 to 1868), Japan saw great changes in its power dynamics. The game of Shogun places players in this narrow period, in which they assume the role of the great Daimyos, or generals, to lead their troops in conquering Japanese islands.

In the game, each player has the same 10 actions available to them for scoring points and growing their kingdom. During each round, players decide which actions to take in which province, leading to showdowns between players. The Cube Tower throws in cubes that represent troops from both sides. The cubes come out of the Cube Tower, determining the winner of the battle.

Your goal as a Shogun leader is to own as many temples, theaters, provinces, and castles as possible, gaining victory points. Whoever winds up with the most points at the end of the game wins.

Kemet

Age: 13+ (Community 12+) Players: 2-5 Time: 90-120 minutes

Set in Ancient Egypt, the board game like Risk known as Kemet pits troops of Egyptian tribes against the gods of the ancient world and their armies, much like the dynamic Viking-themed game Blood Rage where players choose a clan and pledge allegiance to different gods. The gods have mystical powers, of course, while human armies must seek help from other beings to wield enough magic to save the day. Players deploy their armies to score points against the gods or invade resource-rich territories to gain the upper hand.

In most cases, games last until 8 or 10 victory points are earned. These may be gained by players through winning battles, controlling fully-developed pyramids, sacrifices made, controlling temples, or gaining and wielding specific magical powers. The game covers two phases (Day and Night), with an action chosen from among nine possibilities in the first phase and five actions taken by every player in each phase. The second phase occurs once night falls, and players garner prayer points and Divine Intervention cards and determine the turn order for the new day. The game progresses through additional rounds of 2 phases until 1 player earns either 8 or 10 victory points (determined by the number of players).

Axis & Allies: World War II

Age: 12+ Players: 2-5 Time: 240 minutes

Accommodating between two and five players, Axis and Allies is considered a classic light-weight war game, often compared to the ‘risk legacy’ concept in terms of its cooperative gameplay and memorable experiences. The game spans the entire length of World War II, pitting players against each other as they represent the United States of America, Russia, or the U.K. as the Allies, versus the Axis countries of Japan or Germany. And though the game does comfortably permit up to five players, most folks suggest the game is best played as a two-player head-to-head war game pitting all of the Axis against all the Allies countries.

Also Read: Top 5 Best War Board Games

The game features a basic dice-based combat system, with some naval, land, and air units pitted against each other looking for territory control and technology advancements. The board contains a map of the world involved in the war, featuring units for types of combatants (such as artillery or destroyers), unit capabilities, tech research, and victory conditions. Depending on which version you purchase (the 2004 update or a copy of the 1981 original), you’ll have different revisions available, including potentially different victory conditions (the later version requires key territories under control, for example).

Expanding Your Risk Experience

If you’re a fan of Risk-style games, you may be looking for ways to expand your experience and try new things. Here are some tips and suggestions for exploring new strategies and games:

Exploring New Strategies

• Try new house rules: Experiment with different house rules, such as changing the number of players, the game length, or the victory conditions. This can add a fresh twist to the game and keep it exciting.

• Play with different player counts: Playing with different numbers of players can change the dynamics of the game and require new strategies. A game with fewer players might focus more on direct conflict, while a larger group could lead to more complex alliances and betrayals.

• Focus on different aspects of the game: Try focusing on different aspects of the game, such as resource management, territory control, or social interaction. This can help you develop a more well-rounded approach and discover new ways to enjoy the game.

• Play against different opponents: Playing against different opponents can help you develop new strategies and adapt to different playstyles. Each player brings their own unique approach to the game, and learning to counter various tactics can make you a more versatile and skilled player.

By exploring these new strategies and expanding your Risk experience, you can keep the game fresh and exciting, ensuring countless hours of strategic fun.

Conclusion

Grab your copies of these games like Risk for the ultimate diversity in war gaming fun. For shorter gameplay lengths, go for Smallworld or A War of Whispers. For medium gameplay times, try Inis, Antarctica: Global Warming, Cyclades, Shogun, or Kemet. And for players ready for the long haul, grab a copy of Dust or Axis and Allies.

Frequently Asked Questions