Games like Risk
Last checked 3 November 2026
Quick answer: Small World is the easiest step on from Risk: fantasy races fighting over a map that's too small for them all, from 8 and up. Root and Scythe are deeper games about fighting over territory for 14 and up, Star Wars: Rebellion and Twilight Imperium Fourth Edition are the big all-evening epics, and King of Tokyo keeps the dice-rolling scraps down to 30 minutes.
Risk gets plenty right. There's a map, there are armies, and you get to roll dice at your brother-in-law. What it's bad at is ending. Games drag on long after the winner's obvious, and whoever gets knocked out first sits watching for an hour. Everything here keeps the conquest and fixes at least some of that. They're in order of our teaching rating, easiest first. Play times run from half an hour to most of a day, so check that before you buy.
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1. King of Tokyo
Play a giant monster and roll dice, a bit like Yahtzee, to attack, heal or score. Whoever's in Tokyo hits everyone else but can't heal there. First to 20 points or last monster standing wins.
- Players
- 2 to 6 players
- Age
- 8+
- Play time
- about 30 minutes
- Our teaching rating
- Easy to teach
Why it suits this: No map, but it's the quickest way to get Risk's best bit, which is rolling dice and hitting people. In Richard Garfield's monster game you roll dice, a bit like Yahtzee, to attack, heal or score. Whoever's in Tokyo hits everyone else but can't heal there, so holding the city is a gamble. First to 20 points or last monster standing wins. It's 2 to 6 players, 8 and up, about 30 minutes, and easy to teach.
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Details last checked 19 October 2026.
2. Small World
Fantasy races fighting over a map that's too small for them all. Each race gets a random special power, and the clever bit is knowing when to put yours into decline and start a fresh one.
- Players
- 2 to 5 players
- Age
- 8+
- Play time
- 40 to 80 minutes
- Our teaching rating
- Takes a little explaining
Why it suits this: The one to try first if Risk is the family game. It's still about grabbing land on a map, but the map's too small for everyone, and each fantasy race comes with a random special power (there are 14 races and 20 powers). The clever bit is knowing when to put your race into decline and start a fresh one. Philippe Keyaerts' game is 2 to 5 players, 8 and up, 40 to 80 minutes, and it takes a little explaining.
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Details last checked 22 October 2026.
3. Root
Woodland war where every side plays by different rules. The Cats build an empire, the Eyrie birds expand, the Alliance stirs up revolt and the Vagabond plays everyone off.
- Players
- 2 to 4 players
- Age
- 14+
- Play time
- 60 to 90 minutes
- Our teaching rating
- Takes some explaining
Why it suits this: Cole Wehrle's woodland war looks cute and plays mean. Every side has its own rules and its own way to win: the Marquise de Cat builds an empire, the Eyrie birds expand, the Woodland Alliance stirs up revolt and the Vagabond plays everyone off against each other. Kyle Ferrin's art does a lot of the selling. It's 2 to 4 players, 14 and up, 60 to 90 minutes, and it takes some explaining, because each player is learning a different game.
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Details last checked 2 November 2026.
4. Scythe
Lead a faction across an alternate-history 1920s Europe with giant mechs on the map. There's plenty of fighting, but nobody gets knocked out, and most turns go on building your economy.
- Players
- 1 to 5 players
- Age
- 14+
- Play time
- about 115 minutes
- Our teaching rating
- Takes some explaining
Why it suits this: Jamey Stegmaier's Scythe is set in an alternate-history 1920s Europe, with Jakub Rozalski's giant mechs stomping across the map. There's fighting, but nobody gets knocked out, and most turns go on building up your economy. If player elimination is what spoils Risk for you, this fixes it. It's 1 to 5 players, so it plays solo too, 14 and up, about 115 minutes, and it takes some explaining.
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Details last checked 19 October 2026.
5. Star Wars: Rebellion
One player is the Empire hunting for the hidden Rebel base, the other is the Rebellion trying to hold out and win hearts. Big map, lots of miniatures, and missions led by film heroes.
- Players
- 2 to 4 players
- Age
- 14+
- Play time
- 180 to 240 minutes
- Our teaching rating
- Takes some explaining
Why it suits this: Two sides and one big map. One player is the Empire hunting for the hidden Rebel base, the other is the Rebellion trying to hold out and build its reputation across the galaxy. There are more than 150 plastic miniatures and two game boards, and missions are led by heroes from the films. Corey Konieczka's game is 2 to 4 players, 14 and up, and takes 3 to 4 hours, so clear the evening.
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Details last checked 2 November 2026.
6. Twilight Imperium Fourth Edition
The all-day space epic. Up to six players pick from 17 alien races and fight, trade and vote their way to the galactic throne on a map you build fresh each game.
- Players
- 3 to 6 players
- Age
- 14+
- Play time
- 240 to 360 minutes
- Our teaching rating
- Hard to teach, so set aside time
Why it suits this: The big one, and it really is an all-day game: Fantasy Flight Games puts it at 4 to 6 hours. Pick one of 17 alien races, build the galaxy fresh from 51 tiles, then fight, trade and vote your way to the throne. The trading and politics matter as much as the fleets. Christian T. Petersen's game is 3 to 6 players, 14 and up, and it's hard to teach, so set aside time. One for the friend who's already said yes to a full Saturday.
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Details last checked 2 November 2026.
Want something lighter for the whole family? See games like Catan and games like Monopoly. For more big thinky games, try our strategy board games. Buying one as a present? See board games for dads or board game gifts for board game lovers.
How we choose and check
We pick games for the situation, and ignore hobby rankings and hype. Player counts, ages and play times come from the publisher's own page or the box. If we can't confirm a detail there, we leave it off the card. The teaching rating is our own view from reading the rules, not a publisher figure. Nobody pays us to include a game. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. See how we make money.