Deck building games first arrived on the scene less than a decade ago when Rio Grande Games breathed life into the now classic Dominion game. This was the first game of its kind and led to the creation of a new and exciting, extremely popular genre.
Unlike collectible card games such as Magic: The Gathering, deck building games allow the player to create their own deck as the game progresses. This means that players are not required to repeatedly buy packs full of duplicates in order to be able to complete their collection and play to a competitive standard. Not only is this prohibitively expensive for many, but it’s also incredibly frustrating when up against lesser skilled opposition who have out-spent you.
Hearthstone, for instance, is the latest craze in online CCG. The players who have spent enough for a complete collection of thousands of virtual cards are now all copying the same decks the world’s best players are using. This takes away a lot of the originality and replayability a game can give you. The best deck building games are primed to give you a totally new deck game after game. If you enjoy a game to begin with, we guarantee that you still will in years to come.
Deck Building Game Reviews:
As per usual, our list of the best games in a particular genre will be compiled of titles which have passed the test of time. Even though Dominion is only nine years old, the niche has matured past the point where we know what the customer likes.
Dominion
Number of Players: 2-4
For Ages: 10+
What better place to start than with the game which spawned it all. Dominion is as addictive as they come.
With a second edition released in October 2016 there has been some fine tuning with new character types and updated artwork. Owners of the first edition are able to purchase an upgrade pack rather than splash out for a full game.
Dominion is all about playing the role of a monarch who is hell bent on expanding their empire. Of course, there is a catch though; you are not the only one! Players race to take control of unclaimed land, fending off their rivals, as they do so. You will hire minions and decorate your castle, while all the time trying to fill the coffers of the treasury.
Each player starts with an identical deck of cards which is then added to as the game progresses. The aim is to build the deck which gives the most victory points at the end of the game.
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Ascension
Number of Players: 2-4
For Ages: 10+
Ascension was designed by a group of Magic: The Gather Pro Tour champions to be a fast-paced deck building game. Players are constantly kept on their toes by the need to be ready to react and adapt to their opponent’s strategies.
“Runes” are spent to acquire better cards for your deck, with the ultimate aim being to collect as many honor points as possible by defeating monsters before the end of the game.
The artwork is stunning across the board and all the cards, with many different expansion packs available.
On balance, this isn’t the most complicated game out there, and would serve as a great introduction to deck building games. Games usually only last half an hour; a perfect length for some light gaming when you don’t have much free time.
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Legendary Encounters: An Alien Deck Building Game
Number of Players: 1-5
For Ages: 13+
Legendary Encounters is a cooperative game based on the Alien movie franchise. Players must cooperate to repel the horde of aliens by taking the role of the movie protagonists such as Ripley, Hicks, Bishop, and Dallas.
Each turn players recruit cards into their deck to take the fight to the Xenomorph cards which are constantly added to the main game board.
600 beautifully crafted game cards come with the set which takes around 10 minutes to set up, and 45 minutes to complete a single run of the game. Note that the rules allow for solo play, which is ideal for players who love this kind of game, but struggle to find gaming buddies some of the time.
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Heroes of Graxia
Number of Players: 2-6
For Ages: 10+
Heroes of Graxia is set in a fantasy themed environment. With very similar game mechanics to Dominion, there are many similarities to Magic: The Gathering which have been added in search of perfection.
Players start with only 12 cards to represent their forces. Each turn new weapons, armor, spells, armies, henchmen, and mercenary cards are added to help you conquer your enemies. As you rack up victories Prestige Points will be added to your loot pile. The player with the most points at the end of the game is the winner.
One of the biggest changes from the Dominion model is the player vs player combat arena alongside your battles with monsters. Maybe something to bear in mind for when you’re inviting one of your more argumentative friends over for an evening of gaming.
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Mage Knight
Number of Players: 1-4
For Ages: 14+
Mage Knight is one of the more complex deck building games on the market. Players take the role of a Mage Knight in the Atlantean Empire heading an army to repel invaders and conquer new lands for the mysterious Void Council.
The game centers around politics as players build their reputation to attract new recruits to their armies. This is as much a role-playing game as it is a deck building game which will be a huge bonus for many.
Solo rules are included, along with cooperative scenarios to increase your enjoyment of the Mage Knight Universe.
A single game can last more than two and a half hours; a good length for the more serious gamer.
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Blood Bowl: Team Manager
Number of Players: 2-4
For Ages: 12+
Blood Bowl: Team Manager is based on the Warhammer miniature game Blood Bowl. Players manage a team of fantasy genre races in a NFL grid iron type game.
Choosing a team from Chaos, Dwarf, Wood Elf, Human, Orc, and Skaven, the manager must groom his team into shape over five weeks, culminating with the legendary Blood Bowl tournament.
As a reward for your successes star athletes will be recruited to your basic deck. The team you start off with won’t be too hot, but a shrewd manager will be able to carefully work out where they are best placed in order to excel.
After the regular season and Blood Bowl tournament players count up their total number of fans to see who is declared the winner.
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Arctic Scavengers
Number of Players: 2-5
For Ages: 10+
Arctic Scavengers is all about the basic need to survive. Almost 100 years from now the Earth is plunged into a catastrophic ice age killing off more than 90% of the world’s population. Now you must step up to the plate as leader of a small tribe of survivors pitched into conflict against other tribes.
Players must fight for limited resources such as tools, medicine, and mercenaries in order to grow their tribe as big as possible. The biggest tribe at the end of the game is the winner.
One interesting point about this game is the focus on playing your deck in the best possible way, rather than growing it as big as possible in order to have a trivial decision.
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Resident Evil
Number of Players: 1-4
For Ages: 12+
A deadly virus has brought a plague of zombies out into the open. Infecting anything they come into contact with.
Players take the role of a hero from the movie Resident Evil, starting off with a basic deck of 10 cards representing weapons and ammo. As the game pans out your deck will become much stronger and efficient in order to do battle with increasingly stronger creatures.
The game comes with 250 cards which are all used in the three different game modes. Story Mode, Mercenary Mode, and Versus Mode. No two games will ever be the same!
Plenty of different expansion packs are available to keep things interesting.
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Eminent Domain
Number of Players: 2-4
For Ages: 10+
Ever fancied leading a civilisation in their effort to colonise the galaxy? Then you’re looking in the right place.
Maybe you want to colonise empty planets, or will you take over other civilisations by force? Research new technologies and harvest resources for trade in order to build the best civilisation.
The game mechanics are built around Role Cards. Each player starts the game with an identical deck of cards, and chooses a role to execute each turn. The player whose empire has the most influence at the end of the game is the winner.
This game is often referred to as taking the best mechanics from other classics from the deck building genre. Maybe not the most complex, but with an average playing time of only 45 minutes it’s a great place to start.
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Star Realms
Number of Players: 2
For Ages: 8+
As far as deckbuilders go this is a pick from the top of the tree. Star Realms is a game about spaceship combat designed by a pair of world class Magic: The Gathering players.
This fun, fast paced deck building game has the interactivity of Trading Card Game style combat. The best of both worlds. The aim is as simple as can be; destroy your opponents before they destroy you.
For such a great price this is an absolute bargain that has ripped its way through the reviews section. Don’t be fooled by the low minimum age because this game is enjoyed by both adults and children alike.
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Thunderstone
Number of Players: 2-5
For Ages: 12+
Thunderstone makes a great choice for fans of Dominion, with very similar game mechanics. Players must put together a team of heroes to defeat the Thunderstone Bearers in their dungeons.
The starter set includes just enough for newbies to get started with, but one of the many expansion packs is required to enjoy the game to its full.
The aims are fairly standard; you level up your characters and collect better weaponry until you’re confident enough in your ability to complete your tasks successfully. At around an hour per game it’s short enough to not be dragging on too much for the less committed game. A solid choice.
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Super Motherload
Number of Players: 2-4
For Ages: 10+
Super Motherload incorporates deck building as a part of its mechanism, rather than being everything the game is. There is also a tile laying aspect to work with.
The game is set in the future on Mars where you have been chosen to lead an elite crew of Pod pilots to explore deep beneath the surface of the planet in Solarus Corp’s first major drilling expedition. Each turn you add new cards to your deck in order to bomb and drill minerals while collecting bonuses from the main game board. Every card that is purchased from the library earns victory points. Whoever has the most points at the end of the game is the winner.
Boards are added and removed during gameplay creating a videogame style effect which is popular with children. A great way to challenge spatial relation skills.
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Valley of the Kings
Number of Players: 2-4
For Ages: 12+
Valley of the Kings is a light-hearted take on deck building games. Players take the role of Egyptian nobles in ancient times preparing for their death and burial.
Cards are collected as the game continues, but there is a twist; cards that are not entombed before the end of the game do not count towards the final score. Each card can be used in three different ways. Use its cash value, run the action, or entomb it for victory points. As you can see there is a fairly simple trade off mechanism between benefiting now or later. The end of the game is always a scramble to get as much entombed as you can.
The quality of the game cards is praised throughout reviews sections. The artwork is fantastic.
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Friday
Number of Players: 1
For Ages: 10+
Friday is a purely solo deckbuilding game following the story of keeping Robinson Crusoe safe from the island’s many hazards.
Robinson’s behavior is represented by the deck of cards, starting off relatively unskilful. With each successful victory he will improve upon his current state, shaking off his many bad habits along the way.
As time goes on Robinson ages and becomes clumsier. Hopefully not too clumsy before the deck is finished, allowing him to do battle with two evil pirate ships where victory will see him escape the island at last.
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Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game
Number of Players: 1-5
For Ages: 10+
This game is a wonderful adventure through the Marvel Comics universe. Players choose which villain they wish to battle, stack his deck up, modify it based on his particular scheme, and then away you go.
Although the winner is the player with the most victory points at the end, this deck building game has the feel of a cooperative game too. Players win additional cards by defeating villains, and when they have built up enough fighting power they can challenge the evil mastermind. If the mastermind completes his scheme before he is defeated then ALL the players lose.
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A Few Acres of Snow
Number of Players: 2
For Ages: 12+
This two player deck building game is set in North America during the British and French conflict. For more than 150 years the two nations were at each other’s throats over domination of the New World.
Players are forced to deal with impenetrable forests and unfriendly native American tribes in their battle for supremacy thousands of miles from home. Do you think you can change the course of history with some masterful tactical decisions?
As the game progresses your deck will improve to increase the range of your actions. Will you want to build up your military forces, or concentrate on your economy. Maybe you’ll prefer to enlist the help of the natives. The choice is yours.
This is a strategically rich game which can take a few months to really master. Another solid choice for both novice and hardcore gamers.
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DC Comics Deck Building Game
Number of Players: 2-5
For Ages: 8+
This superhero classic has players taking the role of a choice of champions. Play as Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash, Green Lantern, or Cyborg. Each superhero has a unique special ability opening up all kinds of different strategies to the player.
The game mechanics focus on increasing the power of your deck in order to defeat one of the many super-villains, when another one will automatically take his place. When the predetermined number of villains have been defeated the victory points are tallied up and a winner is declared.
This is another great choice for teaching the basics of deck building games to children or novice gamers.
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The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Number of Players: 2-5
For Ages: 14+
The Hobbit follows the epic storyline of the hit movies. Players take the role of a character from The Company as they begin their dangerous journey to Lonely Mountain.
Players begin with 10 cards and draw another five per turn. Each hero card will direct your long term strategy, or if you prefer you can come up with ideas of your own. When a deck has enough power the player can opt to take on an Archenemy to try and win loot cards and victory points.
This is only one game from the Lord of the Rings/Hobbit series, with expansions also available. Tons of fun for fans of the fantasy genre.
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Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle
Number of Players: 2-4
For Ages: 8+
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle is a cooperative deck building game where the players must work together to ensure the safety of the school. Defences must be built and reinforced, while villains must be defeated.
Seven sequential games are included that build on increasing levels of difficulty as players take on the role of Harry, Ron, Hermione, or Neville. Characters become more powerful as they gain influence and add spells and magical items to their deck.
Villains will set back players with their attacks and the Dark Arts. In order to secure the safety of the castle the players must cooperate to defeat the dark forces of evil.
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Core Worlds
Number of Players: 2-5
For Ages: 10+
Core Worlds is all about barbarian Star Empires building their civilisations to eventually take on the ruling classes of the Core worlds. These young kingdoms must gnaw away at the edges of this crumbling frontier while they build new military units and toughen up their tactics. When the time is right an invasion must be executed at the heart of the galactic core.
Players will invade new worlds to build their deck and increase the number of Empire Points they hold. The winner at the end of the game is the Empire with the most points.
Core Worlds is one of the most strategically rich deck building games on the market. The tempo of play is of a slower pace than normal. No adrenaline rush here.
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Final Thoughts on Deck Building Games
This is another tough list to pick an outright winner on.
In term of complexity and strategic richness it’s hard to see how Mage Knight can be beaten though. It’s not a game for the younger end of the market, that’s for sure, but overall it can still be played and enjoyed by novices. The only downside is the average game length being as much as two and half hours. It’s clearly not a game to squeeze into your lunch break.
That said, it ticks all the boxes, and doesn’t fall down anywhere when looking at the game mechanics. Mage Knight has to be our recommendation when it comes to the best deck building game.
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