Core Worlds / Similar games

18 games like Core Worlds

The best games like Core Worlds are Eminent Domain, Race for the Galaxy and It's a Wonderful World — the closest of 18 ranked alternatives, scored by shared mechanics and category. Eminent Domain shares card game, civilization, science fiction with Core Worlds.

Every alternative below links to its own Core Worlds-style fact page, drawn from MeeplePick’s card game / civilization shelf.

Ranked by shared category (3 pts) and mechanics (2 pts), bonus within 0.7 of Core Worlds’s 2.9 weight, then BoardGameGeek’s Bayesian rating — one entry per series, 18 shown.

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1. 1. Eminent Domain (2011)
   2–4 players · 45 min · ★ 7.0 · Medium · games like Eminent Domain →
   Shares with Core Worlds: Card Game, Civilization, Science Fiction, Space Exploration, Card Drafting, Deck, Hand Management · 3 of Core Worlds’s 3 mechanics (100%)
   vs Core Worlds: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~45 min shorter · 0.4 lighter
   View Eminent Domain on Amazon →
2. 2. Race for the Galaxy (2007)
   2–4 players · 30–60 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium · games like Race for the Galaxy →
   Shares with Core Worlds: Card Game, Civilization, Science Fiction, Space Exploration, Hand Management · 1 of Core Worlds’s 3 mechanics (33%)
   vs Core Worlds: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~45 min shorter · same complexity
   View Race for the Galaxy on Amazon →
3. 3. It's a Wonderful World (2019)
   1–5 players · 30–60 min · ★ 7.9 · Medium-light · games like It's a Wonderful World →
   Shares with Core Worlds: Card Game, Civilization, Science Fiction, Card Drafting, Hand Management · 2 of Core Worlds’s 3 mechanics (67%)
   vs Core Worlds: overlaps at 2–5 players · plays solo · ~45 min shorter · 0.6 lighter
   View It's a Wonderful World on Amazon →
4. 4. Aeon's End (2016)
   1–4 players · 60 min · ★ 8.0 · Medium · games like Aeon's End →
   Shares with Core Worlds: Card Game, Science Fiction, Card Drafting, Deck, Hand Management · 3 of Core Worlds’s 3 mechanics (100%)
   vs Core Worlds: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · ~30 min shorter · same complexity
5. 5. Underwater Cities (2018)
   1–4 players · 80–150 min · ★ 8.1 · Medium-heavy · games like Underwater Cities →
   Shares with Core Worlds: Card Game, Civilization, Science Fiction, Hand Management · 1 of Core Worlds’s 3 mechanics (33%)
   vs Core Worlds: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · ~25 min longer · +0.7 heavier
6. 6. Baseball Highlights 2045 (2015)
   1–4 players · 45 min · ★ 7.5 · Medium-light · games like Baseball Highlights 2045 →
   Shares with Core Worlds: Card Game, Science Fiction, Card Drafting, Deck, Hand Management · 3 of Core Worlds’s 3 mechanics (100%)
   vs Core Worlds: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · ~45 min shorter · 0.7 lighter
7. 7. Legendary Encounters An Alien Deck Building Game (2014)
   1–5 players · 30–60 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium · games like Legendary Encounters An Alien Deck Building Game →
   Shares with Core Worlds: Card Game, Science Fiction, Card Drafting, Deck · 2 of Core Worlds’s 3 mechanics (67%)
   vs Core Worlds: overlaps at 2–5 players · plays solo · ~45 min shorter · 0.2 lighter
8. 8. Terraforming Mars (2016)
   1–5 players · 120 min · ★ 8.4 · Medium · games like Terraforming Mars →
   Shares with Core Worlds: Science Fiction, Space Exploration, Hand Management · 1 of Core Worlds’s 3 mechanics (33%)
   vs Core Worlds: overlaps at 2–5 players · plays solo · ~30 min longer · +0.4 heavier
9. 9. 51st State Master Set (2016)
   1–4 players · 60–90 min · ★ 7.7 · Medium · games like 51st State Master Set →
   Shares with Core Worlds: Card Game, Science Fiction, Card Drafting, Hand Management · 2 of Core Worlds’s 3 mechanics (67%)
   vs Core Worlds: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · ~15 min shorter · same complexity
10. 10. Imperial Settlers (2014)
    1–4 players · 45–90 min · ★ 7.4 · Medium · games like Imperial Settlers →
    Shares with Core Worlds: Card Game, Civilization, Card Drafting, Hand Management · 2 of Core Worlds’s 3 mechanics (67%)
    vs Core Worlds: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · ~22 min shorter · same complexity
11. 11. Alien Artifacts (2017)
    2–5 players · 60 min · ★ 6.7 · Medium
    Shares with Core Worlds: Card Game, Science Fiction, Space Exploration, Card Drafting, Hand Management · 2 of Core Worlds’s 3 mechanics (67%)
    vs Core Worlds: overlaps at 2–5 players · ~30 min shorter · same complexity
12. 12. City of Iron (2013)
    2–4 players · 120 min · ★ 7.2 · Medium
    Shares with Core Worlds: Card Game, Civilization, Card Drafting, Deck, Hand Management · 3 of Core Worlds’s 3 mechanics (100%)
    vs Core Worlds: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~30 min longer · +0.4 heavier
13. 13. 7 Wonders Duel (2015)
    2 players · 30 min · ★ 8.1 · Medium-light · games like 7 Wonders Duel →
    Shares with Core Worlds: Card Game, Civilization, Card Drafting · 1 of Core Worlds’s 3 mechanics (33%)
    vs Core Worlds: both play at 2 · ~60 min shorter · 0.7 lighter
14. 14. Thunderstone Advance Numenera (2013)
    1–5 players · 60–90 min · ★ 7.3 · Medium
    Shares with Core Worlds: Card Game, Science Fiction, Card Drafting, Deck, Hand Management · 3 of Core Worlds’s 3 mechanics (100%)
    vs Core Worlds: overlaps at 2–5 players · plays solo · ~15 min shorter · 0.2 lighter
15. 15. Abyss (2014)
    2–4 players · 30–60 min · ★ 7.3 · Medium-light · games like Abyss →
    Shares with Core Worlds: Card Game, Science Fiction, Card Drafting, Hand Management · 2 of Core Worlds’s 3 mechanics (67%)
    vs Core Worlds: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~45 min shorter · 0.6 lighter
16. 16. The 7th Continent (2017)
    1–4 players · 5–1000 min · ★ 8.1 · Medium · games like The 7th Continent →
    Shares with Core Worlds: Card Game, Science Fiction, Hand Management · 1 of Core Worlds’s 3 mechanics (33%)
    vs Core Worlds: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · ~413 min longer · same complexity
17. 17. Star Trek Deck Building Game The Next Generation (2011)
    2–5 players · 60–90 min · ★ 6.5 · Medium-light
    Shares with Core Worlds: Card Game, Science Fiction, Space Exploration, Card Drafting, Deck · 2 of Core Worlds’s 3 mechanics (67%)
    vs Core Worlds: overlaps at 2–5 players · ~15 min shorter · 0.4 lighter
18. 18. A Handful of Stars (2017)
    2–4 players · 90–120 min · ★ 7.3 · Medium
    Shares with Core Worlds: Science Fiction, Space Exploration, Card Drafting, Deck, Hand Management · 3 of Core Worlds’s 3 mechanics (100%)
    vs Core Worlds: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~15 min longer · +0.3 heavier

Looking for the original? See the full Core Worlds fact page — players, play time, age and complexity.