Innovation / Similar games

18 games like Innovation

The best games like Innovation are Race for the Galaxy, 7 Wonders Duel and Eminent Domain — the closest of 18 ranked alternatives, scored by shared mechanics and category. Race for the Galaxy shares card game, civilization, hand management with Innovation.

Every alternative below links to its own Innovation-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 Innovation’s 2.8 weight, then BoardGameGeek’s Bayesian rating — one entry per series, 18 shown.

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1. 1. Race for the Galaxy (2007)
   2–4 players · 30–60 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium · games like Race for the Galaxy →
   Shares with Innovation: Card Game, Civilization, Hand Management, Variable Phase Order · 2 of Innovation’s 6 mechanics (33%)
   vs Innovation: overlaps at 2–4 players · about the same length · +0.2 heavier
   View Race for the Galaxy on Amazon →
2. 2. 7 Wonders Duel (2015)
   2 players · 30 min · ★ 8.1 · Medium-light · games like 7 Wonders Duel →
   Shares with Innovation: Card Game, Civilization, Layering · 1 of Innovation’s 6 mechanics (17%)
   vs Innovation: both play at 2 · ~22 min shorter · 0.5 lighter
   View 7 Wonders Duel on Amazon →
3. 3. Eminent Domain (2011)
   2–4 players · 45 min · ★ 7.0 · Medium · games like Eminent Domain →
   Shares with Innovation: Card Game, Civilization, Hand Management, Variable Phase Order · 2 of Innovation’s 6 mechanics (33%)
   vs Innovation: overlaps at 2–4 players · about the same length · 0.2 lighter
   View Eminent Domain on Amazon →
4. 4. 7 Wonders (2010)
   2–7 players · 30 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium-light · games like 7 Wonders →
   Shares with Innovation: Card Game, Civilization, Hand Management · 1 of Innovation’s 6 mechanics (17%)
   vs Innovation: overlaps at 2–4 players · scales to 7 · ~22 min shorter · 0.4 lighter
5. 5. 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 Innovation: Card Game, Civilization, Hand Management · 1 of Innovation’s 6 mechanics (17%)
   vs Innovation: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · scales to 5 · about the same length · 0.5 lighter
6. 6. Aeon's End War Eternal (2017)
   1–4 players · 60 min · ★ 8.4 · Medium · games like Aeon's End War Eternal →
   Shares with Innovation: Card Game, Hand Management, Variable Phase Order · 2 of Innovation’s 6 mechanics (33%)
   vs Innovation: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · about the same length · +0.2 heavier
7. 7. Imperial Settlers (2014)
   1–4 players · 45–90 min · ★ 7.4 · Medium · games like Imperial Settlers →
   Shares with Innovation: Card Game, Civilization, Hand Management · 1 of Innovation’s 6 mechanics (17%)
   vs Innovation: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · ~15 min longer · same complexity
8. 8. Glory to Rome (2005)
   2–5 players · 60 min · ★ 7.5 · Medium · games like Glory to Rome →
   Shares with Innovation: Card Game, Hand Management, Variable Phase Order · 2 of Innovation’s 6 mechanics (33%)
   vs Innovation: overlaps at 2–4 players · scales to 5 · about the same length · +0.2 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 Innovation: Card Game, Hand Management, Variable Phase Order · 2 of Innovation’s 6 mechanics (33%)
   vs Innovation: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · ~23 min longer · +0.2 heavier
10. 10. 7 Wonders (Second Edition) (2020)
    3–7 players · 30 min · ★ 8.2 · Medium-light
    Shares with Innovation: Card Game, Civilization, Hand Management · 1 of Innovation’s 6 mechanics (17%)
    vs Innovation: overlaps at 3–4 players · scales to 7 · ~22 min shorter · 0.6 lighter
11. 11. San Juan (Second Edition) (2014)
    2–4 players · 45–60 min · ★ 7.5 · Medium-light · games like San Juan (Second Edition) →
    Shares with Innovation: Card Game, Hand Management, Variable Phase Order · 2 of Innovation’s 6 mechanics (33%)
    vs Innovation: overlaps at 2–4 players · about the same length · 0.7 lighter
12. 12. Core Worlds (2011)
    2–5 players · 60–120 min · ★ 7.2 · Medium · games like Core Worlds →
    Shares with Innovation: Card Game, Civilization, Hand Management · 1 of Innovation’s 6 mechanics (17%)
    vs Innovation: overlaps at 2–4 players · scales to 5 · ~38 min longer · same complexity
13. 13. San Juan (2004)
    2–4 players · 45–60 min · ★ 7.3 · Medium-light · games like San Juan →
    Shares with Innovation: Card Game, Hand Management, Variable Phase Order · 2 of Innovation’s 6 mechanics (33%)
    vs Innovation: overlaps at 2–4 players · about the same length · 0.5 lighter
14. 14. Wingspan (2019)
    1–5 players · 40–70 min · ★ 8.1 · Medium-light · games like Wingspan →
    Shares with Innovation: Card Game, Hand Management · 1 of Innovation’s 6 mechanics (17%)
    vs Innovation: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · scales to 5 · about the same length · 0.3 lighter
15. 15. Marvel Champions The Card Game (2019)
    1–4 players · 45–90 min · ★ 8.2 · Medium · games like Marvel Champions The Card Game →
    Shares with Innovation: Card Game, Hand Management · 1 of Innovation’s 6 mechanics (17%)
    vs Innovation: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · ~15 min longer · same complexity
16. 16. Everdell (2018)
    1–4 players · 40–80 min · ★ 8.1 · Medium · games like Everdell →
    Shares with Innovation: Card Game, Hand Management · 1 of Innovation’s 6 mechanics (17%)
    vs Innovation: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · about the same length · same complexity
17. 17. The 7th Continent (2017)
    1–4 players · 5–1000 min · ★ 8.1 · Medium · games like The 7th Continent →
    Shares with Innovation: Card Game, Hand Management · 1 of Innovation’s 6 mechanics (17%)
    vs Innovation: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · ~450 min longer · same complexity
18. 18. Viceroy (2014)
    1–4 players · 45–60 min · ★ 6.8 · Medium · games like Viceroy →
    Shares with Innovation: Card Game, Civilization, Hand Management · 1 of Innovation’s 6 mechanics (17%)
    vs Innovation: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · about the same length · same complexity

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