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Samurai / Similar games

18 games like Samurai

The best games like Samurai are The Castles of Burgundy, War Chest and The Rose King — the closest of 18 ranked alternatives, scored by shared mechanics and category. The Castles of Burgundy shares medieval, hexagon grid, set collection with Samurai.

Every alternative below links to its own Samurai-style fact page, drawn from MeeplePick’s abstract strategy / medieval shelf.

Ranked by shared category (3 pts) and mechanics (2 pts), bonus within 0.7 of Samurai’s 2.5 weight, then BoardGameGeek’s Bayesian rating — one entry per series, 18 shown.

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  1. 1. The Castles of Burgundy (2011)
    2–4 players · 30–90 min · ★ 8.1 · Medium · games like The Castles of Burgundy →
    Shares with Samurai: Medieval, Hexagon Grid, Set Collection, Tile Placement · 3 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (50%)
    vs Samurai: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~15 min longer · +0.5 heavier
    View The Castles of Burgundy on Amazon →
  2. 2. War Chest (2018)
    2–4 players · 30 min · ★ 8.0 · Medium-light · games like War Chest →
    Shares with Samurai: Abstract Strategy, Medieval, Area Majority / Influence, Hand Management · 2 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (33%)
    vs Samurai: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~15 min shorter · 0.2 lighter
    View War Chest on Amazon →
  3. 3. The Rose King (1992)
    2–4 players · 30 min · ★ 6.8 · Medium-light · games like The Rose King →
    Shares with Samurai: Abstract Strategy, Medieval, Area Majority / Influence, Hand Management, Tile Placement · 3 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (50%)
    vs Samurai: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~15 min shorter · 0.5 lighter
    View The Rose King on Amazon →
  4. 4. Torres (1999)
    2–4 players · 60 min · ★ 7.1 · Medium · games like Torres →
    Shares with Samurai: Abstract Strategy, Medieval, Area Majority / Influence, Hand Management · 2 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (33%)
    vs Samurai: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~15 min longer · +0.4 heavier
  5. 5. The King is Dead Second Edition (2020)
    2–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 8.0 · Medium-light
    Shares with Samurai: Abstract Strategy, Medieval, Area Majority / Influence, Hand Management · 2 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (33%)
    vs Samurai: overlaps at 2–4 players · about the same length · 0.4 lighter
  6. 6. Carcassonne Traders & Builders (2003)
    2–6 players · 60 min · ★ 7.6 · Medium-light · games like Carcassonne Traders & Builders →
    Shares with Samurai: Medieval, Area Majority / Influence, Set Collection, Tile Placement · 3 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (50%)
    vs Samurai: overlaps at 2–4 players · scales to 6 · ~15 min longer · 0.4 lighter
  7. 7. Carolvs Magnvs (2000)
    2–4 players · 60 min · ★ 6.8 · Medium · games like Carolvs Magnvs →
    Shares with Samurai: Abstract Strategy, Medieval, Area Majority / Influence, Hand Management · 2 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (33%)
    vs Samurai: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~15 min longer · same complexity
  8. 8. El Grande (1995)
    2–5 players · 60–120 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium · games like El Grande →
    Shares with Samurai: Medieval, Area Majority / Influence, Hand Management · 2 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (33%)
    vs Samurai: overlaps at 2–4 players · scales to 5 · ~45 min longer · +0.6 heavier
  9. 9. Calico (2020)
    1–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 7.9 · Medium-light · games like Calico →
    Shares with Samurai: Abstract Strategy, Hexagon Grid, Set Collection · 2 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (33%)
    vs Samurai: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · about the same length · 0.3 lighter
  10. 10. Village (2011)
    2–4 players · 60–90 min · ★ 7.5 · Medium · games like Village →
    Shares with Samurai: Medieval, Area Majority / Influence, Set Collection · 2 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (33%)
    vs Samurai: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~30 min longer · +0.6 heavier
  11. 11. Ninjato (2011)
    2–4 players · 60 min · ★ 7.2 · Medium
    Shares with Samurai: Medieval, Area Majority / Influence, Hand Management, Set Collection · 3 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (50%)
    vs Samurai: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~15 min longer · +0.3 heavier
  12. 12. The Duke (2013)
    2 players · 30 min · ★ 7.4 · Medium-light · games like The Duke →
    Shares with Samurai: Abstract Strategy, Medieval, Tile Placement · 1 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (17%)
    vs Samurai: both play at 2 · ~15 min shorter · same complexity
  13. 13. Babylonia (2019)
    2–4 players · 60 min · ★ 7.7 · Medium
    Shares with Samurai: Abstract Strategy, Area Majority / Influence, Hand Management, Tile Placement · 3 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (50%)
    vs Samurai: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~15 min longer · same complexity
  14. 14. Beowulf The Movie Board Game (2007)
    2–4 players · 30–60 min · ★ 6.4 · Medium-light
    Shares with Samurai: Abstract Strategy, Medieval, Hand Management, Tile Placement · 2 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (33%)
    vs Samurai: overlaps at 2–4 players · about the same length · 0.4 lighter
  15. 15. Glass Road (2013)
    1–4 players · 20–80 min · ★ 7.4 · Medium · games like Glass Road →
    Shares with Samurai: Medieval, Set Collection, Tile Placement · 2 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (33%)
    vs Samurai: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · about the same length · +0.5 heavier
  16. 16. Azul Stained glass of Sintra \/ Les vitraux de Sintra (2018)
    2–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 7.4 · Medium-light · games like Azul Stained glass of Sintra \/ Les vitraux de Sintra →
    Shares with Samurai: Abstract Strategy, Set Collection, Tile Placement · 2 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (33%)
    vs Samurai: overlaps at 2–4 players · about the same length · 0.5 lighter
  17. 17. Fealty (2011)
    2–4 players · 15–30 min · ★ 6.7 · Medium-light
    Shares with Samurai: Abstract Strategy, Medieval, Area Majority / Influence, Hand Management · 2 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (33%)
    vs Samurai: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~22 min shorter · same complexity
  18. 18. BattleLore (2006)
    2 players · 60 min · ★ 7.4 · Medium · games like BattleLore →
    Shares with Samurai: Medieval, Area Majority / Influence, Hand Management · 2 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (33%)
    vs Samurai: both play at 2 · ~15 min longer · +0.3 heavier
Check The Castles of Burgundy on Amazon →

As an Amazon Associate, MeeplePick earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Frequently asked

What game is most like Samurai?
The Castles of Burgundy (2011) is the closest match to Samurai, sharing medieval, hexagon grid, set collection. It rates 8.1/10 on BoardGameGeek.
What should I play if I like Samurai?
The Castles of Burgundy, War Chest, The Rose King are the top-ranked alternatives to Samurai in the MeeplePick database, matched on medium-light complexity as well as mechanics. All 18 are ranked on this page with the shared mechanics shown for each.
Is The Castles of Burgundy harder than Samurai?
Compared with Samurai, The Castles of Burgundy is +0.5 heavier and ~15 min longer (3.0 vs 2.5 complexity on BoardGameGeek's 1–5 scale).

Narrow it down

best 2-player board games · best 3-player board games · best 4-player board games · area majority / influence games · hand management games · hexagon grid games · once-per-game abilities games

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