Balloon Cup / Similar games

18 games like Balloon Cup

The best games like Balloon Cup are Star Realms Colony Wars, Jaipur and Hero Realms — the closest of 18 ranked alternatives, scored by shared mechanics and category. Star Realms Colony Wars shares card game, hand management, take that with Balloon Cup.

Every alternative below links to its own Balloon Cup-style fact page, drawn from MeeplePick’s aviation / flight / card game shelf.

Ranked by shared category (3 pts) and mechanics (2 pts), bonus within 0.7 of Balloon Cup’s 1.5 weight, then BoardGameGeek’s Bayesian rating — one entry per series, 18 shown.

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

1. 1. Star Realms Colony Wars (2015)
   2 players · 20 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium-light
   Shares with Balloon Cup: Card Game, Hand Management, Take That · 2 of Balloon Cup’s 3 mechanics (67%)
   vs Balloon Cup: both play at 2 · ~10 min shorter · +0.4 heavier
   View Star Realms Colony Wars on Amazon →
2. 2. Jaipur (2009)
   2 players · 30 min · ★ 7.5 · Light
   Shares with Balloon Cup: Card Game, Hand Management, Set Collection · 2 of Balloon Cup’s 3 mechanics (67%)
   vs Balloon Cup: both play at 2 · about the same length · same complexity
   View Jaipur on Amazon →
3. 3. Hero Realms (2016)
   2–4 players · 20–30 min · ★ 7.6 · Medium-light
   Shares with Balloon Cup: Card Game, Hand Management, Take That · 2 of Balloon Cup’s 3 mechanics (67%)
   vs Balloon Cup: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · about the same length · +0.4 heavier
   View Hero Realms on Amazon →
4. 4. Sushi Go Party! (2016)
   2–8 players · 20 min · ★ 7.5 · Light
   Shares with Balloon Cup: Card Game, Hand Management, Set Collection · 2 of Balloon Cup’s 3 mechanics (67%)
   vs Balloon Cup: both play at 2 · scales to 8 · ~10 min shorter · same complexity
5. 5. Dale of Merchants 2 The Era of Trade Masters (2016)
   2–4 players · 30 min · ★ 7.3 · Medium-light
   Shares with Balloon Cup: Card Game, Hand Management, Set Collection, Take That · 3 of Balloon Cup’s 3 mechanics (100%)
   vs Balloon Cup: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · about the same length · +0.6 heavier
6. 6. Seven Seas Guildhall (2012)
   2–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 6.9 · Medium-light
   Shares with Balloon Cup: Card Game, Hand Management, Set Collection, Take That · 3 of Balloon Cup’s 3 mechanics (100%)
   vs Balloon Cup: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · about the same length · +0.6 heavier
7. 7. Battle Line (2000)
   2 players · 30 min · ★ 7.4 · Medium-light
   Shares with Balloon Cup: Card Game, Hand Management, Set Collection · 2 of Balloon Cup’s 3 mechanics (67%)
   vs Balloon Cup: both play at 2 · about the same length · +0.4 heavier
8. 8. San Juan (Second Edition) (2014)
   2–4 players · 45–60 min · ★ 7.5 · Medium-light
   Shares with Balloon Cup: Card Game, Hand Management, Set Collection · 2 of Balloon Cup’s 3 mechanics (67%)
   vs Balloon Cup: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · ~23 min longer · +0.6 heavier
9. 9. Unmatched Cobble & Fog (2020)
   2–4 players · 20–40 min · ★ 8.4 · Medium-light
   Shares with Balloon Cup: Card Game, Hand Management, Take That · 2 of Balloon Cup’s 3 mechanics (67%)
   vs Balloon Cup: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · about the same length · +0.6 heavier
10. 10. Valhalla (2018)
    1–6 players · 30–60 min · ★ 7.3 · Medium-light
    Shares with Balloon Cup: Card Game, Hand Management, Set Collection, Take That · 3 of Balloon Cup’s 3 mechanics (100%)
    vs Balloon Cup: both play at 2 · plays solo · scales to 6 · ~15 min longer · +0.6 heavier
11. 11. Guillotine (1998)
    2–5 players · 30 min · ★ 6.5 · Light
    Shares with Balloon Cup: Card Game, Hand Management, Set Collection, Take That · 3 of Balloon Cup’s 3 mechanics (100%)
    vs Balloon Cup: both play at 2 · scales to 5 · about the same length · 0.2 lighter
12. 12. Lost Cities (1999)
    2 players · 30 min · ★ 7.2 · Light
    Shares with Balloon Cup: Card Game, Hand Management, Set Collection · 2 of Balloon Cup’s 3 mechanics (67%)
    vs Balloon Cup: both play at 2 · about the same length · same complexity
13. 13. Schotten Totten (1999)
    2 players · 20 min · ★ 7.3 · Medium-light
    Shares with Balloon Cup: Card Game, Hand Management, Set Collection · 2 of Balloon Cup’s 3 mechanics (67%)
    vs Balloon Cup: both play at 2 · ~10 min shorter · +0.3 heavier
14. 14. Mandala (2019)
    2 players · 20 min · ★ 7.7 · Medium-light
    Shares with Balloon Cup: Card Game, Hand Management, Set Collection · 2 of Balloon Cup’s 3 mechanics (67%)
    vs Balloon Cup: both play at 2 · ~10 min shorter · +0.4 heavier
15. 15. Scripts & Scribes (2007)
    2–4 players · 30 min · ★ 7.2 · Medium-light
    Shares with Balloon Cup: Card Game, Hand Management, Set Collection · 2 of Balloon Cup’s 3 mechanics (67%)
    vs Balloon Cup: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · about the same length · +0.2 heavier
16. 16. Smash Up Awesome Level 9000 (2013)
    2 players · 45 min · ★ 7.3 · Medium-light
    Shares with Balloon Cup: Card Game, Hand Management, Take That · 2 of Balloon Cup’s 3 mechanics (67%)
    vs Balloon Cup: both play at 2 · ~15 min longer · +0.7 heavier
17. 17. Bohnanza Fan Edition (1997)
    2–7 players · 45 min · ★ 7.0 · Medium-light
    Shares with Balloon Cup: Card Game, Hand Management, Set Collection · 2 of Balloon Cup’s 3 mechanics (67%)
    vs Balloon Cup: both play at 2 · scales to 7 · ~15 min longer · +0.2 heavier
18. 18. Canvas (2021)
    1–5 players · 30 min · ★ 7.7 · Medium-light
    Shares with Balloon Cup: Card Game, Hand Management, Set Collection · 2 of Balloon Cup’s 3 mechanics (67%)
    vs Balloon Cup: both play at 2 · plays solo · scales to 5 · about the same length · same complexity

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