What game is most like Connect Four?

Reef (2018) is the closest match to Connect Four, sharing abstract strategy, animals, pattern building. It rates 7.1/10 on BoardGameGeek.

What should I play if I like Connect Four?

Reef, Azul, Seikatsu A Pet's Life are the top-ranked alternatives to Connect Four in the MeeplePick database, matched on light complexity as well as mechanics. All 18 are ranked on this page with the shared mechanics shown for each.

Is Reef harder than Connect Four?

Compared with Connect Four, Reef is +0.6 heavier and ~28 min longer (1.8 vs 1.2 complexity on BoardGameGeek's 1–5 scale).

Connect Four / Similar games

18 games like Connect Four

The best games like Connect Four are Reef, Azul and Seikatsu A Pet's Life — the closest of 18 ranked alternatives, scored by shared mechanics and category. Reef shares abstract strategy, animals, pattern building with Connect Four.

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

Ranked by shared category (3 pts) and mechanics (2 pts), bonus within 0.7 of Connect Four’s 1.2 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. Reef (2018)
2–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 7.1 · Medium-light
Shares with Connect Four: Abstract Strategy, Animals, Pattern Building · 1 of Connect Four’s 1 mechanics (100%)
vs Connect Four: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · ~28 min longer · +0.6 heavier
View Reef on Amazon →
2. Azul (2017)
2–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium-light
Shares with Connect Four: Abstract Strategy, Pattern Building · 1 of Connect Four’s 1 mechanics (100%)
vs Connect Four: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · ~28 min longer · +0.6 heavier
View Azul on Amazon →
3. Seikatsu A Pet's Life (2017)
1–4 players · 15–30 min · ★ 7.2 · Medium-light
Shares with Connect Four: Abstract Strategy, Animals, Pattern Building · 1 of Connect Four’s 1 mechanics (100%)
vs Connect Four: both play at 2 · plays solo · scales to 4 · ~13 min longer · +0.5 heavier
View Seikatsu A Pet's Life on Amazon →
4. Spring Meadow (2018)
1–4 players · 15–60 min · ★ 7.1 · Medium-light
Shares with Connect Four: Abstract Strategy, Animals, Pattern Building · 1 of Connect Four’s 1 mechanics (100%)
vs Connect Four: both play at 2 · plays solo · scales to 4 · ~28 min longer · +0.6 heavier
5. Calico (2020)
1–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 7.9 · Medium-light
Shares with Connect Four: Abstract Strategy, Animals, Pattern Building · 1 of Connect Four’s 1 mechanics (100%)
vs Connect Four: both play at 2 · plays solo · scales to 4 · ~28 min longer · +1 heavier
6. Santorini (2016)
2–4 players · 20 min · ★ 7.5 · Medium-light
Shares with Connect Four: Abstract Strategy, Pattern Building · 1 of Connect Four’s 1 mechanics (100%)
vs Connect Four: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · ~10 min longer · +0.5 heavier
7. Haru Ichiban (2014)
2 players · 20 min · ★ 6.7 · Medium-light
Shares with Connect Four: Abstract Strategy, Animals, Pattern Building · 1 of Connect Four’s 1 mechanics (100%)
vs Connect Four: both play at 2 · ~10 min longer · +0.5 heavier
8. Tuki (2019)
2–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 6.9 · Light
Shares with Connect Four: Abstract Strategy, Animals, Pattern Building · 1 of Connect Four’s 1 mechanics (100%)
vs Connect Four: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · ~28 min longer · same complexity
9. Tiny Towns (2019)
1–6 players · 45–60 min · ★ 7.3 · Medium-light
Shares with Connect Four: Abstract Strategy, Animals, Pattern Building · 1 of Connect Four’s 1 mechanics (100%)
vs Connect Four: both play at 2 · plays solo · scales to 6 · ~43 min longer · +0.9 heavier
10. Flying Kiwis (2015)
2–4 players · 10 min · ★ 6.3 · Light
Shares with Connect Four: Animals, Childrens Game, Pattern Building · 1 of Connect Four’s 1 mechanics (100%)
vs Connect Four: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · about the same length · same complexity
11. Nut (2017)
2–3 players · 15 min · ★ 6.5 · Light
Shares with Connect Four: Abstract Strategy, Animals, Pattern Building · 1 of Connect Four’s 1 mechanics (100%)
vs Connect Four: both play at 2 · scales to 3 · about the same length · same complexity
12. Cat Box (2015)
2–5 players · 15–30 min · ★ 6.2 · Medium-light
Shares with Connect Four: Abstract Strategy, Animals, Pattern Building · 1 of Connect Four’s 1 mechanics (100%)
vs Connect Four: both play at 2 · scales to 5 · ~13 min longer · +0.4 heavier
13. Dust in the Wings (2019)
2–4 players · 30 min · ★ 6.3 · Light
Shares with Connect Four: Abstract Strategy, Animals, Pattern Building · 1 of Connect Four’s 1 mechanics (100%)
vs Connect Four: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · ~20 min longer · same complexity
14. Big Five (2010)
1–4 players · 20 min · ★ 6.3 · Light
Shares with Connect Four: Animals, Childrens Game, Pattern Building · 1 of Connect Four’s 1 mechanics (100%)
vs Connect Four: both play at 2 · plays solo · scales to 4 · ~10 min longer · +0.2 heavier
15. Meeple Circus (2017)
2–5 players · 45 min · ★ 7.1 · Light
Shares with Connect Four: Animals, Pattern Building · 1 of Connect Four’s 1 mechanics (100%)
vs Connect Four: both play at 2 · scales to 5 · ~35 min longer · +0.3 heavier
16. Serpentina (2001)
2–5 players · 15 min · ★ 5.6 · Light
Shares with Connect Four: Animals, Childrens Game, Pattern Building · 1 of Connect Four’s 1 mechanics (100%)
vs Connect Four: both play at 2 · scales to 5 · about the same length · 0.2 lighter
17. Cottage Garden (2016)
1–4 players · 45–60 min · ★ 6.9 · Medium-light
Shares with Connect Four: Abstract Strategy, Pattern Building · 1 of Connect Four’s 1 mechanics (100%)
vs Connect Four: both play at 2 · plays solo · scales to 4 · ~43 min longer · +0.7 heavier
18. Orchard A 9 card solitaire game (2018)
1 players · 5–10 min · ★ 7.5 · Light
Shares with Connect Four: Abstract Strategy, Pattern Building · 1 of Connect Four’s 1 mechanics (100%)
vs Connect Four: no player-count overlap (1–1 vs 2–2) · plays solo · about the same length · same complexity

Check Reef on Amazon →

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

Frequently asked

What game is most like Connect Four?: Reef (2018) is the closest match to Connect Four, sharing abstract strategy, animals, pattern building. It rates 7.1/10 on BoardGameGeek.
What should I play if I like Connect Four?: Reef, Azul, Seikatsu A Pet's Life are the top-ranked alternatives to Connect Four in the MeeplePick database, matched on light complexity as well as mechanics. All 18 are ranked on this page with the shared mechanics shown for each.
Is Reef harder than Connect Four?: Compared with Connect Four, Reef is +0.6 heavier and ~28 min longer (1.8 vs 1.2 complexity on BoardGameGeek's 1–5 scale).

Narrow it down

best 2-player board games · pattern building games

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