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 · See Race for the Galaxy alternatives →

   Shares with Innovation: Card Game, Civilization, Hand Management, Variable Phase Order · 4 shared tags · 2 of Innovation’s 6 mechanics (33%)

   vs Innovation: overlaps at 2–4 players · about the same length · +0.2 heavier

   Check price for Race for the Galaxy →
2. 

   2. 7 Wonders Duel (2015)

   2 players · 30 min · ★ 8.1 · Medium-light · See 7 Wonders Duel alternatives →

   Shares with Innovation: Card Game, Civilization, Layering · 3 shared tags · 1 of Innovation’s 6 mechanics (17%)

   vs Innovation: both play at 2 · ~22 min shorter · 0.5 lighter

   Check price for 7 Wonders Duel →
3. 

   3. Eminent Domain (2011)

   2–4 players · 45 min · ★ 7.0 · Medium · See Eminent Domain alternatives →

   Shares with Innovation: Card Game, Civilization, Hand Management, Variable Phase Order · 4 shared tags · 2 of Innovation’s 6 mechanics (33%)

   vs Innovation: overlaps at 2–4 players · about the same length · 0.2 lighter

   Check price for Eminent Domain →
4. 

   4. 7 Wonders (2010)

   2–7 players · 30 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium-light · See 7 Wonders alternatives →

   Shares with Innovation: Card Game, Civilization, Hand Management · 3 shared tags · 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 · See It's a Wonderful World alternatives →

   Shares with Innovation: Card Game, Civilization, Hand Management · 3 shared tags · 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 · See Aeon's End War Eternal alternatives →

   Shares with Innovation: Card Game, Hand Management, Variable Phase Order · 3 shared tags · 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 · See Imperial Settlers alternatives →

   Shares with Innovation: Card Game, Civilization, Hand Management · 3 shared tags · 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 · See Glory to Rome alternatives →

   Shares with Innovation: Card Game, Hand Management, Variable Phase Order · 3 shared tags · 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 · See 51st State Master Set alternatives →

   Shares with Innovation: Card Game, Hand Management, Variable Phase Order · 3 shared tags · 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 · 3 shared tags · 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 · See San Juan (Second Edition) alternatives →

    Shares with Innovation: Card Game, Hand Management, Variable Phase Order · 3 shared tags · 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 · See Core Worlds alternatives →

    Shares with Innovation: Card Game, Civilization, Hand Management · 3 shared tags · 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 · See San Juan alternatives →

    Shares with Innovation: Card Game, Hand Management, Variable Phase Order · 3 shared tags · 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 · See Wingspan alternatives →

    Shares with Innovation: Card Game, Hand Management · 2 shared tags · 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 · See Marvel Champions The Card Game alternatives →

    Shares with Innovation: Card Game, Hand Management · 2 shared tags · 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 · See Everdell alternatives →

    Shares with Innovation: Card Game, Hand Management · 2 shared tags · 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 · See The 7th Continent alternatives →

    Shares with Innovation: Card Game, Hand Management · 2 shared tags · 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 · See Viceroy alternatives →

    Shares with Innovation: Card Game, Civilization, Hand Management · 3 shared tags · 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.