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
   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
   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
   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
   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
   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
   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
   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
   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
   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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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.