Java / Similar games

18 games like Java

The best games like Java are Ginkgopolis, Mexica and Clash of Cultures — the closest of 18 ranked alternatives, scored by shared mechanics and category. Ginkgopolis shares city building, area majority / influence, layering with Java.

Every alternative below links to its own Java-style fact page, drawn from MeeplePick’s city building shelf.

Ranked by shared category (3 pts) and mechanics (2 pts), bonus within 0.7 of Java’s 3.4 weight, then BoardGameGeek’s Bayesian rating — one entry per series, 18 shown.

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1. 1. Ginkgopolis (2012)
   1–5 players · 45 min · ★ 7.5 · Medium
   Shares with Java: City Building, Area Majority / Influence, Layering, Tile Placement · 3 of Java’s 4 mechanics (75%)
   vs Java: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · scales to 5 · ~75 min shorter · 0.5 lighter
   View Ginkgopolis on Amazon →
2. 2. Mexica (2002)
   2–4 players · 90 min · ★ 7.2 · Medium
   Shares with Java: City Building, Action Points, Area Majority / Influence, Tile Placement · 3 of Java’s 4 mechanics (75%)
   vs Java: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~30 min shorter · 0.7 lighter
   View Mexica on Amazon →
3. 3. Clash of Cultures (2012)
   2–4 players · 180–240 min · ★ 7.6 · Medium-heavy
   Shares with Java: City Building, Action Points, Area Majority / Influence · 2 of Java’s 4 mechanics (50%)
   vs Java: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~90 min longer · +0.2 heavier
   View Clash of Cultures on Amazon →
4. 4. Urban Sprawl (2011)
   2–4 players · 180 min · ★ 6.8 · Medium
   Shares with Java: City Building, Action Points, Area Majority / Influence, Tile Placement · 3 of Java’s 4 mechanics (75%)
   vs Java: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~60 min longer · same complexity
5. 5. Carson City (2009)
   2–5 players · 90 min · ★ 7.2 · Medium
   Shares with Java: City Building, Area Majority / Influence, Tile Placement · 2 of Java’s 4 mechanics (50%)
   vs Java: overlaps at 2–4 players · scales to 5 · ~30 min shorter · 0.2 lighter
6. 6. Strasbourg (2011)
   3–5 players · 60 min · ★ 7.2 · Medium
   Shares with Java: City Building, Area Majority / Influence, Tile Placement · 2 of Java’s 4 mechanics (50%)
   vs Java: overlaps at 3–4 players · scales to 5 · ~60 min shorter · 0.6 lighter
7. 7. Keyper (2017)
   2–4 players · 90–120 min · ★ 7.3 · Medium-heavy
   Shares with Java: City Building, Area Majority / Influence, Tile Placement · 2 of Java’s 4 mechanics (50%)
   vs Java: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~15 min shorter · +0.2 heavier
8. 8. Glen More II Chronicles (2019)
   2–4 players · 90–120 min · ★ 8.0 · Medium
   Shares with Java: City Building, Tile Placement · 1 of Java’s 4 mechanics (25%)
   vs Java: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~15 min shorter · 0.3 lighter
9. 9. Patchistory (2013)
   2–4 players · 60–120 min · ★ 7.1 · Medium-heavy
   Shares with Java: City Building, Action Points, Area Majority / Influence · 2 of Java’s 4 mechanics (50%)
   vs Java: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~30 min shorter · +0.4 heavier
10. 10. Praga Caput Regni (2020)
    1–4 players · 30–120 min · ★ 8.2 · Medium-heavy
    Shares with Java: City Building, Area Majority / Influence · 1 of Java’s 4 mechanics (25%)
    vs Java: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · ~45 min shorter · +0.3 heavier
11. 11. Paris (2020)
    2–4 players · 90 min · ★ 7.4 · Medium
    Shares with Java: City Building, Area Majority / Influence, Tile Placement · 2 of Java’s 4 mechanics (50%)
    vs Java: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~30 min shorter · 0.7 lighter
12. 12. City of Iron (2013)
    2–4 players · 120 min · ★ 7.2 · Medium
    Shares with Java: City Building, Action Points, Area Majority / Influence · 2 of Java’s 4 mechanics (50%)
    vs Java: overlaps at 2–4 players · about the same length · same complexity
13. 13. Lisboa (2017)
    1–4 players · 60–120 min · ★ 8.2 · Heavy
    Shares with Java: City Building, Area Majority / Influence, Tile Placement · 2 of Java’s 4 mechanics (50%)
    vs Java: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · ~30 min shorter · +1.2 heavier
14. 14. Cyclades (2009)
    2–5 players · 60–90 min · ★ 7.5 · Medium
    Shares with Java: City Building, Area Majority / Influence · 1 of Java’s 4 mechanics (25%)
    vs Java: overlaps at 2–4 players · scales to 5 · ~45 min shorter · 0.6 lighter
15. 15. The Princes of Florence (2000)
    2–5 players · 75–100 min · ★ 7.5 · Medium
    Shares with Java: City Building, Tile Placement · 1 of Java’s 4 mechanics (25%)
    vs Java: overlaps at 2–4 players · scales to 5 · ~32 min shorter · same complexity
16. 16. Helvetia (2011)
    2–4 players · 90 min · ★ 7.0 · Medium
    Shares with Java: City Building, Action Points, Area Majority / Influence · 2 of Java’s 4 mechanics (50%)
    vs Java: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~30 min shorter · 0.3 lighter
17. 17. Glass Road (2013)
    1–4 players · 20–80 min · ★ 7.4 · Medium
    Shares with Java: City Building, Tile Placement · 1 of Java’s 4 mechanics (25%)
    vs Java: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · ~70 min shorter · 0.4 lighter
18. 18. The Capitals (2013)
    2–5 players · 120 min · ★ 6.9 · Medium
    Shares with Java: City Building, Action Points, Tile Placement · 2 of Java’s 4 mechanics (50%)
    vs Java: overlaps at 2–4 players · scales to 5 · about the same length · same complexity

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