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 · See Ginkgopolis alternatives →

   Shares with Java: City Building, Area Majority / Influence, Layering, Tile Placement · 4 shared tags · 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

   Check price for Ginkgopolis →
2. 

   2. Mexica (2002)

   2–4 players · 90 min · ★ 7.2 · Medium · See Mexica alternatives →

   Shares with Java: City Building, Action Points, Area Majority / Influence, Tile Placement · 4 shared tags · 3 of Java’s 4 mechanics (75%)

   vs Java: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~30 min shorter · 0.7 lighter

   Check price for Mexica →
3. 

   3. Clash of Cultures (2012)

   2–4 players · 180–240 min · ★ 7.6 · Medium-heavy · See Clash of Cultures alternatives →

   Shares with Java: City Building, Action Points, Area Majority / Influence · 3 shared tags · 2 of Java’s 4 mechanics (50%)

   vs Java: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~90 min longer · +0.2 heavier

   Check price for Clash of Cultures →
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 · 4 shared tags · 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 · See Carson City alternatives →

   Shares with Java: City Building, Area Majority / Influence, Tile Placement · 3 shared tags · 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 · 3 shared tags · 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 · 3 shared tags · 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 · See Glen More II Chronicles alternatives →

   Shares with Java: City Building, Tile Placement · 2 shared tags · 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 · 3 shared tags · 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 · 2 shared tags · 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 · 3 shared tags · 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 · 3 shared tags · 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 · See Lisboa alternatives →

    Shares with Java: City Building, Area Majority / Influence, Tile Placement · 3 shared tags · 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 · See Cyclades alternatives →

    Shares with Java: City Building, Area Majority / Influence · 2 shared tags · 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 · See The Princes of Florence alternatives →

    Shares with Java: City Building, Tile Placement · 2 shared tags · 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 · 3 shared tags · 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 · See Glass Road alternatives →

    Shares with Java: City Building, Tile Placement · 2 shared tags · 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 · 3 shared tags · 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.