Samurai / Similar games

18 games like Samurai

The best games like Samurai are The Castles of Burgundy, War Chest and The Rose King — the closest of 18 ranked alternatives, scored by shared mechanics and category. The Castles of Burgundy shares medieval, hexagon grid, set collection with Samurai.

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

Ranked by shared category (3 pts) and mechanics (2 pts), bonus within 0.7 of Samurai’s 2.5 weight, then BoardGameGeek’s Bayesian rating — one entry per series, 18 shown.

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1. 1. The Castles of Burgundy (2011)
   2–4 players · 30–90 min · ★ 8.1 · Medium
   Shares with Samurai: Medieval, Hexagon Grid, Set Collection, Tile Placement · 3 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (50%)
   vs Samurai: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~15 min longer · +0.5 heavier
   View The Castles of Burgundy on Amazon →
2. 2. War Chest (2018)
   2–4 players · 30 min · ★ 8.0 · Medium-light
   Shares with Samurai: Abstract Strategy, Medieval, Area Majority / Influence, Hand Management · 2 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (33%)
   vs Samurai: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~15 min shorter · 0.2 lighter
   View War Chest on Amazon →
3. 3. The Rose King (1992)
   2–4 players · 30 min · ★ 6.8 · Medium-light
   Shares with Samurai: Abstract Strategy, Medieval, Area Majority / Influence, Hand Management, Tile Placement · 3 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (50%)
   vs Samurai: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~15 min shorter · 0.5 lighter
   View The Rose King on Amazon →
4. 4. Torres (1999)
   2–4 players · 60 min · ★ 7.1 · Medium
   Shares with Samurai: Abstract Strategy, Medieval, Area Majority / Influence, Hand Management · 2 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (33%)
   vs Samurai: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~15 min longer · +0.4 heavier
5. 5. The King is Dead Second Edition (2020)
   2–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 8.0 · Medium-light
   Shares with Samurai: Abstract Strategy, Medieval, Area Majority / Influence, Hand Management · 2 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (33%)
   vs Samurai: overlaps at 2–4 players · about the same length · 0.4 lighter
6. 6. Carcassonne Traders & Builders (2003)
   2–6 players · 60 min · ★ 7.6 · Medium-light
   Shares with Samurai: Medieval, Area Majority / Influence, Set Collection, Tile Placement · 3 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (50%)
   vs Samurai: overlaps at 2–4 players · scales to 6 · ~15 min longer · 0.4 lighter
7. 7. Carolvs Magnvs (2000)
   2–4 players · 60 min · ★ 6.8 · Medium
   Shares with Samurai: Abstract Strategy, Medieval, Area Majority / Influence, Hand Management · 2 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (33%)
   vs Samurai: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~15 min longer · same complexity
8. 8. El Grande (1995)
   2–5 players · 60–120 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium
   Shares with Samurai: Medieval, Area Majority / Influence, Hand Management · 2 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (33%)
   vs Samurai: overlaps at 2–4 players · scales to 5 · ~45 min longer · +0.6 heavier
9. 9. Calico (2020)
   1–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 7.9 · Medium-light
   Shares with Samurai: Abstract Strategy, Hexagon Grid, Set Collection · 2 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (33%)
   vs Samurai: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · about the same length · 0.3 lighter
10. 10. Village (2011)
    2–4 players · 60–90 min · ★ 7.5 · Medium
    Shares with Samurai: Medieval, Area Majority / Influence, Set Collection · 2 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (33%)
    vs Samurai: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~30 min longer · +0.6 heavier
11. 11. Ninjato (2011)
    2–4 players · 60 min · ★ 7.2 · Medium
    Shares with Samurai: Medieval, Area Majority / Influence, Hand Management, Set Collection · 3 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (50%)
    vs Samurai: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~15 min longer · +0.3 heavier
12. 12. The Duke (2013)
    2 players · 30 min · ★ 7.4 · Medium-light
    Shares with Samurai: Abstract Strategy, Medieval, Tile Placement · 1 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (17%)
    vs Samurai: both play at 2 · ~15 min shorter · same complexity
13. 13. Babylonia (2019)
    2–4 players · 60 min · ★ 7.7 · Medium
    Shares with Samurai: Abstract Strategy, Area Majority / Influence, Hand Management, Tile Placement · 3 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (50%)
    vs Samurai: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~15 min longer · same complexity
14. 14. Beowulf The Movie Board Game (2007)
    2–4 players · 30–60 min · ★ 6.4 · Medium-light
    Shares with Samurai: Abstract Strategy, Medieval, Hand Management, Tile Placement · 2 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (33%)
    vs Samurai: overlaps at 2–4 players · about the same length · 0.4 lighter
15. 15. Glass Road (2013)
    1–4 players · 20–80 min · ★ 7.4 · Medium
    Shares with Samurai: Medieval, Set Collection, Tile Placement · 2 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (33%)
    vs Samurai: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · about the same length · +0.5 heavier
16. 16. Azul Stained glass of Sintra \/ Les vitraux de Sintra (2018)
    2–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 7.4 · Medium-light
    Shares with Samurai: Abstract Strategy, Set Collection, Tile Placement · 2 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (33%)
    vs Samurai: overlaps at 2–4 players · about the same length · 0.5 lighter
17. 17. Fealty (2011)
    2–4 players · 15–30 min · ★ 6.7 · Medium-light
    Shares with Samurai: Abstract Strategy, Medieval, Area Majority / Influence, Hand Management · 2 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (33%)
    vs Samurai: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~22 min shorter · same complexity
18. 18. BattleLore (2006)
    2 players · 60 min · ★ 7.4 · Medium
    Shares with Samurai: Medieval, Area Majority / Influence, Hand Management · 2 of Samurai’s 6 mechanics (33%)
    vs Samurai: both play at 2 · ~15 min longer · +0.3 heavier

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