Shakespeare / Similar games

18 games like Shakespeare

The best games like Shakespeare are El Grande, Coimbra and Keyflower — the closest of 18 ranked alternatives, scored by shared mechanics and category. El Grande shares renaissance, auction/bidding, card drafting with Shakespeare.

Every alternative below links to its own Shakespeare-style fact page, drawn from MeeplePick’s renaissance shelf.

Ranked by shared category (3 pts) and mechanics (2 pts), bonus within 0.7 of Shakespeare’s 3.0 weight, then BoardGameGeek’s Bayesian rating — one entry per series, 18 shown.

As an Amazon Associate, MeeplePick earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

1. 

   1. El Grande (1995)

   2–5 players · 60–120 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium · See El Grande alternatives →

   Shares with Shakespeare: Renaissance, Auction/Bidding, Card Drafting · 3 shared tags · 2 of Shakespeare’s 4 mechanics (50%)

   vs Shakespeare: overlaps at 2–4 players · scales to 5 · ~35 min longer · same complexity

   Check price for El Grande →
2. 

   2. Coimbra (2018)

   2–4 players · 60–90 min · ★ 7.7 · Medium · See Coimbra alternatives →

   Shares with Shakespeare: Renaissance, Auction/Bidding, Card Drafting · 3 shared tags · 2 of Shakespeare’s 4 mechanics (50%)

   vs Shakespeare: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~20 min longer · +0.3 heavier

   Check price for Coimbra →
3. 

   3. Keyflower (2012)

   2–6 players · 90–120 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium · See Keyflower alternatives →

   Shares with Shakespeare: Renaissance, Auction/Bidding · 2 shared tags · 1 of Shakespeare’s 4 mechanics (25%)

   vs Shakespeare: overlaps at 2–4 players · scales to 6 · ~50 min longer · +0.3 heavier

   Check price for Keyflower →
4. 

   4. Endeavor Age of Sail (2018)

   2–5 players · 60–90 min · ★ 8.0 · Medium · See Endeavor Age of Sail alternatives →

   Shares with Shakespeare: Renaissance, Card Drafting · 2 shared tags · 1 of Shakespeare’s 4 mechanics (25%)

   vs Shakespeare: overlaps at 2–4 players · scales to 5 · ~20 min longer · 0.2 lighter
5. 

   5. Lorenzo il Magnifico (2016)

   2–4 players · 60–120 min · ★ 7.9 · Medium · See Lorenzo il Magnifico alternatives →

   Shares with Shakespeare: Renaissance, Card Drafting · 2 shared tags · 1 of Shakespeare’s 4 mechanics (25%)

   vs Shakespeare: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~35 min longer · +0.3 heavier
6. 

   6. Rialto (2013)

   2–5 players · 45 min · ★ 6.9 · Medium · See Rialto alternatives →

   Shares with Shakespeare: Renaissance, Auction/Bidding, Card Drafting · 3 shared tags · 2 of Shakespeare’s 4 mechanics (50%)

   vs Shakespeare: overlaps at 2–4 players · scales to 5 · ~10 min shorter · 0.4 lighter
7. 

   7. Goa A New Expedition (2004)

   2–4 players · 90 min · ★ 7.6 · Medium · See Goa A New Expedition alternatives →

   Shares with Shakespeare: Renaissance, Auction/Bidding · 2 shared tags · 1 of Shakespeare’s 4 mechanics (25%)

   vs Shakespeare: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~35 min longer · +0.4 heavier
8. 

   8. The Princes of Florence (2000)

   2–5 players · 75–100 min · ★ 7.5 · Medium · See The Princes of Florence alternatives →

   Shares with Shakespeare: Renaissance, Auction/Bidding · 2 shared tags · 1 of Shakespeare’s 4 mechanics (25%)

   vs Shakespeare: overlaps at 2–4 players · scales to 5 · ~33 min longer · +0.3 heavier
9. 

   9. Notre Dame (2007)

   2–5 players · 45–75 min · ★ 7.3 · Medium · See Notre Dame alternatives →

   Shares with Shakespeare: Renaissance, Card Drafting · 2 shared tags · 1 of Shakespeare’s 4 mechanics (25%)

   vs Shakespeare: overlaps at 2–4 players · scales to 5 · about the same length · 0.2 lighter
10. 

    10. Amerigo (2013)

    2–4 players · 90 min · ★ 7.5 · Medium · See Amerigo alternatives →

    Shares with Shakespeare: Renaissance, Action Points · 2 shared tags · 1 of Shakespeare’s 4 mechanics (25%)

    vs Shakespeare: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~35 min longer · same complexity
11. 

    11. Tulip Bubble (2017)

    3–5 players · 50–70 min · ★ 7.2 · Medium

    Shares with Shakespeare: Renaissance, Auction/Bidding, Card Drafting · 3 shared tags · 2 of Shakespeare’s 4 mechanics (50%)

    vs Shakespeare: overlaps at 3–4 players · scales to 5 · about the same length · 0.5 lighter
12. 

    12. The Traders of Genoa (2001)

    2–5 players · 60–120 min · ★ 7.1 · Medium · See The Traders of Genoa alternatives →

    Shares with Shakespeare: Renaissance, Auction/Bidding · 2 shared tags · 1 of Shakespeare’s 4 mechanics (25%)

    vs Shakespeare: overlaps at 2–4 players · scales to 5 · ~35 min longer · same complexity
13. 

    13. Princes of the Renaissance (2003)

    3–6 players · 180 min · ★ 7.3 · Medium-heavy

    Shares with Shakespeare: Renaissance, Auction/Bidding · 2 shared tags · 1 of Shakespeare’s 4 mechanics (25%)

    vs Shakespeare: overlaps at 3–4 players · scales to 6 · ~125 min longer · +0.5 heavier
14. 

    14. Pax Renaissance (2016)

    2–4 players · 60–120 min · ★ 8.0 · Heavy

    Shares with Shakespeare: Renaissance, Action Points, Card Drafting · 3 shared tags · 2 of Shakespeare’s 4 mechanics (50%)

    vs Shakespeare: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~35 min longer · +1.4 heavier
15. 

    15. Wallenstein (Second Edition) (2012)

    3–5 players · 90–120 min · ★ 7.6 · Medium

    Shares with Shakespeare: Renaissance, Action Points · 2 shared tags · 1 of Shakespeare’s 4 mechanics (25%)

    vs Shakespeare: overlaps at 3–4 players · scales to 5 · ~50 min longer · +0.2 heavier
16. 

    16. Mercante (2012)

    3–5 players · 60 min · ★ 6.6 · Medium

    Shares with Shakespeare: Renaissance, Auction/Bidding, Card Drafting · 3 shared tags · 2 of Shakespeare’s 4 mechanics (50%)

    vs Shakespeare: overlaps at 3–4 players · scales to 5 · about the same length · same complexity
17. 

    17. The Doge Ship (2012)

    2–5 players · 90 min · ★ 6.1 · Medium

    Shares with Shakespeare: Renaissance, Action Points, Auction/Bidding · 3 shared tags · 2 of Shakespeare’s 4 mechanics (50%)

    vs Shakespeare: overlaps at 2–4 players · scales to 5 · ~35 min longer · 0.4 lighter
18. 

    18. Leonardo da Vinci (2006)

    2–5 players · 90 min · ★ 6.8 · Medium · See Leonardo da Vinci alternatives →

    Shares with Shakespeare: Renaissance, Auction/Bidding · 2 shared tags · 1 of Shakespeare’s 4 mechanics (25%)

    vs Shakespeare: overlaps at 2–4 players · scales to 5 · ~35 min longer · +0.2 heavier

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