Through the Desert / Similar games

18 games like Through the Desert

The best games like Through the Desert are Calico, Hive and Sonora — the closest of 18 ranked alternatives, scored by shared mechanics and category. Calico shares abstract strategy, animals, enclosure with Through the Desert.

Every alternative below links to its own Through the Desert-style fact page, drawn from MeeplePick’s abstract strategy / animals shelf.

Ranked by shared category (3 pts) and mechanics (2 pts), bonus within 0.7 of Through the Desert’s 2.2 weight, then BoardGameGeek’s Bayesian rating — one entry per series, 18 shown.

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1. 

   1. Calico (2020)

   1–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 7.9 · Medium-light · See Calico alternatives →

   Shares with Through the Desert: Abstract Strategy, Animals, Enclosure, Hexagon Grid · 4 shared tags · 2 of Through the Desert’s 6 mechanics (33%)

   vs Through the Desert: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · about the same length · same complexity

   Check price for Calico →
2. 

   2. Hive (2000)

   2 players · 20 min · ★ 7.3 · Medium-light · See Hive alternatives →

   Shares with Through the Desert: Abstract Strategy, Animals, Enclosure, Hexagon Grid · 4 shared tags · 2 of Through the Desert’s 6 mechanics (33%)

   vs Through the Desert: both play at 2 · ~25 min shorter · same complexity

   Check price for Hive →
3. 

   3. Sonora (2020)

   1–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 7.2 · Medium-light

   Shares with Through the Desert: Abstract Strategy, Animals, Chaining, Enclosure, Network and Route Building · 5 shared tags · 3 of Through the Desert’s 6 mechanics (50%)

   vs Through the Desert: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · about the same length · +0.2 heavier

   Check price for Sonora →
4. 

   4. Five Tribes The Djinns of Naqala (2014)

   2–4 players · 40–80 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium · See Five Tribes The Djinns of Naqala alternatives →

   Shares with Through the Desert: Animals, Arabian, Hidden Victory Points · 3 shared tags · 1 of Through the Desert’s 6 mechanics (17%)

   vs Through the Desert: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~15 min longer · +0.7 heavier
5. 

   5. Blue Lagoon (2018)

   2–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 7.2 · Medium-light · See Blue Lagoon alternatives →

   Shares with Through the Desert: Abstract Strategy, Chaining, Connections, Hexagon Grid, Network and Route Building · 5 shared tags · 4 of Through the Desert’s 6 mechanics (67%)

   vs Through the Desert: overlaps at 2–4 players · about the same length · 0.2 lighter
6. 

   6. Medina (Second Edition) (2014)

   2–4 players · 60 min · ★ 7.2 · Medium-light

   Shares with Through the Desert: Abstract Strategy, Arabian, Chaining · 3 shared tags · 1 of Through the Desert’s 6 mechanics (17%)

   vs Through the Desert: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~15 min longer · same complexity
7. 

   7. The Isle of Cats (2019)

   1–4 players · 60–90 min · ★ 8.0 · Medium-light · See The Isle of Cats alternatives →

   Shares with Through the Desert: Animals, Hidden Victory Points · 2 shared tags · 1 of Through the Desert’s 6 mechanics (17%)

   vs Through the Desert: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · ~30 min longer · same complexity
8. 

   8. Hacienda (2005)

   2–5 players · 60–90 min · ★ 6.9 · Medium · See Hacienda alternatives →

   Shares with Through the Desert: Animals, Enclosure, Network and Route Building · 3 shared tags · 2 of Through the Desert’s 6 mechanics (33%)

   vs Through the Desert: overlaps at 2–5 players · ~30 min longer · +0.4 heavier
9. 

   9. Samurai (1998)

   2–4 players · 30–60 min · ★ 7.5 · Medium-light · See Samurai alternatives →

   Shares with Through the Desert: Abstract Strategy, Hexagon Grid · 2 shared tags · 1 of Through the Desert’s 6 mechanics (17%)

   vs Through the Desert: overlaps at 2–4 players · about the same length · +0.3 heavier
10. 

    10. Cascadia (2021)

    1–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 7.7 · Medium-light

    Shares with Through the Desert: Abstract Strategy, Animals, Hexagon Grid · 3 shared tags · 1 of Through the Desert’s 6 mechanics (17%)

    vs Through the Desert: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · about the same length · same complexity
11. 

    11. Agricola All Creatures Big and Small (2012)

    2 players · 30 min · ★ 7.4 · Medium-light · See Agricola All Creatures Big and Small alternatives →

    Shares with Through the Desert: Animals, Enclosure · 2 shared tags · 1 of Through the Desert’s 6 mechanics (17%)

    vs Through the Desert: both play at 2 · ~15 min shorter · same complexity
12. 

    12. Survive Escape from Atlantis! (1982)

    2–4 players · 45–60 min · ★ 7.3 · Medium-light · See Survive Escape from Atlantis! alternatives →

    Shares with Through the Desert: Animals, Hexagon Grid · 2 shared tags · 1 of Through the Desert’s 6 mechanics (17%)

    vs Through the Desert: overlaps at 2–4 players · about the same length · 0.5 lighter
13. 

    13. Takenoko (2011)

    2–4 players · 45 min · ★ 7.3 · Medium-light · See Takenoko alternatives →

    Shares with Through the Desert: Animals, Hexagon Grid · 2 shared tags · 1 of Through the Desert’s 6 mechanics (17%)

    vs Through the Desert: overlaps at 2–4 players · about the same length · 0.2 lighter
14. 

    14. Oceans (2020)

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

    Shares with Through the Desert: Animals, Hidden Victory Points · 2 shared tags · 1 of Through the Desert’s 6 mechanics (17%)

    vs Through the Desert: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~30 min longer · +0.6 heavier
15. 

    15. Twixt (1962)

    2–4 players · 30 min · ★ 6.6 · Medium-light

    Shares with Through the Desert: Abstract Strategy, Connections, Network and Route Building · 3 shared tags · 2 of Through the Desert’s 6 mechanics (33%)

    vs Through the Desert: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~15 min shorter · +0.2 heavier
16. 

    16. Photosynthesis (2017)

    2–4 players · 30–60 min · ★ 7.1 · Medium-light · See Photosynthesis alternatives →

    Shares with Through the Desert: Abstract Strategy, Hexagon Grid · 2 shared tags · 1 of Through the Desert’s 6 mechanics (17%)

    vs Through the Desert: overlaps at 2–4 players · about the same length · same complexity
17. 

    17. Tak University Edition (2017)

    2 players · 20–60 min · ★ 7.6 · Medium

    Shares with Through the Desert: Abstract Strategy, Network and Route Building · 2 shared tags · 1 of Through the Desert’s 6 mechanics (17%)

    vs Through the Desert: both play at 2 · about the same length · +0.3 heavier
18. 

    18. Mexica (2002)

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

    Shares with Through the Desert: Abstract Strategy, Enclosure · 2 shared tags · 1 of Through the Desert’s 6 mechanics (17%)

    vs Through the Desert: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~45 min longer · +0.5 heavier

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