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
   Shares with Through the Desert: Abstract Strategy, Animals, Enclosure, Hexagon Grid · 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
   View Calico on Amazon →
2. 2. Hive (2000)
   2 players · 20 min · ★ 7.3 · Medium-light
   Shares with Through the Desert: Abstract Strategy, Animals, Enclosure, Hexagon Grid · 2 of Through the Desert’s 6 mechanics (33%)
   vs Through the Desert: both play at 2 · ~25 min shorter · same complexity
   View Hive on Amazon →
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 · 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
   View Sonora on Amazon →
4. 4. Five Tribes The Djinns of Naqala (2014)
   2–4 players · 40–80 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium
   Shares with Through the Desert: Animals, Arabian, Hidden Victory Points · 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
   Shares with Through the Desert: Abstract Strategy, Chaining, Connections, Hexagon Grid, Network and Route Building · 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 · 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
   Shares with Through the Desert: Animals, Hidden Victory Points · 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
   Shares with Through the Desert: Animals, Enclosure, Network and Route Building · 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
   Shares with Through the Desert: Abstract Strategy, Hexagon Grid · 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 · 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
    Shares with Through the Desert: Animals, Enclosure · 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
    Shares with Through the Desert: Animals, Hexagon Grid · 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
    Shares with Through the Desert: Animals, Hexagon Grid · 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
    Shares with Through the Desert: Animals, Hidden Victory Points · 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 · 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
    Shares with Through the Desert: Abstract Strategy, Hexagon Grid · 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 · 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
    Shares with Through the Desert: Abstract Strategy, Enclosure · 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.