Continue if you are looking for games like Dust and are curious about what similar games to play next. In Dust, you seize power sources and capitals, develop your infrastructure, and build and wield vast, high-tech armies in your bid for global domination. In a world similar to the Earth we know, the unending war and the new technologies have altered the political face of society beyond all recognition.
To determine this list we broke down Dust to what it is. This game is a great blend of a combat strategy area control game with resource management and production. It is a great strategy game that blends many things and lends itself to amazing replayability. If you are looking for something similar, you have come to the right place. We took all this into consideration and came up with this list of the 5 board games like Dust.
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#05 | Risk
Risk just makes the list of games like Dust because it is the most boiled down (not watered down) version of what Dust tries to achieve. Some say that no one has gotten a sole mechanic right like Risk does. There are no bells and whistles to Risk, it is a series of high stakes 1-on-1 showdowns at the strategic role of a dice. If the very core area control and combat is what you like about Dust, Risk is for you.
You are looking at a map of the world split up into many countries and continents. You start with many of these and get to split up your army of soldiers across them. During the game, you start by getting new reinforcements, then you place them and then you attack other territories with dice rolling to take them over. The key is to take every territory over while managing your troops and making sure your opponent doesn’t do the same first. For 2 – 8, games last 2 – 4 hours.
FOR MORE: Risk Page | How To Play Risk | Risk Review | Games Like Risk | Buy Risk on Amazon
#04 | Axis and Allies
Axis and Allies makes the list of games like Dust because it is a great mashup of wargame and unique unit production. Both games have different units that do different things and it comes down to how you bring them into the game and what you do with them that will decide who ultimately will become champion.
This classic simulates the entire scope of World War II. Axis & Allies features a simple dice-based combat system; a small number of types of naval, air and land units; territory control; and technology research to improve unit capabilities. It is very pure without too many bells and whistles. Control and dominate. For 2 – 5 players, games run around 4 hours.
FOR MORE: Axis and Allies Page | Games Like Axis and Allies | Buy Axis and Allies on Amazon
#03 | Scythe
Scythe is probably one of the bigger surprises on the list of games like Dust but if you think about it, the gameplay is there. Scythe is one of the hottest games ever and has you managing area control from both a macro and micro level. It is war and it is economic development to support it. Dust follows many of the same needs and strategies just on a much smaller scale.
This intense gem is set in an alternate-history 1920s period. You are a character from one of five factions of Eastern Europe, attempting to earn your fortune and claim your faction’s stake in the land around the mysterious Factory. You must conquer territory, enlist new recruits, reap resources, gain villagers, build structures, and activate monstrous mechs. For 1 – 5 players, games last approximately 90 – 115 minutes.
FOR MORE: Scythe Page | Games Like Scythe | Buy Scythe
#02 | 1775: Rebellion
The reason 1775: Rebellion makes the list of games like dust is because it brings a classic combat strategy game and kicks it up with thematic missions and objectives to complete. The game uses similar card and movement systems all while having wargame tactics at the core. Thematically it is more historic than set in an alternative history like Dust, but you feel like you have the same technology and restrictions.
Players take the roles of the American Continental Army and Patriots against the British Army and the Loyalists. Each side tries to control the colonies, provinces and territories. The four factions each use their own deck of cards to move their units into positions and resolved battles through custom dice. If you can control an entire area you raise a flag. When the game ends with the signing of the Treaty of Paris, the side with the most flag markers is the winner. For 2 – 4 players, games run 1 – 2 hours.
FOR MORE: Games Like 1775: Rebellion | Buy 1775: Rebellion on Amazon
#01 | Eclipse
Eclipse takes the top spot on the list of games like Dust because it also is an epic combat game that blends in economic elements and variable characters. Eclipse is much more intense and brings the gameplay up several notches but you will see much of the same gameplay and strategic needs.
You are in control of a vast interstellar civilization, competing for success with your rivals. You will explore new star systems, research technologies, and build spaceships with which to wage war. There are many potential paths to victory, so you need to plan your strategy according to the strengths and weaknesses of your species, while paying attention to the other civilizations’ endeavors. For 2 – 6 players, games last 1 – 3 hours.
