Continue if you are looking for games like Eclipse and are curious about what similar games to play next. Eclipse takes you into a futuristic space where it has been peaceful amongst the seven major species for years until galactic war breaks out. You are competing for success amongst your competitors and must explore new star systems, research technologies, and build spaceships with which to wage war in order to claim victory.
To determine this list we broke down Eclipse to what it is. Eclipse is a dice driven area control game in a rich sci-fi setting. It is ultimately about when to attack and when to defend, but it also has some other strategic variable powers that add depth to your decision making. 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 Eclipse.
FOR MORE: Eclipse Page | Buy Eclipse on Amazon
#05 | Risk
Risk makes the list of board games like Eclipse because if you are looking for a pure dice driven strategic combat war game, then this is for you. It may not have all the variable powers and other bells and whistles of Eclipse, but it doubles down on its simple yet complex war system that originally hit the world in 1959.
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 | Tiny Epic Galaxies
Tiny Epic Galaxies makes the list of games like Eclipse because it is another A-level game in the area control game. You have many decisions to make, driven by the dice you are able to roll, about how to build, but ultimately it is about holding more and more territory in order to win the game.
Each player controls a galactic empire, aiming to expand their influence by acquiring highly contested planets and increasing their cosmic armada. The game revolves around an innovative dice-rolling combo mechanic. The number of dice you roll is determined by the strength of your galaxy. Each die is engraved with symbols representing the various actions you can take, such as moving a spaceship, increasing your culture or energy resources, or advancing your political or economic influence over newly discovered planets. For 1 – 5 players, games run roughly 30 – 45 minutes.
FOR MORE: Games Like Tiny Epic Galaxies | Buy Tiny Epic Galaxies on Amazon
#03 | Space Empires: 4X
Space Empires 4X makes the list of games like Eclipse because it is another intense sci-fi combat and area control game. This game kicks up the intensity over exploration and experiencing new things over combat and control but if you are looking for a deep space game with many of the same development options, this is a great choice.
You are tasked with building up a space empire and use it to conquer the other players. Exploration makes you reveal different space terrain that affects movement and combat. Space Empires includes carriers and fighters, mines, cloaking, a very large technology tree, fifteen ship classes, merchant shipping, colonization, mining, terraforming, bases, shipyards, black holes, warp points, and non-player aliens. For 1 – 4 players, games last about 3 hours.
FOR MORE: Buy Space Empires: 4X on Amazon
#02 | Star Wars Rebellion
Star Wars Rebellion makes the list of board games like Eclipse because it has so many of the same mechanics and goals wrapped in a detail-rich story. Just like in Eclipse, you need to assemble your crew of unique characters and then you need to venture off into space to conquer and control your enemies with opportunities for growth along the way.
You control the entire Galactic Empire or the fledgling Rebel Alliance. You must command starships, account for troop movements, and rally systems to your cause. Given the differences between the Empire and Rebel Alliance, each side has different win conditions, and you’ll need to adjust your play style depending on who you represent. Dice rolling through area control is how you win this one and oh boy is it fun. For 2 – 4 players, games last about 3 – 4 hours.
FOR MORE: Games Like Star Wars Rebellion | Buy Star Wars Rebellion on Amazon
#01 | Twilight Imperium
Twilight Imperium makes the list of games like Eclipse because, what can we say, it ticks all the same boxes. This is a five star, intense, space exploration, command and conquer while building up your very unique troops type of game. There are a few all-stars in the field, Eclipse and Twilight Imperium are two of them.
This is a game of galactic conquest in you take on the role of one of seventeen factions vying for galactic domination through military might, political maneuvering, and economic bargaining. Every faction offers a completely different play experience, from the wormhole-hopping Ghosts of Creuss to the Emirates of Hacan, masters of trade and economics. For 3 – 6 players, games last about 2 – 4 hours.
