Continue if you are looking for games like Splendor and are curious about what similar games to play next. Your goal is to get to 15 victory points before anyone else, which is done by purchasing the cards that come out in the center. Cards are laid out in three levels of cost, with level 1 being the cheapest and level 3 being the most expensive. Each card has its own costs, which will be a combination of the 5 different types of gems. Some cards (especially the more expensive ones) give victory points and some do not. On you turn you either take a few gems from the reserve or you spend them to buy. Cards, in addition to giving you victory points, give you bonuses that help you buy bigger and better things.
To determine this list we broke down Splendor to what it is. This is a pure engine building game that has the most straight-forward and tight rules, while still being an incredibly strategic experience. You only have one choice to make a turn, but it is always key. 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 Splendor.
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#05 | Azul
Azul makes the list of board games like Splendor because another title where you are fighting all the other players for the right mix of jewels, using what very limited options you have available to you. In Azul you choose from 6 different tiles to decorate your chapel to create the best combinations that are going to score you the most points. You have just a few options but they are all very key and must contribute to a long term strategy.
The game is about helping the king decorate with Portuguese tiles. Azul is a well crafted set collection and pattern building game. You draft sets of tiles against other players in order to create strategic clusters that are going to get you big points. You need to strategically fill rows with groupings of colors in order to move them into your final square grid in order to score. For 2 – 4 players, games run about 45 minutes.
FOR MORE: Azul Page | How To Play Azul | Azul Review | Games Like Azul | Buy Azul on Amazon
#04 | Gizmos
Gizmos makes the list of board games like Splendor because it is another pure engine building game that is on the medium to light intensity level but with tons of bite. Instead of gathering gems, here you need to gather energy marbles to build gizmos parts and trigger chain reactions and combos. You only have a few decisions to make each turn but each one is key.
The smartest minds of our generation are gathering together at the Great Science Fair. Everyone’s been working hard on their creations, but only one will be crowned champion. Gizmos is an engine builder about building engines. Using energy marbles, you purchase and construct new additions to your works that trigger chain reactions, letting you do even more on your turn. The biggest and best machine wins. For 2 – 4 players, games run 40 – 50 minutes.
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#03 | Ticket To Ride
Ticket To Ride makes the list of board games like Splendor because it has that same incredibly light, but very strategic gameplay. In both titles, you get to take one action on your turn for a choice of four. You need to plan ahead and make the right investments to succeed. This is more route building than straight engine building, but the effect is the same.
You are a train tycoon with your sites set on building a great rail system across the United States. Players sit around a board of the US, with many empty possible routes connecting cities across the country. Each game everyone has a secret route they need to complete and only you know what you need to do. Each turn you can either take different colored train cards or build routes using them. Complete more goals and build more impressive routes for victory. For 2 – 5 players, games last 30 – 60 minutes.
FOR MORE: Ticket To Ride Page | How To Play Ticket To Ride | Ticket To Ride Review | Games Like Ticket To Ride | Buy Ticket To Ride on Amazon
#02 | Parfum
Parfum makes the list of board games like Splendor because the drafting and set collection you need to achieve is very reminisant of the light gameplay of Splendor but still its own experience. You are trading one luxary resoure for another, instead of gem, here it is parfume. In both, you need to manage your business well to grow and be succesfull.
You find yourself in the wonderful world of fragrances. Using ingredients like vanilla, lavender, or violets, the players distill precious essences in order to create unique perfumes. Only the player catering to their clientele’s preferences will be able to sell their perfume. Each customer favors a specific fragrance, which must be contained in a flask to induce them to buy it. For 2 – 4 players, games last around 45 minutes.
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#01 | Century: Spice Road
Century Spice Road takes the top spot on the list of board games like Splendor because it is a resource trading engine building game that is at a similar intensity level. Players are caravan leaders who travel the famed silk road to deliver spices to the far reaches of the continent for fame and glory. This is driven more like deck building than Splendor, but will very very much the same.
You are limited to establishing a route, trading, fulfill a demand or rest, but as you can imagine, this has far-reaching effects across your overall spice network. This is all fueled by an ingenious card drafting system. The last round is triggered once a player has claimed their fifth victory point card, then whoever has the most victory points wins. The game is for 2 – 5 players and will last about 30 – 45 minutes.
