Engine building games start small, with just enough to get things going, and then grow into satisfying chains of actions and combos. Each turn your setup gets stronger and a bit more efficient. It’s clever, rewarding and a little nerve-racking when someone else’s engine starts firing faster than yours.
Some examples of engine building games are A Wild Venture, Daitoshi and SETI.
Emberleaf – A Forest Full of Small Decisions
In Emberleaf, you take on the role of an Emberling, one of the small creatures trying to rebuild their forest home. The idea is quite simple. You explore different clearings, recruit heroes, gather resources, build structures, and settle villagers to…
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Yotei – A Town Builder Where Potatoes Run the Economy
At the foot of Mt. Yotei in Hokkaido, life changes with the seasons. Spring brings wildlife, summer brings food and activity, and winter turns the area into a snowy destination. In Yotei, you’re building a town in that setting, trying…
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SETI: Space Agencies – Why Start Slow If You Don’t Have To?
(or why we kind of stopped setting up SETI without it) If you’ve been paying attention to board games over the last few years, you probably know SETI. And if you don’t… well, I guess you’ve been busy doing other…
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Ancient Empires – Decisions That Come Back Around
Big empires don’t just appear out of nowhere. They usually start small, make a few solid decisions, survive a couple of bad ones, and somehow keep going. Ancient Empires tries to capture how that actually plays out. You begin as…
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Cytress – Building Engines Beneath The Tower
Cytress is a cyberpunk engine-building and area-control game where you lead a rebel crew scraping by in the undercity of a dystopian city. Floating above it all is Stratos, a three-tiered citadel where the ruling elite live comfortably out of…
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Sanctuary – The Little Ark Nova We Didn’t Know We Needed?
Sanctuary: An Ark Nova Game is a standalone title that picks up the familiar way of choosing actions and the animal-focused engine-building from Ark Nova, but puts it into a quicker, more puzzle-like format. It feels a bit like Ark…
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The White Castle Duel – When Two Clans Won’t Share the Castle
If you’ve played the original The White Castle, you’ll recognise the setting right away. We’re back around Himeji Castle during Japan’s Nanban Period, when Portuguese traders and Jesuit missionaries suddenly showed up in the 1500s and brought all sorts of…
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A Wild Venture – A Little Rivalry Never Hurt Anyone
Every spring, the villages come together for a friendly rivalry, the annual competition for the Community Cup. In A Wild Venture, two young adventurers set out to show who gives the most back to their community. You’ll win the goodwill…
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Transgalactica – The Universe is Yours… Probably
You’re the captain of a starship, cruising through the galaxy in search of power, progress, and maybe just a little prestige. In Transgalactica, you’ll spend five rounds building outposts, managing your crew, exploring the stars, and trying to stay one…
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The Great Harbor – Dicey Decisions in Roman Waters
As the governor of a thriving Roman colony on the Mediterranean, you’re in charge of building ships, managing resources, and establishing trade with powerful cities across the sea. Your success depends on careful planning, shrewd trading, and a bit of…
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