Choosing a great game that is similar to Risk can take time and effort.
We’ve compiled a list of games for sci-fi fans, lovers of games with long play times, and various other games like Risk to give you some inspiration.
Best Strategy Board Games Like Risk
If you enjoy using dice combat to take over all the land or using cards to determine your next move, you will surely find an amazing game in this list to add to your tabletop games.
1. Axis & Allies
Players: 2-5
Playing Time: 2 hours
Age: 12+
Axis and Allies is similar to Risk, with a stronger historical background.
The 1942 version is the most popular and is an excellent place to start when learning this board game.
It is suitable for serious and casual gamers but has a steep learning curve.
The original is set during World War II, where players choose one of five global forces and battle it out.
The game’s first edition was released in 1981 and is the most popular version.
The many newer versions are often considered to be inferior to the original.
2. Eclipse
Players: 2-6
Playing Time: 2-3 hours
Age: 14+
This futuristic interstellar board game takes you on a journey through space, discovering new star systems, building advanced warships, and investigating new technologies.
Be aware of your faction’s strengths and weaknesses, and keep a close eye on the opposition to win the war.
Reminiscent of the Risk board game, Eclipse also requires players to use strategy for taking over territories and winning battles.
3. Blood Rage
Players: 2-4
Playing Time: 60-90 minutes
Age: 14+
Another board game, like Risk, which is set in a historical era, Blood Rage, is set in Viking times and requires players to fight to the death during Ragnarok.
There are several ways to be victorious, and players can choose to be aligned with a chosen god.
It is not always beneficial to win – some abilities and boons can be more advantageous to the loser than the winner.
Your opponent’s actions will reveal their allegiances and help you counter them successfully.
A vital part of a winning strategy is knowing when to win or lose a battle (and there is a little bit of luck involved).
Players are in full command of their ship, the Viking clan leader, and the warriors.
The aim is to win their place at the side of Odin when they reach Valhalla.
4. Small World
Players: 2-5
Playing Time: 40-80 minutes
Age: 8+
Small World’s rules are simple and easy to understand, and the game takes a maximum of 90 minutes to complete.
Fun enough for casual gamers and technical enough for more serious gamers, this Risk-like game is a crowd-pleaser.
For Small World, there are four maps to choose from, each requiring a different number of players.
There are five different races, including Elves and Trolls.
Each race has its own special skills and powers, making each game unique.
The aim of Small World is to conquer different territories, just like in Risk, but with the additional powers and abilities, this can happen more easily for some races.
You can also choose a different race in the middle of the game if your race is struggling – however, you will need to give up your original race to get a new one.
5. Inis
Players: 2-4
Playing Time: 1 hour
Age: 14+
In this area control game, inspired by Irish Celtic history and mythology, players gain victory by becoming the next island King, the Inis.
It may sound like a complicated game, but you will soon get the hang of it.
Each round gifts players with new cards.
They must master timing skills to ensure the power balance needed to win the game.
Players should bluff the other players and manage their cards and timing well to succeed on this mission to become King.
Territories are secured with deeds that each player receives.
They must also aim to take over regions that have safe havens.
The idea is to negotiate and bargain with your enemies before destroying them.
Similar to Risk, yet softer, this is an excellent game for the family.
6. Twilight Imperium 4th Edition
Players: 3-6
Playing Time: 4-8 hours
Age: 14+
If you’re a fan of space-based board games with empire-building and a battle for power and control, then Twilight Imperium is the game for you.
Ancient interstellar races fight to claim the imperial throne using advancing technologies, diplomatic discussion, warfare, and trade.
The third edition has some impressive upgrades, such as bigger tiles, miniatures with amazing detail, over 400 cards, and a massive box to contain all the game parts.
This edition comes with improved gameplay, which is more fast-paced than previous editions and has more races than before.
There is also a new game structure known as the Command system.
7. Kemet
Players: 1-6
Playing Time: 90 minutes
Age: 14+
One of the best mythological strategy board games like Risk, Kemet is set in mythical ancient Egypt.
Players must use strategy to take over territories and important locations on the board.
Unlike Risk, this is done with limited armies and through different attacks on one’s opponents.
This game doesn’t require any dice rolling, and cards are used instead as a form of combat.
Players receive the same combat and defensive cards that can increase damage or improve buffs, offering better strategy options and reducing reliance on luck.
Players can also add boons and mythological creatures to their armies, increasing their battle power.
8. Settlers of Catan
Players: 3 to 4 (up to 6 with extension)
Playing Time: 60 minutes
Ages: 10+
Settlers of Catan is one of the most well-known strategy games like Risk.
The primary way it differs is that it is not a war game.
However, it does require one to acquire as much land as possible in a very strategic manner.
The game centers around acquiring and trading resources, which can be used to buy roads, houses, and cities.
The first person to reach ten victory points is the winner. Houses, cities, and some development cards hold victory points.
You can also get a victory point for the longest road, and most knights played.
You’ll need to use your diplomatic and trade skills to get the most points.
This fantastic game is relatively easy, but it can be made more difficult by the addition of rule variations as well as experience.
9. Diplomacy
Players: 2-7
Playing Time: 6 hours
Age: 12+
First released in 1959, Diplomacy remains popular today.
It is set just before the start of World War I.
A board game like Risk with a similar board design, Diplomacy, will be enjoyed by fans of Risk.
No luck is involved, as no dice are used in the game.
Negotiation helps players advance in the game, and they must negotiate with one another at the start of their turn.
Each player represents a nation, and must maintain, form, and betray the alliances throughout the game.
Strike deals or break deals during the negotiations; however, be aware that you may injure your friendships if you are too ruthless.
It is heaps of fun and works well as a party game, although it can take several hours to play.
10. 1775: Rebellion
Players: 2-4
Playing Time: 1-2 hours
Age: 10+
This epic game was released in 2013 as a sequel to 1812: The Invasion of Canada.
Set in 1775, the game revolves around the American Revolution.
Players control the American Militia and the patriots, or the British Army and the Loyalists, and employ the Native Americans, German Hessians, and French Army for assistance.
The aim is to gain and maintain control of the different territories.
Each faction has its own card deck to move its armies around, and a custom dice determines the outcome of each battle.
A flag is raised when you gain control of an entire province, territory or colony.
The game ends when the treaty of Paris is signed, and the winner is the faction with the most flags.
11. DUST
Players: 2-5
Playing Time: 90 minutes
Age: 14+
DUST is an excellent board game similar to Risk, and many players believe it is better than the classic from the French film director.
DUST comes with two different levels, known as Premium and Epic.
Each level has its rule book.
The Premium version lasts about two to three hours, while the Epic version lasts for four to six hours.
The goal of the game is to achieve world domination.
To achieve this, players must wage war against each other and ensure they win battles as they go.
This war game gives each player 130 units of various types, including tanks, bombers, and fighters, all well-made from plastic.
Each turn begins with a player drawing and revealing a card that will determine what moves they can make and any specific abilities they have access to for that round.
This fun game is fast-paced and exciting and will satisfy any fan of Risk.
12. Scythe
Players: 1-5
Playing Time: 90-115 minutes
Age: 14+
If you’re looking for board games with a science-fiction element, Scythe is bound to pique your interest.
Set in an alternative history of Eastern Europe in the post-war era, farmers need to activate giant machines called Mechs.
These were used in the war as a fuel source.
The different factions must focus on increasing the wealth of their people by claiming land through the expansion of borders, enlisting recruits, building various structures, and activating mechs to protect their land.
Players are never eliminated but do have plenty of opportunities for conflict.
The game involves strategy and is more complicated than Risk while remaining thoroughly enjoyable.
13. Kahuna
Players: 2 Players.
Playing Time: 30 – 40 minutes.
Age: Ages 10+.
Kahuna is an exciting game to play with a friend, requiring only two players.
The game aims to take control of a group of 12 islands by building your own bridges and destroying those of the opponents.
In many ways, Kahuna is a card game, with cards determining how you can play on the board.
The game ends after three rounds of card play or if one player loses all their bridges.
It is a much faster game than Risk and is suitable for couples or any scenario where only two players are available.
More About Games Like Risk
What do you play after Risk?
A wide variety of other games will be enjoyable to play after Risk.
The suitable game for you will be determined by what aspect of the Risk gameplay is your favorite.
Here are some board games like Risk for you to consider:
If you are a fan of strategy but not the war side of things, then Catan is an excellent choice.
Axis and Allies is great for those who want a more detailed war strategy game.
If you want something similar to Risk with more variance, then we recommend trying DUST.
What game genre is Risk?
Risk is a strategy board game mainly focussed on war strategy.
It has themes of conflict, diplomacy, and conquest, with the aim of global domination.
The way to achieve this is to claim territory by making challenging strategic decisions.
There are 42 territories on the game board, divided among six different countries.
What’s better, Risk or Axis and Allies?
Axis and Allies is a more complicated board game than Risk, but they are both war games where the players fight to win territories.
If you are new to war games, Risk is a better option for your first game, as it will help you to learn the strategy and how a war board game works.
Risk has no naval warfare or alliances, and the territories will change throughout the game.
Final Thoughts
With so many war strategy board games like Risk on the market, choosing the best one for you can take time and effort!
Whether you enjoy controlling a vast interstellar civilization or want to secure victory by using strategic depth or secret missions, we hope to have assisted you in finding your next board gaming adventure!