For generations, friends and family have gathered around the table to test the limits of their friendships and skill in the classic game of global domination, Risk.

Sometimes, however, the attack-and-defend gameplay of Risk can get a little stale and leave players wanting more and looking for board games like Risk that bring some newer mechanics and ideas to the table, or even just a bit of variety while staying in the same wheel-house.

Thankfully, there are plenty of alternative games that allow you to wipe your friends off the map in new and exciting ways. We’ve listed our top 10 strategy games like Risk (in no particular order) to help you add a little world-dominance into your next game night.

10. Axis and Allies

Axis And Allies Board Game 1
  • Players: 2-5
  • Setting: World War 2
  • Time: 180 Minutes
  • Mechanics: Unit Movement, Wargame
  • Where To Buy: Amazon

The next logical step for Risk lovers has got to be the 1981 classic Axis and Allies. With a heavy emphasis on strategy, Axis and Allies takes place during World War 2 and has each player taking control of one of the major armies during that time. 

In Axis and Allies players take turns spending their IPCs (Industrial Production Certificates, a fictional currency representing man-hours) to complete objectives. Completing objectives brings your faction one step closer to victory. 

9. A Game Of Thrones: The Board Game

A Game Of Thrones The Board Game
  • Players: 3-6
  • Setting: George R.R.Martin’s Westeros
  • Time: 120-140 Minutes
  • Mechanics: Auction, Unit Movement
  • Where To Buy: Amazon

For all the GoT fans out there, here’s a strategic war game to help you cope with the final season. In A Game of Thrones The Board Game each player champions one of the houses of the seven kingdoms in a giant battle for the iron throne. 

In this GoT board game, each house is equipped with it’s own deck of House Cards, which are used as powerful leaders in battle. Through careful planning, and building the right alliances you can lay claim to the Iron Throne. But be careful, you never know when someone is going to backstab you. 

8. Twilight Imperium

Twilight Imperium Board Game
  • Players: 3-6
  • Setting: Futuristic Space Battle
  • Time: 240-480 Minutes
  • Mechanics: Area Influence, Grid Movement
  • Where To Buy: Amazon

If you find that Risk lacks complexity, Twilight Imperium is a great alternative. While it has a bit of a learning curve, if you’re willing to stick it out you’re in for an epic night. Twilight Imperium is a game of interstellar conflict and diplomacy where each player aims to grow his galactic empire by means of diplomacy, technology and war.

A stellar feature of Twilight Imperium is that there are so very many different strategies to help players win the game. There are 17 unique races in the game which all offer specific advantages like the economically minded Emirates of Helcan, or the mercilessly violent Nekro Virus. Whether you want to win through careful diplomatic actions or crushing violence, there’s bound to be a race that suits your desires. 

7. War Of The Ring

War Of Rings Board Game
  • Players: 2-4
  • Setting: J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth
  • Time: 150-180 Minutes
  • Mechanics: Action Selection, Unit Movement
  • Where To Buy: Amazon

War of the Ring is a risk-like game that takes place in J.R.R. Tolkein’s middle earth. In War of the Ring, one team controls Sauron and his deadly shadow army. The remaining team controls the Free Peoples who must be persuaded to join the fight against Sauron before it’s too late. 

Due to the multiple objectives and means to accomplish them, War of the Ring is a fairly complex game. The Free Peoples must attempt to destroy the One Ring before Sauron can determine it’s location and retrieve it. Protecting the ringbearer while putting up a proper defence against Sauron’s endless armies can be a truly daunting task. 

6. Diplomacy

Diplomacy
  • Players: 2-7
  • Setting: Pre World War 1
  • Time: 360 Minutes
  • Mechanics: Diplomatic Influence, Movement
  • Where To Buy: Amazon

Diplomacy is a game that relies heavily on negotiation. It takes place in 1901, in the years leading up to World War 1. Each player represents one of the major powers in Europe (Great Britain, France, Austria-Hungary, Germany, Italy, Russia and Turkey). As the battle for power grows stronger, alliances will be put to the test.

Due to this game’s incredibly simple mechanics, players must rely solely on their negotiation abilities. Earn the trust of those you need, attack those who are weaker, and learn when to lay low and let others battle it out. A great game for those who love the art of tactical diplomacy. 

5. Small World

Small World Board Game
  • Players: 2-5
  • Setting: Fantasy
  • Time: 40-80 Minutes
  • Mechanics: Area Movement And Control
  • Where To Buy: Amazon

For a more whimsical experience, Small World is a fantasy strategy game where every race tries to survive in a world much too small to accommodate all. Players choose between factions like Orcs, Humans, Dwarves, Amazons and more. The only way to ensure there is enough room on this tiny planet is to wipe everyone else off of it. 

Much like in Risk, turns are spent trying to take over as much territory as possible and eliminating the weaker armies along the way. What makes this game a little more compelling, is that each race has its own unique power and strategy to win the game. While some races like the dwarves prefer to stay hidden and protect their mines, other races, like the Amazons, prefer to show their dominance through sheer brute force. 

4. Inis

Inis Board Game
  • Players: 2-4
  • Setting: Celtic Folklore And History
  • Time: 60-90 Minutes
  • Mechanics: Area Movement, Hand Management
  • Where To Buy: Amazon

Inis is a game that blends Celtic history and Celtic folklore. Players aim to be elected King of the Island in one of three ways: Leadership, Land, or Religion. At the start of each round, players draw cards that will be used to increase the morale and loyalty of each of their clans. 

Unlike a lot of other games like Risk, with Inis, you want to avoid taking over too much territory. Being overly aggressive can cost leadership points and lead to an opponent being elected King. Merit and loyalty must be achieved by winning the favor of the people. 

3. Fortress America

Fortress America Board Game
  • Players: 2-4
  • Setting: Fictional World War 3
  • Time: 150 Minutes
  • Mechanics: One Vs Many
  • Where To Buy: Amazon

This fictional strategy game takes place in the future where every country outside of America is trying to take over the U.S. The invaders must try to overtake American cities as quickly as possible before the U.S. becomes too powerful to stop. 

Fortress America is a One-vs-Many Game. One player represents the defending Americans, and the remaining 3 choose between the attacking forces; the Soviets, Asian Peoples Alliance and the Central American Federation. If the United States can successfully fend off the invaders, they will slowly gain more power for their super laser to turn the tides of battle. 

2. Dust

Dust Board Game
  • Players: 2-6
  • Setting: Post Apocalyptic Earth
  • Time: 60-180 Minutes
  • Mechanics: Point-to-Point Movement, Area Control
  • Where To Buy: Amazon

Dust takes place on a post-apocalyptic version of earth that’s in the throes of an endless world war. Most known borders have been dissolved and the earth has become nothing more than a battleground. Balancing offense and defense is key to survival. 

Winning a game of Dust involves careful balancing between conquest and technological progress. Combat happens in a way that is similar to Risk with each side rolling dice until one is defeated. Where Dust differs is in its creation of new technologies to build better and stronger units best suited to a team’s unique needs. 

1. Nexus Ops

Nexus Ops Board Game
  • Players: 2-4
  • Setting: Futuristic Sci-Fi
  • Time: 90 Minutes
  • Mechanics: Area Control, Hand Management
  • Where To Buy: Amazon

Nexus Ops is a fantastic sci-fi war game where alien races vie for control of the Moon. Everyone uses his unique faction to try and get as much Rubian (an ancient and powerful resource) as possible.

Nexus Ops is a very light and easy to understand game for all ages. The unique setting and great looking glow-in-the-dark pieces are what sets this game apart from the rest. During the course of the game players complete secret mission cards to earn victory points and win the game for their faction.

 This list of board games like Risk offers competitive and exciting options for everyone. If we’re missing out on any of your favorite strategy war games we’d love to know, so don’t be shy to leave a comment with some of your favorites and why you love them when you’re in the mood for some intense strategy gaming.

10 Best Strategy Board Games Like Risk