Board games have been around for literally thousands of years. They’ve been entertaining friends and families for generations and hopefully will continue to do so. In fact, they’re becoming more popular than ever.
And nowadays you don’t even have to own a physical copy of many board games to still enjoy them. The digital revolution is showing no signs of stopping and tons of games have been digitized already. The Nintendo Switch is one of the most popular gaming consoles in the world and is a natural destination for a lot of today’s board games.
Read on as we discuss the best board games on Switch available today.
🏆 Our Top Picks for Best Board Games on Switch
In a hurry? Check out our favorites below.
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: STEAM GAMES | DIGITAL BOARD GAMES | iOS BOARD GAMES | ANDROID BOARD GAMES | ONLINE BOARD GAMES | TABLETOP SIMULATOR GAMES
Mystic Vale
Players: 2-4
Playing Time: 45 minutes
Ages: 14+
In Mystic Vale, the land has been cursed and clans of druids aim to rid the land of its evil. Players choose a druid clan and battle it out to become the dominant force in the vale. Through effective deck building, players aim to earn the most victory points.
What We Liked
The best thing about Mystic Vale is its innovative card-drafting system. At the time it was unique and it provides an awesome take on typical card drafting. You can make individual cards extra powerful and create some awesome combos.
What Could Be Better
While it’s really fun to try and create the best deck, it doesn’t really matter what anyone else is doing during the game. So there’s minimal player interaction as you can end up focusing solely on your own strategy.
How it works on Switch
Mystic Vale translates over to Switch really nicely. Because it’s a deck-building game, it works great in handheld mode. The UI is intuitive and responds exactly how you would expect it to. You can practice against AI and then find real players to compete against online.
Wingspan
Players: 1-5
Playing Time: 40-70 minutes
Ages: 10+
Wingspan combines a unique theme with excellent gameplay. In Wingspan, you take on the role of an avid birdwatcher. Throughout the game, you will discover birds and attract them to your sanctuary. It’s a great engine builder that includes fantastic artwork on every card.
What We Liked
Wingspan is all about collecting birds. The theme itself isn’t going to appeal to everyone but the execution is exceptional. If you’re genuinely interested in ornithology, then Wingspan is perfect. If not, you’ll learn a lot about birds while also having a ton of fun.
What Could Be Better
If you’re looking for a heavier engine builder, Wingspan is going to seem too simple. It’s not a difficult game and there isn’t a huge amount of variety between games either.
How it works on Switch
The Switch version includes all the essential elements of the core game. It also provides an in-depth tutorial so you can learn all the rules. The rulebook of the board game is pretty difficult to decipher so this is a great addition. You can then practice in single-player mode until you’re ready to face some real-world opponents.
Istanbul
Players: 2-5
Playing Time: 40-60 minutes
Ages: 10+
In Istanbul, you control a merchant and his assistants as they trade their way to the top in this legendary city. Your ultimate aim is to outmaneuver the other merchants and become the richest trader in the city. It’s a worker placement game where each location provides a different reward.
What We Liked
The random board layout means that each game is going to play out differently and so there’s a ton of replayability. The pacing is also excellent. It plays in less than an hour and it’s usually pretty close until the very end.
What Could Be Better
Istanbul plays better at higher numbers. With only 2 players, there’s a chance that one player will run away with the victory. Having more players keeps this tendency in check. Also, more players allow for more interaction which is always a plus.
How it works on Switch
The Switch version includes everything from the board game and more. You can play the AI at several different difficulties and, as long as someone is also looking for a game, it includes an online mode. There are also 70 in-game achievements for players to try and unlock.
Concordia
Players: 2-5
Playing Time: 100 minutes
Ages: 13+
Set in a period of peace and prosperity in ancient Rome, Concordia allows you to take the role of powerful dynasties within the empire. Military conquest is not the aim of the game here and the victor will be the player who can develop the most integrated economic system and most efficient infrastructure.
What We Liked
Concordia is a quintessential Euro game but isn’t a difficult one. You can introduce it to beginners and get them up to speed fairly quickly. Plus more experienced players will find enough depth in the game to keep them entertained through multiple playthroughs.
What Could Be Better
One of the more bizarre aspects of the game is the artwork. The period during the Roman Empire is epic and evokes a time of military conquest and economic might. There’s a lot for Concordia to draw upon here but for some, the developers seem to have neglected this and not focused on capturing the theme at all.
How it works on Switch
On Switch, you can play the AI, friends, or random human opponents. In this case, it’s more fun to play the AI or play with friends. Given it’s a Euro game, turns can take too long when playing with random players and, depending on your skill level can be far too one-sided.
Root
Players: 2-4
Playing Time: 60-90 minutes
Ages: 10+
Welcome to Root, a game of war and adventure where up to four players take control of the creatures of the forest and battle it out for woodland supremacy. It’s a highly asymmetrical game, with each faction having its own strengths, weaknesses, and victory conditions.
What We Liked
The theme is great in Root. Each faction has its own backstory, and the asymmetric nature of the game just adds to the theme as each faction plays to its own strengths. Also, the fact that players can win in multiple ways makes Root highly replayable.
What Could Be Better
Although the asymmetrical features of the game add a lot in terms of theme and replayability it can be a lot to figure out at first. Root is not an easy game to be introduced to and will take a few run-throughs before you’ll feel comfortable with your strategy.
How it works on Switch
The tutorial on Switch is a fantastic resource. Root is a complex game so the tutorial provides key info on all the factions and shows you some of the essential concepts for the game.
This really is essential because when playing the Switch version you don’t really get an insight into other players’ motivations and strategies. There’s a lot of information on screen and it’s your job to be able to decipher it.
Everdell
Players: 1-4
Playing Time: 40-80 minutes
Ages: 13+
In the forest of Everdell spring has just begun. But the creatures of Everdell know that the next winter will arrive before they know it and must spend the year preparing. Everdell is a worker placement game played over 4 seasons. The winner is the player who builds the best cities and is the most prepared for winter.
What We Liked
Everdell is a deeply thematic game. The artwork on the cards is fantastic and the three-dimensional tree provides an immersive backdrop to the gaming experience. On top of this, the gameplay is engaging and provides players with plenty of opportunities to make tough decisions.
What Could Be Better
Although the tree looks awesome and is thematically pitch-perfect, it can actually obscure the playing area. If you’re unlucky enough to be positioned behind the tree you’ll spend a lot of time craning your neck to get a full view of what other players are up to.
How it works on Switch
Everdell on Switch really shines when it comes to single-player mode. The AI provides a tough challenge and there are also additional challenges that you can undertake if you’re up for it. For example, you can start in a later season or randomize which critter appears in each building.
Talisman
Players: 2-6
Playing Time: 90 minutes
Ages: 13+
Talisman is a fantasy adventure game where players aim to move from the outerworld into the innerworld and find the Crown of Command. Along the way, you will gather weapons and equipment, fight evil monsters and gather the necessary strength for the epic battles that lie ahead.
What We Liked
The player interaction in Talisman is great. Although there are other monsters to kill, Talisman makes sure that you do battle with the other players in the game. Indeed, to win you’re going to have to outcompete all the other players and ultimately kill them all off.
What Could Be Better
The original game came out in 1983 and it’s a classic for a reason. But in terms of mechanics, its age shows. Luck plays a huge role in major outcomes. Plus it uses an outdated roll-and-move mechanic that modern games have moved beyond.
How it works on Switch
Talisman is easy to learn and play on the Switch. Partially, this comes down to a smooth interface and partially, to the tutorials provided. The AI is pretty good, but Talisman is a lot more fun when played in multiplayer mode. The animation itself is serviceable but doesn’t really take advantage of the digital medium.
Evolution
Players: 2-6
Playing Time: 60 minutes
Ages: 12+
In Evolution, the world is a dangerous place and players need to adapt their species to this turbulent and treacherous world. You can do this by breeding and evolving new species that can best take advantage of the environment. There are multiple paths to victories and you could evolve ferocious predators or harmless herbivores. The choice is yours.
What We Liked
While there’s a lot to like about the game, including the artwork, one of the best features of Evolution is choosing different traits for your species. You can create really cool combos and evolve unique species that are best suited for that particular game.
What Could Be Better
Although you can play with fewer players, more is better. With only 2 players the game can feel quite static and you are only really responding to one other threat. With more players, a lot more species are evolving and your strategy needs to respond accordingly. This makes the game a lot more dynamic and immersive.
How it works on Switch
The artwork in the board game is awesome anyway and the Switch version improves on this by adding more interactivity. The Switch version includes loads of cool animations, background music, and thematic sounds to really immerse you in the gaming experience.
Catan
Players: 3-4
Playing Time: 60-120 minutes
Ages: 10+
Catan is one of the most famous board games ever produced and is still beloved by millions around the world. If you don’t know the basic premise, it’s pretty simple. Players aim to become the most powerful civilization on the island of Catan by constructing settlements, cities, and roads.
What We Liked
At the time, the mechanics of Catan were awesome. It’s not a difficult game by any stretch of the imagination but the economic system of Catan allows for quite a lot of different strategies. You’ll need to negotiate for resources you need, play shrewdly, and not make too many enemies along the way.
What Could Be Better
Depending on your tolerance for luck, Catan can and will frustrate you. The resources you draw are based on rolling the dice and victory can be won or lost by lucky dice rolls. Good decision-making does help, especially with placing your first settlement. But luck will influence the outcome.
How it works on Switch
One of the biggest criticisms of the Switch version is that it doesn’t allow for local play. This includes playing a single game on one console or locally against other switch players. This seems like a major oversight and will put a lot of people off buying it.
But if you have a group of friends who also own the online version, Catan on Switch can provide a great way to play Catan with your friends remotely.
Raiders of the North Sea
Players: 2-4
Playing Time: 60-80 minutes
Ages: 12+
Set in the Viking age, Raiders of the North Sea is a worker placement game that allows players to sail to sea and raid villages and towns in search of fame and plunder. To do this, you’ll need to recruit a loyal crew and gather provisions for the conquest. Bring back your gold and livestock to impress the chieftain and earn victory points.
What We Liked
Raiders of the North Sea provides a lot of variation between each game. Resources are distributed randomly during setup and this makes settlements more or less desirable to raid in each game. The crew that you acquire is also randomly drawn. Each raider has its own strengths and weaknesses so you’ll have to strategize accordingly.
What Could Be Better
Although the variation is great, when you are drawing your crew, luck plays a huge role in the outcome. Put simply, it’s much harder to win if you keep drawing bad crew members. The game can hinge on these draws which is definitely quite frustrating.
How it works on Switch
Raiders of the North Sea translated over really well onto the Switch. It includes a campaign, you can battle AI and you can play multiplayer. It includes some great animation, like the rippling of the water, and the UI is super intuitive. The AI isn’t particularly strong though and you’ll find it easy to beat.
Wrap-Up
We hope you enjoyed our list of the best board games on Switch! Have you tried any of these board games or their digital counterparts? Which game is your favorite to play on Switch? Drop a comment below and let us know what you think! We’d love to hear from you.
Ever since I first played Risk as an 8-year-old I’ve been hooked on board games. Growing up in rural Ireland there wasn’t much to do but luckily I’ve always been surrounded by board game addicts. Over two decades later I now write about what I love, which is totally awesome. Writing about all things board game related is literally the perfect job. When I’m not writing I still love a good board game night.