Do you consider yourself business-savvy? Well, put your money where your mouth is!
Our top picks for the best business board games can help you test your skills while competing against friends. Can you use negotiation, investments, and economic strategy to outsmart them?
The sky is the limit when it comes to building a business! So, grab a board game and see how successful your business can be.
🏆 Our Top Picks for Best Business Board Games
In a hurry? Take a quick peek before you go.
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Brass Birmingham
Players: 2-4
Playing time: 60-120 minutes
The Industrial Revolution had just begun! As economic-minded Birmingham residents, you want to strike while the iron is hot!
Brass: Birmingham takes place over two eras or rounds. Pick up cards each round that’ll dictate which actions you can take. Set up manufacturing industries and build a network to obtain the highest profit in the region.
You’ll need resources to sell and buy buildings, and the currency of the time is coins and coal. But of course, business in Birmingham is often done over a few beers as well. Balance your resources, employ economic strategy, and build your Birmingham business!
Brass: Birmingham provides high complexity and player interaction. It’s a well-designed game that has you thinking on your feet and adapting to the changing market. So capitalize on those burgeoning opportunities to make it big in Birmingham!
Le Havre
Players: 1-5
Playing time: 30-150 minutes
Bonjour! And welcome to the port city of Le Havre in northern France!
Le Havre is an economic building game on both water and land. As ship captains and entrepreneurs, you’ll sail along the port, stopping at stations and developing a successful supply chain as you go.
With each move, more goods will become available, and you’ll take an action. Choose to collect the goods or use your current supply to construct buildings and ships. But make sure you have enough grain to feed your cattle and workers, or your business will inevitably suffer.
The captain with the most valuable property claims victory in Le Havre!
Steam: Rails to Riches
Players: 3-5
Playing time: 90 minutes
If you’re looking for wealth, it’s full steam ahead!
In Steam, you must build railways, connect towns, and transport goods. Take actions every turn, either laying tracks or moving along then. Points are awarded for delivering goods to their destination — so don’t delay!
You’ll need money to pay for the railroad construction. But you can always borrow from the bank if you don’t have enough. But be careful not to end up in too much debt.
At the end of the game, the winner is decided by money and points. So play your coins and construction right to gain that wealth.
A double-sided board gives you the option to play on a map of the northeastern United States or Germany. Steam combines beautiful artwork with an intuitive layout, making learning reasonably easy for such a complex game.
Viticulture: Essential Edition
Players: 1-6
Playing time: 45-90 minutes
If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a vineyard in Tuscany, now is your chance!
You’ve inherited land prime for grape-growing and wine-making. Like many economic games, you start your journey with little but work to build your farm, workforce, and visitors over time. Use what you can to turn a meager plot of land into a vibrant vineyard.
Viticulture: Essential Edition plays to the seasons and theme, and different actions can be taken depending on whether summer or winter. While dirt can be turned into rich soil — and ultimately riches — you’ll need the right tools and management skills.
You can play solo or compete against others. The most successful vineyard will raise a toast to victory. Hopefully, you’ll be the one saying, “Cheers!”
SHASN
Players: 3-5
Playing time: 90-120 minutes
The business world inevitably involves some politics. SHASN (Sanskrit for “governance, rule, regime” or “throne, seat of power”) is a board game that combines both and requires you to use political strategy and area control.
Pick ideology cards and take a stand on hot topics. Maybe your stance can influence voters – or gain a political edge. Will you adapt your views to the crowd or stay steadfast and hope it pans out for the best? There are several ways to play, and you’ll need to choose your own game plan.
Forming majorities in regions will gain control – and points. It doesn’t matter how many pegs you have spread across the board – like the electoral college, it’s about outnumbering your opponents in targeted areas.
You’ll need to use the art of persuasion and negotiation to get ahead. Can you be the most powerful politician at the table? Play to find out.
Racoon Tycoon
Players: 2-5
Playing time: 60-90 minutes
This furry version bears some resemblance to Monopoly. Instead of real estate, however, you’re working in the busy animal town of Astoria.
Racoon Tycoon is an economic development game. Use resources to develop industries, plant crops, and sell goods to your fellow furry friends.
What’s in demand is constantly changing. You’ll need to speculate how the market will move, and adapt accordingly. It’s a game of taking calculated risks and hoping they pay off.
Can you bid, sell, and trade your way to wealth? See how you fare in Racoon Tycoon!
Jaipur
Players: 2
Playing time: 30 minutes
There’s only one top spot in the majestic court – and the best salesman gets it! Get ready to battle it out in this two-player game.
You start small and build your wealth by trading up. Take, sell, and trade goods from the marketplace as you play.
While you’re not directly interacting with your opponent, you are both working out of the same market. If they’re collecting spices, you might want to choose a different commodity — or buy the bulk and leave them in the dust!
Use luck, strategy, and business savvy to outsmart the competition.
Genoa
Players: 2-5
Playing time: 60-120 minutes
Head back to the Renaissance era in Genoa!
As traders, you’ll travel around the city-based board, gathering and filling orders for goods. However, it’s never that simple. You’ll have to use your powers of negotiation or even bribery to get where you’re going.
During each turn, a player is tasked with an action. Throughout this phase, all players can interact – making offers in exchange for using buildings and moving to a specific location.
This allows for creativity and possibly some rowdiness to the game – but it’s all in good fun and a hard day’s work. Make the best deals, and you’ll end up on top!
Flexible gameplay and group interactions drive this game. So will you get your hands dirty in Genoa or will you play it safe?
Acquire
Players: 2-6
Playing time: 90 minutes
Put those money skills to work in Acquire!
This game is all about investments and financial strategy. A simple board and layout help you focus on the tasks at hand. Invest in hotels to build a chain– watching it grow as you play. Knowing when to invest and sell is key to making the highest profit margin. But act fast before someone else gets there first.
If you’re a fan of stocks, investing, and leveraging money— you’ll enjoy this game of mergers and acquisitions. There’s no monetary cap on capitalism. So build your wealth to win!
Merchants of Amsterdam
Players: 3-5
Playing time: 60 minutes
This Renaissance-themed game takes place in the bustling city of Amsterdam. Merchants of Amsterdam is an economic strategy game that plays to its theme well. Rounds take place in historical phases that bring the period to life.
As merchants, there are various ways to make your fortune. Gain a foothold in the commodity marketplace, trading colonies, or warehouses.
With each turn, players draw cards. Cards can help you in different ways, depending on your goals. Maybe you’ll want to keep, remove, or auction it off. Collect the cards that ultimately benefit your game best.
Buying cards comes with a price – and a gamble. Merchants of Amsterdam comes with a Dutch auction clock that counts down to zero. The price for a card lowers as you go…see how low you can go before your opponent beats you to the punch!
Wrap-Up
We hope you enjoyed our list of the best business board games! Think strategically, build business networks, and grow your wealth with these excellent entrepreneurial games.
Have you tried any of the business games on this list? Did we miss any of your favorites? Drop a comment below and let us know what you think! We’d love to hear from you.
Cheryl is a teacher, writer, and board game fan. She likes incorporating games into all areas of her life, from classrooms and family nights to lively parties with friends. While she’s played too many to count, her favorites have always been classics like Codenames and chess.