The French town of Carcassonne is known for its fortresses, roads, and rivers. Which is precisely what you must build in this board game of the same name.
Take turns strategically connecting tiles and placing meeples. Collectively, the group will create a beautiful mosaic to represent the landscape. Players get points for closed structures and meeple placement. Once all tiles have been played, the person with the most points wins.
Carcassonne is the perfect choice for players looking for a lighter, German-style board game. It’s a territory-building game that’s easy to learn and plays quickly– an excellent choice for a faster-paced game night.
While Carcassonne may have a big name, it’s not the only one of its kind! Check out these 5 games like Carcassonne. With similar themes, mechanics, and overall feel, you’re sure to find options to add to your collection!
Table of Contents
5 Games Like Carcassonne
Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King
Players: 2-5
Playing time: 30-50 minutes
Another tabletop game based on a beautiful location – the Isle of Skye is a picturesque island off the coast of Scotland. Instead of fortresses – think green pastures, rolling hills, and small inlets.
While it is also a tile-placement game, there is some added complexity. Earning and using money is essential. Players can use this money to auction and bid for specific tiles creating more direct player interaction.
Isle of Skye is played over 6 rounds with different phases. The strategy for tile placement is similar. You must connect similar landscapes with bonus points for completing structures. However, the scoring system has more variability and changes depending on the round.
Isle of Skye is more involved and moves a bit slower. It appeals to someone looking for a game with similar themes and goals but slightly more depth.
I don’t know about you, but isle be sure to give this game a try!
Alhambra (Revised Edition)
Players: 2-6
Playing time: 45-60 minutes
Alhambra stems from the Arabic word for “red fortress.” In this tabletop game, players compete to build the best version of this renowned red-walled fortress in southern Spain.
Start with a sole fountain. Build around it to create a luxurious citadel protected by sturdy walls. Get money to buy tiles that you will add to your Alhambra. Your Alhambra must follow certain design specifications, such as adjoining sides being the same. Placement is crucial — so keep your tiles in reserve and use them when the time is right.
Alhambra is also based on Victory Points. Points are awarded every round for the most buildings of each color, with bonus points for the longest external wall.
Alhambra is another light, easy-to-learn board game. The rules and gameplay are straightforward — but surprisingly fun. It’s a good choice for newbies or players looking for a low-key game night.
Takenoko
Players: 2-4
Playing time: 45 minutes
Put that green thumb to work in Takenoko!
In Takenoko, compete to be the best bamboo gardener this village has ever seen. Players also work together to create a mosaic garden in the middle of the table.
However, the tiles don’t score points for individual players. Instead, the board is used by all to complete objectives. Grow bamboo to high heights, build irrigation channels, and feed that hungry panda. The player to collect the most objective points at the end wins.
The gameplay and artwork tie well to the theme. So if you’re looking for a fun game with a more immersive theme, Takenoko is for you!
Kingdomino
Players: 2-4
Playing time: 15-25 minutes
It’s kingdom-building meets dominos in this game.
The landscape dominos are similar to Carcassonne. Both games are super easy to learn and have high replayability.
In Kingdomino, claim and collect your domino of choice from the center. Light strategy is involved when choosing. Pieces with crowns will get you more points, but you will select last in the next round.
After choosing, add the domino to your own kingdom. Join it to similar terrain – but you’ll need to use those puzzle skills to keep it within a 5×5 grid! Points are awarded for connected landscapes with crowns. The player with the most points wins.
Kingdomino is a straightforward, lightweight game, making it an excellent choice for families and travel.
Patchwork
Players: 2
Playing time: 15-30
Turn scrap into a beautiful quilt!
Patchwork is a two-person tile-placement game based on quilting. Be clever, get creative, and sew together these puzzle pieces to make a winning design.
Patchwork involves some resource management. You have a limited number of buttons and must use them to purchase scraps. The scraps come in different colors, sizes, and shapes. Add them to your personal quilt board any way you like – but exercise caution and spacial awareness. You’ll need to add more patches as you go. Each piece has a different value, and the player with the most points wins.
It’s a peaceful theme with no direct player interaction — but still maintains an element of competition. If you’re a fan of crafting, puzzles, and competition, add Patchwork to your collection.
Wrap-Up
We hope you enjoyed our list of 5 games like Carcassonne. This tile placement board game has grown so much in popularity over the years and has a ton of expansions to prove it. Once you’ve played through Carcassonne for the millionth time, why not try your hand at some similar games?
If you enjoyed any of these games, we can assure you that you’ll love these other titles too: 7 Wonders, Everdell, The Castles of Burgundy, A Feast for Odin, Terraforming Mars, Splendor, and Spirit Island. Which of the games on this list have you tried? 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.