Battle strategy games are a subgenre of strategy gaming and have their unique charm. Risk is perhaps the epitome of this genre of classic board games. The game, which is all about capturing new territories, and eventually the entire map, is extremely exciting.
However, one tends to get bored after playing the same for a long while. I have myself been a longtime fan of Risk, but it feels repetitive and even the new maps had nothing new to offer. This must be a problem with you as well who played Risk growing up but are bored of it now.
Worry not as I researched, found dozens of similar games, tried them myself and came up with the top recommendations. They have the same ‘feel’ as Risk while being pretty different in terms of the world that they are based in.
It took me quite a while to prepare this list. I’d like to give a special thanks to my friends who turned up at every game night to try out new games every couple of weeks which has finally led to the curation of this list. I hope this helps you find the perfect Risk alternative you desire!
So, without further ado, let’s dig in!
1. Root
When it comes to Root, the objective is pretty clear. There is a forest, and up to four groups fight to control the forest. Now each of these teams represents a different faction, all of whom have different special abilities.
- Play Time: Usually around 90 minutes with four players
- Players Required: 2 to 4 players
- Complexity: Quite complex
- Age: 10 years and above
Similar to Risk, you have to capture territory, but what’s different here is the fact that you’ve got these different characters with different abilities which makes the gameplay unique.
What really works for me is the fact that the game is both, cute and menacing at the same time. The character pieces, at first glance, are cute little animals that move around in the forest.
However, when you delve deeper into the storyline and their abilities, it gets somewhat sinister. The game has strategy, alliances, betrayals, cards, characters — everything to keep you engrossed!
Root isn’t the easiest game to play as it comes with multiple character sets, and it took me at least 2 to 3 turns playing as every character faction to truly understand their uniqueness. There are three rulebooks that the game comes with.
It also has a nother guide which is quite the read. I won’t really call it a game for the casual board gamers, which is what Risk, to an extent, is. However, Root is quite the experience!
2. A War of Whispers
A War of Whispers is a strategy game with an interesting twist. Five clans are at war, but you don’t play as either of them.
- Play Time: Usually up to 60 minutes
- Players Required: 2 to 4 players
- Complexity: Not so complex
- Age: 14 years and above
Each player plays a secret society that is trying to infiltrate each clan with spies and influence, some for the right reasons and some for the wrong. You begin the game with five loyalty tokens, only you know the values of which to. The goal is to have the most loyal clan win!
Area control games similar to Risk tend to be fairly one-dimensional and the idea basically is to just keep increasing your units over time.
With A War of Whispers, however, the interesting thing is that you get to control units from all five clans. Units from any clan can jump in to ally with and help another clan depending on your influence!
Another key element here is that none of the players in the game know each others’ clan allegiance. There’s a ‘swap’ option where players can reveal two unrevealed loyalty tokens, and show their loyalty preferences for two clans.
This adds another layer of excitement to the game as loyalties slowly begin to reveal. The game, otherwise, isn’t as complex as some other board games like Root and is fun to play!
3. Inis
Inis is the Irish word for Island. In this game, all the players try to become the king of the island. There are six different territories, and players have to spread their influence across all of them in order to win.
Drafting of the cards is the biggest gameplay element in Inis, and the cards you have drafted decide the fate of your actions moving forward.
- Play Time: Usually up to 90 minutes
- Players Required: 2 to 4 players
- Complexity: Moderately Complex
- Age: 14 years and above
In Inis, there are multiple ways in which you can win the game, all of which bring in interesting insights from Celtic mythology and Irish lore.
The combat mechanics in the game are pretty fascinating as well, where multiple players have a say in starting fights or having your troops retreat. Inis is at its most enjoyable when you play the game in a group of four.
I also want to highlight that Inis is certainly one of my favorite board games out there. It features intricate designs that have quite a psychedelic feel to it. The art represents the Celtic myths and realms really well.
While the green cards and the yellow cards help you get your basics done, it is the epic tale cards that are the true MVPs of the game for me, allowing you to pull off a stunner and seize the game!
4. Small World
Small World’s name is the biggest giveaway about what the game is about. It is a small world and it doesn’t have space for too many powers. It reminds you of Risk as you move to conquer territories, but there are characters like Dwarves, Wizards, and Giants where you need to have the right combination to conquer territories.
There are 14 races, each of which comes with its own unique powers.
- Play Time: Usually lasts for about an hour to 80 minutes
- Players Required: 2 to 5 players required
- Complexity: Not so complex
- Age: 8 years and above
Those like me who have played Risk multiple times would love this game. This is one of my favorite alternatives to Risk as it has pretty much the same vibe of conquering territories but with the added joy of characters that come with their own powers.
Races in the game are in constant decline or rise — adding another layer of unpredictability to the game.
You also win a coin with every new territory that you capture, and this is the most important aspect of Small World, as the number of coins each player owns after the end of the final round will determine who the winner at the end is.
Lastly, I also want to highlight how simple this game is. If you are an enthusiast who wants to enter the world of board games or battle strategy games – this has to be your entry point!
5. Brian Boru
Brian Boru is the second game on my list which is based on Irish lore. Brian Boru was a King who ended the Viking invasions and was known as the High King.
Many elements of Brian Boru are directly inspired by Ireland in the times of the real Brian Boru. This game combines two popular gaming genres — area control, as well as trick-taking, and the winner becomes the High King of Ireland.
- Play Time: Usually takes up to 90 minutes
- Players Required: 2 to 5 players
- Complexity: Moderately Complex
- Age: 14 years and above
To me, it is an interesting game that I can easily play multiple times on a game night. They’ve got unique visual styles and large-sized cards which adds to my fascination. The history and the lore that surround Brian Boru are brought here.
While area conquest is a part of it that reminds you of Risk, winning or losing this game primarily hinges on the trick-taking aspect.
The cards make or break your chances of winning the game. There are many combinations via which you can win or lose a trick. At the end of the game, the person who wins the most tricks wins. It does take a while to get used to the concept of tricks – especially if you are a new gamer.
However, after a couple of rounds, you should be confident enough to get going with Brian Boru for all your upcoming game nights!
6. Dust
Dust is very similar to Risk in the basic concept and objectives — capture territories and win. However, you get to do much more in Dust as you can build your troops and get a diverse collection of troops as well!
The game also sees you build your capitals and defend them. Throughout the game, you start winning certain points, and once you have gained enough points you can attack and win.
- Play Time: Can go anywhere between an hour to 3 hours
- Players Required: Between 2 to 6 players
- Complexity: Moderately Complex
- Age: Suitable for ages 12 and above
Dust is for those who like Risk but are left either bored or craving for more after an intense few months of playing the game. With Dust, the diversity of the troops makes the gameplay even more exciting.
In Dust, you’ve got to take care of your movement, production, and combat. Combat deals with the attacks you can make, movement lets you move your units, while production helps you set up factories for units.
There are two modes in Dust, for two different kinds of players. Firstly, the Premium mode is for people who want to quickly get the games over and proceed to a new round.
Secondly, there’s the Elite mode which is specifically for those players who like long-drawn battles that can go into multiple hours. This makes it a perfect game for both – your usual game nights, as well as lazy Sunday afternoons.
Lastly, If you’re interested in other genres, you may try games like Conan Exiles and Green Hell.
Wrap Up!
I’ve been playing Risk ever since I was a child, and I now need something that is on the same lines but somewhat different. This is when I set forth to look for newer options that are along the same lines of battle strategy and conquering nations but aren’t the exactly same as Risk.
With new games coming up in the area control and battle strategy genre, it gives players more options to explore. Risk is a good gateway game to the world of board gaming as well as this strategy genre, but these other games on the list take the mantle forward.
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