Close Encounters of the Third Kind(1978)
Games like Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Looking for games like Close Encounters of the Third Kind? It's quick to teach and quick to play, easy to get to the table on any night. This page rounds up 12 of the closest alternatives, scored on mechanical overlap with the original (45%), complexity match (35%), and player-count fit (20%), then weighted by BoardGameGeek community ratings so every pick is one players genuinely rate. The strongest matches come first; the further down you go, the more a game trades exact overlap for a fresh take on the same core appeal.
12 recommendations · scored by ISO
Star Wars: Rescue on Geonosis(2002)
Shares Roll / Spin and Move + 1 more
The Game of Life: A Jedi's Path(2002)
Shares Roll / Spin and Move
Costume Party Detective(2018)
Shares Roll / Spin and Move + 1 more
Scotland Yard(1990)
Shares Roll / Spin and Move + 1 more
The Garlic Vampires(2008)
Shares Roll / Spin and Move + 1 more
Man-Eater!(1976)
Shares Roll / Spin and Move + 1 more
Star Trek: The Next Generation Game of the Galaxies(1993)
Shares Roll / Spin and Move
Trivial Pursuit: Doctor Who(2013)
Shares Roll / Spin and Move
Star Wars: Destroy Death Star Game(1977)
Shares Roll / Spin and Move
Dr. Seuss: Merry Grinchmas! Game(2021)
Shares Roll / Spin and Move
Bonanza(1964)
Shares Roll / Spin and Move
Trivial Pursuit: Star Wars – The Black Series Edition(2016)
Shares Roll / Spin and Move
As an Amazon Associate, ISO earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability vary; ISO never displays prices. Affiliate links are marked rel="sponsored" per FTC guidelines.
Get picks tuned to your shelf
This list is built from community data. Sign in to ISO and log what you own — your personal feed factors in your complexity preferences, play history, and the games already on your shelf.
Get personalized recommendations →Free · no credit card · 2-minute setup
More recommendation lists
Star Wars: Rescue on Geonosis
The Game of Life: A Jedi's Path
Costume Party Detective
Scotland Yard
The Garlic Vampires
Man-Eater!
Star Trek: The Next Generation Game of the Galaxies
Trivial Pursuit: Doctor Who
Star Wars: Destroy Death Star Game
Dr. Seuss: Merry Grinchmas! Game
Bonanza
Trivial Pursuit: Star Wars – The Black Series Edition
/pic1557749.jpg)
/pic43534.jpg)
/pic477547.jpg)
/pic4167796.jpg)
/pic1410512.jpg)
/pic1328341.jpg)
/pic22080.jpg)
/pic18292.jpg)
/pic1882273.jpg)
/pic21100.jpg)
/pic6361040.png)
/pic284357.jpg)
/pic7645813.jpg)