SEED GAME#23189 BGG all-time

ESSEN(2014)

★ 5.8 BGG2–4 players45 minWeight 2.38
Action QueueArea Majority / InfluenceCommodity Speculation

Games like ESSEN

Looking for games like ESSEN? It's a strategy game with real decisions on every turn — built on the tension of claiming the best spots before anyone else can and the constant fight to control more of the board than your rivals. 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.

How ISO scores this list:Mechanic overlap 45%·Complexity proximity 35%·Player-count fit 20%·BGG quality multiplier applied

12 recommendations · scored by ISO

Festo!(2018)

★ 6.72–5 playersWeight 2.3
ISO Match
68/100

Shares Action Queue + 2 more

Action QueueArea Majority / InfluencePush Your Luck

Crisis(2016)

★ 7.51–5 players45 minWeight 3.1
ISO Match
66/100

Shares Action Queue + 2 more

Action QueueCommodity SpeculationSemi-Cooperative Game

Ore: The Mining Game(2013)

★ 7.22–5 playersWeight 2.3
ISO Match
64/100

Shares Commodity Speculation + 1 more

Commodity SpeculationContractsWorker Placement

Oilfield(2016)

★ 6.82–5 playersWeight 2.6
ISO Match
62/100

Shares Area Majority / Influence + 1 more

Area Majority / InfluenceAuction / BiddingSimultaneous Action Selection

Kingdom of Solomon(2012)

★ 6.82–4 playersWeight 2.8
ISO Match
62/100

Shares Area Majority / Influence + 2 more

Area Majority / InfluenceCommodity SpeculationEnclosure

Cultivo(2025)

★ 6.92–4 players60 minWeight 2.5
ISO Match
62/100

Shares Area Majority / Influence + 1 more

Area Majority / InfluenceWorker Placement

Sencha(2019)

★ 6.42–4 players45 minWeight 2.2
ISO Match
62/100

Shares Area Majority / Influence + 1 more

Area Majority / InfluenceWorker Placement

Clockwork Kingdom(2015)

★ 5.22–4 players60 minWeight 2.4
ISO Match
61/100

Shares Area Majority / Influence + 1 more

Area Majority / InfluenceSet CollectionWorker Placement

Imhotep: The Duel(2018)

★ 7.02 players30 minWeight 2.0
ISO Match
61/100

Shares Area Majority / Influence + 1 more

Area Majority / InfluenceModular BoardSet Collection

Cryo(2021)

★ 7.22–4 players60 minWeight 2.8
ISO Match
61/100

Shares Area Majority / Influence + 1 more

Area Majority / InfluenceEnd Game BonusesHand Management

Bruxelles 1897(2019)

★ 7.12–4 players40 minWeight 2.9
ISO Match
61/100

Shares Area Majority / Influence + 1 more

Area Majority / InfluenceAuction / BiddingModular Board

Mangrovia(2014)

★ 7.22–5 playersWeight 2.4
ISO Match
61/100

Shares Area Majority / Influence + 1 more

Area Majority / InfluenceHand ManagementVariable Phase Order

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Free · no credit card · 2-minute setup

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