SEED GAME#148 BGG all-time

Trajan(2011)

★ 7.7 BGG2–4 players60 minWeight 3.63
Area MovementHand ManagementMancala

Games like Trajan

Looking for games like Trajan? It rewards players who think several moves deep through tight, interlocking systems — built on the chase to complete the right combinations and the squeeze of wringing the most out of a limited hand. 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

Tribune(2021)

★ 7.32–6 playersWeight 3.1
ISO Match
68/100

Shares Hand Management + 2 more

Auction / BiddingHand ManagementOpen Drafting

Everdell Silverfrost(2025)

★ 8.21–4 players30 minWeight 3.2
ISO Match
66/100

Shares Hand Management + 2 more

Hand ManagementOpen DraftingSet Collection

Oak(2022)

★ 7.11–4 playersWeight 3.1
ISO Match
64/100

Shares Hand Management + 2 more

Hand ManagementOpen DraftingSet Collection

Kemet: Blood and Sand(2021)

★ 7.92–5 players90 minWeight 3.2
ISO Match
63/100

Shares Area Movement + 2 more

Action PointsArea Majority / InfluenceArea Movement

Men-Nefer(2024)

★ 8.21–4 players60 minWeight 3.7
ISO Match
62/100

Shares Open Drafting + 1 more

IncomeOpen DraftingSet Collection

Porta Nigra(2015)

★ 7.22–4 players75 minWeight 3.0
ISO Match
62/100

Shares Area Movement + 2 more

Area Majority / InfluenceArea MovementOpen Drafting

ZhanGuo(2014)

★ 7.52–4 players60 minWeight 3.8
ISO Match
60/100

Shares Hand Management

Area Majority / InfluenceHand Management

Civilization(1980)

★ 7.52–7 players360 minWeight 3.6
ISO Match
60/100

Shares Area Movement + 2 more

Area Majority / InfluenceArea MovementHand Management

Zhanguo: The First Empire(2023)

★ 7.91–4 players60 minWeight 3.8
ISO Match
60/100

Shares Hand Management

Area Majority / InfluenceHand ManagementSolo / Solitaire Game

Macao(2009)

★ 7.42–4 players50 minWeight 3.1
ISO Match
60/100

Shares Hand Management + 2 more

Action PointsDice RollingHand Management

The Colonists(2016)

★ 7.51–4 players30 minWeight 4.1
ISO Match
60/100

Shares Area Movement + 2 more

Area MovementHand ManagementModular Board

Lords of Hellas(2018)

★ 7.61–4 players60 minWeight 3.3
ISO Match
60/100

Shares Area Movement + 2 more

Area Majority / InfluenceArea MovementCard Play Conflict Resolution

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