Vivarium(2017)
Games like Vivarium
Looking for games like Vivarium? It rewards players who think several moves deep through tight, interlocking systems — built on asymmetric powers that make your side play unlike any other and building an engine card by card as the game unfolds. 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
Black Rose Wars(2019)
Shares Area Majority / Influence + 5 more
Forbidden Stars(2015)
Shares Area Majority / Influence + 5 more
Mysthea(2019)
Shares Area Majority / Influence + 4 more
Dead Reckoning(2022)
Shares Area Majority / Influence + 3 more
Star Trek: Captain's Chair(2025)
Shares Area Majority / Influence + 3 more
StarCraft: The Board Game(2007)
Shares Area Majority / Influence + 4 more
Viscounts of the West Kingdom(2020)
Shares Area Majority / Influence + 5 more
BATTALIA: The Creation(2015)
Shares Area Majority / Influence + 3 more
Crescent Moon(2022)
Shares Area Majority / Influence + 3 more
Monumental Duel: Trade(2024)
Shares Area Movement + 5 more
Great Western Trail: New Zealand(2023)
Shares Deck, Bag, and Pool Building + 2 more
Monumental Duel: Espionage(2024)
Shares Area Movement + 5 more
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
Black Rose Wars
Forbidden Stars
Mysthea
Dead Reckoning
Star Trek: Captain's Chair
StarCraft: The Board Game
Viscounts of the West Kingdom
BATTALIA: The Creation
Crescent Moon
Monumental Duel: Trade
Great Western Trail: New Zealand
Monumental Duel: Espionage
/pic2831851.jpg)
/pic6892325.jpg)
/pic2471359.jpg)
/pic3980663.png)
/pic4650725.jpg)
/pic8243925.jpg)
/pic265704.jpg)
/pic5230695.png)
/pic2550416.jpg)
/pic6429261.jpg)
/pic8183798.jpg)
/pic7350809.png)
/pic8183768.jpg)