SEED GAME#1539 BGG all-time

Watson & Holmes(2015)

★ 7.2 BGG2–7 players45 minWeight 2.16
Auction / BiddingModular BoardPlayer Elimination

Games like Watson & Holmes

Looking for games like Watson & Holmes? It's a strategy game with real decisions on every turn — built on asymmetric powers that make your side play unlike any other and a board that reshapes itself so no two games play alike. 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

Shadow Raiders(2018)

★ 6.84–8 players60 minWeight 1.7
ISO Match
65/100

Shares Modular Board + 2 more

Dice RollingModular BoardPlayer Elimination

DungeonQuest (Third Edition)(2010)

★ 6.71–4 playersWeight 2.2
ISO Match
64/100

Shares Modular Board + 2 more

Modular BoardPlayer EliminationRock-Paper-Scissors

Mobile Frame Zero: Rapid Attack(2012)

★ 7.82–5 players150 minWeight 2.6
ISO Match
64/100

Shares Modular Board + 2 more

Dice RollingModular BoardPlayer Elimination

Boss Monster: Rise of the Minibosses(2018)

★ 6.82–4 playersWeight 2.1
ISO Match
64/100

Shares Auction / Bidding + 2 more

Auction / BiddingHand ManagementPlayer Elimination

Empires(2017)

★ 6.82–10 playersWeight 2.3
ISO Match
63/100

Shares Auction / Bidding + 2 more

Auction / BiddingSimultaneous Action SelectionTrading

10' to Kill(2015)

★ 6.22–4 playersWeight 1.7
ISO Match
62/100

Shares Modular Board + 1 more

Action QueueMemoryModular Board

Holmes and Moriarty(2018)

★ 7.02 players30 minWeight 2.5
ISO Match
62/100

Shares Simultaneous Action Selection + 1 more

Open DraftingPattern BuildingSecret Unit Deployment

Discover: Lands Unknown(2018)

★ 5.81–4 playersWeight 2.5
ISO Match
62/100

Shares Modular Board + 2 more

Modular BoardPlayer EliminationVariable Player Powers

Revolution!(2009)

★ 6.73–4 players60 minWeight 2.0
ISO Match
62/100

Shares Auction / Bidding + 1 more

Area Majority / InfluenceAuction / BiddingAuction: Multiple Lot

شب مافیا (Mafia's Night)(2017)

★ 7.75–40 players20 minWeight 2.4
ISO Match
61/100

Shares Player Elimination + 1 more

Player EliminationRole PlayingTeam-Based Game

The Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation(2005)

★ 7.52 players30 minWeight 2.2
ISO Match
61/100

Shares Simultaneous Action Selection + 1 more

Area MovementCard Play Conflict ResolutionHand Management

Coup: Rebellion G54(2014)

★ 7.03–6 players15 minWeight 1.9
ISO Match
61/100

Shares Player Elimination + 1 more

MemoryPlayer EliminationTake That

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.

IS

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