By: Blaze Aldrich | August 18th, 2025

10 Board Games Way Better Than Monopoly

At this point, I think almost every board game is better than Monopoly just because there are so many modern games created every year. Some games introduce new mechanics, themes, or fun player interaction which easily outshine Monopoly. The 10 board games on this list are sometimes known as gateway board games. Usually after a new gamer plays one of these, a light bulb turns on or that could just be dopamine... either way, you have the urge to play that board game again and again. And there you go, you are now addicted to board games. You are welcome! These games are not listed in any particular order.

1. Catan

Why It’s Better Than Monopoly: Catan (formerly Settlers of Catan) swaps endless property trading for dynamic resource management and strategic trading. Players build settlements, roads, and cities on a modular board, competing to earn victory points through clever planning and negotiation.

Gameplay: Collect resources (wood, wheat, sheep, brick, ore) based on dice rolls and your settlement placements. Trade with players or the bank to build and expand. The first to 10 victory points wins.

Why It Shines: The variable board setup and player-driven trading keep every game fresh. It’s accessible yet deep, with enough luck to keep things exciting but not frustrating.

Playtime: ~60–90 minutes | Player Count: 3–4 (expansions add more) | Best For: Fans of negotiation and light strategy.

2. Carcassonne

Why It’s Better Than Monopoly: Carcassonne replaces Monopoly’s repetitive dice-rolling with tile-laying creativity. Players build a medieval landscape, claiming features like roads, cities, and monasteries to score points.

Gameplay: Draw and place tiles to create a map, then place “meeples” to claim features. Completed roads, cities, or cloisters score points, with bonuses for clever placement.

Why It Shines: Simple rules hide surprising depth. The evolving board is visually satisfying, and games rarely overstay their welcome.

Playtime: ~30–45 minutes | Player Count: 2–5 | Best For: Families and casual gamers who love puzzles.

3. Dominion

Why It’s Better Than Monopoly: Dominion introduced deck-building, where you craft your deck during play, offering far more control and strategy than Monopoly’s luck-driven property grabs.

Gameplay: Start with a basic deck of cards and buy better ones from a shared market to improve your hand. Chain actions, treasures, and victory cards to outscore opponents.

Why It Shines: With countless card combinations, no two games are alike. It’s quick to learn but rewards mastery.

Playtime: ~30 minutes | Player Count: 2–4 | Best For: Strategy buffs who love optimizing.

4. Quacks

Why It’s Better Than Monopoly: Quacks trades Monopoly’s predictable rent collection for a thrilling “push-your-luck” potion-brewing adventure. It’s chaotic, fun, and endlessly replayable.

Gameplay: Draw ingredient chips from a bag to brew potions, balancing risk and reward. If too many “cherry bombs” explode, your potion fails. Use points to buy better ingredients.

Why It Shines: The bag-building mechanic is addictive, and the lighthearted theme keeps everyone engaged, even when luck swings.

Playtime: ~45 minutes | Player Count: 2–4 | Best For: Groups who love laughs and light risk-taking.

5. Cascadia

Why It’s Better Than Monopoly: Cascadia offers a relaxing yet strategic puzzle, replacing Monopoly’s cutthroat deals with harmonious tile-laying and wildlife habitat building.

Gameplay: Draft tiles and animal tokens to create habitats (forests, rivers, mountains) and arrange animals for scoring patterns. Balance habitat growth with animal goals.

Why It Shines: Beautiful art, simple rules, and variable scoring cards make it approachable yet replayable. It’s perfect for a chill game night.

Playtime: ~30–45 minutes | Player Count: 1–4 | Best For: Nature lovers and fans of calm strategy.

6. Azul

Why It’s Better Than Monopoly: Azul’s gorgeous tile-laying and abstract strategy outclass Monopoly’s repetitive board laps. It’s a visual and tactical treat.

Gameplay: Draft colorful tiles to decorate a palace wall, scoring points for clever patterns. Misplace tiles, and you’ll lose points.

Why It Shines: The balance of planning and opportunism, paired with stunning components, makes every turn satisfying.

Playtime: ~30–40 minutes | Player Count: 2–4 | Best For: Visual thinkers and competitive players.

7. Mountain Goats

Why It’s Better Than Monopoly: Mountain Goats is a fast, dice-driven race up mountains that’s far more engaging than Monopoly’s slow property grind.

Gameplay: Roll dice to move goats up numbered mountain tracks. Knock opponents back and aim to dominate peaks for points.

Why It Shines: Quick rounds and light player interaction make it a breezy, fun filler game with just enough strategy.

Playtime: ~20 minutes | Player Count: 2–4 | Best For: Quick game nights or younger players.

8. Space Base

Why It’s Better Than Monopoly: Space Base turns Monopoly’s dice-rolling into a cosmic engine-building game where every roll can benefit everyone, reducing downtime.

Gameplay: Roll dice to activate ships on your board, earning credits or abilities. Deploy ships to flip cards for bigger rewards. First to 40 points wins.

Why It Shines: The “everyone benefits” mechanic keeps players engaged, and the sci-fi theme adds flair.

Playtime: ~60 minutes | Player Count: 2–5 | Best For: Fans of dice games and sci-fi.

9. Tiny Towns

Why It’s Better Than Monopoly: Tiny Towns transforms Monopoly’s property hoarding into a tight, spatial puzzle where every choice matters.

Gameplay: Use resource cubes to build buildings on a 4x4 grid, following patterns to construct a tiny town. Each building scores differently.

Why It Shines: The compact grid forces tough decisions, and the charming theme makes it accessible to all.

Playtime: ~45 minutes | Player Count: 1–6 | Best For: Puzzle lovers and solo gamers.

10. Ticket to Ride

Why It’s Better Than Monopoly: Ticket to Ride replaces Monopoly’s monotonous money chase with a vibrant, train-building adventure across a map.

Gameplay: Collect train cards to claim routes between cities, completing secret destination tickets for points. Block opponents strategically.

Why It Shines: Easy to learn, with enough depth to keep gamers hooked. The colorful board and trains are a hit with all ages.

Playtime: ~45–60 minutes | Player Count: 2–5 | Best For: Families and geography buffs.

Bonus: Harmonies

Why It’s Better Than Monopoly: Harmonies, a newer gem, offers a serene yet strategic tile-laying experience, crafting ecosystems with animals and landscapes, far outpacing Monopoly’s dated mechanics.

Gameplay: Place tiles to create habitats (forests, rivers, etc.) and add animals to score points based on unique patterns. Balance immediate gains with long-term goals.

Why It Shines: Its calming theme, gorgeous components, and variable scoring make it a standout for relaxed yet thinky sessions.

Playtime: ~30–45 minutes | Player Count: 1–4 | Best For: Fans of Cascadia and nature-themed strategy.

Why These Games Beat Monopoly

Monopoly’s reliance on luck, lengthy playtime, and potential for player elimination can drag down game night. These 10 (plus one) games offer:

Faster Play: Most wrap up in under an hour, keeping energy high.

Strategic Depth: From deck-building in Dominion to spatial puzzles in Tiny Towns, there’s more to think about than just rolling dice.

Replayability: Variable setups, like Catan’s board or Azul’s tiles, ensure no two games feel the same.

Inclusivity: Games like Cascadia and Harmonies scale well for solo play or groups, unlike Monopoly’s 2–8 player slog.

Got a favorite from this list, or want to know more about one?