The Longest board games offer the full-blown marathon of strategy, immersion, and diplomacy. If you thrive on complex mechanics, shifting alliances and mesmerizing stories, these games are your next challenge.
DISCLAIMER!
Dear reader, in this article you’ll find a classification of the longest board games, also known as long-play board games. This list will not include DnD campaigns, as these playthroughs are as long as the story itself. Pandemic and other versions of Pandemic are also excluded since individual plays are not long per se.
What defines the longest board games?
There are some factors that define a long-play board game, and in some cases, the longest board games check most of them.
Playtime
Playtime defines how much one unique play can last. This time may differ if the players are new to the game or if they already know the board game. A long-play board game is one that lasts a minimum of three hours per play.
Some of the longest board games can last more than twelve hours per play. Some board games include a campaign mode that can last multiple sessions, depending on the objectives and/or the story.
Complex rules and Strategic Depth
Usually, the longest board games include complex and intricate systems for players to reach their goals and gain points. Every action taken by the player at any time during play can impact the player’s position and final outcome, as well as the strategies and outcomes of the rest of the players.
These complex game mechanics encourage long-term strategies, alliances and negotiations. Some of the systems and actions you can find in the longest board games are:
- Diplomacy between players to obtain trades, treaties, and accords.
- Tech trees that the players need to go through to obtain technology, resources, or industries.
- Warfare and conflicts between players to achieve new territories.
Larger Player count
It is quite common that these long-play board games support between four and six players, or even more in some cases. Some of the longest board games that simulate historical wars or galactic civilizations involve multiple players, in which each player controls a faction or nation.
A larger player count also makes diplomacy alliances, and of course betrayals, even more interesting. It incorporates a social meta-game layer to the board game that can be as important as the mechanics themselves.
Furthermore, a larger group of players justifies the time invested in these long-plays. This also translates in longer playtimes as more players are involved.
Immersive Theme
A long-play board game needs to absorb the players into a world or a universe with an interesting and compelling storyline. Players need to feel like they live inside the game’s world for their interest to carry them through the game during for hours.
An immersive theme could be the difference between a good long board game and a bad long board game. Mechanics and progression systems rely on the theme and the logic of the realm or universe. It is not only a resource to retain player engagement of the players, it gives context to the mechanics of the game, making it easier to learn and remember.
Be it galactic empires, world wars, fantasy realms or ancient civilizations, one of the core pillars of the longest board games is the ambience and storyline.
Discover some of the longest board games
If we’ve sparked your curiosity and you’re interested in trying a long board game, here you’ll have a selection of well-known titles you can check out.
In this ranking, we’ve organised the games from shortest to longest in terms of playtime. For each game, you’ll find a brief explanation along with the minimum and maximum duration of a typical session, indicated by the following icon: 🕑 (1 hour)
Here I stand
Minimum: 🕑🕑🕑
Maximum: 🕑🕑🕑🕑🕑🕑
Players: 2 – 6
Here I Stand is the first game in 25 years to cover the political and religious conflicts of early 16th-century Europe. This historical strategy board game is politically rich and card-driven. It is considered one of the most immersive and complex long board games. You can play as any of these six main powers:
- The Ottomans
- The Habsburgs
- The English
- The French
- The Papacy
- The Protestants
You’ll find yourself in the midst of the European Renaissance. The game board/map is divided by territories of influence. You’ll experience historical moments such as the Religious Reformation and the development of the printing press.
Who do we recommend this game for?
- If you like historical games with warfare and diplomacy mechanics, Here I Stand is the perfect game for you.
- If you like card-driven mechanics, in this game it has a dual purpose: you can use them as an event or an action.
- The asymmetric powers of each faction add more flavour to the game. You’ll want to try them all.
- The power to recreate or rewrite history.
Don’t panic! Here I Stand allows you to start the game in different eras. It’s not necessary to begin with the first era. However, this will affect the political power of each faction. Nonetheless it can actually be an advantage for shorter games, especially at the beginning.
Check out gamers community for Here I Stand.
Pax Britannica
Minimum: 🕑🕑🕑🕑
Maximum: 🕑🕑🕑🕑🕑🕑🕑
Players: 4 – 7
Pax Britannica is a Victorian-era wargame of diplomacy and global confrontation. Each player controls the administrative and military assets needed to dominate the most strategic areas of the map. This is a highly competitive board game in which players must keep a close eye on their opponents, whose colonial ambitions can directly impact one another’s strategies.
In this game, you can play as:
- United Kingdom
- France
- The US
- Germany
- Austria-Hungary
- Italy
- Russia
- Japan
It may seem like Pax Britannica is a wargame, but it’s much more than that. Negotiation and diplomacy mechanics are a key part of this long-play board game. Balance of Power, influence, colonial administration and avoiding global conflict too early in the game are a must.
Who do we recommend this game for?
- If you like games with mechanics of influence, diplomacy and wargames.
- Asymmetric powers for each nation make every session unique.
- If you also like the luck component, events and crises will change the game landscape.
- If you like highly competitive games with alliances and betrayals.
Attention gamers! Pax Britannica is a hard-to-find game. The game was originally published in 1985 and new sealed copies are rare to find. This is a vintage collector’s interest board game. Also, because it is no longer in print, the copies you’ll find are second hand.
Check our gamers community for Pax Britannica.
Western Empires
Minimum: 🕑🕑🕑🕑
Maximum: 🕑🕑🕑🕑🕑🕑🕑🕑🕑🕑🕑
Players: 5 – 9
Western Empires is a historical long-play board game that covers the development of ancient civilizations over 8000 years of history. As a player, you’ll develop your civilization in arts, crafts, science, civics, and religion. In this game you can play as:
- The Romans
- The Egyptians
- The Celts
- The Minoans
It should be noted that Western Empires is not a wargame. Players may face some conflicts but the theme of this long-play board game is mainly historical. The main objective is to expand your civilization, build cities, and defend your territory, while also facing natural disasters, famine, and epidemics.
Who do we recommend this game for?
- If you like historical and long-strategy games, Western Empires is for you.
- If you like diplomacy or trade mechanics.
- Games with a trade-card system.
- Player competitiveness is heightened by the ability to use calamity cards.
Moreover, if you like this game it can be expanded with Western Empires: The Special Buildings Edition. The expansion includes 9 unique buildings, one for each player, which grant new and special benefits to the players.
Check out our gamers community for Western Empires.
Twilight Imperium
Minimum: 🕑🕑🕑🕑🕑🕑
Maximum: 🕑🕑🕑🕑🕑🕑🕑🕑🕑🕑
Players 3 – 6
Twilight Imperium is the second longest board game of this ranking. A game of galactic conquest in which the players take the role of one of the seventeen factions available in this universe. Each faction has its own different play experience, different characteristics, and advantages.
In broad terms,Twilight imperium has two stages:
- The expansion and conquest across the galaxy.
- The conquest of Mecatol Rex, the capital planet seated in the centre of the board.
- This opens the Galactic Council phase: The most dramatic and politically intense part of the game. Players vote to approve or dismiss Laws and Directives that may affect the game session.
- Laws: are a type of agenda card that, if passed, stays in play for the rest of the game.
- Directives: are a type of agenda card with a one-time effect, immediate and temporary.
Twilight Imperium is a 4X strategy, it includes exploration, expansion, resource exploitation and extermination of enemy factions. This long-play board game has various victory paths and offers a different play experience each session. The Objectives are determined by ten objective cards, revealed one by one after each turn. Each player also chooses between two secret objectives that can provide them with victory points if achieved.
Who do we recommend this game for?
- If you like a different experience every time you play.
- If you like sci-fi-base board games.
- If you enjoy diplomacy and military mechanics.
- If you like deep mechanics, multi-layered long board games.
Preparation is key when playing Twilight Imperium. This is not just a game, it’s a full-scale galactic saga filled with diplomacy, warfare, strategy, and politics. Every session offers a unique story shaped by the players and their ambitions. Get ready to explore and shape the fate of the galaxy!
Check our gamers community for Twilight Imperium.
Mega Civilization
Minimum: 🕑🕑🕑🕑🕑🕑
Maximum: 🕑🕑🕑🕑🕑🕑🕑🕑🕑🕑🕑🕑
Players: 5 – 18
Mega Civilization is the longest board game of our ranking. An epic-scale version of the legendary development game Civilization. The board game covers the historical development of ancient civilizations over a time span of almost 8,000 years. The player’s goal is to develop a civilization culturally, economically, and politically while avoiding collapse and outpacing rivals in advancements.
The civilizations available in Mega Civilization fall into two categories:
Western maps civilizations (players 1- 9):
- Iberians
- Celts
- Italians
- Illyrians
- Thracians
- Hittites
- Minoans
- Assyrians
- Babylonians
And Eastern map civilizations (players 10 – 18):
- Elamites
- Persians
- Medes
- Armenians
- Scythians
- Bactrians
- Indians
- Dravidians
- Chinese
Mega Civilization is not a wargame. The player who manages to balance the various goals previously mentioned will achieve the highest victory points score. The game is divided into various phases and turns, at the end of which a check is made for each player to move forward on the Archaeological Succession Table.
Who do we recommend this game for?
- If you are looking for the longest board game you can play, Mega Civilization is for you.
- If you prefer trading and diplomacy mechanics.
- If you want to try large player groups (up to 18 players).
- If you like hardcore and long-term strategy games.
No need to panic. Players can choose to play a beginner scenario, which only takes 1-2 hours. This short scenario offers the same excitement as the full-scale game. However, if it’s your first time playing we recommend this option for a 6-8 hour session. Instead of the full length of the game.
Check our gamers community for Mega Civilization.
Are you ready to play?
The longest board games require a dedicated group of players and, of course, a time commitment. Often lasting 8 to 12 hours or even more.
Although the longest board games offer an immersive and unforgettable experience, they’re not for everyone. The length, the complexity, and mechanics can be overwhelming to casual players.
Finding or building the right group is a key part of unlocking the full potential of these board games. Find other players in Gamers.Online for your perfect session of the longest board games you want to play.
Game on!