Best Games Like Risk | 5 Recommendations

Ryan and Daniel share five games that have similarities to and improve upon the classic board game Risk.
👇 Links to all games mentioned below!

🛒 Links to Games Mentioned:

0:00 5 Alternatives to Risk
0:35 Recommendation #1
2:28 Recommendation #2
4:03 Recommendation #3
6:45 Recommendation #4
10:12 Recommendation #5

[MrDrumStikz]

An underrated gem of a game is Risk: Europe. With just two house rules (reducing the score limit by one and not allowing people to buy VP), the game is truly one of the fastest, most digestible, and skill-expressive strategy games ever released.

[ericpoppleton]

Risk was one of my favorite games growing up. Risk is the reason I got into board games. I have played all the games you listed, and actually own all of them save Kemet. I am surprised Axis and Allies wasn't on here. Axis and Allies tends to be highly favorable for risk fans due toa couple reasons.

1. Area Control. like some you listed.

2. Dice: I know it seems like something small, but the excitement of rolling the dice is hard to describe. "You are down to your last few guys hoping to break your opponent's continent bonus. You go for another attack; you pick up the dice and toss them. As they hit the table and begin to roll around, and everyone stands and leans in as the dice come to a stop. Cheers and screams come out from you and your allies as you kill the last remaining units holding the line. You broke his bonus." That is the feeling of excitement you get with risk and with Axis and allies that really bring the game to life.

I will say, I like all the games you listed more than risk and I think they are all great games, especially Twilight Struggle. Also, not here to say Axis and Allies is a better game than the ones you listed, but if you are looking for a game like risk, I would highly recommend Axis and Allies 1940 Europe or Axis and Allies 1940 Pacific.

[TeunHam]

Shogun or Wallenstein also share a lot in common with Risk. I like the fact that everybody plans their actions simultaneously and then get to see how those actions are resolved.

The battle tower is also a very nice way to resolve a battle very quickly 😅

[aty]

Have you had a chance to try something like Shogun?
It's a game I've always described as a Risk alternative just because of how the combat works, but with a lot more going on.

[jacobmccue]

Great list! I think you're spot on with your comments on Risk Legacy being a better version of Risk, however IMO if you don't already like Risk, the Legacy version isn't going to be different enough to change your mind. I'll also toss in Risk Europe as a pretty cool alternative version of Risk, again, only if you already like Risk.

[joegraham]

Very glad you added Risk Legacy. Definitely should have put in Axis & Allies. I also think Game of Thrones and Memoir’44 would have been really good also. I do disagree on Twilight Struggle which doesn’t seem similar at all to me. Fun list to think about.

[LTSJuicy]

Spheres of Influence is by far the best risk killer. Sadly, hard to find a copy.

[TyvanTV]

Wow glad I discovered you guys. Great video. My #1 alt to Risk is easily Ethnos. Amazing game.

[kitcarpo]

I understand your selections (especially Root) and appreciate that you put this together. I was surprised a bit when neither of two games I would have thought would appear. A&A and War Room?
Thanks again!

[FeralWarpwolf]

"Wizard's Quest"/("Marnon") is a more entertaining alternative to RISK, and also a good gateway game into strategy boardgames, with comparatively easy to learn rules and winning conditions. Also the A.I. opponents (Orcs) and NPCs spice up the gameplay quite a bit.

[NathanBeitler]

I was totally expecting to see Kemet on this list. If you had left it off, I would have been very disappointed. Kemet is so fantastic and so aggressive. I love that players cannot turtle up and aggression is rewarded.

[grog]

Spheres of influence should be number one.

[huckwach]

Diplomacy is also worth a shout out IMHO

[Solo_Soliloquy]

Still love Risk and these are great suggestions. Recently got into Root, and I’d add Blood Rage to the list.

[diamondmeeple]

You have played Imperial and Imperial 2030?

[afearlessmonk]

Cthulhu wars is a great risk alternative with asymmetrical play and combat

[unkownname]

You know of any video games similar to risk? I’ve been trying to play risk online, but it constantly disconnects all of my group.

[arcdevil]

small world? twilight struggle?Kemet?

if the topic is "games that are quite like risk but much, much better" the #1 recommendation should be Dust, and the #2 should be Frontier Wars.

[cfosburg]

Blood Rage
War Room
TI4 (why not)
Rising Sun
Lords of Hellas

[Rysk]

Small World is a great game, highly recommended. The amount of variations between races/powers means you'll never play the same game twice.