Episode 583: Top Rated Open Drafting Games

Episode release date is June 18, 2025

 

Show Notes

 

This week we are concluding our discussion of open drafting games. This episode we will be picking out games off the top Open Drafting Games, some games we missed and some we don’t own.

 

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In board game mechanics, open drafting is a specific type of drafting where players take turns selecting items (like cards, tiles, dice, or tokens) from a shared, visible pool of options.

To touch on the key points again. Open Drafting and Market games will have a lot of overlap. Key Characteristics of Open Drafting:

1. Shared Pool: There's a central display or common area where all the items available for selection are laid out.

2. Visibility: All players can see all the available options in the pool at all times. This is the defining feature of "open" drafting.

3. Turn-Based Selection: Players take turns choosing and taking one or more items from this shared pool. Once an item is taken, it's removed from the pool (or sometimes replaced immediately, depending on the game).

4. Strategic Interaction: Because everyone can see what's available and what others are taking, open drafting encourages a high level of player interaction and strategic depth. Players aren't just thinking about what they need for their own strategy, but also:

   • "Hate Drafting": Taking an item that might not be optimal for you, but is crucial for an opponent's strategy, thereby "denying" them that piece. This can be a friendly jab or a crucial tactical move.

   • Anticipation: Trying to predict what other players will take on their turns based on their visible boards or strategies.

   • Adapting: Adjusting your own plans if a key item you wanted is taken by an opponent.

How it Differs from Other Drafting Types:

The main contrast to open drafting is closed drafting (often called "pick-and-pass" or "hand drafting"):

• Closed Drafting: Players typically receive a hand of cards (or a set of items) and select one (or more) to keep, then pass the rest of their hand to the next player. 

• The key difference is that the pool of options available to the next player is unknown until they receive the new hand. Players don't see the full communal pool; they only see their current hand.

Top Rated Open Drafting Games

• Dune: Imperium

• Dune: Imperium - Uprising

• Railways of the World

• Concordia

• Concordia Venus

• Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends of the West

• Food Chain Magnate

• Everdell

• Lost Ruins of Arnak

• The Gallerist

• Clank!

• Clank! Legacy

• Clank! Catacombs

• Clank! In! Space!

• Dominion

• Legendary Encounters: An Alien Deck Building Game

• Wingspan

• Wyrmspan

• Harmonies

• Star Realms

• Lisboa

• Cascadia

• Endeavor: Age of Sail

• Endeavor: Deep Sea

• Mage Knight: Ultimate Edition

• Mage Knight: Board Game

• Space Base

• Tyrants of the Underdark

Games not Mentioned

• Ark Nova

• Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization

• The Castles of Burgundy

• 7 Wonders Duel

• The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-earth

• Pax Pamir: Second Edition

• Anachrony

• Blood Rage

• Obsession

• Paladins of the West Kingdom

• Mechs vs Minions

• The White Castle

• Azul

• Revive

• Aeon’s End

• El Grande

• Through the Ages: A Story of Civilization

• Splendor Duel

• Architect of the West Kingdom

• The Quest for El Dorado

• Lorenzo il Magnifico

• Mombasa

• Patchwork

• Trajan

• Wonderland’s War

• Aeon’s End: War Eternal

• ISS Vanguard

• Targi

• Res Arcana

• Alchemist

• Ticket to Ride: Europe

• The Isle of Cats

• Undaunted: Normandy

• Planet Unknown

• Kemet

• Jaipur

• Forest Shuffle

• Welcome To…

• Meadow

• Sagrada

• Star Wars: Deck Building Game

• Azul: Summer Pavilion