Delayed Purchase Games
Browse all Delayed Purchase board games in the Meeple Pulse database.
Styles
AbstractAbstract StrategyAdventureAge of ReasonAmerican WestAncientAnimalsAviation / FlightBluffingCard GameChildren's GameCity BuildingCivilizationCo-operativeCollectible ComponentsComic Book / StripCompetitiveDeductionDiceEconomicEducationalElectronicEnvironmentalEuroExpansion for Base-gameExplorationFamilyFan ExpansionFantasyFarmingFightingHistoricalHorrorHumorIndustry / ManufacturingMazeMedicalMedievalMedium HeavyMiniaturesModern WarfareMovies / TV / Radio themeMusicMythologyNapoleonicNauticalNegotiationNumberPartyParty GamePiratesPoliticalPost-NapoleonicPrehistoricPrint & PlayPuzzlePuzzle-LikeRacingReal-timeRenaissanceScience FictionSpace ExplorationSpies / Secret AgentsSportsStrategyTerritory BuildingThematicTrainsTransportationTravelTriviaVideo Game ThemeWargameWord GameWorld War II
Themes
AbstractAdventureAncientAnimalsArea ControlArtAviationBusinessCard GameCity BuildingCo-operativeCombatComic BookCompetitiveCooperativeCrimeEconomicEducationalEmergency ManagementEnvironmentalEnvironmentalismEspionageExplorationFantasyFarmingFightingHigh Player InteractionHistoricalHorrorHumorIndustry / ManufacturingIntrigueLiteraryMagicMarvelMedievalModernMuseumMusicMysteryMythologyNatureNauticalParty GamePoliticalPress Your LuckPuzzleRacingSatireSci-FiScience FictionSocial CommentarySocial InteractionSpaceSportsStrategySuperheroesThematicTravelWarWesternWord-Guessing
Mechanics
3D PlacementActingAction / DexterityAction DraftingAction Point AllowanceAction Point Allowance SystemAction Point SystemAction PointsAction ProgrammingAction QueueAction RetrievalAction SelectionAction/EventAdvantage TokenAlliancesAlternate ActivationApp-AssistedApp-DrivenArea ControlArea InfluenceArea MajorityArea Majority / InfluenceArea MovementArgumentationAsymmetricAsymmetric FactionsAsymmetric GameAsymmetric PowersAsymmetrical PowersAuction & BiddingAuction / BiddingAuction CompensationAuction/BiddingAuction: DutchAuction: Fixed PlacementAuction: Multiple LotAuction: Once AroundAuction: Sealed BidAuctioningAutomatic Resource GrowthBag BuildingBettingBetting and BluffingBetting and WageringBetting and WagersBiasBiddingBingoBlind BiddingBluffingCampaign / Battle Card DrivenCampaign / LegacyCampaign / Legacy GameCampaign / Mission-basedCampaign / ScenariosCampaign GameCampaign PlayCard DraftingCard DrawingCard DrivenCard Driven ActionCard Driven CombatCard Driven Dice AllocationCard Driven MovementCard ManagementCard PlayCard Play / Hand ManagementCard Play Conflict ResolutionCard SheddingCard-Driven MovementCharacter CreationCharacter ProgressionChit-Pull SystemClosed DraftingCo-op PlayCo-operative GameCo-operative PlayCode-breakingCombat ResolutionCombo ChainCommand CardsCommodity SpeculationCommunication LimitsConnectionsConstrained BiddingContract FulfillmentContractsCooperative GameCooperative GameplayCooperative PlayCooperative Trick-takingCritical Hits and FailuresDebateDeck BuildingDeck ConstructionDeck, Bag, and Pool BuildingDeck-BuildingDeductionDelayed PurchaseDexterityDice DraftingDice DrivenDice PlacementDice RollingDie Icon ResolutionDiplomatic InfluenceDraftingDynamic Battle SystemEnclosureEnd Game BonusesEngine BuildingEngine-BuildingEscape RoomEvent DrivenEventsExplorationFarmingFlip and WriteFollowFollow ActionGrid CoverageGrid MovementHand ManagementHex-and-CounterHexagon GridHidden MovementHidden RolesI Cut You ChooseIncomeInfluence / Area MajorityInterruptsInvestmentKing of the HillLadder ClimbingLegacyLegacy ElementsLegacy GameLegacy SystemLimited CommunicationLine DrawingLine of SightLoansLose a TurnMancalaMap AdditionMap MovementMap ReductionMarketMarket DraftingMarket ManipulationMarket MechanicMarket SpeculationMatchingMeasurement MovementMelding and SplayingMemoryMission ObjectivesModular BoardModular Board ConstructionMove Through DeckMovement PointsMovement TemplatesMoving Multiple UnitsMulti-Use CardsMulti-use CardsMultiple ScenariosMust FollowNarrative ChoiceNarrative Choice / ParagraphNegotiationNegotiation MechanicsNeighbor ScopeNetwork & Route BuildingNetwork BuildingNetwork and Route BuildingOnce-Per-Game AbilitiesOne vs ManyOne vs. ManyOpen DraftingOrderingOwnershipPaper-and-PencilPartnershipsPattern BuildingPattern MovementPattern RecognitionPick-up and DeliverPlayer EliminationPlayer InteractionPlayer JudgePoint SaladPoint to Point MovementPolyominoesProgrammed MovementPush Your LuckPush-Your-LuckPuzzlePuzzle-LikePuzzle-SolvingRaceRe-rolling and LockingReal-TimeRecipe FulfillmentResource ManagementResource to MoveRole PlayingRole SelectionRoles with Asymmetric InformationRoll / Spin and MoveRondelRoute BuildingRoute-BuildingRoute/Network BuildingSanity SystemScenario / Campaign PlayScenario / Mission / Campaign GameScenario / Mission FunctionSecret Unit DeploymentSemi-Cooperative GameSet CollectionSheddingSimulationSimultaneous ActionSimultaneous Action SelectionSimultaneous Hidden AllocationSingingSlide / PushSocial DeductionSocial InteractionSolo / Solitaire GameSpace ExplorationSpellingSquare GridStat Check / Skill CheckStat Check ResolutionStock HoldingStorytellingStrategic PlanningTableau BuildingTactical Decision-MakingTagsTake ThatTargeted CluesTeam PlayTeam-Based GameTeam-Based GuessingTeamworkTech TreesTech Trees / Tech TracksTechnology & Armament TracksTechnology TreeTension & Aggression TracksTile DraftingTile LayingTile PlacementTime TrackTime TravelTower DefenseTrack MovementTradingTraitor GameTrick-takingTug of WarTurn Order: Claim ActionTurn Order: PassTurn Order: Pass OrderTurn Order: ProgressiveTurn Order: Stat-BasedTurn Order: Time TrackUnit PlacementVariable Phase OrderVariable Player PowersVariable Set-upVariable SetupVictory Point TracksVictory Points as a ResourceVotingWord AssociationWord GameWord GuessingWord-GuessingWord-guessingWordplayWorker PlacementWorker Placement with Dice WorkersWorker Placement, Different Worker TypesZone of Control

RANK #58
On Mars
2020On Mars is a strategic space exploration board game that challenges players to establish the first self-sustaining colony on the red planet. As chief astronaut for one of several private enterprises, your mission is to achieve both Department of Operations and Mars Exploration (D.O.M.E.) goals and your company's objectives. The game unfolds over multiple rounds, each divided into two phases: Colonization and Shuttle. During the Colonization Phase, players take turns performing actions based on their position—whether in orbit or on the Martian surface. In orbit, you can develop technologies, purchase supplies, and manage resources. On the surface, your focus shifts to constructing buildings, upgrading infrastructure, and exploring Mars with a rover. The Shuttle Phase allows for travel between the colony and the Space Station, enabling resource exchange and strategic planning.
The game's mechanics are rich and varied, including contracts, delayed purchases, tech trees, worker placement, and tile placement. These elements work together to create a dynamic and engaging experience that requires careful management of resources and long-term strategy. The goal is to build the most advanced and self-sustaining colony on Mars, ensuring its survival through the completion of missions and the accumulation of Opportunity Points (OP). The game's complexity and depth make it appealing for both solo play and multiplayer sessions, offering a high replay value due to its variable phase order and multiple pathways to victory.
On Mars is a compelling blend of space exploration and city building, making it an excellent choice for fans of science fiction and strategic board games. Its unique combination of mechanics and themes ensures that each playthrough offers new challenges and opportunities.
1-4 150m⚖️ 4.6

RANK #98
Clank! A Deck-Building Adventure invites you to embark on a thrilling heist through the lair of an irritable dragon. Your objective is twofold: retrieve valuable artifacts and escape before the dragon's wrath consumes all. Each player starts with a basic deck, but as the game unfolds, your strategies diverge, driven by the cards you acquire and the paths you choose to take. The game is a masterclass in resource management and strategic planning, where every move counts. You must balance your actions carefully—each card played can either help or hinder your progress. Skill cards allow you to expand your deck, while swords enable combat against monsters that guard the treasures. Boots grant movement points, essential for navigating the dungeon's perilous terrain. The game’s unique mechanic of delayed purchase adds an element of push-your-luck, where players must decide when to act and when to hold back. As you delve deeper into the dragon's lair, the stakes rise, and the risks grow. Clank! is a testament to its designers' skill in crafting a game that rewards both quick thinking and long-term planning. With its engaging narrative and replayable nature, it’s no wonder players find themselves drawn back time and again.
2-4 60m⚖️ 2.2

RANK #122
In The Quest for El Dorado, players embark on an exhilarating journey through the dense jungles of South America in search of the legendary land of gold. Each expedition leader assembles a unique team, hiring scouts, scientists, and aborigines to navigate treacherous terrains and uncover hidden treasures. The ultimate goal is to be the first to reach El Dorado's golden border, securing all its riches for your team. Players start with a deck of 8 cards, each representing a member of their expedition. On every turn, you can use these cards to move through the hexagonal grid or hire new members by purchasing from a communal pool. The game introduces a race mechanic as players vie for supremacy, but strategic planning and resource management are key to success. Notable mechanics include delayed purchases, once-per-game abilities, and open drafting, which add layers of complexity and replayability. The modular board ensures each playthrough offers fresh challenges, while the variable setup keeps the experience dynamic and engaging.
2-4 60m⚖️ 1.9

RANK #160
Clank! In! Space!: A Deck-Building Adventure transports you into a thrilling sci-fi adventure where players compete to steal valuable artifacts from the tyrannical Lord Eradikus. As you and your fellow thieves navigate his flagship, Eradikus Prime, each move brings the risk of drawing the attention of the ruthless lord. The game is built on a dynamic deck-building system that allows you to craft a personalized strategy, moving through the modular board, acquiring new cards, and making crucial decisions at every turn. The push-your-luck mechanics add an element of tension as you balance the need for stealth with the desire to maximize your haul. Will you be the one to outwit Lord Eradikus and claim victory, or will his wrath seal your fate? Clank! In! Space! offers a high replayability experience that keeps players engaged with its intricate card interactions and strategic depth.
2-4 90m⚖️ 2.6

Delve into the heart of ancient catacombs in CLANK! Catacombs: Lairs and Lost Chambers, an expansion that challenges players to navigate treacherous lairs and uncover hidden chambers. The goal is clear: gather trophies by outsmarting your opponents and surviving the perils of these mystical underground realms. Each player takes on a unique role, embarking on a quest filled with danger and reward. As you progress through the modular board, encountering the enigmatic Sphinx, petrifying Medusa, and formidable Living Statues, strategic decisions will determine your fate. The game's mechanics blend seamlessly to create an engaging experience: delayed purchases force players to think ahead, while open drafting adds a layer of negotiation and risk. Pushing your luck with point-to-point movement and tile placement challenges you to balance caution and boldness. Unique end-game bonuses provide additional incentives for strategic play, making each session feel fresh and exciting. The combination of hidden roles, variable setup, and push-your-luck elements ensures that no two games are the same, offering high replayability and a narrative-rich experience.
2-4 90m⚖️ 2.5