I've been playing Dominion for about seven years now, but I've bought everything for it and I'm over it. Is there anything modern in the deck-building genre that won't just copy the classics?
after seven years in one game, you need a change of pace - that's totally normal. the genre has actually evolved - there are plenty of deck-building variations now that don't just copy the formula.
try something like Everdell or Splendor if you want that resource-building mechanic but with a different flavor. or if tactical turn-by-turn challenges interest you, Inscryption has solid deck-building but with a puzzle and atmosphere wrapped around it. there's also Legends of Runeterra or Marvel Snap if you're more into video games.
the main thing is - don't get hung up on finding "the next Dominion." instead, figure out what you're actually after: game speed, competition, co-op with friends, or just a different mechanic altogether. there are different games for different tastes. i got stuck on one series for a while, then tried something completely different - and realized what i liked wasn't that specific game, but the process itself. might be the same for you.
I've been playing board games for a long time and I can see that there's really been a lot of interesting stuff since Dominion. I'd suggest checking out Star Realms (it's faster and simpler), Slay the Spire if you like the video game version with roguelike elements, or Dominion Nocturne if you want something new within the series. But honestly, if you're tired of the genre itself - maybe switch to a different type of game, like worker placement or asymmetric games? So much interesting stuff comes out every year that there's no point getting stuck on one thing.
Seven years in one game is definitely the standard timeframe when you're itching for something fresh. But here's the thing: modern deck-builders often go either toward extremely fast matches (like Star Realms), or toward complexity with tons of card interactions, and not everyone making the switch from Dominion finds that balance it had.
If you want specifics - try Arkham Horror: The Card Game or Splendor, they maintain strategic depth but the mechanics are totally different. Or look into roguelike-style games like Slay the Spire, where deck-building is a completely different beast because the conditions change as you progress.
Try **Legendary** or **Ascension** - in those games, deck-building happens not just during your turn but through interaction with other players and the shared board. The main difference from Dominion: you're not just optimizing your deck in a vacuum, you're constantly adapting to what other players do and how the situation changes. Pro tip - before you buy, watch actual gameplay videos rather than just rule explanations: a lot of modern deck-builders sound similar on paper, but they feel totally different when you're actually playing.
The genre has really moved beyond the classic formula. If you're tired of optimizing the same strategy over and over, a change of scenery will definitely help. I got stuck in a similar situation with one game series a few years back, and when I finally switched, I realized I'd just gotten used to one mechanic and forgotten how exciting it is to discover something new.
What's interesting is what happened in deck-building specifically: if Dominion was about building your own engine in a vacuum, the new games added interaction, asymmetry, direct confrontation. For example, there are games where you're not just trying to assemble the best deck compared to everyone else, but where enemies actively mess with your plans in real time, or where the cards on the table change depending on what your opponents take. That's a different puzzle altogether.
Anything like games with roguelike elements mixed in, or where deck-building is tied to a specific scenario, will give you a totally different experience than seven years of just Dominion. Try reading the rules for a couple of games that sound interesting, and pay attention specifically to how they change the basic principle of deck-building, not just add some theme to the packaging.
In my opinion, it's worth it, but with a caveat: don't expect to find "Dominion 2.0". The game was nearly perfect in its niche, and most modern deck-builders have gone in completely different directions. Some simplified the mechanics to the point of absurdity (quick 20-minute games), others added so much randomness that strategy dissolved. It's not bad, just different.
If you want truly deep deck-building but with fresh ideas, look into games where the deck isn't the main thing but part of a larger ecosystem. For instance, in Legendary you build a superhero team with a shared enemy board, where your turn affects what your opponent sees. Or Ascension - there's more randomness in the game's setup, but reading the market and competing for cards in real-time matters more. It's nothing like the same thing, but it makes you think differently.
If none of these variants grab you - maybe it's not the genre that's the issue, but the fact that after seven years you need a break? Try something completely different, like Borderlands or the roguelike-oriented Slay the Spire (if video games aren't off the table). Then you'll come back to tabletop deck-building with a fresh perspective.
If seven years in one system is definitely a sign to switch, then it makes sense to check how ready you are for deck-builders with randomness: a lot of newer games build everything on it rather than calculation and optimization like in Dominion - do you even like that kind of approach?
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