Architects of the West Kingdom vs Raiders of the North Sea
A side-by-side comparison of two of the most-asked-about board games — using only verified specs from our catalogue. No invented rules, no fluff.
Specs and BoardGameGeek rankings current as of June 2026. Gaps in our data show as a dash (—).
| Architects of the West Kingdom | Raiders of the North Sea | |
|---|---|---|
| Year | 2018 | 2015 |
| Players | 1–5 | 2–4 |
| Playtime | ~60 min | ~60 min |
| Recommended age | 12+ | 12+ |
| Complexity (BGG weight) | 2.8 / 5 | 2.6 / 5 |
| BGG rank | #130 | #135 |
| Designers | S J Macdonald, Shem Phillips, S J Macdonald | Shem Phillips |
| Key mechanics | Area Movement, Contracts, End Game Bonuses, Events | Contracts, Dice Rolling, Hand Management, Worker Placement |
Both games share these mechanics: Contracts, Worker Placement.
Which should you get?
Based only on the specs above — not on opinion:
- Both sit at a similar weight (2.8 and 2.6 of 5 on BoardGameGeek), so neither is the obvious 'lighter' pick.
- For bigger groups, Architects of the West Kingdom stretches further (1–5 players).
- Only Architects of the West Kingdom supports solo play in our data.
- On raw BoardGameGeek ranking, Architects of the West Kingdom currently sits higher (#130 vs #135).
Both are well-loved games; the "right" one depends on your group. Read the full entries for Architects of the West Kingdom and Raiders of the North Sea.
Where to buy
Architects of the West Kingdom
Find Architects of the West Kingdom on Amazon →Raiders of the North Sea
Find Raiders of the North Sea on Amazon →Amazon links are affiliate search links. As an Amazon Associate, EveryGameMade earns from qualifying purchases.
Common questions
Is Architects of the West Kingdom or Raiders of the North Sea harder to learn?
They're close: Architects of the West Kingdom is rated 2.8 of 5 and Raiders of the North Sea 2.6 of 5 on BoardGameGeek, so both are a similar level to learn.
Which is faster to play, Architects of the West Kingdom or Raiders of the North Sea?
Both take about 60 minutes.
How many players do Architects of the West Kingdom and Raiders of the North Sea support?
Architects of the West Kingdom plays with 1–5 players; Raiders of the North Sea plays with 2–4 players.