Champions of Midgard vs Lords of Waterdeep
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 (—).
| Champions of Midgard | Lords of Waterdeep | |
|---|---|---|
| Year | 2015 | 2012 |
| Players | 2–4 | 2–5 |
| Playtime | ~60 min | ~60 min |
| Recommended age | 10+ | 12+ |
| Complexity (BGG weight) | 2.6 / 5 | 2.5 / 5 |
| BGG rank | #166 | #106 |
| Designers | Ole Steiness | Peter Lee, Rodney Thompson |
| Key mechanics | Contracts, Dice Rolling, End Game Bonuses, Income | Contracts, Hidden Roles, Increase Value of Unchosen Resources, Ownership |
Both games share these mechanics: Contracts, Increase Value of Unchosen Resources, Set Collection, Turn Order: Claim Action, Worker Placement.
Which should you get?
Based only on the specs above — not on opinion:
- Both sit at a similar weight (2.6 and 2.5 of 5 on BoardGameGeek), so neither is the obvious 'lighter' pick.
- For bigger groups, Lords of Waterdeep stretches further (2–5 players).
- With younger players, Champions of Midgard has the lower recommended age (10+).
- On raw BoardGameGeek ranking, Lords of Waterdeep currently sits higher (#106 vs #166).
Both are well-loved games; the "right" one depends on your group. Read the full entries for Champions of Midgard and Lords of Waterdeep.
Where to buy
Champions of Midgard
Find Champions of Midgard on Amazon →Lords of Waterdeep
Find Lords of Waterdeep on Amazon →Amazon links are affiliate search links. As an Amazon Associate, EveryGameMade earns from qualifying purchases.
Common questions
Is Champions of Midgard or Lords of Waterdeep harder to learn?
They're close: Champions of Midgard is rated 2.6 of 5 and Lords of Waterdeep 2.5 of 5 on BoardGameGeek, so both are a similar level to learn.
Which is faster to play, Champions of Midgard or Lords of Waterdeep?
Both take about 60 minutes.
How many players do Champions of Midgard and Lords of Waterdeep support?
Champions of Midgard plays with 2–4 players; Lords of Waterdeep plays with 2–5 players.