HT Games
You're likely referring to Ellis Island, the family board game that simulates the immigrant journey to America in the early 1900s. If you enjoy its historical theme or strategic gameplay, here are several excellent alternatives grouped by what they share with Ellis Island.
Ticket to Ride captures the spirit of westward expansion and cross-country travel. Players collect train cards to claim railway routes across a map, evoking the movement and connection central to the immigrant experience.
The Great Western Trail places you in the role of a 19th-century rancher driving cattle from Texas to Kansas City. It offers a deep, thematic look at the economic development of the American West during the same era.
18xx Series (e.g., 1830, 1846) These heavy economic simulations task players with operating railroad companies, managing stock, and building track. They simulate the industrial boom that paralleled the great waves of immigration.
Catan (formerly Settlers of Catan) is the quintessential game of settling a new land. Players gather resources to build settlements, roads, and cities—mirroring the struggle to establish a foothold in a new world.
Puerto Rico focuses on role selection and economic engine building. Players develop plantations and ship goods, requiring the kind of long-term planning and efficiency Ellis Island rewards.
Agricola puts you in charge of a pre-industrial farm. You must feed your family, expand your home, and improve your land. Its tight resource management and "feeding the family" mechanic create a palpable sense of struggle and survival.
Istanbul has you navigating a bustling bazaar as a merchant, managing assistants and resources to collect rubies. It captures the "new arrival navigating a complex system" feel in a lighter, faster package.
Power Grid tasks players with building a network of power plants across a map. It combines route building, resource market manipulation, and economic efficiency in an Industrial Age setting.
Whether you want the historical flavor, the strategic depth, or the satisfaction of building something enduring, one of these titles should scratch that Ellis Island itch.