The best board games make it easy to spend a rainy afternoon or bring people together at a party. They're also a nice way to take a break from screens — although many games do have app or online versions, letting you play with far-away friends and family.
If your last memories of board games involve ruthless competition and tears, there are plenty of lighter, less combative games on this list. (Don't worry, we've also included a few less-friendly games for the most competitive). From cooperative options to family games to two-player classics, here are the best board games for adults, groups, and couples. For younger players, we have an entire list of great board games for kids, too.
Best for adults
Though "board games for adults" is a massive category that can encompass many different types of games, we primarily looked for options that have some level of strategy and offer a fun experience for 3-4 players. Our picks include both cooperative and competitive games in a variety of styles, complexities, and lengths. Expect to spend 30 minutes or longer (in some cases much longer) to complete each of the games in this category.
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Staff Pick
A game for bird loversIn this beautiful and popular game, you play a bird enthusiast hoping to bring a variety of birds to your wildlife preserve. -
A little farming funAgricola lets you fulfill your competitive farming dream as you collect resources in the Middle Ages to improve your agricultural efficiency.
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We bought a zooIn this game, you build habitats for a range of animals as you conduct business to expand and gain points for conservation.
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Conquer your friendsBurgundy puts you in Medieval France as you create a powerful kingdom through natural resources, livestock, and your military.
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No one can stop your tasty treat empireThis game lets you compete in the dangerous world of fast food service, where you strategically create a franchise empire.
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Destroy skeletons on no bones dayIn this massive cooperative game, Gloomhaven pits you against hordes of monsters as you unlock new characters and scenarios.
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When in Rome…Concordia is set in Ancient Rome, where you collect cards that help you colonize new areas and gain new rewards.
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Strategic and magicalIn this magical card game, take on the role of a mage as you compete against your friends for artifacts, high-value moments, and places of power.
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Now you can be a doctor, tooCollaborate with your fellow players as you hop around the globe to prevent outbreaks in this deliberate strategy game.
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Dust off those ghost miming chopsIn this Gothic mystery game, solve a murder or give clues as a ghost to unravel the location of the crime, weapon, and murderer.
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Ward off some colonizersRepel invaders as they seek to decimate your resources and colonize your land by taking the role of a spirit in this co-op strategy game.
Best for families
Similarly, our guide to games for families features several different types of games, including competitive games, cooperative games, and remixes of familiar games for younger audiences. Though they are kid friendly, there are fun and interesting elements for adult players as well. These are shorter games, around 30 minutes on average, though you'll find a few longer ones for those truly rainy days.
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A game for little cavemenGather berries, teeth, and other goods to build your hut in this introductory-level strategy game.
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Let out your inner dragonIn this simple board game, use your dragon's breath to blow off the most rings in your color to defeat your fellow dragons and claim victory.
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A remix to a classic gamePerfect for kids and adults, build your kingdom by adding matching tiles, all while collecting pieces with crowns to win the game.
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Perfect for friends of felinesIn The Isle of Cats, fill your boat to the brim with as many cats as you can collect, while maintaining your supply of fish.
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Staff Pick
Great for conversion and competitionFor a casual experience, Azul is a fast-paced game in which you line up tiles on your own personal board and gain points by making a beautiful mosaic.
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Day trading in the living roomGreat with a crowd, Pit is a fast and loud game where you win by trading commodities to collect nine of the same type of card.
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A taste of the French countrysideIn Carcassonne, you place matching tiles next to each other in order to maintain control of your city or road.
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Bringing out the railroad tycoon in everyoneSimple to play, Ticket to Ride tasks you with building train lines all across the country, while completing objectives and impeding others' routes.
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Rewarding patience and observationUnlock! Kids is a clue solving game with three different settings that makes the popular Unlock! escape room board game accessible for younger players.
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Classic for a reasonIn this classic game, creativity is essential as you compete to name items that share a letter and a prompt, but are unique from other players' answers.
Best for two players
Many of the other games in this guide can be played with two players, but if it's regularly just you and one other person sitting down at the game table, there are several great games made specifically for two people.Though these games do vary, they take around 20 to 30 minutes to complete.
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Casual quilting fun for allIn this quick and fun board game, you spend your time and buttons to create a more aesthetically pleasing patterned quilt than your partner.
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More than just the beautiful artworkFox and the Forest Duet is a cooperative version of the original game in which you work together to collect gems through communication and strategy.
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Historical precedent not guaranteedMirroring real life events, Watergate lets you play as a journalist or a member of Nixon’s staff, with the potential to change history.
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Staff Pick
Competitive gem collectingIn this quick and replayable game you play the part of Renaissance merchants competing to make the most splendid noble jewels.
Best party games
If you're looking for something to entertain a big group, you'll find the best games for a larger party below. While we've included a myriad of game styles, the common thread with these games are that they're entertaining and easy to learn. Our picks for this category have the largest time variance, with the shortest game running about 10 minutes to the longest game taking 60 minutes to complete.
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Staff Pick
Guess what your teammates are thinkingThis iconic game is great for large groups as you compete to guess secret words with as little speaking as possible.
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Guess secret words and avoid secret werewolvesSimilar to 20 questions with a twist, Werewords tasks you with guessing a word while the secret
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Pretty art and storytelling aboundDixit tasks you with telling a unique (but not too unique) story based on abstract and beautifully illustrated cards.
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Guess the answers through words and actionsGood for large groups, Moniker has two teams competing through three rounds with various restrictions in order to guess a group of words.
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Like Pictionary and Telephone had a babyIn Telestrations you use the included whiteboards to draft illustrations that help your fellow players guess your secret word.
