Are you tired of the same old routine of watching TV or scrolling through your social media feeds? Looking for a way to spice up your nights with friends or family? Well, board games are the answer you’re looking for!
Board games for adults have been enjoyed for centuries and offer a fun activity and interactive way to engage with others. In this article, we will explore 20+ popular board games perfect for adults and guarantee hours of entertainment.
So grab some snacks, gather your loved ones, and get ready for a night of laughter, strategy, and friendly competition!
What are the best board games for adults?
Board games have come a long way from their traditional roots. Nowadays, they offer immersive experiences, strategic challenges, and opportunities for social bonding. With a wide range of themes, gameplay styles, and difficulty levels, there is a board game for every taste.
Unlike digital games, board games create face-to-face interactions, encouraging laughter, friendly competition, and shared experiences. So, put down your smartphones and get ready for some quality time with the best board games for adults.
1. Codenames
In Codenames, players form two rival teams and take on the roles of spies. The goal is to identify secret agents from codenames given by the spymasters correctly. This challenging word association game is perfect for those who enjoy testing their deductive skills and communication abilities. Overall, it is a challenging word-based game where teams compete to decipher clues and uncover secret agents.
| Players | 2-8 |
| Playing Time | 15-30 minutes |
| Difficulty | Low to Medium |
| Age | 14+ |
| Game Type | Word/Strategy |
2. Ticket to Ride
Ticket to Ride is a classic board game that takes players on a cross-country train adventure. The objective is to build railways and connect cities to complete destination tickets. This game combines strategy, luck, and a bit of competition, making it a favorite among gamers of all ages and experience levels. You have to Collect and play matching train cards to claim railway routes across North America. Plan your routes wisely to outmaneuver your opponents. You can say, Ticket to Ride is a thrilling board game where players compete to build train routes across the world and score points.
| Players | 2-5 |
| Playing Time | 30-60 minutes |
| Difficulty | Easy- Medium |
| Age | 8+ |
| Game Type | Strategy |
3. Catan
Catan, also known as Settlers of Catan, is a highly acclaimed strategic and popular board game for adults. Players trade resources, build settlements, and aim to reach 10 victory points to win the game. With multiple expansion packs available, Catan offers endless possibilities and keeps players engaged with its ever-changing dynamics. You can Settle, trade, and build your way to victory in this critically acclaimed strategy game. Control resources, negotiate with other players, and strategically place your settlements. So, Who will become the master of Catan?
| Players | 3-4 |
| Playing Time | 60-120 minutes |
| Difficulty | Medium |
| Age | 10+ |
| Game Type | Strategy |
4. Pandemic
In the Pandemic, players work together as a team to stop the spread of deadly diseases across the globe. Each player takes on a unique role, utilizing their special abilities to find cures and save humanity. This cooperative game fosters teamwork, strategic planning, and critical decision-making. One can join forces with other players to save the world from deadly diseases in the Pandemic. Work together to contain outbreaks, discover cures, and prevent a global catastrophe. Can you save humanity?
| Players | 2-4 |
| Playing Time | 45 minutes |
| Difficulty | Medium |
| Age | 8+ |
| Game Type | Cooperative |
5. Azul
Azul is a visually stunning tile-placement game where players compete to create the most beautiful Moorish artwork. Take turns drafting colorful tiles and strategically placing them on your board to score points. With its simple rules and captivating components, Azul is an excellent choice for casual and experienced gamers. Embrace the beauty of Portuguese tiles in Azul. Draft colorful tiles, strategically place them on your board, and earn points for creating stunning patterns. The player with the highest score wins!
| Players | 2-4 |
| Playing Time | 30-45 minutes |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Age | 8+ |
| Game Type | Strategy |
6. Scythe
Scythe is a complex, engine-building game set in an alternate history of 1920s Europe. As leaders of competing factions, players strive to gain territory, harvest resources, and battle for control. This immersive game offers deep strategy, stunning artwork, and an intriguing storyline that will keep players hooked for hours.
| Players | 1-5 |
| Playing Time | 90-150 minutes |
| Difficulty | Hard |
| Age | 14+ |
| Game Type | Strategy |
7. Splendor
Splendor is a gem-collecting game where players must manage resources and strategically acquire development cards. The objective is to build the most prestigious jewelry store in Renaissance-era Europe. With its simple rules and addictive gameplay, Splendor is a fantastic choice for those new to board games.
So, are you ready to become a Renaissance merchant in Splendor, where you collect gem tokens to purchase developments and attract noble patrons? This elegantly designed game rewards careful planning and resource management.
| Players | 2-4 |
| Playing Time | 30 minutes |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Age | 10+ |
| Game Type | Strategy |
8. 7 Wonders
Embark on a journey through time in 7 Wonders, a civilization-building game. Each player takes on the role of a legendary leader and constructs one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. This game offers a perfect balance between strategy, adaptation, and competition, making it a must-play for any board game enthusiast.
So are you ready to lead your civilization to greatness in 7 Wonders? Develop your cities, construct magnificent structures, and engage in trade and war. Make strategic choices to ensure your empire stands the test of time.
| Players | 2-7 |
| Playing Time | 30 minutes |
| Difficulty | Medium |
| Age | 10+ |
| Game Type | Strategy |
9. Terraforming Mars
In Terraforming Mars, players take on the roles of corporations tasked with terraforming the red planet. This strategic game requires resource management, card drafting, and careful planning to transform Mars into a suitable habitat for human life. With its deep gameplay and rich theme, Terraforming Mars offers a truly immersive experience.
Are you ready to take on the role of corporations competing to terraform and colonize Mars in this epic strategy game? Develop your infrastructure, increase your resources, and make the Red Planet habitable for humanity.
| Players | 1-5 |
| Playing Time | 120 minutes |
| Difficulty | Hard |
| Age | 12+ |
| Game Type | Strategy |
10. Codenames: Pictures
Codenames: Pictures visually interpret the popular word association game Codenames. Instead of words, players must connect pictures on the board to their corresponding codenames. This version adds a new dimension of challenge and creativity, making it a hit among visual thinkers and puzzle solvers.
| Players | 2-8 |
| Playing Time | 20 minutes |
| Difficulty | Medium |
| Age | 10+ |
11. Cards Against Humanity
The next one of the best board games for adults is a hilariously inappropriate card game that will have you and your friends laughing out loud named Cards Against Humanity. Get ready for some hilarious and controversial moments with Cards Against Humanity. This adult party game involves filling in the blanks of dark and twisted statements. It’s not for the faint of heart!
| Number of Players | 4-20+ |
| Game Play Time | 30-90 minutes |
| Complexity Level | Low |
| Game Type | Party |
12. Dominion
The next is a deck-building game where players gather cards to create a powerful strategy and outwit their opponents. One can Build your unique deck and seize control of the kingdom in Dominion. Acquire new cards, upgrade your deck, and outmaneuver your opponents to claim victory. Every game is a new experience!
| Number of Players | 2-4 |
| Game Play Time | 30 minutes |
| Complexity Level | Medium |
| Game Type | Deck Building |
13. Betrayal at House on the Hill
The next one of the best board games for adults is a spine-chilling game of exploration and horror, where players uncover mysteries in a haunted house. Step into a haunted mansion and face supernatural challenges in Betrayal at House on the Hill. Explore the mansion’s rooms, encounter mysterious events, and work together (or betray each other) to survive the horrors within.
| Number of Players | 3-6 |
| Game Play Time | 60 minutes |
| Complexity Level | Medium |
| Game Type | Horror/Cooperative |
14. Dixit
With this next popular board game for adults, dive into the world of imagination with Dixit, a storytelling game. Use beautifully illustrated cards to give vague clues about a chosen image, and try to guess which card belongs to the storyteller. Creativity and intuition are key to victory!
Overall, An imaginative storytelling game where players use beautiful art cards to describe mysterious and captivating stories.
| Number of Players | 3-6 |
| Game Play Time | 30 minutes |
| Complexity Level | Low |
| Game Type | Party |
15. Carcassonne
The next board game for adults is a tile-placement game where players strategically build cities, roads, and monasteries in a medieval landscape named Carcassonne. Create a medieval landscape one tile at a time in Carcassonne. Build cities, roads, and monasteries, while strategically deploying your followers to earn points. Will you become the master of this beautiful French countryside?
| Number of Players | 2-5 |
| Game Play Time | 35-45 minutes |
| Complexity Level | Medium |
| Game Type | Strategy |
16. The Resistance: Avalon
Uncover the spies among you in The Resistance: Avalon: A social deduction game where players take on the roles of Arthurian characters and try to discover the traitors. This immersive game of social deduction pits the loyal knights of Camelot against the forces of evil. Can you identify the traitors and complete your quests?
| Number of Players | 5-10 |
| Game Play Time | 30 minutes |
| Complexity Level | Low |
| Game Type | Social Deduction |
17. Exploding Kittens
The next board game for adults is a wildly popular card game brimming with humor, kittens, and strategic power moves known as Exploding Kittens. Prepare for wild and unpredictable moments in this hilarious card game. Avoid the exploding kittens while using various tactics to make your opponents’ cards go boom. The last player standing wins!
| Number of Players | 2-5 |
| Game Play Time | 15 minutes |
| Complexity Level | Low |
| Game Type | Card |
18. Mysterium
It is a cooperative game of deduction and intuition, where players solve a murder mystery using dreamlike clues. In Mysterium, players assume the role of psychics tasked with cooperating to solve a murder case based on enigmatic, exquisitely drawn “vision” cards that are interpretive. While some individuals enjoy the mysterious and cooperative nature of psychic roles, I prefer to play the ghost who gives the visions.
In Mysterium, you have to figure out the nuances between the cards and take into account how each reader is most likely to interpret them. When others gravely misunderstand what you’re trying to say, it becomes even more entertaining (or annoying, depending on how far you’ve gone in the game).
| Number of Players | 2-7 |
| Game Play Time | 42 minutes |
| Complexity Level | Medium |
| Age | 10+ |
| Game Type | Cooperative |
19. Pandemic Legacy: Season 1
Immerse yourself in a thrilling campaign in Pandemic Legacy: Season 1. A unique twist on the original game, this cooperative legacy game evolves as players make permanent changes to the world. Can you save humanity from a year of devastating diseases?
| Game Type | Cooperative/Legacy |
| Players | 2-4 |
| Age | 13+ |
| Duration | 60-120 minutes |
20. Kingdomino
Build your kingdom in Kingdomino by connecting dominos with different terrains. Be strategic in your choices to maximize your kingdom’s size and score. Will you become the ruler of a vast and prosperous realm?
| Game Type | Strategy |
| Age | 8+ |
| Players | 2-4 |
21. Sushi Go!
Indulge in a delicious card-drafting game with Sushi Go, another one of the best board games for adults. To gain points, pass cards and gather the greatest sushi dish combos. This is a quick and entertaining game that sushi lovers will adore. Sushi Go is a card-drafting game in which the object of the game is to assemble groups of cards with varying point values. Rather than drawing from a single shared deck, each player begins with a hand of cards, from which they select one card to keep.
The player on their left then receives the remaining cards in their hand. Because of the pass-and-play dynamic, you have to be aware of the cards you have and need as well as those that your opponents have and need. Predicting your opponents’ card preferences and foiling their schemes is what makes this game so unbelievably entertaining.
| Game Type | Card/Drafting |
| Players | 2-5 |
| Age | 8+ |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do adults play board games?
Many table gamers say they play to unwind and relax. Of course, many board games lead to bouts of laughter that stimulate endorphins. The simple act of having fun can help boost serotonin, relieve symptoms of anxiety, and increase enthusiasm in other areas of your life
Can these board games be played with a small group?
Yes! Many of the board games listed can be played with as few as two players. However, some games may have a recommended minimum number of players for the best experience.
Are these board games suitable for beginners?
Yes, absolutely! The board games mentioned in this article have varying levels of difficulty, and there are plenty of options for beginners. It’s always a good idea to read the rules and watch a tutorial video before playing to ensure everyone understands the game.
How long does a typical game session last?
The duration of a game session depends on the game itself and the number of players. Some games can be completed in 15-30 minutes, while others may take a few hours to finish. It’s always a good idea to plan and allocate enough time for a game night.
Conclusion
These are just a few examples of the countless board games available for adults. Whether you enjoy storytelling, deduction, strategy, or cooperation, there is a board game out there that will cater to your preferences. So gather your friends, explore the world of board games, and let the fun begin!
Remember, games provide a great way to bond with friends, and they offer a refreshing break from screens and digital distractions. So, why not plan your next game night and embark on a memorable gaming journey with your loved ones?
Happy Gaming!
