13 Great Board Games To Play

As people look for a break from digital entertainment, both to rest their eyes and their minds, tabletop board gaming becomes more and more popular. Using elements such as figurines, cards, dice, cubes, and meeples, players are increasingly introduced to interesting worlds and fantastical scenarios. While some board games focus on pure skill or luck, the best-stocked game cabinets contain titles all across the spectrum.

As the board games of the current year have gone way beyond the abstract board games of years past, players can also look forward to a variety of scenarios — from haunted houses to dirt track racing and everything in between — to meet their gaming needs. As a result, there are tons of games to sort through, in various styles and settings, to sort out the best of the best for each player type.

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Editor’s Choice: Terraforming Mars

Terraforming Mars may not be what humans end up doing in the future, but the titular tabletop game is a natural progression path for most board game enthusiasts. The game itself focuses on a fictional future where multiple corporations and private interest groups are seeking to be the first ones to terraform Mars, letting players choose which entity they want to be.

In doing this, Terraforming Mars quickly shows players how many fun and challenging mechanics it packs into its game. Like a mash-up of Catan and Ticket to Ride, Terraforming Mars starts out as a simple resource management game until everyone is ready to start implementing their plans and sabotaging other players. The game also has five expansions available that add new planets and new corporations, ensuring that even veteran players can get a lot of unique playtime out of the game.

Terraforming Mars is the best board game currently because while it is complex enough for very experienced players, it’s also fairly straightforward once the game begins, making it easy to add in new players. The game is also one of those rare titles that can be played by just two people, making it great for a nerdy date night. Terraforming Mars is an excellent addition to a new board game library, or even a well-stocked one, because it will be taken down to be played for years to come.

Best Asymmetric: Betrayal at House on the Hill: Third Edition

Players who have exhausted the many haunts and scenarios of past Betrayal games have 50 new scenarios to plot and betray one another over in Betrayal at the House on the Hill: Third Edition. Of course, Betrayal at the House on the Hill: Third Edition is also a great entry point for new players to the series as the mechanics are more refined and the stories told by the game are more robust than ever.

The game plays out in a familiar two-part adventure. One part is a mad dash collect-a-thon adventure through a haunted mansion, the other a somewhat randomly selected scenario of horror and betrayal. This edition builds on this foundation, bringing more clearly executed rules, better backstories, and updated player models. It’s a great game for any player to jump into and get a good dose of unexpected horror.

Best Party Game: Codenames

Game night often begins with a lot of nonsense chatter and catching up with everyone at the table. Many groups like to get started with quick and simple games. Codenames is perfect for small groups waiting for the rest of their friends to show up.

This easy party game involves dropping hints and references to try to get teammates to guess which “codenames” are correct. With words like “star” and “Amsterdam” on the board, it can be challenging to get players to make the right connections. Two players are designated “spymasters” (i.e., team leaders), and they are limited to a single word and a single number to tell their team which cards are their codenames.

It’s a ton of fun that builds with each round as players begin to learn how to parse clues from each other. Perfect for close friends, double dates, and families, Codenames is the best party board game.

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FAQ

Q: What is the oldest popular board game?

Of games that are still popular today, Go (also known as ‘Weiqi’) is among the oldest. The game’s popularity partly stems from its high strategic depth despite using shockingly simple rules. Modern AI also factors into Go’s modern popularity, with artificial intelligence AlphaGo beating Lee Sedol. AlphaGo’s unusual moves shocked students and novices of the game, which is over 2,000 years old, for their ingenuity. Ultimately, this sparked an increased interest in the game.

Q: What are the top board games for adults?

The top board games for adults include Azul, Wingspan, and Betrayal at the House on the Hill, among others. Games that are good for adults tend to rely less on simple decisions and luck, focusing more on depth and displays of skill. Lighter games for adults often display themes of alcohol use, dirty jokes, and offensive materials. Games that are considered great for kids, such as Connect Four, can be surprisingly suitable for adults as well. Going back to a simpler game that was played heavily in youth and applying strategies gained as an adult can be relaxing and help one see their own growth.