Better gamenights start withthe right box.
Reviews and buying guides for strategy, party, family and two-player games. We tell you who each game suits, how long it takes, and where to get it for less.
Pick a game for your table
Start with who is playing, then match the length and weight of the game to the night you have planned.
Choose your next game
The best co-op board games for families, couples and groups, from light card games to deep strategy, with player count, time and age for each.
Family board games that kids and adults both enjoy, from games for 5-year-olds to games for the whole family, with ages, player counts and play times.
The best gateway board games for adults new to modern board games: easy to learn, quick to play, with real decisions. Player count, time and age for each.
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Best Party Games for Large Groups (6 Players and Up)
Best of
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Best Two-Player Board Games for Couples and Friends
Best of
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Board Game Storage Ideas: Shelves, Inserts and Organizers
Accessories
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Board Game Card Sleeve Sizes: How to Find the Right Fit
Accessories
- 08
Deck-Building Games Explained: How They Work and Where to Start
Game styles
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How to Choose a Board Game: 6 Questions Before You Buy
Start here
Board Game questions, answered
What is a co-operative board game?
A game where all players are on the same team, working together to beat the game itself. Everyone wins or loses together.
Read: Best Co-operative Board Games →What is a good board game for a 5-year-old?
Outfoxed! and Dragomino are both designed for ages 5 and up, with short play times and simple choices that still feel like real games.
Read: Best Family Board Games for Kids and Adults →What is a gateway board game?
A gateway game is a modern board game simple enough for people who mostly know classic games such as Monopoly, but with more interesting choices. It is a gateway into the wider hobby.
Read: Best Gateway Board Games for Beginners →What is the best party game for a big group?
Codenames is the most reliable choice: two teams, simple rules, and it scales to large groups. Wavelength is a close second for groups who like discussion.
Read: Best Party Games for Large Groups (6 Players and Up) →What is the best board game for couples?
Patchwork and Jaipur are the easiest to love: they teach in minutes, play in about half an hour and stay friendly. For couples who prefer co-operating, Codenames: Duet is the pick.
Read: Best Two-Player Board Games for Couples and Friends →What shelf is best for board games?
Cube shelving with openings around 13 inches (33 cm) square is the most popular choice, because most standard game boxes fit inside. Check the inside dimensions before buying, as cube sizes vary.
Read: Board Game Storage Ideas →Straight answers for game night
Every review starts with player count, play time and complexity, so you know whether a game fits your table before anything else.
Each review says who the game suits, who should look elsewhere, and what to know before you buy. No filler, no hedging.
Brands cannot buy a review or a spot on a list. Partner codes save you money; they never decide what we recommend.
Prices are dated, codes are updated across the site at once, and pages are revised when a product changes.
The board game index
- 01Strategy gamesDeeper games for groups that like to plan: euros, engine builders and campaign games.4 pages
- 02Party & familyGames that teach in minutes and work for mixed groups, kids and big parties.4 pages
- 03Two-player gamesThe best games for couples, friends and two-player nights.1 page
- 04AccessoriesCard sleeves, organizers, dice, playmats and game tables.2 pages