Party board games are an excellent way to spend quality time with friends and family, allowing you to bond over laughter and fun competition.
With so many options available, it can be challenging to find the perfect game for your next gathering. To help you out, we’ve picked out some of our favorites. Let’s dive in!
- Players: 3-20
- Ages: 17+
- Play Time: 1 hour+
- Complexity: Easy
What Do You Meme? is a simple card game where players try to create the funniest meme by matching an image card with a caption card. Although it can spark laughter, the humor can be hit or miss and often relies on crude jokes or pop culture references, which may not suit everyone’s taste.
Blood on the Clocktower
- Players: 5-20
- Ages: 15+
- Play Time: 1-2 hours
- Complexity: Medium
Blood on the Clocktower is a social deduction game that pits players against each other in a battle of wits and deception.
Blood on the Clocktower has a unique storytelling aspect and the game accommodates to large groups with tense gameplay.
- Players: 4-8
- Ages: 10+
- Play Time: 30 minutes
- Complexity: Easy
Cash ‘n Guns is a fast-paced, bluffing game where players take on the role of gangsters dividing up their loot.
The game’s foam guns and unique gameplay can create tense and exciting moments.
- Players: 4-30
- Ages: 17+
- Play Time: 30-90 minutes
- Complexity: Easy
Cards Against Humanity is a popular adult party game that often draws comparisons to Apples to Apples.
Despite its widespread appeal, the game’s humor relies heavily on shock value, which may not resonate with everyone and can become repetitive over time.
- Players: 2-5
- Ages: 7+
- Play Time: 15 minutes
- Complexity: Easy
Exploding Kittens is a quirky, fast-paced game that combines elements of Russian Roulette and Uno. The game’s unpredictability adds to the excitement, keeping players on their toes as they try to avoid drawing the dreaded Exploding Kitten card and being eliminated from the game.
Exploding Kittens is a quirky card game with simple rules, making it accessible to players of all ages.
- Players: 4-10
- Ages: 12+
- Play Time: 30 minutes
- Complexity: Easy
Apples to Apples is a classic party game that’s perfect for kids and families. The game’s simple mechanics and emphasis on creativity make it an excellent choice for players of all ages.
With its wholesome content and easy-to-learn rules, Apples to Apples is the go-to party game for kids and families.
- Players: 3-10
- Ages: 10+
- Play Time: 30 minutes
- Complexity: Easy
Snake Oil is a hilarious game where players take on the role of salespeople pitching ridiculous products to potential customers.
The game’s humorous and inventive nature often leads to laughter-filled moments, making it an excellent choice for players seeking a light-hearted and creative experience.
- Players: 3-8
- Ages: 12+
- Play Time: 30 minutes
- Complexity: Medium
Decrypto is a team-based word game that challenges players to encode and decode secret messages.
Its engaging gameplay and unique mechanics make it a standout option for those who enjoy word games and puzzles.
- Players: 3-8
- Ages: 13+
- Play Time: 15 minutes
- Complexity: Easy
Spyfall is a social deduction game where players ask each other questions to find the spy among them.
The game requires quick thinking and a keen sense of observation, making it an excellent choice for players who enjoy testing their wit and social deduction skills in a party setting.
- Players: 2-12
- Ages: 14+
- Play Time: 30-45 minutes
- Complexity: Easy
Wavelength is a clever team-based guessing game that requires players to read their teammates’ minds.
Wavelength’s gameplay involves players giving clues that fall on a spectrum, aiming to guide their teammates to guess the precise point on that spectrum. This creates a fascinating and engaging dynamic that requires players to think creatively and understand their teammates’ thought processes, making Wavelength an excellent choice for players who enjoy games that challenge their intuition and communication skills.
- Players: 4-10
- Ages: 10+
- Play Time: 20-40 minutes
- Complexity: Easy
When I Dream is a creative and enchanting game where players take turns describing a dream while others guess the dream’s elements.
When I Dream’s imaginative gameplay and stunning artwork make it an excellent choice for players who enjoy storytelling and cooperative games.
- Players: 2-8
- Ages: 14+
- Play Time: 15 minutes
- Complexity: Easy
Codenames is a clever word association game that has become a modern classic.
Its simple rules, quick playtime, and emphasis on teamwork make it a great party game. However, its more cerebral nature may not suit those looking for a more raucous or high-energy experience.
- Players: 3-7
- Ages: 10+
- Play Time: 30 minutes
- Complexity: Easy
Wits and Wagers is a unique trivia game that combines strategy and betting.
With its wide array of questions and engaging gameplay, it’s an excellent option for players who enjoy trivia but want to avoid the potential frustration of traditional trivia games.
- Players: 2-7
- Ages: 10+
- Play Time: 45 minutes
- Complexity: Medium
Mysterium is a cooperative mystery-solving game where one player takes on the role of a ghost communicating with the other players through abstract clues.
With its beautiful artwork and intriguing gameplay, Mysterium is an excellent choice for those who enjoy deduction and puzzle-solving games.
- Players: 3-12
- Ages: 8+
- Play Time: 30 minutes
- Complexity: Easy
Dixit Odyssey is a beautifully illustrated storytelling game that challenges players to interpret and describe evocative images.
Dixit Odyssey’s dreamlike illustrations are open to interpretation, which encourages players to think creatively as they provide clues and guess the meaning behind the images. This imaginative and visually stunning game fosters a sense of wonder and promotes player interaction.
Monikers (Best for Large Groups)
- Players: 4-16
- Ages: 17+
- Play Time: 30-60 minutes
- Complexity: Easy
Monikers is a fast-paced, hilarious guessing game that combines elements of charades and taboo.
Simple rules and the ability to accommodate large groups makes it a fantastic choice for parties and get-togethers.
- Players: 4-12
- Ages: 14+
- Play Time: 30 minutes
- Complexity: Medium
Deception: Murder in Hong Kong is a thrilling social deduction game that casts players as investigators trying to solve a murder mystery.
Deception: Murder in Hong Kong incorporates elements of bluffing and deduction, requiring players to carefully analyze evidence and use their powers of observation to identify the true culprit.
The game’s immersive theme and engaging gameplay make it an excellent choice for players who enjoy a suspenseful, interactive experience that keeps everyone on the edge of their seats.
- Players: 3-10
- Ages: 8+
- Play Time: 10 minutes
- Complexity: Easy
One Night Ultimate Werewolf is a fast-paced, social deduction game that distills the classic game of Werewolf into a single, intense round.
The game’s condensed format and fast pace add an extra layer of excitement to the traditional Werewolf game, as players must quickly assess their fellow players and make strategic decisions in a single round.
This streamlined version of a classic social deduction game is perfect for parties or gatherings, where participants are seeking a high-energy, engaging experience that keeps everyone involved.
- Players: 4-10
- Ages: 12+
- Play Time: 30-60 minutes
- Complexity: Easy
Blockbuster: The Game features unique gameplay and a nostalgic theme. This movie-themed party game combines trivia, charades, and other challenges that will have players laughing and bonding as they relive iconic movie moments.
With its simple rules and broad appeal, Blockbuster: The Game is the ultimate party game for film buffs and casual movie-goers alike.
With so many fantastic party board games available, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re looking for a game that’s suitable for kids and families, like Apples to Apples, or one that can entertain a large group, like Moniker, this list has you covered.
Remember, the most important thing is to have fun, enjoy each other’s company, and make lasting memories with your friends and family. Happy gaming!
Source: Tabletop Gaming News
