The 15 Best Board Games for Adults of 2023

Best Overall

Catan Studio Catan Board Game

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The adventure-based board game Settlers of Catan requires players to battle it out to collect resources and build the biggest settlements on the island of Catan. In addition to numerous other accolades and being translated into over 30 languages, Catan won The Game of the Century Award at Gamescom in 2015. The board is made up of 19 hexagonal tiles that are arranged randomly at the beginning of each game—making sure that no two games are ever the same, which we love for a high replay value. Each tile represents a different terrain that corresponds with a different valuable resource for your civilization.

Each player gets color-coded settlement, road, and city pieces, and earns “victory points” as they build various structures. We set up the game in about five minutes, which begins with each player placing two settlements and two roads on the island. Points can be racked up in a variety of ways: building houses and cities, owning the longest road or the biggest army, and holding point-bearing “development” cards, making this a competitive game up until the last second.

Catan is an absorbing and engaging game for teens and adults alike. Plus, we found that players unknowingly learn lessons about the importance and consequences of access to resources, odds, the snowballing effect of luck (or lack thereof) on human success, migration, bartering, and other economic issues Players of all ages also hone their critical thinking and strategic skills with every game. The only downside is that the world-building game may take a bit of time to fully understand. Once you've mastered the rules, it is sure to take over your next game night.

Price at time of publish: $49

_{Number of Players: 3-4 | Duration: 60 minutes | Recommended Age: 10 years and up}

Best Strategy

Indie Boards and Cards The Resistance

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Don’t be fooled by the simplicity of The Resistance, it’s a fast-paced board game that relies on strategic thinking. This game pits friends against one another as everyone is forced to scheme and lie to further their progress. The game has a total of five rounds, and in each round, a player becomes the leader and sends players on a mission. If a mission fails, then someone on the team is forced to become a Corporate Spy, and routing out these spies is the objective of the game.

It’s a game of strategy, deduction, and good ol’ deception. Each round takes less than thirty minutes. The game plays up to ten, and this one is definitely a “the more the merrier” game to keep tensions high. The game is simple, but the real game is not the game itself, it’s up to the players to be strategic to develop their own secret identity and attempt to suss out their fellow spies through social deduction. 

Price at time of publish: $24

_{Number of Players: 5-10 | Duration: 30 minutes | Recommended Age: 13 years and up}

Best for Parties

All Things Equal Adult Loaded Questions

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Prepare for hilarious (and sometimes raunchy) questions and answers with this card/ board game hybrid from All Things Equal. Loaded Questions debuted in 1997, but this adult version is ideal for late teens and adults, who want something a bit more elevated.

Players spin the wheel and read a corresponding question card. The remaining players then all write down their best answer, challenging the lead of that round to match the answers to each player. This a great pick for parties, bachelorette parties, or any social setting where you want to get to know each other better.

Price at time of publish: $20

_{Number of Players: 4-6 | Duration: Not Listed | Recommended Age: 17 years and up}

Best Cooperative

Z-Man Games Pandemic

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This high-stakes board game requires a healthy degree of prioritization, communication, teamwork, and creative problem-solving. Everyone gets the chance to participate as all players win or lose together in their battle to protect against a worldwide outbreak.

Despite the cooperative game’s challenging premise, it’s easy for players to get engaged as each player has a special ability to help cure the pandemic. Part of the fun of this game is developing a strategy as a team and deliberating among each other to figure out what the best approach is and how to best utilize their special abilities making it also great for team building. For instance, should you tackle one strain of disease before moving on to the next or do you attempt to contain an outbreak first?

Price at time of publish: $40

_{Number of Players: 2-4 | Duration: 45 minutes | Recommended Age: 8 years and up}

Best for Meme-Lovers

What Do You Meme? Core Game

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If you like match games like Apple to Apples and Cards Against Humanity, and you spend a fair amount of time online, then you're the ideal audience for What Do You Meme?. It has a similar premise to those beloved games but with an internet-y twist. We found that answers tend to be as outrageous and silly as the people you're playing with, so clear your schedule and grab your funniest, most web-savvy friends. We had a blast playing this with a large group. The memes were hilarious and the crazy combinations had us laughing hysterically.

Even those who spend most of their time IRL can enjoy the game, as they don't have to be meme historians to follow along. And in fact, it may be better that way, since they won't notice how some of the included memes can feel old to those who've been online for years.

Price at time of publish: $30

_{Number of Players: 3-20 | Duration: Not listed | Recommended Age: 17 years and up}

Best Puzzle

Plan B Azul Board Game

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A good icebreaker is fast-paced and easy to learn. That’s why we like Azul. It’s a short, engaging game that requires some strategy. The objective of the game is to place tiles on the board and score points, and the completion of specific sets is more valuable than others.

This is a good icebreaker because it’s a game that’s more of a puzzle, or color-themed crossword, than a head-to-head challenge. The relaxing nature of the game offers players the opportunity to focus on an activity while also engaging in conversation. It’s less about being competitive and more about pattern-making. The design of the game is also visually pleasing which makes it a great gift for friends and family.

Price at time of publish: $40

_{Number of Players: 2-4 | Duration: 30-45 minutes | Recommended Age: 8 years and up}

Best Two-Player

Mayfair Games Patchwork Board Game

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Patchwork is a great game for creatives. Players are tasked with designing a beautiful quilt out of interesting textile tiles. It’s a two-player game that’s interesting and short enough to keep players engaged and having fun. The game challenges players to strategically collect pieces, but not all pieces fit together.

The rules are simple and each round takes about 15 to 30 minutes with each round typically being close in competition. It’s not an overly competitive game, so it’s nice for couples and anyone who doesn't want to get their heart rate up playing a board game. It’s also a visually appealing board game, which makes it nice to have out on display or keep out at a large party as an activity for small groups to do.

Price at time of publish: $28

_{Number of Players: 2 | Duration: 15-30 minutes | Recommended Age: 8 years and up}

Best Competitive

Monopoly Netflix Stranger Things Edition Board Game

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Monopoly is a classic, highly competitive game that can take hours to complete and accommodates single players or groups, depending if you want to team up. Truth be told, lots of themed Monopoly boards are available and it was hard to choose just one, but Monopoly’s latest Stranger Things edition is worth mentioning due to the extra details and pop culture relevance. It's entirely customized, and the premise is similar to the original, but this time there's added pressure from Vecna opening gates. Locations are based around Hawkins and beyond, and players can choose from Stranger Things-themed tokens like a slice of pizza, Dustin's hat, a Hawkins High School emblem, and more.

The game ends when a player bankrupts their opponents (or Vecna wins). Fans of the show and Monopoly buffs alike will enjoy the subtle twists that the theming brings to the game.

Price at time of publish: $30

_{Number of Players: 2-6 | Duration: 120-180 minutes | Recommended Age: 14 years and up}

Big Potato The Blockbuster Game

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For a movie-related game night that doesn't require a screen, it's hard to beat this Blockbuster game. The game is structured to include different rounds, so players get the chance to go head-to-head, do Charades-style pantomiming, describe films (while beating a buzzer), and of course, shout out guesses with as much energy as their hearts desire.

Anyone who likes movies or pop culture, or both, will likely find this set right up their alley. The only catch is that players with outside-the-rental-box tastes may find themselves at a disadvantage when it comes to certain trivia.

Price at time of publish: $22

_{Number of Players: 2+ | Duration: Not listed | Recommended Age: 12 years and up}

Best Escape Room

Avalon Hill Betrayal At House On The Hill

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When going to an escape room simulation isn't possible, bring all the thrill and suspense of one right into your own living room. Betrayal at Hill House challenges players to build their own haunted mansion, then try to escape. Unlike other escape-themed games, the players are actually building the escape room, so it will vary every round, making for a high replay value.

Players work together to solve over 50 possible scary scenarios, except for one player, who becomes a traitor along the way. Adults will love the unique game board design and delightfully haunted themes, but be warned, the content may be a bit too dark for some players.

Price at time of publish: $56

_{Number of Players: 3-6 | Duration: 60 minutes | Recommended Age: 12 years and up}

Best Trivia

Hasbro Games Trivial Pursuit

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Sometimes the classic games are the best games, and Trivial Pursuit is a party game that’s stood the test of time since it covers an array of interesting topics like geography, history, art, alliteration, science, sports, and leisure. It’s accessible to teens, adults, and older players alike—though all generations definitely won't know all of the answers.

The objective of this trivia game is for players to progress around the board by answering trivia questions correctly and earning wedges. The Master Edition includes over 3,000 challenging questions on new topics like entertainment, pop culture, and modern technology.

Price at time of publish: $28

_{Number of Players: 2-6 | Duration: 80 minutes | Recommended Age: 16 years and up}

Best Classic

Hasbro Gaming Scrabble

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When in doubt, opting for a classic board game that has stood the test of time is always a good decision. Scrabble is suitable for a variety of ages and is perfect for quiet nights indoors or exciting game nights with friends and family.

Each game of Scrabble is completely different based on the letters you receive and must try to make words with. Also, everyone has their own strategy, making for a unique experience each time. Get the whole family involved to foster spelling and reading in younger players, or play with all adults for a competitive game that will definitely build your vocabulary.

Price at time of publish $19

_{Number of Players: 2-4 | Duration: 50 minutes | Recommended Age: 8 years and up}

Best Drinking

DRINK-A-PALOOZA Party Drinking Board Game

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Combine all the elements of beloved classic drinking games for a board game that is guaranteed to be a good time. The rules of Beer Pong, Flip Cup, Kings Cup, and High/Low merge as players win bottles and fill up their six-pack game pieces to try and claim victory. Plus, no alcohol is technically required, so you can substitute mocktails or other drinks of choice based on the ages and comfort levels of your players.

Price at time of publish: $50

_{Number of Players: 2-12 | Duration: Not Listed | Recommended Age: 21 years and up}

Best Mystery

Asmodee Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: Jack the Ripper & West End Adventures

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Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective is a cooperative, murder mystery game that tasks players with solving a case before Sherlock himself. Each case provides clues and potential locations to investigate using newspapers, maps of London, and case files to solve the murder. Players must work together to interview suspects and piece together the puzzle.

Once your team thinks you have a good theory, you then answer critical questions about the case. Your score is based on how many questions you answer correctly, and points are deducted based on how many more trips you took than Holmes and how your theory compares to his. The only downside is that the game only contains ten potential cases to solve (and cases can only be solved once). While it’s nearly impossible to solve the case before Holmes, it’s still very fun to try!

Price at time of publish: $47

_{Number of Players: 1-8 | Duration: 90 minutes | Recommended Age: 12 years and up}