10 Popular Board Games for Adults, From Party Beginners to Strategy-Focused Sets

editor's choice

Telestrations After Dark Adult Board Game

This board game for adults is just that Advertising sign The writer for game nights with friends, as he combines the phone with Pictionary, resulting in a night full of laughter. Recommended for ages 17+, up to eight players can participate, with everyone receiving a notebook and card. One person rolls the included dice and whatever number is rolled will determine which prompt you should draw. From there you will draw a picture and then guess what you see. It continues until you get your original sketchbook back.

Our favorite part is the end when you have to go around and reveal what your prompt was and then show everyone's drawing and guesses. It's always a wild reveal, and since this one has more adult themes, you just never know what you're going to see.

THE BEST PARTY BRAND

Fork Milk Kidnap

Fork, Milk, Kidnap is a revamped version of F-ck, Marry, Kill, but retains the mature themes, so it's recommended for ages 17+. Each round can have up to 10 players, where you will be dealt three action cards as well as three item cards. Players will then secretly categorize each of the action and item cards into Fork, Milk, and Kidnap categories. Once everyone is ready, you'll reveal your choices — just prepare to be amazed.

quick game selection

Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza

If you don't have all day to play a game, then Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza will bring joy without a huge time commitment. Recommended for ages 7+ and can have up to eight players at a time. It takes less than 10 minutes for a full game in our experience. All you have to do is throw a card down when you see a card and verbal match. the first to use all his cards wins.

More than 20,000 Amazon shoppers bought the game last month, and it also won the “Amazon Choice” tag for best overall board game for adults.

The BEST strategy game

Terraforming Mars Board Game

If you've dreamed of living in space, then Terraforming Mars will be the next best thing to achieving it. The purpose of the game is to use your strategy skills to complete projects and successfully shape Mars so that humans can live there. Whoever ends their objections first and controls their company best wins. Up to five players can play at once and it is recommended for ages 12+.

Amazon buyers gave the board game a 4.8 star rating saying “the rules are simple and easy to understand [even] in your first session.”

BEST FOR large group

Cards Against Humanity

Other Billboard Markets A favorite is Cards Against Humanity, which is aimed at groups that love a good laugh. We've been playing this game for almost 10 years and love the fast pace of each round and its ability to learn more about the humor of your friends and family members.

Ages 17+ are recommended for this game and since it comes with multiple cards, you can play with two people or 20+. Everyone has a set of 10 white cards each round, and one player (known as the Card Czar) will draw from the deck of black cards and read the prompt written on it. Then everyone except the person who drew the card will go through their hands and place a card face down on the Card King who will shuffle and read each answer to the question. The card that the Card Czar determines is the funniest will win that round.

BEST ADVENTURE BOARD GAME

Catan Adventure board game for adults

We've also been playing Catan in parties for years now and love the way it mixes strategy with luck as you compete against other players to dominate the board by collecting resources and building your own settlement. Ages 10+ can play and you can join up to four players at once.

More than 6,000 Amazon shoppers bought the game last month, and it has more than 37,000 verified reviews in total, with reviewers giving the board game a five-star review for its replayability. “The board changes every time you play, so the games are different every time,” noted one reviewer.

BEST FOR COUPLES

Card game we are not really strangers

We recommend We're Not Really Strangers if you want to connect with your friends or even a loved one on a deeper level. For three years now, we've been using it to learn more about the people around us and to appreciate the thoughtful prompts that encourage you to create deeper relationships with those around you.

You can play with ages 15+ with up to six players at once. More than 4,000 decks have been purchased on Amazon, according to the retailer, and it's garnered so much praise from critics that this board game for adults has earned a 4.7-star rating (out of five).

BEST FOR TEAM PLAY

Codenames Czech game version

In our opinion, game night isn't complete without a round of Codenames. We've been rocking this game for a few years now and love the involvement it forces everyone to be while also challenging you to connect mind-to-mind with your teammates.

Ages 8+ can play and you'll need at least four players to get started. Divide into equal teams with one person in each team designated as the Spymaster. You will create a grid of words and it will be up to the Spymaster to describe the words in his group using a single descriptor and how many words the descriptor is associated with. The first team to reveal all their words wins.

cooperative play option

Betrayal at The House on The Hill, 3rd Edition

Betrayal in The House on The Hill will have you working with everyone instead of competing against each other. Recommended for ages 12+ and requires a minimum of three players to play and can accommodate up to six players. Together, you will work to survive living in a haunted house, but be careful as one player will work against you. Since it has 50 different scenarios, you don't have to worry about playing the same game every time.

The board game is rated 4.7 stars with Amazon buyers praising how much fun it is. One reviewer even commented that “the layout, how many players, what items you have, and what character you play will all affect how the game plays. Truly an infinite number of stories with this combination.”

The best mystery game

A kill at wine tasting

A Wine Tasting Murder is a versatile game that can be played virtually or in person, making it easy to play no matter where you are. You will need at least four players and you can play with up to 20 people. Each person will be given a character and must use the clues provided to determine who the killer is. Ages 14+ can play and there is even a downloadable version available.