Best Board Games for Groups
Finding the perfect game for your group can be challenging. We've curated the best board games across different categories to help you choose the right fit for any occasion.
Plan Your Game Night →Party Games
High-energy games perfect for large groups and breaking the ice
Codenames
Word-guessing game with spies and secret agents. Teams compete to identify their agents using one-word clues.
Why it's great:
Easy to learn, scales well with any group size, creates hilarious moments
Wavelength
Social guessing game where teams try to read each other's minds on a spectrum of topics.
Why it's great:
Generates amazing discussions, works with large groups, highly replayable
Just One
Cooperative word game where players give one-word clues to help guess the mystery word.
Why it's great:
Quick to teach, cooperative spirit, great for all ages
Telestrations
The telephone game meets Pictionary. Draw and guess in a hilarious chain of miscommunication.
Why it's great:
Guaranteed laughs, no artistic skill required, perfect ice breaker
Strategy Games
Deep thinking games for players who love planning and tactics
Wingspan
Bird-collection engine builder where you create habitats and attract beautiful birds.
Why it's great:
Beautiful components, smooth gameplay, rewarding strategy
Terraforming Mars
Compete to terraform Mars by raising temperature, oxygen, and ocean coverage.
Why it's great:
Incredible theme, hundreds of unique cards, highly strategic
Brass: Birmingham
Economic strategy game set during the Industrial Revolution in Birmingham, England.
Why it's great:
Tight economy, meaningful decisions, excellent with 2-4 players
Azul
Abstract tile-drafting game where you decorate the walls of a Portuguese palace.
Why it's great:
Gorgeous components, quick to teach, satisfying puzzle
Quick Games
Fast-playing games perfect for filling time or warming up
Sushi Go!
Card drafting game where you pick sushi dishes to create the best meal.
Why it's great:
Super fast, easy rules, works great as an opener or closer
Love Letter
Deduction and risk game where you try to get your love letter to the princess.
Why it's great:
Fits in a pocket, plays in minutes, surprisingly strategic
No Thanks!
Push-your-luck game where you try to avoid taking cards worth negative points.
Why it's great:
Tiny box, simple rules, creates tense moments
Cockroach Poker
Bluffing game where you pass gross critters to opponents and lie about what they are.
Why it's great:
Pure bluffing fun, easy to teach, gets everyone laughing
Family Games
Accessible games that work for all ages and skill levels
Ticket to Ride
Build train routes across the map to connect cities and complete tickets.
Why it's great:
Gateway game classic, beautiful board, simple but engaging
Pandemic
Cooperative game where you work together to cure four diseases threatening humanity.
Why it's great:
Team-based gameplay, scalable difficulty, promotes collaboration
King of Tokyo
Dice-rolling game where giant monsters fight for control of Tokyo.
Why it's great:
Exciting dice rolling, fun theme, quick turns
Dixit
Use creative clues to describe beautifully illustrated cards and guess correctly.
Why it's great:
Encourages creativity, stunning artwork, no wrong answers
How to Choose the Right Game
Consider Your Group
- Player Count: Make sure the game supports your group size
- Experience Level: Match complexity to your players' familiarity
- Time Available: Choose games that fit your session length
- Mood: Light party games vs. deep strategic thinking
Pro Tips
- Have a mix of game types to suit different moods
- Start with lighter games to warm up the group
- Keep filler games handy for late arrivals or between rounds
- Read rules before game night to teach efficiently
Ready to Plan Your Game Night?
Use our Game Night Planner to coordinate dates, suggest games, and organize participants. Share your event link and let your group vote on their favorites!
Create Your EventFinding Your Perfect Board Game Match
The board gaming hobby has exploded in recent years, with thousands of titles available. This guide focuses on proven favorites that consistently deliver great experiences across different group types and preferences.
What Makes a Great Group Game?
The best board games for groups share common characteristics: engaging player interaction, reasonable playtime, accessible rules, and minimal downtime between turns. Games on this list have been tested with countless groups and consistently earn high ratings from both casual and experienced gamers.
Building Your Game Collection
If you're building a game collection for hosting, prioritize variety. Having one excellent game from each category ensures you can accommodate different group sizes, experience levels, and time constraints. Check out our event templates to see which combinations work well together.