Board games have always been a source of entertainment and nostalgia for the entire family. Before technology took over, these board games were like a toy to the sobbing baby, you don’t need them, but it makes life so much better. Light outs used to be amazing with your family and board games. Truly, these old classic board games entertained us our entire childhood. Children nowadays have no idea what it means to spend quality time with their family and how crucial it is to dedicate your time to your loved ones.
So, in case your child hates human interaction, you can try playing a board game. Board games are known to cure anxious minds with their light-hearted and fun-filled activities. Here is a list of 30 board games you should try with your whole family.
30. Scrabble
- Created in: 1933
- Creator: Alfred Mosher Butts
- For ages: 8 and up
This word game is perfect for people who boast too much about having proficiency in the English language. It can easily be played by two to four people. It makes use of titles in which the letters from A to Z are printed. You just have to place the titles in such a manner that the titles form a word. The words need to be from the standard English dictionary. The titles should be in the crossword fashion, reading downward in columns and left to right in rows. It is a perfect board for a game night when your whole family is around. This word game is one of the best board games for adults as well as for children.
29. Sorry!
- Created in: 1934
- Creator: Paul T. Haskell, Jr., William Henry Storey
- For ages: 6 and up
This board game is adapted from Pachisi, a popular Indian cross and circle game. In this game, you need to get all your cards from the start space to the home space by moving them around the board in a clockwise motion. This game seems complicated at first, but the moment you understand the game, you can never stop playing the game. Kids, as well as the adults of the family, are seen enjoying the game. This game will make you remember the good old days when life was simple. But be careful; this game might ruin friendships and can make you addicted to winning. But that doesn’t stop it from being one of the best board games for adults.
28. Trouble
- Created in: 1965
- Creator: Frank Kohner, Paul Kohner, Fred Kroll
- For ages: 5 and up
Trouble is based on the early 20th-century German game called Mensch Argere Dich Nict. This is a game with a Pop-O-Matic dice roller. In this board game, the players need to send the four pieces to the finish line on the player board. Die is rolled per turn to decide when to move your pieces.
Each turn player rolls a die using the Pop-O-Matic and selects a piece to move. This board game is a lot similar to Sorry! And Pachisi. The pandemic was quite fruitful to the Trouble board game as people who were locked in their homes were seen playing this game. Trouble can be considered one of the best board games for adults.
27. Trivial Pursuit
- Created in: 1981
- For ages: 16 and up
Trivial Pursuit is beneficial for kids who want to increase their general knowledge and cultural knowledge. This Canadian board game requires you to stimulate your pursuit. The object of the game is to be the first player to answer the questions accurately in each of the six category headquarters located at the ends.
The six categories are geography, history, entertainment, art and literature, science and nature, sports, and leisure. Adults, along with high schoolers, can also enjoy this legendary game. The whole concept of the game is interesting and is sure to entertain your family for hours which makes this game the best board game for a lazy Sunday afternoon.
26. Boggle
- Created in: 1972
- Creator: Allan Turoff
- For ages: 8 and up
The Boggle board game requires you to spot more unique words than your family and friends. The lettered dice should form words in a series of adjacent letters. Words must be at least three letters long. People with unique English language proficiency can easily play this game. This is one of the best board games ever that not only increases your vocabulary but also enhances your speed. This is the most beloved board game of elders as their kids learn something new each time.
25. Clue
- Created in: 1985
- Creator: Anthony E. Pratt
- For ages: 8 and up
Clue is a classic murder mystery game that can be easily played by three to six players. The objective of this game is to find out who is the murderer of the game’s victim. The game is confusing, but once you play it with your cousins who have great comedic skills, then it will be on the top of your favorite board games. This epic game acts as a great source of entertainment when you are stuck in your home with your family members. This game not only proves to be a great stress buster, but it also helps you form connections with your family.
24. Sequence
- Created in: 1982
- Creator: Doug Reuter
- For ages: 7 and up
The game requires two teams of even number and can be played by two to twelve members. This classic old game requires strategic planning so that you can easily win the game. In sequence, players compete as individuals or teams using cards to place markers and connecting multiple series of matching straight lines on the board or sequences. You win by scoring your sequence before any other player. The game might appear to be complex and boring but clear instructions and demonstrations will make you fall in love with the game.
23. Candy Land
- Created in: 1948
- For ages: 3 and up
Candy Land is a classic racing game. Young children can also play this game as it requires no instructions or manuals. The demand for this game is extremely high, and about one million copies are sold every year. The idea of the game is simple. The first player to reach the candy castle while landing on the multicolored rainbow at the end of the path wins the game.
Candy Land requires no strategic planning, so you can play this game with young kids in your home; they might as well feel included. Candy Land is among one the best board games for children.
22. Risk
- Created in: 1957
- Creator: Albert Lamorisse, Michael I. Levin
- For ages: 10 and up
Risk board games can be played by two to six players. You just need to defeat the players by winning over all the territory on the board. The people who understand this game are invincible because this game is over the top confusing. This game is adored by adults because of its straightforward rules and challenging interactions. It might take a lot of time to finish the game. So, in case you don’t have anything else to do, this game is the perfect savior. The risk board game is undoubtedly one of the most popular board games of the century.
21. Settlers of Catan
- Created in: 1995
- Creator: Klaus Teuber
- For ages: 10 and up
Settlers of Catan is a board game that can be played by multiple players at the same time. Players get a turn to build holdings and, meanwhile, trade and collect resources. Players get points for the growth of their settlements and resource management.
Any player who reaches the set limit of victory points wins the game. This board game not only received popularity in Germany but also outside Europe. This game is boring in the first round, but we assure you that as time passes, you will realize how incredibly awesome this game is. This game is worth every single penny you spend on this game.
20. Battleship
- Created in: 1967
- Creator: Milton Bradley
- For ages: 7 and up
This game is based on strategic planning and can be played by two players. You just need to be the first player to sink all the opponent’s ships. Players take turns, also known as shots, to destroy the other player’s ship. This game is easier than you think without any complicated rules. Hence, Battleship is a highly recommended board game. This strategy board game is sure to bring back old memories of having a fun-filled holiday with your family.
19. The Game of Life
- Created in: 1960
- Creator: Bill Markham
- For ages: 8 and up
The Game of Life is a perfect board game that can be played by two to six players. You just need to have the most money at the end in order to win this game. This party game is somewhat similar to the Monopoly game. This game can be tricky to understand, but once you learn how to play it properly, you can never stop playing this classic board game. This adventurous game becomes even more interesting when your whole family has gathered around. If you love surprises, then you are going to cherish every single bit of this game. The Game of Life is perfect for game night with your family and friends.
18. Pictionary
- Created in: 1985
- Creator: Robert Angel
- For ages: 6 and up
Pictionary always makes me remember Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory. We all laughed at how he applied every part of his brain to give a detailed analysis, only to find out that it is just a simple picture and no rocket science is required. Pictionary is a light-hearted game that you can enjoy with your whole bunch of friends.
The objective of this party game is to be the first team to reach the finish square and guess the final sketch was accurately drawn by one of the team members. Team members take turns to be the artist, and other players of the team need to guess what the player draws. Pictionary seriously deserves to be in the category of best board games in history.
17. Wit’s End
- Created in: 1995
- Creator: Mike Cramer
- For ages: 16 and up
Wit’s End is a challenging yet entertaining game. This brain-teasing game will test your knowledge and make you engage in fun problem-solving activities. This game makes you answer questions in four challenging yet creative categories as you move along to the center of the board. Since the questions are rather complex, this game is best suited for ages sixteen and older. You will learn something memorable every time you play this game. This is one of the best adult games ever created.
16. Connect Four
- Created in: 1974
- Creator: Howard Wexler, Ned Strongin
- For ages: 6 and up
Connect Four is one of the easiest games ever to understand. The first player to connect four in a row horizontally, vertically, and diagonally in order to create a perfect balance wins the game. This game is for two players.
The first player can easily win the game by taking the right moves. This board game relaxes the anxious mind. So, in case some situations have been troubling you, just play this game with your family. You will feel better. This simple, light-hearted game is one of the best board games even now on.
15. Cold War
- Created in: 1984
- Creator: Lenny Glynn, John Prados
- For ages: 12 and up
This interesting game can be played by three to six players. Players take on the role of either the Western, Soviet, or non-aligned bloc. You can win this war game by scoring the most points as the game ends. This game takes 90 and 120 minutes to play. The mechanisms used in the game are simple and not difficult to follow. The game is sure to attract all the history lovers out there.
14. Twister
- Created in: 1966
- Creator: Milton Bradley Company, Winning Moves Games the USA
- For ages: 6 and up
Even though Twister came out a long time ago, this game continues to attract people of all age groups. Twister is one of the best family-friendly party games that only need two to three players, where players have to place their hands and feet on different colored circles as instructed by the referee without falling over. A person who trips on the ground loses the game. You can play this game at a cool, fun party or even a family get-together. This classic game is sure to recharge your mood. New board games can never compete with the legacy of this game.
13. Star Wars: Rebellion
- Created in: 2016
- Creator: Corey Konieczka
- For ages: 14 and up
Star Wars: Rebellion is one of the most terrific modern board games that can be played by two to four players. It features a conflict between the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic Empire. This game with new mechanics is a must-have experience for all the Star Wars movies out there.
Playing time is approximately two to four hours. It is an extremely complex game that includes a period of civil war, with rebel spaceships attacking from a hidden base. You get to command either the Rebel Alliance or the Galactic Empire that will decide the future of this galaxy. This is one of the most popular Star Wars games in history.
12. Checkers
- Created in: 3,000 B.C.
- For ages: 5 and up
Checkers is a classic board game that can be played by two people sitting across from each other on the board. You just need to capture every opponent’s piece in order to win the game. The appearance might look a lot like chess but the rules are unique. The complex rules make this board game harder and more exciting, a perfect dose for all the intellectuals out there.
11. Chess
- Created in: Sixth century A.D.
- For ages: 7 and up
Chess is the most popular board game and the best abstract strategy board game. It can be played by two players. This brain game is played by millions of people every single day. Over approximately one and a half millennia of its existence, chess has been known as a tool of military strategy, a metaphor for human affairs, and a benchmark of genius. Chess is a brilliant game that not only enhances your intelligence but also stimulates your decision-making abilities.
10. Pass the Pigs
- Created in: 1977
- Creator: David Moffat
- For ages: 8 and up
Pass the Pigs is an interesting board game that can be played by two to four players. You just need to reach a hundred points in order to win the game. It includes using asymmetrical dice that look like Shagai. Each player takes turns throwing two model pigs that have a black dot on one side. The player gets the points on the basis of how the pigs land on the surface. This is a fun game that is unconditionally enjoyed by young kids.
9. Monopoly
- Created in: 1935
- Creator: Lizzie Magie, Charles Darrow
- For ages: 8 and up
No matter how complicated Monopoly sounds, it is still a great time pass for the entire family because you can play this game with multiple people at the same time. You just need to have more points than other players in order to win the game. This requires a lot of strategy and patience to achieve better results—this economic-themed game deals with purchasing and trading properties and developing houses and hotels. An important concept inspires this iconic board game in economics, and that is Monopoly, which states that a single individual or organization dominates the market. The complexity makes this game one of the best board games for adults.
8. Guess Who?
- Created in: 1979
- Creator: Ora, Theo Coster
- For ages: 6 and up
Guess Who? is a perfect game for two people. You just need to accurately guess your partner’s identity before they guess you. This game simultaneously brings back nostalgia and sweet memories of the past, and you might have played this game in your childhood. This game becomes so interesting when both players have an unbeatable connection. You can play this game with your significant other.
7. Rummikub
- Created in: 1978
- Creator: Ephraim Hertzano
- For ages: 8 and up
Rummikub can be played by two to four players. You just need to have more points than the other players after several rounds. It includes 104 number tiles and two Joker titles. This is undoubtedly one of the best childhood games that are enjoyed by grown-ups as well.
6. Betrayal at House on the Hill
- Created in: 2004
- Creator: Bruce Glassco
- For ages: 12 and up
Betrayal at House on the Hill can easily be enjoyed by three to six players. This game is the perfect choice for all the spooky lovers out there as it includes exploring the haunted house.
The haunted house consists of dangers, items, omens, and traps. The game becomes exciting with each version. We assure you this is going to be a super fun ride and you can never stop playing this haunted game. You need to watch it at least once in a lifetime. The horror element makes this game one of the best board games.
5. Mission: Red Planet
- Created in: 1888
- Creator: Bruno Cathala, Bruno Faidutti
- For ages: 14 and up
Mission: Red Planet can be played by two to six players. There is no solo mode. Playing time is approximately 60 to 90 minutes. This game makes you control the careless mining corporation that has been exploiting the unmatched resources of the planet Mars. You just need to mine its minerals and become unbelievably wealthy. It is a low-complexity game. You just need to gain the most points after ten rounds in order to win the game. This game becomes exciting after every stage.
4. Pandemic Legacy
- Created in: 2015
- Creator: Rob Daviau, Matt Leacock
- For ages: 13 and up
Pandemic Legacy can be played by two to four players. Playing time is approximately 60 minutes. We all can relate to the premise of the game as the disease has infected the entire world. Your team of doctors and specialists needs to travel across the world in order to fight against the disease while analyzing the cures for the plagues before they get severe. Young children are sure to enjoy every moment of this game.
3. Arkham Horror
- Created in: 1987
- Creator: Richard Launius, Kevin Wilson
- For ages: 14 and up
Arkham Horror can be played by one to eight players. Playing time is 120 to 240 minutes. Through this game, you get the golden opportunity to save the city of Arkham from the dangerous monsters along with your team members. This fantasy game makes your wildest dreams come true as you save the city from the destruction of the monsters. This is a perfect game when your kids are into the fantasy genre. This game has interesting challenges that will entertain your family for hours.
2. Wingspan
- Created in: 2019
- Creator: Elizabeth Hargrave
- For ages: 10 and up
You can play Wingspan with one to five players. Playing time is approximately 40 to 70 minutes. This bird card game includes bird researchers, bird watchers, ornithologists, and collectors who try to captivate birds into your wildlife preserves.
Every bird brings a series of powerful combinations with them. This engine-building game is one of the top choices of people for their time pass. You just need to gain food with the help of custom dice. This game also allows you to lay eggs in multiple colors with the help of egg miniatures. You win the game if you have more points than other players after four rounds.
1. Exploding Kittens
- Created in: 2015
- Creator: Elan Lee and Shane Small
- For ages: 7 and up
Exploding Kittens is a popular card game that can be played by two to five players. This game needs approximately fifteen minutes to play. In this interesting game, players draw cards, and if one of the players draws the exploding Kittens card, then he or she immediately loses the game. This is a highly strategic game. If you’re into card games with a simple premise and no complex rules, then this will be the best board game for you.
Conclusion:
People forget every value they learned in childhood, and one of them is board games. The craze of board games has taken a back seat in the lives of people. They are replaced by phones and movies, and TV shows that affect our eyes and minds in numerous ways. The obsession of today’s generation with their video game seems explanatory, as half of the generation prefers limited interaction. They never seem to enjoy the best games of our childhood. Games are a crucial part of our lives, and no one ever should stop playing games that make their soul happy.
