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Game nights are one of the simplest ways to connect with friends or family; there are no screens, just strategy, luck, and laughter. Whether you’re into competitive classics, cooperative adventures, or quick party-style games, the perfect board game can turn any ordinary evening into a memorable one.

If you’re into games of all kinds, don’t miss our NYT game hint collection featuring daily help for Wordle, Connections, and more brainy challenges.

So grab your snacks, gather your crew, and explore our handpicked list of the best board games to elevate your next night.

#1

Betrayal At House On The Hill

Box of Betrayal at House on the Hill board game with eerie haunted house artwork perfect for a night in.

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ItsJess
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a great game unless you have a person in your group who takes everything as a personal slight. I know someone like this who got mad every time the game had him be the "betrayer" and he felt "ganged up on" by the rest of us as we were trying to win the game.

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    #2

    Pandemic

    Pandemic board game box with characters depicting a medic, soldier, scientist, and rescue worker for night in play.

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    GlixDrap
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A good game with multiple versions. What makes it special is that it is a cooperative game - so everyone wins or no one wins.

    #3

    Ticket To Ride

    Ticket to Ride board game box featuring a vintage train, ideal for the best board games to play on a night in.

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    GlixDrap
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I own both a physical and electronic version of the original version (USA) - good game. Lot's of different versions as well.

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    #4

    Wingspan

    Wingspan board game box featuring a colorful bird illustration, one of the best board games for a night in.

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    Huddo's sister
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My brother and his girlfriend are obsessed with this game! I've only played it once and haven't got the hang of it yet, but it was fun. My stepdad thought it was too complicated!

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    #6

    7 Wonders Duel

    7 Wonders Duel board game box featuring ancient warriors and a sunset, ideal for best board games on a night in.

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    #9

    Herd Mentality

    Herd Mentality board game with cow pattern box and playing pieces, a popular choice for board games on a night in.

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    #12

    King Of Tokyo

    King of Tokyo board game box featuring colorful monster characters, a popular choice among best board games for a night in.

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    MrLoufoque
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That one is as fun to play as it is easy to learn. Each player plays a kaiju (a Japanese fictional monster like Godzilla) and will fight other players to control Tokyo.

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    #13

    Unfathomable

    Unfathomable board game box featuring a sea monster attacking a ship, perfect for best board games to play on a night in.

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    #14

    Hey, That's My Fish!

    Hey That's My Fish board game box featuring penguins on ice, a popular choice among best board games for a night in.

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    #17

    Mysterium

    Mysterium board game box with a mysterious, dark blue night scene of a village and castle, ideal for a night in.

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    MrLoufoque
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I played this one a while ago and there is a great atmosphere as well as an original gameplay: one player is a ghost who will try to communicate to the other players who killed them so justice can be done. But you have a limited time to do so.

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    #18

    Heroquest

    HeroQuest board game box featuring fantasy characters, perfect for the best board games to play on a night in.

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    GlixDrap
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    First released in 1990. Bit expensive though (certainly in the UK).

    #19

    221b Baker Street

    Board game box for 221B Baker Street Sherlock Holmes detective game, perfect for a night in with 2-6 players.

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    Curly potato
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've got this one! Quite good fun, though be warned that the clues can be kinda challenging. There's now way a 10 year old could play this. It should be more like 13+

    #20

    The Game Of Life

    The Game of Life board game box featuring colorful road signs, a red car, and game pieces for a fun night in.

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    #25

    Carcassonne

    Carcassonne board game box featuring castle artwork and characters, a popular choice for board games on a night in

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    liaqvist
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    During the long winter nights, me and my guy play this almost every night. We love it!

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    #36

    Yahtzee

    Yahtzee board game box with dice and scorecard, a classic best board games option for a night in.

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    Huddo's sister
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love Yahtzee, but haven't played it for years. Need to bring it out again I think!

    #37

    Apples To Apples

    Apples to Apples board game party box with more than 500 cards for family game night fun and group play.

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    Huddo's sister
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is what a game my sister used to play with her friends when they got their ipads for school was based on I think.

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    #38

    Dominion

    Dominion board game box featuring fantasy landscape artwork, ideal for best board games to play on a night in.

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    MrLoufoque
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So many extensions to this game. A smart game with only cards and initially a limited number of possible moves: the key is in making combos.

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    #39

    Monopoly

    Monopoly board game box with classic silver dog and cat tokens, ideal for best board games to play on a night in.

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    GlixDrap
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I really dislike this game - there really is no skill involved. Also reputed to cause a lot of family fights.

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    #48

    Connect Four

    Connect 4 board game box featuring red and yellow tokens, highlighting best board games for a night in entertainment.

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    #49

    Hungry Hungry Hippos

    Hungry Hungry Hippos board game box showing colorful hippos and marbles for the best board games night in.

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