Best Board Games for Adults: Our Top Ten Picks

Sometimes you want to have a family game night and include the kids – but then there are times you want to have a game night just for you and your friends so you can play strategy board games that either are more complicated or cover themes that may not be entirely appropriate for children. For those times, this list of the top ten board games for adults will help you find your way to fun.

Introduction to the Best Board Games for Adults

Board games have become an increasingly popular form of entertainment for adults, offering a unique way to socialize, challenge oneself, and have fun. Whether you’re a seasoned board game geek or just looking for a new way to spend your evenings, there’s a game out there for everyone. From strategic board games that test your planning skills to party games that bring out the laughter, the world of board games is vast and varied. In this article, we’ll explore the best board games for adults, covering a range of genres and styles to suit different tastes. So, gather your friends, clear the table, and get ready for some unforgettable game nights!

Choosing the Right Board Game

When selecting a board game, it’s essential to consider a few key factors to ensure you pick the perfect game for your group. First, think about the number of players. Some games are designed for large groups, making them ideal for parties, while others are better suited for couples or solo players. Next, consider the playtime. Do you want a quick 15-minute game to fill a gap, or are you looking for an immersive experience that can last several hours? Finally, think about the level of complexity. Some games are simple and easy to learn, perfect for casual game nights, while others offer deep strategic elements that can challenge even the most experienced players. By considering these factors, you can find a board game that fits your needs and ensures a great time for everyone involved.

The Top Ten Board Games for Adults

Folklore: The Affliction

Age: 14+ Players: 1-5 Time: 90-120 minutes

Lovers of horror games and RPGs should check out the expandable ongoing game Folklore: The Affliction. Deemed as only “safe” for ages 14 and up for the gameplay components and the horror content, this immersive storytelling strategy game is one of the absolute best board games for adults. The storyline, strategic combat, character development, and unique customizations work together to create a truly unique, riveting board game experience.

Choose one of six customizable characters and use their unique abilities and strategies to dungeon crawl with miniatures to gain Lore and conquer the supernatural Afflictions. Sink deeper into the darkness and explore the topics of good and evil – and when you die, come back as ghosts to strike your enemies again and again until good wins. Your objective comes down to locating evil and destroying it before it spreads vampirism and lycanthropy throughout the world.

The Shipwreck Arcana

Age: 12+ (Community 10+) Players: 2-5 Time: 10-30 minutes

The fastest play time options for this list of best board games for adults, The Shipwreck Arcana takes players to the bottom of the sea in a world where everything has been flooded. The compact, cooperative card game uses deduction, logic, and evaluation to predict the fates of you and your allies as the potential doom drifts closer and closer. Playing games like this can be a great way to enjoy time together and foster connections.

To play, draw numbered fate tiles from the bag, then choose which fate to focus on. Play cards to help give your allies clues as to the fate you’re holding. Obey the strict rules of each card, playing them wisely to strategically combat the fate, and work together to turn the tides.

Gloomhaven

Age: 14+ Players: 1-4 Time: 60-120 minutes

A Euro-inspired tactical combat game, Gloomhaven drops players into a world filled with dark dungeons, evil monsters, and forgotten ruins. The game takes on a sort of “choose your own adventure” vibe, giving players the opportunity to determine their moves as they seek out treasure and victory, while working together as a team. As you play, your characters develop abilities that grow throughout the game and help to shift the storytelling experience of the gameplay. Gloomhaven is also a resource management game, requiring strategic planning and efficient resource allocation to succeed.

Many folks suggest this game as the ideal choice for playing with friends ready for a regular game night. You play and grow through the game together, playing session after session to truly dig into the concepts of Gloomhaven.

On each turn, players choose two cards to play from their hands. The cards contain two powers which influence their abilities as they play – and the order in which they play them can affect the outcome or even permanently remove cards from a player’s hand and hinder the whole game. So, choose wisely!

Spirit Island

Age: 13+ (Community 14+)Players: 1-4 Time: 90-120 minutes

A complex, thematic cooperative board game for adults, Spirit Island is all about fending off colonizing invaders. Players take on the roles of different spirits who inhabit the island, each with their own unique powers, and play simultaneously to defeat the invaders. During the simultaneous gameplay, players must choose which of their powers to play, draining energy as they do so. Carefully choose which combination of powers to use and you’ll match your spirit’s elemental affinities for extra effect. Some of the powers are slow and methodical in their growth and working, while others speed through taking instant effect. But they each cost different energy levels, which could burn your characters out too soon, so choose wisely!

As the game progresses, the invaders semi-predictably invade: first exploring land, then building, then forming towns and cities, then, finally, ravaging their location with blight and war. The islanders – the spirits – must fight back against the invasion as the gameplay progresses, and gain new powers to overcome their enemies over time. The ultimate goal is to develop skills that work in conjunction with the powers of the islanders, using them to chase off the invaders and reclaim the homeland. But winning is not guaranteed: If any spirit is destroyed, the island is overcome by blight, or the invader deck is depleted before the spirits win, the game ends and the islanders must accept their defeat. Players accumulate victory points through strategic actions and objectives during gameplay.

Nyctophobia: Vampire Encounter

Age: 9+ (Community 12+) Players: 3-5 Time: 30-45 minutes

If you’ve ever wondered why people might gain an irrational fear of the dark, try out the twisted game of Nyctophobia: Vampire Encounter. The horror-based game delves into dark places where vampires lurk in the darkness and very reasonably answer the question. Try to outrun the vampires in the game by hiding, outsmarting, and otherwise avoiding their bloodsucking ways. Navigate the game blindly, while wearing blackout glasses, and try to find your friend – the “familiar” – who the vampire has taken captive and forced into servitude.

All around in this dark world, only the vampire knows what’s happening, while the other players feel their way through the gameboard in darkness.

One player takes on the role of the vampire, seeking to hunt the rest down while controlling the non-player character (NPC) of the familiar and the other players must try to lead the familiar out of the dark. You’ve got two preset maps to work through as you aim to rescue your pal and stay alive. This immersive experience is similar to the strategic elements found in a video game.

Off Topic

Age: 17+ Players: 2-10 Time: 30-90 minutes

Grab the fast-paced, quick-witted player game of Off Topic for some grown-up times filled with laughter, random topics, and some totally outrageous fun. The game starts with a card drawn to set the topic for the first round. Then, someone throws a die to set the letter. Now, as you race against the clock, get your outrageous answers onto your personal whiteboard as fast as you can. You’ll probably get a bit Off Topic as you go along – but do the best you can to get the most ridiculous answers you can that fit the category and the letter.

After each round, answers get compared to see who gains points. Repeat this process 5 times – and whoever has the most points after 5 rounds wins. The game itself doesn’t seem much different from Scattergories, admittedly, but the content is definitely different and those topics offered aren’t always appropriate for kids…

Nemesis

Age: 12+ (Community 14+) Players: 1-5 Time: 90-180 minutes

For sci-fi survival horror gameplay, you can’t beat the grown-ups-only game of Nemesis. Technically, kids as young as 12 (gaming community says 14) can play, but adults do best with this game of sneaking terror.

In Nemesis, soldiers, scientists, traitors, and others play for – and against – each other to escape the alien invasion of what could only be described as monsters. Scientists use their skills to work on solutions, while soldiers fight… And the longer it takes to defeat them, the more powerful the alien monsters grow.

The semi-cooperative game is all about surviving the hostile creatures bent on destroying you, your shipmates, and your ship. Work towards two objectives each – dealt out at the start of the game – defy obstacles, and return to Earth alive to win.

Incohearent: The Spicier Edition

Age: 17+ Players: 3-8 Time: 20-40 minutes

Need a grown-ups-only party game? Grab a copy of Incohearent: The Spicier Edition for some silly, naughty fun. The gameplay is reasonably simple with the basic premise of this: Players sound out gibberish on cards and try to figure out what the phrase is. It sounds easy, but loads of people find it pretty challenging, especially if they don’t know the phrase already.

Flip the timer and hold up a card for the other players to see the gibberish. They all attempt to sound it out and figure out the phrase to score points – before that timer runs out.

The game includes 400 cards, a 1-minute sand timer, and basic instructions to clarify. The topics for the game include Pop Culture, Party, and Spicy for a mix of themes to keep things lively. With so many cards, the replayability lasts a good long while, especially as they offer new updates every few years to freshen up the phrases.

Cards Against Humanity

Age: 17+ (Community 16+) Players: 4-30 Time: 30 minutes

Probably the best known game on this list, at least among casual gamers, Cards Against Humanity is a wildly popular choice for adults because, well, that tagline: “A party game for horrible people.” The contents are mature, so it’s really not recommended for anyone under 17 (16 according to the gaming community) but the gameplay is reasonably direct and simple.

At the beginning of the game, a Card Czar is chosen, and that person selects a black question or fill-in-the-blank card from the deck and shows it to the rest of the players. The other players have a handful of 10 white cards, and from this collection, they pass one or two cards, face-down, to the Card Czar. These cards give their answer to the question being asked that round. The Card Czar then reads the cards and determines which answer is the best (funniest!) as a response to the black card. Whoever “wins” that round receives the black card and holds onto it for tracking “awesome” points. The game then continues with the next round as the Card Czar role passes to the person on the left of the Card Czar, and repeats. The game continues until everyone decides it’s time to stop and the players tally their “awesome” points to see who won.

It sounds a bit like Apples to Apples and similar games, but Cards Against Humanity delves into topics that are much less appropriate for the family on game night. Difficult, even heavy topics come into play, as well as things like sex and drugs, so it truly is a grown-ups-only kinda night when you get this wacky card game out.

Shadows of Brimstone: City of the Ancients

Age: 12+ Players: 1-4 Time: 120 minutes

Shadows of Brimstone: City of the Ancients is not only a bit more complicated, but it also deals with some more mature topics that make it definitely best for teens and adults only. The fast-paced game requires full cooperative play as players dungeon crawl through the Old West in an alternative history horror plot.

Create your characters, using classic Old West hero archetypes like gunslingers, sheriffs or marshalls, and saloon girls. Then, form a posse together and ride out to the mines and fight the demons and monsters from another world. The card-driven board game uses lots of dice and requires serious tactical gameplay for success, and provides incredible replayability, as every treasure hunting, monster-slaying battle is different. You’ll find portals to other worlds with new dungeons to crawl, frontier towns to relax in between dangers, and loads of loot to gather along the way.

And, if you love this game, you’ll find other Shadows of Brimstone expansions and variants including:

• Swamps of Death

• Forbidden Fortress

• Frontier Towns expansion

• Other Worlds – Caverns of Cynder

• Gates of Valhalla

• Other Worlds – Trederra

• Other Worlds – Derelict Ship

• Valley of the Serpent

• Outlaw Hero Class

Best Board Games for Couples

For couples looking for a fun and engaging game night experience, we recommend the following:

1. Azul: Dive into the world of tile-laying with Azul, a strategic game where players compete to create the most beautiful mosaic. It’s easy to learn but offers enough depth to keep experienced players engaged. The perfect blend of strategy and aesthetics makes it a great game for couples.

2. Pandemic: If you and your partner enjoy teamwork and problem-solving, Pandemic is the game for you. This cooperative game challenges players to work together to save the world from deadly diseases. It’s a thrilling race against time that requires collaboration and strategic planning.

3. Carcassonne: Step into a medieval landscape with Carcassonne, a tile-laying game where players build cities, roads, and fields. The simple rules make it easy to pick up, but the strategic depth ensures that every game is different. It’s a great way to spend an evening building and strategizing together.

4. 7 Wonders Duel: For couples who enjoy strategy and history, 7 Wonders Duel is a must-try. This card drafting game lets players build their civilization by collecting cards representing different structures, technologies, and military units. It’s a head-to-head battle of wits that will keep you coming back for more.

5. Star Realms: Take your game night to the stars with Star Realms, a space-themed deck-building game where players compete to destroy their opponent’s fleet. It’s easy to learn but offers plenty of strategic depth, making it a great game for couples who love a bit of friendly competition.

These games offer a great combination of social interaction, strategy, and fun, making them perfect for a game night with your partner. Whether you’re building mosaics, saving the world, or conquering space, these games are sure to provide an engaging and memorable experience.

Also Read: The Ten Best Dice Games for Adults

Conclusion

Bring on the grownup fun with this collection of the ten best board games for adults! Dive into horror topics, mature conversations, and complicated gameplay without the kiddos around, and enjoy the night free of bedtime requests. Be sure to choose the right gameplay length for your adventures, with games like The Shipwreck Arcana and Cards Against Humanity for quick play and the rest for longer play times running from 60 minutes to 2 hours or more.