Your Best Game Night on a Budget: Our Top Picks for Cheap Board Games

Having top-notch games in your game closet doesn’t mean you’ve got to spend a small fortune. While yes, some of the best games out there cost a pretty penny, there are, in fact, loads of super fun, cheap board games that you can collect even in these high inflation times. We’ve gathered the top picks for these games that come in under $20 – and some of them aren’t just great, cheap games, but they’re actually among some of the top-ranked board games of all time! Enjoy this amazing list of the 10 best cheap board games you can collect right now and enjoy at a friend’s house.

Affordable Board Game Options

Discover a world of affordable board game options that won’t break the bank. From classic favorites to new releases, there’s something for every taste and budget. Explore our collection of cheap board games, with prices starting from under $10. Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or just starting out, our affordable board games are perfect for game nights with friends and family. Dive into our selection and find the perfect games to add to your collection without worrying about the price tag. With so many options available, you’re sure to discover new favorites that will bring hours of fun to your table.

The Top Cheap Board Games

Cat Crimes

Age: 8+ Players: 1+ Time: 10 minutes

How could you go wrong with a game named something like Cat Crimes? In this silly game of wits and wonder, you take on the role of a detective out to deduce whodunnit. More than 40 mysteries may be solved, offering plenty of replayability, with a host a purrrrfect feline characters to investigate. 40 mystery challenge cards represent a single crime each and present a number of clues to help you solve it. Now it’s your duty to suss your way through 6 kitty suspects to figure out which fluffy feline did it based on their characteristics and identifying traits.

Technically, Cat Crimes is a one-person game, but you can work as a team with others, playing through with 6 cat tokens and token stands, 6 crime tokens, the game board, and 40 challenge cards with solutions. Start your mystery-solving madness at the beginner phase, bump to intermediate then advanced, and finally expert as you gain deductive skills as you play the game over and over. Each experience level has 10 challenge cards.

Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza

Age: 8+ (Community 6+) Players: 2-8 Time: 10-30 minutes

Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza has become one of the absolute most popular games of all time. This bonkers, quick-playing card game is delightfully fun for folks 6 and up (according to the gaming community), so get the kids in on the giggles as you enjoy this cheap board game under $20.

Technically, you might class Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza as a party game, suitable for up to 8 players. Each game takes between 10 and 30 minutes to play, depending on how many folks are playing and how quickly people pick up on the gameplay mechanics. It’s super easy to learn and incredibly fun to play, with a focus on pattern recognition.

This game is absolute silliness – and that’s where it gets uber delightful. Kiddos and grownups love it – even hardcore gamers get a thrill with this quick filler game or fun moment before the harder games come out to play.

Basically, you shuffle the deck of cards and deal every player a set number of cards, face-down. Players collect their cards into a pile, without looking, and then someone starts the game. The first player quickly flips over one card from their deck and lays it down and says the words in order of the game title: Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza. As the cards are flipped, if the card and the word spoken match, everyone must slap the deck the cards are piled into. Whoever slaps last has to take the pile. Some specialty cards come into play, adding some additional challenges (such as Gorilla or Narwhal), and making players do things like beat their chests like a gorilla. The object of the game, overall, is to be the first one to get rid of all their cards. It’s a silly, fast game that requires all players to pay attention to avoid penalties or losses. And it’s so fun that practically everyone loves this game.

Love Letter

Age: 10+ (Community 8+) Players: 2-4 Time: 20 minutes

Great for kids as young as 8 and grownups of all ages together, Love Letter delves into a world of historical fun with the goal of winning the hand of the princess through bluffing, eloquence, and silly competition. The premise? The princess of Tempest has locked herself away in the palace but all her suitors have converged on the wooing season. So, you, the players (suitors) must attempt to win her hand through romantic epistles. The quick-playing game of risk, deduction, and bluffing, lasts about 20 minutes, for 2 to 4 players.

Your goal? Get your Love Letter into the hands of Princess Annette while pushing aside other suitors. Players start with one card, then, as turns pass along, you draw one card, play one card, and try to knock each other out of the game. Only 16 cards in the deck make your strategy critical – and hilariously fun.

Coup

Age: 13+ (Community 10+) Players: 2-6 Time: 15 minutes

Based in a fictional Italian city-state run by a corrupt, weak court, Coup transports players to a 15-minute bout of bluffing, manipulating, and bribes. You must stop the influence of other groups and overthrow the powers that be: You must pull a coup. This means you must be the last player standing at the end of the game.

In Coup, each player starts out with two coins and two face-down character cards. The deck itself contains three copies of the same five characters, all infused with specific powers of state.

The Duke garners coins from the treasury and blocks others from foreign aid. The Assassin pays out three coins to assassinate someone else’s character. The Captain takes coins from other players or blocks them from stealing coins. The Ambassador draws two character cards from the deck and chooses which two to exchange. And the Contessa blocks assassination attempts. As gameplay rolls through, you may take any action listed, no matter what characters you have in front of you, or you can take one action: a coin from the treasury, two coins from foreign aid, or pay seven coins to launch your coup against another opponent to take them out of the game.

The gameplay feels slightly complicated when explained, but once you start playing, it all becomes clear and games speed along at a fairly fast pace. Most folks in the gaming community say kids as young as 10 can learn, play, and win the game against adults.

Hanabi

Age: 8+ (Community 10+) Players: 2-5 Time: 25 minutes

The award-winning game of Hanabi is a great option for your cheap board game collection. The word means “fireworks” in Japanese and focuses on this concept of the beautiful, colorful rockets set for celebration. Cards consist of 5 different colors, numbered 1 through 5 in each color. Players attempt to place a row of cards in the correct order in the same color. But the trick is, everyone else knows exactly what you’re holding in your hand – and you don’t! Instead, the other players give you helpful hints to understand what you’ve got in this cooperative game, with the goal of finishing the fireworks display together before players run out of cards.

Ideal for 2 to 5 players, Hanabi, usually takes folks about 20 to 30 minutes to play and comes with 60 Hanabi cards, 8 blue clock tokens, and 4 black fuse tokens. Mixed in with the numbered color cards, you’ll also find rainbow cards for advanced and variant play to keep the replayability alive and kicking for game after game.

Dragonwood

Age: 8+ (Community 6+) Players: 2-4 Time: 20

Deep within the mythical world of Dragonwood, ogres, goblins, and, of course, dragons roam freely. Here, players collect sets of adventurer cards to earn dice with which to roll against their enemies. Defeat fire ants – the stinging tiny beasts! – rage against trolls, or strike the dragon with a magical silver sword to survive.

The strategy game has players draw cards or attempt to capture creatures. The Adventurer deck contains cards of 5 colors, numbered 1 to 12. Combinations of these cards may form strikes, stomps, and screams, or allow players to capture creatures with the assistance of dice rolls.

Dragonwood comes with 6 six-sided dice and 42 cards for the play. The deck contains creatures, enhancements, and events which all impact the gameplay. Ultimately, when both dragons have been defeated, the game ends and the player with the most points wins. But your strategy will greatly impact how this goes for you, as attacking large creatures first or taking on the small ones instead may impact your luck as the game proceeds.

The Worst Case Scenario

Age: 10+ Players: 3-6 Time: 15-90 minutes

For three to six players, the unique compare and contrast game of Worst Case Scenario encourages players to dive into the depths of their dark imaginations and conceive their best plans in challenging times. For example, which is worse? Getting lost at sea or being chased by an angry gorilla? Which are you more likely to survive, and how?

Players take turns as “the Victim” and aim to score points when their fellow players match their rankings to yours in five worst-case scenarios played. The Victim’s Wheel determines players’ fate, but your collective thinking is what saves the day. Whoever most often matches their worst-case choices to other players’ earns the most points and wins the game.

Five Nights at Freddy’s

Age: 13+ (Community 8-12+) Players: 1-2 Time: 20 minutes

If you’re up for a creepy good time, check out the cheap board game set in the world of animatronics, pizza, and games. You know the kind of place… And it’s here in the form of overnight guard duty for players at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, where you must stay until 6 am – and stay alive.

All your nightmares are real! Those fuzzy animals come to life each night and it’s your job to check the cameras and watch out for the flock of creepy critters. Keep everything in good order by reacting accordingly to what you witness in the darkness.

The game includes 96 camera cards, the game board, 2 reference cards, 2 power dials, 13 clock cards, and 2 power dice to help you navigate this creepy night. Designed for 1 or 2 players to play for roughly 20 minutes each game.

The Blockbuster Game

Age: 12+ (Community 14+) Players: 4-10 Time: 30-60 minutes

Another nostalgically fun cheap board game is The Blockbuster Game which will transport you back to the time of video rental stores and finding the right titles in the stacks. The game plays out in two phases, with a Movie Buzzer Battle, in which teams are given a topic and a 15-second timer to find the right movie titles to match the theme. Then, the next round, the Triple Charades Jeopardy round, involves the teams guessing the movie title from charades, one word use, or quoting the film. And what else could make this game more complete than loads of stealing, cheating, and otherwise breaking all the rules?

The game generally is best for folks 12 and up (14+ according to the community) not because of the type of content, but rather because most kids won’t get the older references found in the game. But whoever does play will quickly pick up the rules – in as little as 30 seconds’ time! – using the 260 cards, electric timer, Blockbuster sign, and game board to play out the wildly fun game full of classic Hollywood titles.

Skull

Age: 10+ (Community 8+) Players: 3-6 Time: 30 minutes

Dubbed as a small group party game, Skulls has become wildly popular of late, thanks to its incredibly fun gameplay and unique artistic approach to card games. The bluffing strategy game encourages players to lie, deduce, and outthink other players while trying to wade through the deceptions of others. On each turn, players either add or remove a disc from their pile and bet how many flowers they’ll uncover without uncovering a skull. Win your bet and you win a point. The game keeps going until one player successfully wins their bet twice, garnering two points to win. Most folks say it takes about 30 minutes to play, whether you’ve got 3 or 6 players.

Top Picks Under $10

Looking for the best board games under $10? Look no further! Our top picks include:

• Bang! The Dice Game: A fun and fast-paced dice game based on the popular card game Bang! ($6.99)

• Love Letter: A quick and easy-to-play card game suitable for 2-4 players ($5.99)

• No Thanks!: A popular and affordable game suitable for 2-10 players ($8.99)

• Sushi Go!: A drafting game suitable for 2-5 players ($9.99)

These games offer great value for their price and are perfect for adding to your board game collection. Each game brings its own unique style of play, ensuring that you and your friends will have a blast without spending a fortune. Whether you’re into strategy, quick thinking, or just plain fun, these games have something for everyone.

Party Games for a Crowd

Get ready to party with our selection of board games perfect for a crowd! Whether you’re hosting a game night or attending a party, these games are sure to be a hit:

• Saboteur: A card game that feels like a board game, suitable for 2-10 players ($14.99)

• The Resistance: A bluffing game suitable for 5-10 players ($19.99)

• Cardline: Globetrotter: A trivia game suitable for 2-10 players ($14.99)

• Telestrations After Dark: A fun and quirky drawing game suitable for 4-12 players ($19.99)

These games are perfect for large groups and offer a fun and interactive way to enjoy game night. They encourage social interaction, laughter, and a bit of friendly competition, making them ideal for any gathering. So, gather your friends, set up the table, and get ready for a night of unforgettable fun.

Family-Friendly Games

Looking for board games that are suitable for the whole family? Look no further! Our selection of family-friendly games includes:

• Animal Upon Animal: A fun and engaging game for kids, suitable for 2-4 players ($14.99)

• Hey, That’s My Fish!: A tile-laying game suitable for 2-4 players ($14.99)

• Coloretto: A card game that captures the mechanic and feel of its larger relatives, suitable for 2-5 players ($9.99)

• Keltis: Das Kartenspiel: A card game that scales 2-4 players, suitable for families ($14.99)

These games are perfect for family game nights and offer a fun and interactive way to spend time together. They are designed to be easy to learn and enjoyable for both kids and adults, ensuring that everyone can join in on the fun. Bring your family closer together with these delightful games that promise hours of entertainment.

Also read: The Best Target Board Games for Family Fun

Tips for a Successful Game Night

Hosting a game night? Here are some tips to make it a success:

• Choose games that are suitable for your group size and age range: Make sure the games you select can accommodate the number of players you have and are appropriate for everyone’s age.

• Have a variety of games on hand: Cater to different tastes and preferences by having a mix of game types, from strategy to party games.

• Set a budget and stick to it: You don’t have to break the bank to have a great game night. There are plenty of affordable options that offer loads of fun.

• Encourage socializing and mingling: Have snacks and drinks available to keep the atmosphere relaxed and enjoyable.

• Have a plan for handling ties or disputes: It’s always a good idea to have a rulebook on hand to resolve any disagreements quickly and fairly.

By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to hosting a successful and fun game night that everyone will remember. So, gather your friends and family, set up the table, and get ready for a night of laughter and excitement.

Also Read: How to Host the Perfect Game Night

Conclusion

Game board collections don’t have to be expensive to host loads of fun. In fact, some of the best on the market are cheap board games just about anyone can afford. So, consider who’s most likely to play – and how many – and grab the games most on-theme for your regular crowd and start stocking up. Enjoying these games at a friend’s house can create a familiar and inviting atmosphere, making the experience even more enjoyable.

FAQ on Cheap Board Games