Your Best Filler Game Ideas

When you plan a game night, it’s always a good idea to have a collection of filler game ideas on hand. These are usually fast-paced games that last no more than 30 minutes and make for the perfect break between longer game sets, “side game” sections for people who’ve been eliminated from the bigger game(s), and make excellent ice breakers or energy boosts for any gathering. Filler games cater to both new and seasoned gamers, providing a balance that can accommodate varying levels of experience and keep everyone engaged.

As you plan your filler game collection, keep in mind a few things, though. Consider the age range of players, the themes your crew will find enjoyable, and, of course, the sorts of gameplay mechanics that will grab the attention of folks playing.

The Top Filler Board Game Ideas

Point Salad

Age: 10+ (Community 8+) Players: 2-6 Time: 15-30 minutes

For a fast and furiously fun drafting filler card game, check out the silly Point Salad, perfect for the whole family or any crowd of friends gathered for game night. The game literally has over 100 ways to earn points toward victory and plays out in 15 to 30 minutes, depending on how your luck goes and how many players are on board.

One favorite aspect of this bonkers game is that players can employ a wide range of strategies, so it fits all player types. The cards come in six different kinds of veggies, with the backs of each card showing different scoring methods. One method, for example, is gaining two points for every carrot you have in hand, or reducing one point for every present onion. To win, draft a variety of salad combinations using the veggie cards and their methodologies, to score points your way and ultimately score the most points to win.

My Shelfie

Age: 8+ Players: 2-4 Time: 30 minutes

Bookworms, this one is for you: My Shelfie. Your objective in this fantastically on-point filler game is to amass the best collection of books, filling your new bookcase. But it’s not just books you’re displaying: You’ll want to add board games, portraits, and other goodies to show off your whole pop-cultural collection.

Each turn consists of players taking one to three item tiles from the living room board (shared by all players), following these rules:

1. All the tiles taken must have at least one side open at the beginning of the turn.

2. The tiles taken must form a straight line and be adjacent to one another.

Only people who have the game installed can play, ensuring everyone has an opponent to engage in gameplay.

Now, take those tiles and place them into a single column of your bookcase to meet your personal goals and earn points. Aim to match the highlighted spaces on your personal goal cards or the shared common goal cards and earn points toward completing the gorgeous shelfie you’re dreaming of. Connecting tiles of the same type also garners points.

Ultimately, the first player who fills all their shelf space triggers the ending of the game. That person takes the end-game token, which translates to additional points. But ending the game does not guarantee your win: The rest of the players have their chances to complete their shelves as well until the turn ends back with the player with the starting token. Whoever has the most points wins.

Spicy

Age: 10+ (Community 8+) Players: 2-6 Time: 15-20 minutes

Looking for a fantastically giggle-worthy bluffing game for some filler fun? Look no further than the artistically crafted game of Spicy – the battle between three big cats looking to win the title of Big Cat. After long fighting days, these beasties came to the conclusion that it was exhausting to battle all the time, so they agreed to an eating contest instead… And this contest of palates became Spicy as the cheating cats bluffed their way through a spicy food contest.

You, the players, must take on their roles and bluff your way through the contest now, and cheat as much as you want! Two to six players engage, with the cards played face down. Announce your cards as you play them and send a message to others about your honesty or bluff. Cards include anything from Pepper 10 for super hotness to Wasabi 10, suitable for only the bravest of tongues. Engage with the standard gameplay or any of the other variants (6 total) for incredible replayability and a fast-paced strategic filler game of 15 to 20 minutes.

Scout

Age: 9+ (Community 8+) Players: 2-5 Time: 15 minutes

A fabulous filler game for 2 to 5 players goes by the name of Scout. The instant imagery when you look at the box is circus fun but the card game is all about ladder-climbing with cards of two potential values. Players take turns in this wildly fun, fast-paced filler game, by choosing one or more adjacent cards in their hands with the same or consecutive value and playing these to the table. The trick is, that players may not rearrange their hands! Players must also only lay the cards down if the table is empty or the set is ranked higher or has the same value as the existing sets on the table. On the other hand, players may Scout or take a card from either end of an existing set on the table and place it anywhere within their hand. Players may scout once and play immediately during each turn.

Ultimately, when one player has emptied their hand or all but one player has scouted instead of playing, the round ends. Players receive points, subtract points based on what’s in their hands, and score accordingly. Players can fix their hands by scouting cards from the table. Whoever has the most points at the end of the chosen number of rounds (you decide!) wins.

Ticket to Ride: London

Age: 8+ (Community 6+) Players: 2-4 Time: 10-15 minutes

Based on the classic game that folks of all ages love, Ticket to Ride: London compacts the gameplay and switches things up for the perfect filler game the whole crowd will enjoy. But in this game, instead of building train systems, you’re using a scaled-down map of The Big Smoke (London) in the 1970s to find the perfect bus routes. Gameplay for this fantastically fun variant should take no more than 15 minutes as players collect cards, draw tickets, and claim routes.

Players can send a message to others by claiming routes and drawing tickets, effectively communicating their strategy and progress.

At the start, players begin with 17 double-decker buses, 2 transportation cards, and 1 or 2 destination tickets for London sites. As turns pass, players either draw two transportation cards from the five face-up cards on display or draw from the deck, or they may claim a route on the board by discarding cards that match the route color. A third option is drawing two destination tickets and keeping one of them.

Turns then proceed until someone is down to 2 buses in their supply. At this point, everyone takes a final turn – including the person who triggered the final round – and works to garner as many points as possible in that last round. Ultimately, whoever has the most points wins.

Gravity Superstar

Age: 7+ (Community 6+) Players: 2-6 Time: 15-30 minutes

Become space explorers in Gravity Superstar and adventure to the strange planet where invaluable stardust hovers and gravity confuses. Players are here to collect as much of this precious resource as possible – fighting off rivals bent on stealing it from them – and dealing with the unusual gravitational challenges that the planet presents.

While you seek your wealth through stardust collection, you must move your pawns at each turn, one or two spaces, and face the gravitational force that will shift your pawns. As your pawns move, they collect stars or replay tokens and may be able to eject the pawns of other players from the board for the advantage. Collecting stars and replay tokens can also help players fix their positions on the board, ensuring they stay in the game longer. All of this is possible through the unique game board and method of play, in which pawns lie down on the board and players move their pawns through this design.

Speaking of design, Gravity Superstar has some absolutely beautiful art, with fun meeples, star pieces, tokens, and cards to feast your eyes on while you speed through this 15- to 30-minute filler game.

Cat Lady

Age: 8+ Players: 2-4 Time: 15-30 minutes

There have been loads of famous “cat ladies” throughout history – not all of which are women! – from Marie Antoinette to Ernest Hemmingway, and the game Cat Lady has loads of hilarious fun in store for today’s cat lady fans with this bonkers drafting game.

As you pull out the game, you and your fellow players become cat ladies, elites among the historical real cat ladies of the time. Draft cards three at a time to collect your needed points found in the form of toys, cat food, catnip, costumes, and, of course, the all-important cats. As you draft, you must find the balance between the number of cats and the amount of food you have or your kitties will eat you out of house and home and drop your score! Ultimately, the player who garners the most points through that balance of cats to food to toys ratio will win the most victory points and earn the title of True Cat Lady. This delightful – and delightfully designed – two- to four-player game is one of the best filler games for a 15- to 30-minute break, and it plays out quickly and enjoyably.

Bad Company

Age: 8+ Players: 1-6 Time: 30 minutes

Play solo or grab up to 5 friends for this filler game known as Bad Company. The fast-paced game has almost no downtime, making it the perfect choice for folks who’ve been eliminated during the “big game” of game night, as an icebreaker for new small groups, or just a wonderful moment for the family before it’s time to wind down.

Only people who have the game installed can join in, ensuring everyone is ready to play.

Bad Company centers on building your own gang to help you fulfill your nefarious plans. Collect resources for your heists, money to pay off your gang members, and strategies to escape the police who want to hunt you down.

Players start out with an individual player board and 11 gang members. Upgrade your play with overlapping cards on your gang members, developing their skills and abilities. As the rounds roll through, players roll four dice and split them into two pairs. One dice pair activates a gang member, while the other players use the other dice pair to activate their own gang member on their boards. This enables players to do heists, earn money, or advance their car through the city streets, staying ahead of the cops. Each of these garners points for players. Ultimately, after one player successfully completes six different heists without getting caught or reaching the dock, the game ends. Whoever winds up with the most points in the end wins. In solo mode, your main goal is to outrun the police.

Also Read: Go Dark Ages with These Ten Best Medieval Board Games

On Tour

Age: 7+ (Community 8+) Players: 1-8 Time: 20 minutes

If you’ve ever dreamed of being in a band, touring the world, and having the time of your life, you’re in for a real treat on this fast-paced, uber-fun filler game: On Tour. Of course, even bands touring the planet have some logistics they’ve got to take of, specifically planning your band’s stops along the way. The road is wide open for this 100-day tour, so you’d better get planning!

Your goal in this quick-playing board game is to visit as many states as possible, thanks to your awesome planning skills. This game caters to both new and seasoned gamers, making it accessible and enjoyable for everyone. Grab the two ten-sided dice and roll them to create your two-digit numbers (e.g. 4 +7 = 47 and 74). Players write these numbers down on their maps in a given state, restricted by the cards on the table. Then, after the dice rolls are done, players must draw their route along the map, starting with the lowest numbers, and going on to the adjacent states with higher numbers. Every state a player visits along the tour earns them points. You’ll also find some fun bonuses along the way, including some wilds, variable setups, and enough other goodies to keep the game replayable for all. And, if you love this game set in the United States, you can broaden your tours through the add-on: On Tour: European Expansion.

Draftosaurus

Age: 8+ (Community 6+) Players: 2-5 Time: 15 minutes

Draftosaurus takes players into a world where less traumatic versions of Jurassic Park exist. And in this game, your goal is to develop the best dinosaur park to attract tourists for a wild time. Drafting dino meeples along the way allows you to place them into pens for attractions and excitement – but beware, there are placement restrictions to follow. Players can fix their dino parks by adhering to these placement rules.

Players take turns, rolling a die to add constraints to the placements of other players’ meeples while expanding their own dino parks. The quick, lightweight drafting game uses the dino meeples instead of cards to really visualize and play out this bonkers concept in fast-paced fun.

Conclusion

Grab a collection of these awesome filler games (most of which are pretty budget-friendly!) for the perfect in-between moments for your game night. These games cater to both new and seasoned gamers, making them fantastic for family fun, road trips, and, of course, when you need an energy boost or icebreaker to get the night going.

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