The Best Fun With Whiteboard Games

When people think of whiteboard games, things like Pictionary and Hangman instantly come to mind. Like every genre of modern board games, whiteboard games have come a long way. Here are ten whiteboard games that not only rethink what can be done with whiteboards but are guaranteed hits for your next game night with your favorite group of enthusiasts. Finding a great idea for a whiteboard game can lead to memorable and engaging game nights.

The Nine Best White board Games

Captain Sonar: A Game for Two Teams

Age: 14+ (Community 12+) Players: 2-8 Time: 45-60 minutes

Captain Sonar is a team-based game where you and your friends break into different teams that control advanced submarines hunting the other teams. The goal is to destroy the other submarines before they destroy yours. Each team member takes on a role on the sub such as captain, chief mate, or engineer. Communication among teammates is important because each role is essential for operating the submarine and fighting the other subs. To increase replayability the game comes with multiple maps, each with its own difficulty level.

Captain Sonar can be played in two different modes, either turn-by-turn or simultaneous. The game works by having each submarine team take turns in their action choices during turn-by-turn mode. In simultaneous play, every submarine moves at the same time, and the gameplay only stops when a captain is ready to launch an attack on another sub. During this pause, everyone checks to see if any submarine is destroyed. If not, the game continues until the next attack happens. This repeats until the last submarine remains.

Fliptown

Age: 12+ (Community 10+) Players: 1-4 Time: 30-45 minutes

A western-themed flip-and-write game, Fliptown gives players the focus of exploring a frontier town. This game utilizes a standard deck of playing cards to generate an open world on a dry-erase board as you and your friends explore. During every turn, you flip over three cards. You then choose one card as the round’s suit, one card as the value, and one card to be your poker card. The chosen card suit tells you which of four regions you choose, the card value tells you which site within the region you get to pick, and the poker card goes towards a five-card poker hand that resolves at the end of each round of the game.

The four different regions of the game world, Town, Trail, Mine, and Badlands, all offer different puzzles. Each site within the region provides a different reward like guns, cash, horses, and gold that can be used to give you an advantage in the game. Additionally, there are bounty cards that each player races to be the first to complete.

The game is designed to be played with a group but it also has rules for solo play. In a single-player game, you play to a high score while competing against what the game calls “cowboy” opponents who are nonplayer characters with their own motivations.

Zombicide: Gear Up to Score Points

Age: 14+ (Community 12+) Players: 1-6 Time: 30 minutes

For fans of the board game Zombicide, and/or for those who enjoy the horror genre, comes Zombicide: Gear Up. This is a cooperative flip-and-write game set within the world of and has been developed within the parent board game series Zombicide.

Setup for this game involves you and your friends picking a survivor card which brings with it a selection of weapons and armor. You then choose the difficulty level, and then each player gets a number of zombie cards. As the game plays out, you and your friends have to adapt to increasingly more difficult threats – and without cooperation, no one will survive.

Like with many other recent board games, Zombicide: Gear Up offers a set of rules for solitaire play. There are few rule changes for solitaire play and the overall goal of killing zombies remains the same.

Crimescene

Age: 10+ Players: 2-8 Time: 10-30 minutes

Crime Scene is a drawing and deduction whiteboard game ideal for parties. The game has you and your friends break up into two teams. Each team has a detective and the rest of the players are designated as witnesses. Each team has their witnesses given a crime scene that consists of a variety of objects and each team’s detective must guess their team’s crime scene. Teams take turns and choose from a grid of 25 transparent cards with pre-printed graphics. At this point the teams can use dry-erase markers to simply draw additional things onto their clue before giving the card to their detective. The team whose detective first correctly guesses their team’s crime scene is the winner of the game.

Astra

Age: 10+ Players: 2-5 Time: 40-90 minutes

In Astra, you and your friends take on the roles of astronomers whose goal is to explore and understand the constellations in the night sky. While your group of friends can assist one another, only one among you will be known by history for any discoveries that are made.

The game of Astra uses a unique collaboration of strategy and tactics with an intuitive rule set – all of which means it’s an easy game to pick up and almost anyone can play it easily yet still find it challenging and fun.

Continuous turns begin once everyone understands the rules, and playing continues until a certain number of Constellation cards are taken. On each turn, players must choose between observing or resting actions. When the “observe” action is chosen, players may spend stardust to discover the stars on the Constellation cards. You mark the stars on the dry-erase boards included, but they must be in a straight, continuous line. You may spend Telescope tokens to begin observations, as well. Once a constellation is completed (by marking the last star on the board in the given constellation), the player takes a card from the Night Sky deck and gains the powerful, reusable ability from that star for the rest of the game. Other players may benefit from your discoveries, though, and may use one of the abilities from the constellation, depending on how far they made it in their own journey to naming the constellation. Players may also opt to rest, which allows the player to refill their stardust stores and allows them to reactivate all card abilities that match the active Sphere in play. Ultimately, whoever has the most Fame points wins, as the player with the most points becomes the famous astronomer of the ages!

Twilight Inscription

Age: 14+ (Community 12+) Players: 1-8 Time: 90-120 minutes

Dubbed an “epic roll and write experience” by the creators, Twilight Inscription lives up to its reputation for many gamers who love a good whiteboard game. The setting: The Lazax Empire is basically destroyed, and overthrown by its subjects and now, the aftermath of tragedy has fallen, with petty conflict, exhaustion, and loss overtaking the world. The Dark Years have come and the galaxy’s factions need to recover their strength before they can discover new opportunities to grow and reclaim the lost world… And now, you – the players – take on the role of these factions to rebuild, reclaim, and rediscover what makes life worth living among the stars.

Twilight Inscription engages with solo play to group play (with up to 8 players), using limited resources combined with careful management of navigation, industry, expansion, and warfare. Each player aims to collect as many victory points as possible, looking toward the throne on Mecatol Rex. Each player represents a different faction, no longer interested in being ruled but desiring to rule – and the dice rolls and tracking will determine it all. Players can also be divided into two groups, creating a dynamic competition that enhances the gameplay experience.

You’ll need some hefty strategy to keep in the game – but thankfully, with the many components and the sheer chance of it all, Twilight Inscription remains a highly replayable game for anyone over 14 (or 12 according to the board gaming community).

Ex Libris: Revised Edition

Age: 14+ (Community 12+) Players: 1-4 Time: 45 minutes

In the game of Ex Libris, players take on the role of collectors of valuable, rare books. The setting: a fantasy town where the mayor has recently announced a brand new council seat of the Grand Librarian. Each player aims to gain this lucrative role by creating their own incredible library filled with the rarest of finds and the finest of reads. Of course, you’re all competing against each other but each wants to be somewhat cooperative, too, in order to help yourself out.

The gameplay spans just a few days in this fantastical village, so players must collect their expensive books quickly. The mayor’s Official Inspector is coming and she wants to see your library in tip-top order – meaning your library must be alphabetically organized, aesthetically pleasing, with properly supported shelves crafted – all while containing a variety of tomes and no banned books of any kind. You’ll need to use clever strategies and tactics, decisive planning, and some extra helpings of magic to make it all happen in time to earn the title of Grand Librarian.

Paranormal Detectives

Age: 12+ (Community 10+) Players: 2-6 Time: 30-50 minutes

Another fabulous party whiteboard game is the ridiculously fun and somewhat haunting Paranormal Detectives. And guess what? One of you is dead! The rest of the party is a gathering of detectives, eager to find the culprit, and ready to learn how the dearly departed recently died. The deductive party game gives the Ghost player limited communication abilities – through the use of the whiteboards, tarot cards, the hangman’s noose, and word puzzle play (among others). The other guests must use these communications to deduce the culprit.

At the start of the game, the Ghost player is given a story card containing the full description of their in-game death. Each of these cards depicts great details to fully inform the Ghost’s ability to answer questions during the crime-solving fun. Everyone else receives asymmetrical interaction cards, a player sheet, and a player screen (whiteboard) to help them deduce, record, and clue their way through to the answer. As each detective takes their turn, they may ask the Ghost only one open question in any means they like, then play an interaction card. The Ghost must then answer the question in one of the nine interaction styles depicted. Most of the styles give info to all the detectives present, allowing for collaborative crime solving – but not all!

Each detective has two tries to guess what happened by stating the killer, the location, the motive, the weapon used, and how it was done. The Ghost responds to these guesses by marking which guesses on the player’s sheet are correct.

Finally, the game ends in one of two ways: A detective correctly guesses all answers and they win, or all the detectives run out of interaction cards and whoever guessed the most correct answers wins. Detectives must ensure they identify the word correctly to deduce the culprit and win the game.

For those who prefer a cooperative approach, the Paranormal Detectives rule book does offer this variant, as well.

The Fox Experiment

Age: 14+ (Community 10+) Players: 1-4 Time: 60 minutes

Did you know that in 1958 – in the real world – Lyudmila Trut and Demitri Belyaev began a fox domestication program? As it happens, they succeeded – and today there are domesticated silver foxes in the world! From among a large group of foxes, the pair of scientists selected those critters which reacted with curiosity and minor aggression, to see if this incredible feat was possible. As the generations progressed, the pair selected the friendliest kits to become the next round of parents, thus continuing the experiment and giving us these delightful creatures today.

The Fox Experiment game leans into this story with a unique take on recent history in a whiteboard game. In the game, players take on the role of these scientists in their attempt to develop the friendliest, safest foxes around. Each round begins with players selecting a pair of fox parents who have certain desirable traits in their appearance or behavior. These traits are gained through custom dice rolls and combining the trait symbols to create the desired effect. Doing so results in earning trait tokens as you mark them off on your individual player boards. Each round ends with the previous generation of foxes exiting the game and the new litter of fox pups moving into the kennel. The rounds repeat (5 total) and points are gained as domestication traits rise, studies are completed, and foxes become more docile. Ultimately, whoever develops the friendliest fox wins the game!

Benefits of Whiteboard Games

Whiteboard games offer a treasure trove of benefits for students, teachers, and facilitators alike. Here are some of the standout advantages of incorporating these interactive games into your teaching or training routine:

1. Improved Engagement: Whiteboard games are a fantastic way to capture the attention of students and participants. The interactive nature of these games promotes active learning and keeps everyone involved, making lessons more dynamic and enjoyable.

2. Enhanced Collaboration: Many whiteboard games are designed to encourage teamwork and communication. Whether it’s a classic game like Pictionary or a strategic challenge like Captain Sonar, these games help build essential social skills as players work together to achieve common goals.

3. Increased Motivation: The competitive and interactive elements of whiteboard games can significantly boost motivation. Students are more likely to participate enthusiastically when they have the chance to score points, solve puzzles, or be the first team to answer correctly.

4. Develops Critical Thinking: Whiteboard games often require players to think on their feet, solve problems, and come up with creative solutions. Games like Paranormal Detectives and Crimescene are perfect examples of how these activities can sharpen critical thinking skills.

5. Flexibility and Adaptability: One of the great strengths of whiteboard games is their versatility. They can be easily adapted to suit different age groups, subjects, and learning styles. Whether you’re teaching math, history, or language arts, there’s likely a whiteboard game that fits the bill.

6. Cost-Effective: Whiteboard games are a budget-friendly way to engage students. With just a whiteboard and some markers, you can create a wide variety of fun and educational activities without breaking the bank.

7. Promotes Healthy Competition: A little friendly competition can go a long way in encouraging students to strive for excellence. Whiteboard games foster a healthy competitive spirit, pushing students to improve their performance while having fun.

Also Read: The Top Ten Social Deduction Board Games

Tips for Facilitators

To maximize the benefits of whiteboard games, facilitators can follow these practical tips:

1. Clearly Explain the Rules: Before diving into the game, make sure everyone understands the rules and objectives. A clear explanation sets the stage for smooth gameplay and ensures that everyone is on the same page.

2. Encourage Participation: Some students might be shy or hesitant to join in. Encourage all students to participate by creating a supportive and inclusive environment. Highlight the fun aspects of the game to draw them in.

3. Set Time Limits: To keep the game engaging and prevent it from dragging on, establish time limits for each round or activity. This keeps the pace lively and maintains the excitement.

4. Provide Feedback: Offer constructive feedback and encouragement throughout the game. Positive reinforcement helps build confidence and keeps students motivated to continue participating.

5. Be Flexible: Be prepared to adapt the game to suit the needs and preferences of your students. If something isn’t working, don’t be afraid to tweak the rules or try a different approach.

6. Use Visual Aids: Enhance understanding and engagement by incorporating visual aids such as diagrams, illustrations, or even props. Visuals can make the game more immersive and easier to follow.

7. Make it Fun: Above all, remember to have fun! Whiteboard games are a fantastic way to create a positive and enjoyable learning environment. When students see that you’re having fun, they’re more likely to join in and enjoy the experience themselves.

By following these tips, facilitators can ensure that whiteboard games are not only educational but also a highlight of the learning experience.

Conclusion

Grab your dry-erase markers and get started on these awesome whiteboard games that the whole game night crowd will love! From deductive games like Paranormal Detectives to deep sea adventures in Captain Sonar, each of the games offers unique themes, mechanics, and extremely enjoyable gameplay approaches. Be sure to grab a copy of a few different games to keep the night lively.

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