Picture the scene: You have an upcoming party and know you will need some games for 8 players to keep the night going. However, not every game can handle a large group of players. Many of these games are also perfect as a party game, ensuring everyone has fun and stays engaged. To help make sure your night is a success, we have scoured the internet and found you a collection of 10 board games for 8 players.
What is the Best Board Game for 8 Players?
Feed the Kraken
Age: 12+ (Community 10+) Players: 5-11 Time: 45-90 minutes
Do you and your friends want a game set on the high seas and features deception and deduction? If that gets you excited, then you’ll Feed the Kraken. In this game, groups of players take on diverse roles with differing goals that lead to conflict. Sailors simply want to get home, while the pirates want to redirect the ship to plunder cargo. Others, playing cultists, aim to use the crew to help summon their dark lord. Lastly, one player acts as the captain, who must pick the lieutenant and navigator of the ship each turn.
Each turn means the ship changes directions, but the new direction is picked by the navigator for the turn. But since no one knows who part of which group is, mutiny may break out if the captain manages their choices poorly. If that wasn’t enough, as the ship passes into new areas, various things arise, some helping, some harming…
Feed the Kraken works best when you have a full group to play. And the more players you have, the better the debate and intrigue – and more opportunities for roleplaying. Player counts significantly affect the dynamics and enjoyment of the game, with different player counts offering unique gameplay experiences. Player elimination is delayed until the final rounds, allowing for a thrilling experience where alliances are forged and broken as you avoid or draw in the Kraken.
Challengers!
Age: 8+ Players: 1-8 Time: 45 minutes
If you want to bring a new card game to your gathering of 8 players, Challengers! is a great pick. This unique deck management style game adds a special twist: it’s intended to be run as a tournament. The start time to finish for every match is roughly 45 minutes.
The gameplay in Challengers! has two phases: deck building and match playing. During the deck phase, you build your decks by picking from a pool of 75 characters and 40 effects. Once the matches start, you and seven other players engage in one-on-one matches that rotate pairs across seven rounds.
If you’re familiar with collectible card games like Magic: The Gathering, then a lot of the gameplay will be easy to grasp. For those new to this gameplay style, Challengers! is the perfect introduction to the game genre. Plus, if you add the expansion packs, you’ll wind up with extensive and unending gameplay as you keep the tournaments going. The expansion includes additional characters and effects, enhancing the strategic depth and replayability of the game.
Sidereal Confluence
Age: 14+ Players: 4-9 Time: 120-180 minutes
Does your group of friends like games that have trading and negotiations set in space? Sidereal Confluence has you covered! Choose from nine distinct alien races, each with unique abilities and decks, and form a trade federation. This federation lives and dies based on the traded resource cubes and developed technologies.
Sidereal Confluence encourages your 8 players to cooperate because no single race can thrive if they isolate themselves. The game features open trading which then leads to players using acquired resources to run their individual economies. As the game goes on, players can even share researched technologies. Playing the same game in split groups can enhance the overall experience by fostering camaraderie.
Lovers of Sidereal Confluence say that two features sell this game best: Simultaneous play and the unique asymmetrical gameplay that ensures no two games are ever the same.
The Thing: The Boardgame
Age: 14+ (Community 12+) Players: 1-8 Time: 60-90 minutes
The Thing: The Boardgame is a hidden-role board game based on the 1982 John Carpenter classic horror film. The game, perfect for 8 players, is designed to fully capture the paranoia and tension of the film. One player begins as The Thing, whose job is to try and infect the other players while also sabotaging the outpost. The rest of the players act as humans fighting to survive and escape.
In The Thing: The Boardgame, you’re forced to manage Antarctic research Outpost 31, using the game’s map, which features the same rooms from the film. Each of these rooms offers different actions. The human characters must take care of themselves by eating, keeping the boiler running for heat, and making sure the generators keep the electricity going. If the players fail to keep out the cold and dark, they become easy targets for The Thing to strike. Whoever controls the Thing must hide, blend in, sabotage, and pick the right moments to infect the humans.
The only way you and your friends have a hope of escaping Antarctica alive is by managing resources, making clever deductions, and ensuring important places on the map are protected. The complicated game is well worth the hour-plus game time if everyone’s in it to win.
Decrypto
Age: 12+ (Community 10+) Players: 3-8 Time: 15-45 minutes
Decrypto begins by separating your group of 8 players into two equal teams. Both teams attempt to crack the other team’s code while working to protect their own. At the start of the game, both teams receive a screen with four words. A player then draws a code card and gives clues to help their team guess the correct order without giving their opponents too much information.
With each round, the game becomes trickier. Each team listens and attempts to piece together each scrap of information. If the other team can correctly guess the order of the words, they win a point for their team. If they fail, the opposing team can guess, but if they fail, they get a penalty. The game keeps going until one team has two points or two penalties.
Technically, the game may be played with as few as three people, but real-world players say it gets better and better the bigger the group, with the ideal number being 8 players. So, if you and yours enjoy tricky word games and love working to outsmart each other, Decrypto’s the game you need.
Incan Gold
Age: 8+ Players: 3-8 Time: 20-40 minutes
Are you looking for a quick-paced game that works great for kids 8 and up and a group of eight players? Then check out Incan Gold. The goal of this game is to grab the most gems and artifacts while exploring a collapsing Incan temple. Each round takes you deeper into the dangerous temple where you’ll either discover treasure or danger galore.
Part of this game’s fun is that you must decide if it’s worth pushing your luck to get more loot or fleeing with what you’ve already found to save yourself from what lurks beyond. The simple yet thrilling mechanics of Incan Gold do the heavy lifting and make it feel like you’re on an exciting adventure.
The game comes with high-quality components, like the 110 colorful gems, artifact cards, and the addition of Assist and Event cards, making it a visually appealing and engaging experience. Rave reviews say it’s worth planning a game night around Incan Gold even if you don’t already have something on the calendar.
Memoir ‘44
Age: 8+ Players: 2-8 Time: 60-90 minutes
Memoir ’44 is a super fun eight-player war game set in WWII. The main game focuses on the Normandy invasion in 1944, but the expansions let you battle across the whole war. You and your opponents use plastic miniatures for soldiers, tanks, and artillery on a map made from terrain tiles. The unique card system helps the gameplay stand out from other war games: You play cards to control units in specific areas or types, adding a “fog of war” effect. You earn medals by taking out enemy units or capturing objectives, and the first to reach the mission goal (usually six medals) wins.
The game’s card-driven system keeps things exciting and unpredictable. With expansions, Memoir ’44 adds tons of depth and variety, so each game feels fresh. WWII buffs will love the mix of famous and lesser-known battles. The game’s components are solid for the price — sturdy cards, cool miniatures, and custom dice. The setup can be a bit fiddly, but once you get going, it’s straightforward and kids as young as 8 can play.
Games usually take about an hour to an hour and a half, which is just right for a game night or family gathering. The action-packed gameplay and historical context make for memorable moments – and even some educational ones.
Hail Hydra
Age: 14+ (Community 10+) Players: 5-8 Time: 40-75 minutes
In Hail Hydra, you and your fellow players become Marvel’s S.H.I.E.L.D. agents trying to save New York City. The goal of the game is to confront the Red Skull, retrieve the Cosmic Cube, and prevent New York from being destroyed. The twist comes in as some of the players turn out to be secret Hydra operatives who are working to protect the Red Skull and destroy the city.
You’ll pick from a roster of Marvel heroes like Black Panther, Hulk, or Spiderman, and each hero has their own special powers and a card that helps with strategy. At the start of the game, each player is given a secret loyalty disc. Three out of eight players act as Hydra agents who know who their fellow agents are, while S.H.I.E.L.D. agents don’t know who to trust throughout the entire game.
The game involves defeating villains using action cards, but the real fun is in figuring out who’s a Hydra agent. Heroes must debate and vote to knock out suspects from missions. If S.H.I.E.L.D. gets it wrong, Hydra might sabotage their efforts and win. The game’s all about sneaky strategies and paranoia, with accusations and debates heating things up for some super-charged competitive fun.
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza
Age: 7+ Players: 2-8 Time: 10-15 minutes
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza is a unique name for a truly unique game. And though this silly sounding game is super easy for children to learn, it’s also got plenty of intriguing fun the adults in the room. Your goal throughout the game is to race your friends or family in matching cards with words like “Taco” or “Pizza.” When you have the right cards to match the word, everyone tries to slap the pile in the middle. The last person to slap ends up with the whole stack of cards – and the ultimate goal is to get rid of all your cards to win. If that wasn’t enough, the game offers twists and turns that keep you on your toes. The extra challenges involve bonus cards that add extra challenges to your game. That said, the typical game is fast paced and will last about 15 minutes.
Long Shot the Dice Game
Age: 14+ (Community 10+) Players: 1-8 Time: 25 minutes
If you love horse racing and trying your luck with the ponies, you’re in for a treat with Long Shot the Dice Game. The game emulates the fun and chaos of horse racing, pitting you and your fellow players in this game for 8 players against each other as you buy gear for your horses, place bets, and use special abilities while making dice rolls. These dice rolls determine not only the movement of your horse but any ability to utilize resources that could help you win the race.
Long Shot the Dice Game blends the tradition of roll-and-write games (games like classic Yahtzee) with horse racing. On every turn, you make dice rolls that help you decide how to push your luck and how the horses do in the heat. You could be in the lead on one roll and lose your shirt on the next! So, grab your seven closest friends (or family members!) and have a raucous good time in this wheeling, dealing game of chance.
Conclusion: Gather Up Eight Players for a Board Game
Mount up for fun on your best game night yet when you gather a large group of 8 players together and pull out any of the games for this collection. For a lively and interactive experience, consider a party game that will keep everyone engaged and entertained.
You’ll find fandom games like Hail Hydra and The Thing: The Boardgame lead the way with medium to long gameplay time, along with Challengers!, Sidereal Confluence, Decrypto, and Memoir ‘44. For shorter gameplay time opt for Long Shot the Dice Game, Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza, Incan Gold, or Feed the Kraken – great choices for a game night with kids or quick fun on any occasion. Whichever games you choose will offer hours of fun over time, with incredible replayability for the same group of 8 players or ever-changing gatherings of new and old friends.
FAQ
What age range are these games suitable for?
Most of the games listed are suitable for ages 7 and up, with some specifically designed for ages 14 and older. Always check the individual game recommendations for the best fit.
How many players are needed to play these games?
The number of players varies by game, with options for 2 to 8 players. This range allows for both intimate family gatherings and larger game night events with friends.
How long do these games typically take to play?
Playtime varies, with most games ranging from 10 to 90 minutes. For a quick game night, titles like Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza are ideal, while others like Hail Hydra might take longer but offer in-depth strategy and competitive play.
Are these games suitable for families?
Yes, many of the games are designed to be family-friendly and can accommodate kids as young as 7. Long Shot the Dice Game, Incan Gold, and Memoir ’44 are great options for family gaming nights.
Can these games be played with mixed-age groups?
Absolutely! Many of the games include elements that appeal to both younger and older players, making them perfect for mixed-age gatherings where everyone can participate and enjoy.