Your Go-Tos on Board Games Under $20

It’s time to stock up on some fantastically fun board games under $20, including family games that are perfect for diverse age groups and family enjoyment – without having to search high and low for great ideas. There are literally hundreds of great options, but knowing which are the most played, most beloved, and most delightful will help save you loads of time – so we’ve done the research for you. Grab your copies today for a fun, budget-friendly game closet full of fun.

Introduction to Affordable Board Games

Discover amazing game options under $20

Are you looking for a fun and affordable way to spend time with family and friends? Look no further! There are many amazing board games available on the market that won’t break the bank. In this article, we’ll explore some fantastic game options that can be purchased for under $20. Whether you’re a casual gamer or a seasoned pro, there’s something for everyone. These games offer endless hours of entertainment without putting a dent in your wallet. So, get ready to discover some hidden gems that will bring joy and excitement to your game nights.

Perfect for families and casual gamers

Board games are a great way to spend quality time with loved ones, and they’re perfect for families and casual gamers. They offer a fun and interactive way to socialize, challenge yourself, and have a great time. Plus, many board games are easy to learn and can be played in under an hour, making them a great option for busy families or those with limited time. Whether you’re looking to bond with your kids, have a laugh with friends, or simply unwind after a long day, these games provide the perfect opportunity to do so. Gather around the table, roll the dice, and let the fun begin!

Criteria for Selection

Games must be under $20

When selecting games for this article, we considered several factors, including price, gameplay, and overall fun factor. All of the games listed below can be purchased for under $20, making them an affordable option for anyone looking to add some new games to their collection. We focused on finding games that offer great value for money, ensuring that you get the most bang for your buck. Each game has been chosen for its unique appeal, engaging gameplay, and ability to bring people together. So, rest assured that these budget-friendly options will provide hours of entertainment without breaking the bank.

The Absolute Best Board Games Under $20

Wild Flowers

Age: 8+ Players: 1-4 Time: 20-45 minutes

A beautifully crafted board game under $20, known as Wild Flowers, makes for the perfect indoor exploration into plant life and all things beautiful. Your goal in the game is to take on the roles of gardeners, growing flowers petal by petal, engaging with full-on strategy and a bit of cunning. The game accommodates 1 to 4 players, aged 8 and up, and plays fast, lasting between 20 and 45 minutes.

Every player is dealt 3 secret garden mission cards to begin, along with several Petal tiles and several Bumblebee markers. Every secret garden mission card contains a colorful flower which players aim to match their flower growing abilities with – and every Bumblebee marker placed signifies a player’s intention of eventually claiming the flower. The game board is a uniquely molded grid, designed to hold the tiles in place.

To play, each person lays out 1, 2, or 3 Petal tiles from their hand of 5 tiles into the unique board. The petals on each tile placed must match any existing petals on the same flower or they may begin the growth of a different flower. During the turn, a player may place a Bumblebee marker on a flower to “claim” it for later taking, which will score that player points if they succeed in their efforts. Every flower must have 6 color-matching petals to be claimed. And if the player’s secret garden mission matches the flower color they place a Bumblebee marker on, that’s when they score extra points. The secret card missions also earn players extra points when they are completed. Whenever one player completes and claims 5 flowers with Bumblebee markers, the game ends. Players then tally their scores and whoever has the most points wins.

What Do You Meme: Family Games Edition

Age: 8+ (Community 6+) Players: 3-20 Time: 30-90 minutes

Made just for families to enjoy the same silliness of the original game, What Do You Meme? Family Edition welcomes players as young as 6 now (according to the game community), and between 3 and 20 players total. The game may last anywhere between 30 and 90 minutes, depending on the gameplay flow and size of the crowd. The hilarious board game under $20 is a ridiculously fun choice for folks looking for a silly game to crank up the energy on a game night or keep the family in stitches while bonding. This new game encourages fun and laughter, making it an engaging and interactive experience for both children and adults.

How to play: At the start of the game, players draft a hand of cards filled with “captions” on them. One person each round – the active player – draws from the “image” deck of cards and then reveals the card to the rest of the players. The other players must then choose their best caption for the card, aiming to pair the silliest option that still kinda fits, to create the best meme of the round. The active player then becomes the judge, deciding which card wins the round. The winner of each round collects the photo card and holds onto it until the end of the game. Players should aim to match the judge’s sense of humor each round, so choices will shift from round to round.

The game comes with 300 caption cards and 64 photo cards, meaning the inexpensive board game has loads of replayability for years to come.

Cover Your Assets

Age: 7+ (Community 8+) Players: 2-6 Time: 20-40 minutes

Another amazingly fun board game for under $20 is the popular Grandpa Beck’s game Cover Your Assets. The high-energy, competitive game uses cut-throat actions and set collection for its thrilling 20-40 minute game time, intended for players aged 7 and up (8 according to the community), with 2 to 6 players getting in on the action.

Players compete to earn their first cool million before their opponents, by building matching tower sets made of 10 different types of asset cards. These cards include things like classic cars, jewels, piggy banks, and more. Every new set that’s created is then stacked crosswise on top of another existing set, covering and protecting all the sets beneath it. But that’s where the competition gets wild. The top set of assets in a pile of towers is vulnerable and could be stolen by an opponent before you can secure it – they just have to reveal a matching asset or wild card in their hand. If you’re able, you can defend your stack with a matching card from your own hand. But they can counter with another matching card.

The battle continues until one player can’t respond anymore or gives up the fight. Whoever wins gets the set and the entire stack beneath it is attributed to the winner and increases the value of the tower set, earning them crucial victory points. At this point, you may either choose to Cover Your Assets and keep that set safe (for the time being!) or steal a set from another player’s stack on your next turn. At the end of each round of play, scores are tallied, the cards are shuffled and dealt, and a new round begins. Whoever hits the first whopping $1 million wins the game.

The game is overall pretty easy and fast to learn, so kids and grownups alike enjoy playing and developing their unique strategies for future games. It’s often been dubbed as “addictive” and many folks report playing the game on repeat for hours on end.

Trails

Age: 10+ (Community 8+) Players: 2-4 Time: 20-40 minutes

Grab your hiking boots for a delightful board game under $20, and explore the National Parks of the USA in Trails. This delightfully appointed game encourages players to traverse a network of 59 National Parks via the stunning Trails created throughout. As players make their way along, they must gather resources, observe wildlife, and earn wilderness badges.

To play, each person “hikes” along trails collecting rocks, leaves, and acorns, while taking photos and encountering wildlife to gain bonus points. At the trailhead and trail end, players can turn in resources to earn their wilderness badges, then head back in the other direction again. When players hit trail ends, the sun begins to set and night falls in-game. This signifies the end of a round and grants players unique, powerful actions to take during the night phase of the round. Ultimately, whoever collects the most badges, wildlife encounters, and takes the most photos will win the game.

The standalone game comes from the Parks series of games using the same 59 National Parks.

Dumb Ways to Die

Age: 12+ (Community 8+) Players: 2-5 Time: 10-30 minutes

For a raucous good time appropriate for folks who can laugh in the face of death, Dumb Ways to Die is a wildly wonderful option in the list of board games under $20. The silly game is all about keeping your Beans alive – or at least trying to keep them alive longer than your opponents keep theirs clinging to life. The game plays fast and is highly engaging, making it a fun and quick experience. But, of course, every Bean is bound for death sooner or later, so your strategy comes in as you attempt to help them stay on this plane of existence as long as possible.

Every player starts Dumb Ways to Die with a hand of cards and 3 Beans to keep alive. As a turn begins, the active player rolls a die to determine how many actions the player must take. The actions consist of options like drawing or playing a card and following the instructions. Playing cards may force other players to draw cards, or they may allow you to peek at another player’s cards, attack someone, swap hands with someone, or force someone else to take additional actions. But if you draw a card, you might well draw one that instantly kills one of your Beans. When a player is attacked or a Kill card is drawn, the player may defend against the attack or death if they have an Accident card that corresponds to the required icon. Matching cards allow Beans to cheat death – but if you can’t play a matching icon, your Bean must bid this cruel, cruel world farewell. If a player loses all of their Beans, they’re eliminated from the game. Play continues until one player alone has a Bean (or Beans) still alive.

The Princess Bride: A Battle of Wits

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

Fans of the ever-popular cult classic The Princess Bride will love this board game under $20: A Battle of Wits. The exciting game pits 2 to 10 players against each other in a bluffing – or double-bluffing – battle of smarts, using a row of goblets in the middle of the table. It is especially suitable for two players, allowing for strategic play despite the typically challenging dynamics in two-player scenarios. Each goblet is ready to be filled with either “wine” or “poison” – referencing the Battle of Wits in the film itself when Wesley and Vizzini faced off. Players take on the role of a character from the film, playing through the cards. On each turn, a player adds one card into a goblet (either poison or wine) or to the bottom of the goblet (to bid on the goblet). At the end of the game, players “drink” from their sole goblet selected during gameplay. Whoever “survives” the match wins!

Paris Pastries

Age: 8+ Players: 2-6 Time: 25 minutes

Grab a copy of the travel-friendly Paris Pastries, a delightful board game under $20. This beautifully crafted game features 168 gorgeously illustrated cards decked out with 32 French pastries – sure to make any player hungry for a sweet treat! The game time runs about 25 minutes, suits anywhere from 2 to 6 players, and works for kiddos as young as 8. Paris Pastries challenges players to push their luck with recipes, growing their pastry shop, and serving the patrons who come in for a quick, delectable bite. The game itself comes with recipe cards, ingredient cards, customer cards, and tool cards to keep the game flowing and intriguing as you build decks and try your hand at divine goodies.

The games are listed in no particular order, allowing you to explore each one based on your personal preferences.

Couch Kittens

Age: 8+ Players: 2 Time: 5-10 minutes

For an unbelievably adorable, fun time with a board game under $20, grab a copy of Couch Kittens. The cute, cuddly game is an easy and quick learn, designed for kids as young as 8, meant for 2 players, and runs between 5 and 10 minutes per game. Your goal: Be the first player to fill couch seats with cuddly kitties by placing them according to their numbers.

The game makes for the perfect at-home cheap date, a quick duel between siblings (or friends), or as a travel game to keep the kids occupied en route to Grandma’s house, thanks to its compact size. It’s a ticket to fun and travel-friendly gaming. It’s the perfect choice for any cat lover looking for a fun time.

Conclusion

There you have it! A great selection of some of the absolute best board games under $20. This means you can buy pretty much every game, and keep them on hand for fun game night fillers, travel games, and more, all for a tiny investment. Just be sure to choose the games appropriate for the ages of your crowd, and ensure the themes match your game collective’s vibe. You’ve got clever options to choose from like Dumb Ways to Die, Cover Your Assets, The Princess Bride: A Battle of Wits, and What Do You Meme? Family Edition, or calmer choices like Paris Pastries, Couch Kittens, Trails, and Wild Flowers to play. The whole crowd will love them and enjoy playing them on repeat for years to come. Definitely a great investment even in your leanest of times.

Also Read: The Most Playable Print and Play Board Games

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