Looking for some short board games to play with the family? Within the board gaming community, these games are a popular choice for their quick and engaging gameplay. Grab copies of any of the following and you’ll not only breeze through a collection of highly replayable fun times, but you’ll own some of the absolute best board games on the market.
What Makes a Great Short Board Game
A great short board game should have several key characteristics that make it enjoyable and engaging for players. Here are some of the most important factors to consider:
Quick Gameplay
One of the most important aspects of a short board game is quick gameplay. Players should be able to complete a game in a relatively short amount of time, typically under 30 minutes. This allows players to fit in multiple games in a single session, making it ideal for game nights or casual gatherings. Quick gameplay ensures that the game remains fast-paced and exciting, keeping everyone on their toes and eager for the next round.
Portability
Portability is another key factor in a great short board game. The game should be easy to transport and set up, making it perfect for taking on the go or playing at a friend’s house. This can include games that come in small boxes or have compact components. A portable board game means you can enjoy your favorite games anywhere, whether you’re on a road trip, at a picnic, or just visiting friends.
Social Interaction
Social interaction is a crucial aspect of any board game, and short games are no exception. A great short board game should encourage social interaction and engagement among players, whether it’s through competitive gameplay, cooperative teamwork, or simple conversation. Games that foster social interaction help build connections and create memorable experiences, making them a hit at any gathering.
The Top Nine Short Board Games
Santorini
Age: 8+ (Community 6+) Players: 2-4 Time: 20 minutes
Kids as young as 6 (according to the gaming community) will get in on the fun of Santorini, a fast-paced, highly playable building game. The game takes about 20 minutes total and accommodates two to four players.
Santorini originated over 30 years ago, but the reimagining of this abstract game has revived it and made it even more accessible for all. The strategy game is simple enough for kids but keeps grown-ups engaged just as easily, offering enough strategy to maintain interest for both kids and adults. Each turn consists of two steps: A move and a build.
On each turn, players move one of their builders into a neighboring space on the same level, up one, or down one. Then the player constructs a building level that’s adjacent to the builder they just moved. On the third level, a dome is placed instead, capping the building and removing that space from play. The game features variable player powers, with 40 thematic hero and god powers that change how the game is played every time – meaning you’ve got an incredibly replayable game on hand with this sweet and fast, short board game. Whoever reaches the third level with all their builders first wins the game.
High Society
Age: 10+ Players: 3-5 Time: 15-30 minutes
Another fast and highly replayable game is known as High Society. In this active game, great for kids 10 and up, players bid against each other in an attempt to grab onto all the finer things in life. This is done through positive numbers and multiplayer cards. But, of course, as you play, you’ve got to avoid the pitfalls of wealth (done via negative numbers and divisor cards). Players start out with certain amounts of cash, which they must keep an eye on during bidding. In the second round of bidding, players must adjust their strategies to outmaneuver their opponents, adding a layer of complexity to the game. At the end of the game, players with not only the most positive number cards but also the highest cash amounts are in the running for the win.
Escape: The Curse of the Temple
Age: 8+ Players: 1-5 Time: 10 minutes
A cooperative game that comes with a soundtrack CD (or download), Escape: Curse of the Temple is an action-packed short board game that lasts only 10 minutes. Your goal is to escape the temple, just as the title implies before the cursed thing collapses! If any player is trapped and “dies” everyone loses!
The game starts out with a row of three square tiles, each bearing a combination of two symbols in varying colors. That might mean two blue adventurers or a red adventurer and a green key. All explorers start the game in the center tile or safe room, and every player starts out with five dice. The game is played in real-time, with players all rolling their dice to determine their actions simultaneously. To enter a given room, you must roll the right symbol, or to reveal a new tile, you must roll the right symbol to turn over the tile and enter the doorway. Rooms contain additional symbols, and you – possibly with the help of others in the room – can keep rolling to come up with the right combination enough times to “discover” magic gems that help you along the way.
The soundtrack reinforces the real-time play – so as countdowns begin, players have a warning: it’s time to return to the safe room! If a player doesn’t make it back in time, they lose a die. The game continues until the exit tile is revealed (or the timer runs out!) and players attempt to exit. When players escape, they may give one die to a player of their choice. If all players escape before the final (third) countdown, everyone wins! If not, everyone loses – no matter how many escape.
Escape: The Curse of the Temple also has expansion packs available that introduce new challenges and elements to the game.
Fuse
Age: 10+ (Community 8+) Players: 1-5 Time: 10 minutes
You are the BDT (Bomb Defusal Team) called in to stop the intruders from blowing up the ship! The challenge? More than 20 bombs have been detected and countdowns have already begun. You and your elite team have only 10 minutes to neutralize the bombs and save the day!
A real-time cooperative game, Fuse offers a unique play style that requires quick decision-making and teamwork. It uses 25 dice and 65 cards to play through the bomb-defusing scenario. All players must work together during that 10-minute timer to create certain combinations of dice rolls and card draws to defuse the bombs in time. Each bomb is represented by a specific card which must have a certain dice roll combination met to defuse it. But players must decide who will roll which die – and each has only one chance to roll… If you beat the clock and defuse all the bombs on time, you all win! But get one wrong, and, well, kaboom!
Qwixx
Age: 8+ Players: 2-5 Time: 15 minutes
For a short dice game the whole family (8 and up) can enjoy, grab a copy of Qwixx. Everyone participates in this fast-paced game, no matter whose turn is on. Every player keeps a scoresheet with the numbers 2-12 in rows of yellow and red, with numbers 12-2 in rows of blue and green. Players score points by rolling dice and marking off as many numbers as possible. But you can only mark off a number if it’s to the right of all marked-off numbers in the same row.
That is, on each turn, the active player rolls six dice. Two white dice, and two dice of the four colors that match the rows. Players may mark off the sum of the two white dice on one of their rows, and the active player may mark off the sum of one colored die and one white die in the row with the colored die. Your goal is to mark off as many numbers in a row as possible – but there are penalties for failing to mark some numbers off. Ultimately, when a player has four penalties marked or a second color winds up locked, the game ends instantly. Players then tally their points for each color, sum these numbers, subtract five points for each penalty, and compare scores. Whoever scores the most points wins.
Qwixx is an example of how some games tend to balance quick gameplay with strategic decision-making.
Love Letter
Age: 10+ (Community 8+) Players: 2-4 Time: 20 minutes
A fast-paced, well-loved game from Japanese creators, Love Letter has earned top billing on numerous game lists – not the least of which is our short board game collection. In this historically-themed game, all the eligible men around aim to win the hand of the princess of Tempest. But she’s not so keen on being wooed and has locked herself away in the palace – and you’re stuck sending the best love letters possible, instead of face-to-face charming.
This magical game lasts about 20 minutes and plays well with kids as young as 8, according to the gaming community, layering in deduction, risk, bluffing, and a bit of luck for 2 to 4 players. Each player aims to deflect the love letters from others reaching the princess and pushing to get their own into her hands. The deck contains only 16 cards, with each player starting out with one character card that determines their role and abilities in the game. During each turn, players must draw one card, play one card, and attempt to expose other players and knock them out of the game. Whoever’s letter reaches the princess first wins the game.
Sushi Go
Age: 8+ (Community 6+) Players: 2-5 Time: 15 minutes
Don’t let the sushi travelator pass you by without grabbing the best combination of rolls and pieces! In Sushi Go, the short board game, players “eat out” at a sushi restaurant where delectable maki rolls, tempura bites, and decadent puddings rush around. Players score points in this speedy game by collecting the most sushi rolls or making a full set of sashimi. They can add on extra points by grabbing some wasabi and snagging a tasty pudding.
The challenge is discarding the right pieces of Japanese deliciousness, though, as other players might be looking for exactly the card you might toss back. Basically, this fast-paced card game is a draft and pass, with minimal, simple, fun rules that just about anyone can play (board game community says as young as 6). As players gain their first few hands of cards, they must quickly learn to assess what they need for the round and determine if they’ll go for a certain kind of sushi or the collection. As each turn spins around the travelator, players then weigh and balance which pieces to collect and which to discard. Different scoring combos provide bonus points, and higher scores, or keep some players from winning. So, choose carefully, and play loose and fast with your raw fish – something you wouldn’t dare do in real life! Fans of Sushi Go might also enjoy other games with similar drafting mechanics.
- Quick, easy-to-learn gameplay.
- Fun drafting mechanics with cute artwork.
- Fast-paced, great for short game sessions.
- Strategy is light, mostly luck-based.
- Limited interaction between players.
- Best with 3+ players, not as fun with fewer.
Coup
Age: 13+ (Community 10+) Players: 2-6 Time: 15 minutes
A speedy, short board game full of bluffing, bribing, and manipulation, Coup is a great choice for the family game night (best for kids 10 and up), game night filler, or one-off fun moment before winding down for the day. The game sinks players into an Italian city-state run by a corrupt, weak court eager to be bought. Each player’s objective is to destroy the influence all the other powerful families have in the city and force them into exile.
In Coup, players each represent families of influence. The player count can vary from 2 to 6, which influences the dynamics and strategies of the game. The families are selected by face-down character cards laid out in players’ areas of the table. Each player starts out with two coins and two influences (those character cards), chosen from a deck of fifteen that consists of three copies of five different characters, each with their own powers.
The Duke can take three coins from the treasury and block someone from taking foreign aid.
The Assassin pays three coins to attempt to take out another player’s character.
The Contessa can block an assassination attempt on herself.
The Captain takes two coins from another player or blocks someone from stealing their coins.
The Ambassador draws two character cards and chooses which to exchange, if desired, before returning two – and may block someone from stealing coins.
On each player’s turn, they may take any of the listed actions, no matter which characters they have in front of them. Or they may take one coin from the treasury (income action), receive foreign aid (also takes two coins), or strike a coup (pay seven coins to launch a coup against an opponent). When someone strikes a coup against you, you lose one influence. Ultimately, whoever uses these actions most wisely, and has just the right amount of luck will wind up with the final influence over the corrupt court and win the game.
Cockroach Poker
Age: 8+ (Community 6+) Players: 2-6 Time: 20 minutes
Using a reverse set collection mechanic, Cockroach Poker puts a twist on card games in a hurry. The fun game uses 64 cards – with eight copies of each critter type – and takes just 20 minutes to play. Your goal in this silly, vermin-infested game is to force another player into collecting 4 of any type of creepy crawly before you wind up with that many.
The game sets up simply: Shuffle the deck and deal the cards out to 2 to 6 players. On each turn, one player takes a card from their hand, lays it face down, and slides that card to a player of their choice, declaring the type of critter contained therein. This could be a rat, a stinkbug, or a cockroach. Cockroach Poker is a simple dexterity game that involves quick reflexes and bluffing. The player who receives the card then must decide if the other person is being honest and declare “true” or “false” and then flip the card over. If the receiving player is wrong, they have to keep the card, face up in front of them. If they’re right, the player who sent it must take it face up in front of them. Or if the player doesn’t want to try their luck, they can peek at the card and then pass it face-down to another player and either say the same critter as the original player or say a different type.
The play continues until someone receives the card face up in front of them. If everyone has seen the card, of course, the final player can only guess and receive the consequences. Whoever loses the challenge of the passing card begins the next round. And when a player has four cards of the same critter in front of them or any player can no longer pass cards, that player loses and the game ends with everyone else a winner.
Party Games for a Crowd
Party games are perfect for large gatherings or game nights with friends. Here are some great options for party games that are perfect for a crowd:
Codenames
Codenames is a popular party game that involves word-guessing and teamwork. Players are divided into two teams, and each team has a “spymaster” who gives one-word clues that relate to multiple words on a grid. The team that correctly identifies the most words wins. Codenames is a great game for large groups, as it encourages teamwork and social interaction. The game’s simple rules and quick rounds make it easy for new players to join in and have fun.
Other great party games for a crowd include:
Taboo: A fast-paced word-guessing game where players take turns describing a word without using certain “taboo” words or phrases. It’s a hilarious challenge that tests your creativity and quick thinking.
Pictionary: A classic drawing game where players take turns drawing a word or phrase while their teammates try to guess what it is. Pictionary is perfect for those who love to doodle and laugh at their artistic attempts.
Cranium: A game that combines drawing, acting, trivia, and wordplay, making it a great option for a crowd with diverse interests. Cranium’s variety of activities ensures that there’s something for everyone, keeping the game lively and engaging.
These games are all great options for a party or game night with a large group of people. They encourage social interaction, teamwork, and laughter, making them perfect for a fun and memorable evening. Whether you’re looking to break the ice or just have a good time, these party games are sure to be a hit.
Conclusion
There you have it! A collection of the best quick-paced, short board games to play. Grab your copies and keep them close at hand for filler games, quick family fun moments, road trip fun, or just whenever you sense boredom brewing.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are some of the best short board games for quick family fun?
Some of the best short board games for quick family fun include Santorini, High Society, Escape: The Curse of the Temple, Fuse, Qwixx, Love Letter, Sushi Go, Coup, and Cockroach Poker. These games are known for their fast-paced gameplay and high replayability. There are also many other games worth exploring for quick family fun.
2. How long does it typically take to play a game of Santorini?
A game of Santorini typically takes about 20 minutes to complete. It is designed for 2 to 4 players and is suitable for children as young as 6 years old, according to the gaming community.
3. What is the objective of Escape: The Curse of the Temple?
In Escape: The Curse of the Temple, the objective is to escape the temple before it collapses. The game is cooperative, played in real-time, and lasts only 10 minutes. Players must roll dice to move and explore tiles, uncovering magic gems to aid their escape.
4. How is the game Fuse played?
Fuse is a real-time cooperative game where players work together to defuse bombs on a spaceship within a 10-minute timeframe. Using 25 dice and 65 cards, players must create specific combinations of dice rolls to neutralize the bombs. Success depends on teamwork and quick decision-making.
5. What is the unique twist in Cockroach Poker?
Cockroach Poker introduces a reverse set collection mechanic where players try to force others into collecting four of the same type of critter card. The game involves bluffing and guessing, with players passing cards face-down and declaring the critter type, while others must decide if they are truthful.