Board games that are made for adults will assure that it will not be a boring game but a cool one with great ideas what makes everyone come back to the table for a long time. TechTrends narrowed down a list of the best board games for adults, so keep reading to find out.
The greatest board games for adults will make the games different from those designed for all ages or kids. Here at TechTrends, we put together a list of the best board games for adults to give you recommendations on the games we think you must have if you are into them. Whether you are looking for games with strategy, dungeon-delving adventures, or puzzles, there is something for you here on this list. Some of these games can be played by a group of people, so you can pull it off the shelf for gatherings when the kids are all sleep. Without further ado, lets get to the list.
Best Board Games for Adults
Although we might have loved the classics we grew up with, the world of board games has evolved in recent years. You do not have to play only limited games that you were for a long time any more. There is a variety of games for every personality type and interest. You have to find out which ones are your favorite and we are going to help you with that.
- Betrayal at House on the Hill: The best board game for adults overall
- Blockbuster: The best cheap board game for adults
- Pandemic: The best co-op board game for adults
- Codenames: Another best board game for adults overall
- Jaipur: The best card game for adults
- Wingspan: The most relaxing board game for adults
- Gloomhaven: The best adventure board game for adults
- Root: The best strategy board game for adults
- Azul: The best puzzle board game for adults
- Scythe: The best civilisation-building board game for adults
- Catan: The best classic board game for adults
- Isle of Skye: The best trading board game for adults
- Cosmic Encounter: The best board game for negotiators
1. Betrayal at House on the Hill
Specifications:
- Players: 3 – 6
- Ages: 12+
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Lasts: 60 mins
This board game gives you chance to see how long it would take for you to last as a character of a horror film. The players will be in a mansion, with the rooms revealing room by room and there is something inside each of them. Obviously, it is not something pleasant. It is an innovative game and it is also very memorable. There is always something unexpected beyond the doors so teamwork is needed for everyone to get out of it alive, particularly as one might be a traitor that is in disguise. Betrayal is one of the best board games for adults.
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2. Blockbuster
Specifications:
- Players: 4 – 8
- Ages: 14+
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Lasts: 20 mins
Blockbuster is one of the favorite party board games that has been around for a long time. The game is straightforward and fast-paced, so it should be your first pick if you need one for your gatherings. There is no need for you to know lots of things about cinema, which makes it more like charades than a quiz. You are going to need your wits, however. The game starts with a head-to-head round where two players should yell an instance from categories such as “superhero movies”, but they do not have much time. If they do not find an answer in 15 seconds, they will lose, which makes it quite fun.
The real game starts when the winner draws six cards and they should act out, quote, or describe three of them for their teammates. The other three cards will be for the loser. Obviously, they would be the hardest ones. The game is very engaging and one of the best board games for adults.
3. Pandemic
Specifications:
- Players: 2 – 4
- Ages: 10+
- Difficulty: Hard
- Lasts: 60 mins
The Pandemic board game will have all the odds against the players, making it the beauty of the game. It is quite thrilling and there is a task of treating super diseases if you communicate well. Since there is risk taking involve in the game, Pandemic has been attracting many players as one of the best board games for adults. Moreover, there needs to be teamwork, which makes it much more engaging. This leads players to be quite invested at the table. The theme of the game is something people can relate to following the Covid-19 pandemic.
4. Codenames
Specifications:
- Players: +4
- Ages: 10+
- Difficulty: Hard
- Lasts: 60 mins
Codenames is one of the best board games for adults that came out in 2021. You have to contact the members of your team using codenames before the other team, but you have to be careful about the assassins. There will be one spymaster for each team and they are the only ones that can see the cards. They then have to give their teammates a one-word clue that points to some of the codenames set on the table. The members of the team will then have to guess the words. The more the word points out for the members to find out, the sooner they will find all their cards, and therefore win the game. The game is quite fun and interesting and it is named one of the best board games for adults, although children above 10 can also play it.
5. Jaipur
Specifications:
- Players: 2
- Ages: 10+
- Difficulty: Easy
- Lasts: 30 mins
Game collectors need to have this unusual, accessible and compelling game and we recommend it to everyone. You will be casted as one of the traders in the city and you need to get an invitation to the maharaja’s court by trying to be the best businessperson there. However, the way you do it is up to you and you can experiment with it as much as you want as there is no right answer to how you can get it done. Since there is a flexibility to the game, it is among the best board games in 2022. Moreover, it is known to be a very engaging tug of war between two players.
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6. Wingspan
Specifications:
- Players: 2 – 4
- Ages: 10+
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Lasts: 30 mins
Just like its name suggests, Wingspan has birds front and center and to be preserved, you have to attract as many as you can. However, it is not as dry as it may seem. There are clever mechanics forming a moreish that will satisfy loop in order to keep you coming back for increasing your score. This is mostly because there is a lack of direct competition and players do not worry about the rivals destroying their work. Everyone has to concentrate on his or her own board and if you utilize a special ability, others can benefit from it. This game is, therefore, quite relaxing and helps you enjoy it regardless of the outcome.
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7. Gloomhaven
Specifications:
- Players: 1 – 4
- Ages: 14+
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Lasts: 60+ mins
The game Gloomhaven is reminiscent of The Witcher in some ways with its one-of-a-kind combat and setting. This is quite an adventure for dreamers. The storyline is great and your decisions will influence the kingdom, making this a game very hard to stay away from for months. There is a map that you can alter with stickers that you earn when journeying across the kingdom. There are also secret mechanics that will get unlocked over time. Strategy is required in this game instead of relying on dice rolls, alternate mission aplenty and morally gray. The decisions you will make will have consequences so you have to be careful. The stories are exciting, making it a perfect choice for fans of sprawling video game RPGs and one of the best board games for young adults.
8. Root
Specifications:
- Players: 2 – 4
- Ages: 10+
- Difficulty: Hard
- Lasts: 90 mins
If you were a fan of the Redwall novels when you were growing up, Root is strongly recommended to you by TechTrends. The game needs strategy as it features bucolic woodland creatures that are keen on taking control of the forest, which is the entire mice villagers to sword-wielding raccoon adventurers. When you mix it with attracting artwork, it is fun from the beginning. However, do not let the friendly designs fool you. There is great depth in this layered experience as all factions have their own mechanics and aims to win. Therefore, Root is among the best tactical board games for adults and it is also one of the best board games for adults in general.
Although it is a lot to take in, there will be a reward for your patience. There is a lot to explore when there is interplay between factions, with the game urging players to be creative. This is a great example of why modern board games are very special.
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9. Azul
Specifications:
- Players: 2 – 4
- Ages: 8+
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Setup: 5 mins
- Lasts: 40 mins
This game is quite beautiful and so is its mechanics. If you are looking for a more relaxed tabletop experience, we suggest Azul. This is among the best puzzle board games for adults available. Your goal is simple and nice; you have to place tiles on the board and score points. It is like a crossword that is color-based. However, you should take care. Although you might get better results when managing to complete sets in this pastime, should you waste tiles on random formations, your score can be lowered. Then, you might have to do a lot of maneuvering to outdo your rivals. This makes Azul a more personal puzzle game than one which is head-to-head, making it a great 2-player game. Azul is one of the best board games for adults.
10. Scythe
Specifications:
- Players: 1 – 5
- Ages: 14+
- Difficulty: Hard
- Lasts: 115 mins
The game is set on an earth from 1920s, where farm animals and peasants live together with huking dieselpunk mechs. Although it is like they are co-existing, each character wants power, so you are required to keep your wits about you should you plan to get by. Not only is this game interesting in building and expanding your economy but it is also engaging in battles. In other words, you might even win the game with no shots being fired. In addition, you can win the game by blasting your foes to smithereens. Therefore, this has made it to the list of the best board games for adults and it is quite appealing. The visuals of the game are wonderful as well.
11. Catan
Specifications:
- Players: 3 – 4
- Ages: 10+
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Lasts: 60 mins
This game takes the players to the age of explorers in an uninhabited island, where players have to settle it before their rivals do. Since everyone is trying to civilize the same frontier, maneuvering cleverly is the order of the day. Learning the skill is very important. The limited resources of the island are handed out according to probability, so being able to position well and foresight is of great importance. Therefore, this is one of the best board games to play in 2022 and it is great for those looking for a challenge. This is particularly as you have to trade with the opponents if you want to progress.
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12. Isle of Skye
Specifications:
- Players: 2 – 5
- Ages: 14+
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Lasts: 60 mins
Isle of Skye is indeed one of the greatest board games for adults you can find these days. Despite being a very straightforward trading game, it is not dull at all. Land-grabs, savvy haggling and a trip from clan chieftain to king define the game and these will keep the players invested. Moreover, the game has rugged northern theme, which is quite refreshing. However, it gets quite interesting when new tiles are distributed. Based on the mount of whiskey you have produce, you will get money. Furthermore, this allows you to name a price on the tiles you choose to place. Should someone want it for their own collection, they have to pay for it. However, when nobody is fussed, then you need to pay up. There is a lot at stake, which makes this game very interesting and one of the best board games for adults in 2022.
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13. Cosmic Encounter
Specifications:
- Players: 3 – 5
- Ages: 12+
- Difficulty: Hard
- Lasts: 120 mins
Although this game has been around from 1970s, it is still very fun and awesome. It is a sci-fi classic that has been charming players with its unusual gameplay for many decades now and few games have dared to match it. If you are interested in talking your way out of a bad substation in games with adult, this is going to be your favorite. Everyone has one goal, setting up five colonies on rival planets. However, that is where the common ground reaches its end. The players need to take control o one of the alien species among the 50, which all have their own abilities, able to upend the rules in a certain way. Cosmic Encounter is yet another one of the best board games for adults.