There are many board games available on the market for family gatherings, quite evenings and a friends’ get-together. We have made a list of the best board games in 2022 across every price range to give you a lot of choices.
Whether you are looking for a game to play in your family or friends gathering or an evening in, TechTrends got some of the greatest choices for you. We have come a long way from the days that Monopoly was the best game on the menu. Now, we have plenty of options for every age and every budget. Since there are a lot of games out there, we narrowed down the list to the best board games in 2022 that you must have. we have included new and old games, so you will see both classics and new additions that have been impressing in the last couple of months. Whether you are an experienced player or a new one, there is something for you here, so keep reading.
Best Board Games in 2022; What to Play in 2022
It is a great time to be a tabletop gamer as there are many excellent board games available in the market nowadays. We have come a long way from playing Monopoly or Cluedo to see all the amazing board games sitting on store shelves. Everyone can find something on the list of the best board games of 2022. There is a variety of themes and gameplay. Here we go.
- Betrayal at House on the Hill: The best board game for adults overall
- Pandemic: The best co-op board game for adults
- Wingspan: The most relaxing board game for adults
- Disney Villainous: The best 2-player board game overall
- Jaipur: The best 2-player card game
- 7 Wonders Duel: The best strategy board game for 2 players
- Ticket to Ride: The best board game for families overall
- Herd Mentality: The best party board game for families
- Spot It!: The best board game for younger children
- King of Tokyo: The best board game for older children
- Catan: The best overall classic board game
- HeroQuest: The best classic adventure board game
Board Games For Adults:
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 in 2022.
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2. 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 in 2022. 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.
3. Wingspan
Specifications:
- Players: 2 – 4
- Ages: 10+
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Lasts: 60 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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Two-Player Board Games:
4. Disney Villainous
Specifications:
- Players: 2 – 6
- Ages: 10+
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Lasts: 60 mins
Disney Villainous is the most on-brand game ever. You can be as mean as you wish and in order to look for your own baddie’s own happy ending with urging you to scupper a foe’s plans. The game is quite tactical and not a light-hearted family fare that children can play. There are many complex things hidden in the game as each character has its unique objective and style of play, that offers new challenges that are from many villain combinations available in the game. In order to come out on top, you have to be skillful and learning the tactics makes it far more enjoyable. This might be the game that many play in their spare time. Disney Villainous is among the best board games in 2022 that we strongly recommend.
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. 7 Wonders Duel
Specifications:
- Players: 2
- Ages: 10+
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Lasts: 30 mins
Although this game might take us to the ancient world of pyramids, it is not indeed old-fashioned. 7 Wonder is an update version of its predecessor. Your task is to make the greatest civilization of its time and to reach that goal, you have a lot of ways. Players are therefore given ownership over their plan. Moreover, it lets each match play out in a different way considering the cards available in that round. As one of the best board games in 2022, its trading mechanics are rock-solid as well. Unlike games like Catanwhere rivals’ generosity is needed, in this game, the system needs you to pay extra to the bank for a resource and it depends on how much of it your rival has. Should you play the cards well, it gives you one of many chances to wear your opponent down.
Board Games For Families:
7. Ticket to Ride
Specifications:
- Players: 2 – 5
- Ages: 8+
- Difficulty: Easy
- Lasts: 60 mins
For those looking for something to play with their loved ones, Ticket to Ride is a great choice as it is the most laid-back entry on the list of the best board games in 2022. This game is very relaxing and it is also suitable for all ages. There is a great balance between this game being family-friendly and having tactical depth. Therefore, it is suitable for everyone, even for those that have only played Scrabble. While it is quite fun, it is not overly competitive. There is also a lesser need for screwing each other over. However, when a player claims a route that another player was going for, it becomes a little frustrating. We strongly recommend this wonderful game.
8. Herd Mentality
Specifications:
- Players: 4 – 20
- Ages: 10+
- Difficulty: Easy
- Lasts: 30 mins
You might be looking for a board game that does not have a lot of confusing rules. You found it then. Her Mentality is easy to learn and it is always new, not going out of date. Although this game might ask quiz-style questions, there is no ‘correct’ answer in it. Therefore, it will require you to aim for what you might think all the other people around you will say. Since it follows this path, it is a great icebreaker. Not only is this a perfect game for families, it is also a great one when you want to play with a new group. This game will have everyone chat and laugh quickly, which would not be the case if you go for most of the other games. Therefore, this has made it to our list of the best board games in 2022.
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Board Games For Children:
9. Spot It!
Specifications:
- Players: 2 – 8
- Ages: 6+
- Difficulty: Easy
- Lasts: 10 mins
When a game has many special editions, it is kind of clear that it is a good game. Spot It is one of the best games that passes this test. Not only is there a classic version, but there are alternatives like Harry Potter and Star Wars as well. Considering that it can be done within 10 minutes, you must have it if you have children. Spot It has a straightforward gameplay at its core, making it a more involved version of Snap. However, do not expect it to be very easy. Although it will have you match symbols, the cards have pictures of various sizes to make it harder for you. Having to spot and yell out a match makes it immensely satisfying regardless of the age. This is one of the best board games in 2022 for children for its portable nature.
10. King of Tokyo
Specifications:
- Players: 2 – 6
- Ages: 8+
- Difficulty: Easy
- Lasts: 30 mins
King of Tokyo is a perfect pick for big and little monsters alike. This game will have you in charge of creatures that are based on the likes of Godzilla, so you have to stomp all over the city and grab points on the way. There are a lot of characters in the game and it is also fast-paced, making it a great game for all ages. Moreover, it will give you a chance to play a more complicated board game as its mechanics are mercifully straightforward. Players can roll dice three times and they can choose which to keep, be in attacks, bonus points, or extra health. However, if you want to win, you have to rampage across the city and you cannot treat your wounds there. This is one of the best board games to play in 2022.
Best Classic Board Games:
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 heir 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. HeroQuest
Specifications:
- Players: 2 – 5
- Ages: 14+
- Difficulty: Hard
- Lasts: 60+ mins
HeroQuest was one of the best board games in the 1980s and it now came back for another round courtesy of its 2021 revamp and it does a great job of carrying the legacy. It gives you a sense of being a kid again if you have played it as a child. This game still has what made the first one very special but it did update everything else for this day and time. the classic tale of good and evil stays intact alongside identical gameplay, such as Dungeon Master mechanics where a player is in charge of the monsters of the game. Now, however, it has a fully-voiced app for solo play. HeroQuest is among the best board games in 2022.