Essential board games for adults 2024, from party games to RPG epics

Board games for adults prove that we've moved way beyond dusty old classics like Risk and Monopoly. No matter whether you're hunting down party games or an epic team experience that'll test your mettle, you'll find something to suit you out there.

Or here, I should say. To save you time as well as money, our experts have rounded up the most essential board games for adults below. If you ask us, they're some of the best board games overall and deserve to be in your collection ASAP. You'll also find recommendations to suit a wide range of interests, skill-levels, and budgets on this page. That includes everything from easy-going but moreish strategies (like Life in Reterra, a game I've adored testing recently because there are so many options you can mess with) to two-player suggestions that are perfect for date night. Not sure what you're looking for? Here's how to choose the right game for you.

Because the team and I have been doing this for more than five years, we've only included entries that we genuinely believe are worth your while too. If we wouldn't buy a product (which we've reviewed and been hands on with ourselves), it doesn't appear on this list of board games for adults. You can find out more in the 'how we test' section further down the page.

Curated by

Curated by

Benjamin Abbott

Benjamin has almost six years of experience writing about board games for adults, and he's been playing them since he was old enough to hold dice. He's currently playing the new Talisman edition, a fantasy remake that will take many of us back to our childhoods.

Quick list

Best overall board game for adults

The world has come to an end in this strategy board game for adults, but that's OK; what's left of humanity has decided to build a better one. What follows is a refreshingly light-hearted experience that's so very moreish. In fact, it's one of the few games I've tested recently that made me want to play again the moment my first match was finished.

Features & design: This isn't your usual post-apocalypse. Rather than people doing monstrous things to each other (there's a distinct lack of zombies and road warriors here), mankind is recycling the remnants of civilization into new homes. Fittingly, this results in gameplay inspired by two beloved classics – Carcassonne and Wingspan. A tile-laying extravaganza where you have limited time and space to create a utopia, it's a compelling experience made all the better for such focus. Your goal is equally simple: place buildings to earn points or other rewards. Whoever has the highest score at the end will win.

So far as its art style goes, Life in Reterra is bolder. It opts for an inviting cartoon vibe instead of photo-realism, which means almost everything about it pops when laid out on the table. (With the exception of a communal board you get your buildings from, which is a pedestrian beige.)

The game's storage solution is just as eye-catching. Rather than leaving you with a few cubby-holes to put tokens in, Life in Reterra opts for textured plastic tubs for each set of components. I truly wish more developers did the same thing, because it makes set up and pack-down infinitely easier.

Gameplay: You'll never have time to do everything you want during Life in Reterra sessions, and that's part of its appeal – every match ends with you wanting to try something different. That's because you don't have long to build your settlement. In fact, the game ends once all players have put down 16 board tiles in total. Seeing as you can only place buildings across gear icons on a tile you've just laid, you'll have to play mental Tetris to make sure you aren't wasting space. Alternatively, you can risk something better coming along later…

That leaves us with a simple but surprisingly thoughtful puzzle to solve, especially when you factor in buildings only paying out under specific circumstances. When combined with the different sets of buildings that are available (which can also be mixed and matched to create fresh combos, by the way), Life in Reterra becomes mind-bogglingly replayable.

Best party board game for adults

The store may be long dead, but the game it inspired isn't going anywhere. Fast-paced and straightforward, Blockbuster should be your first choice if you need good party board games for adults. And don't worry, knowing a shed-load about cinema isn't required. At its core, this has more in common with charades than a quiz. Actually, it's my go-to recommendation for friends who want something easy to understand that everyone can get involved with. It takes less than a minute to explain, and then you're off to the races.

Features & design: Blockbuster may not require endless trivia knowledge, but you will need your wits. Things kick off with a head-to-head round where two players take it in turns to yell an example from categories like 'superhero movies' (e.g. "Avengers"). Time is of the essence; fail to come up with a response in 15 seconds and you lose. This leads to frantic yet fun chaos, and it's an amusing spectator sport. I once witnessed a five-minute grudge match where neither side gave in, for instance, and this battle has become near-legendary amongst my friends.

That's when the real game begins. The winner draws six cards and must act, quote, or describe three of them for their team. The remaining three are left for the loser. (Naturally, these are probably the toughest ones.) Collect enough cards and victory is yours.

This, and the overall aesthetic, is enough to make you yell "radical!" like it's 1993 again. On top of a container modeled after the humble VHS box, each card is made to look as if it's a video tape. The board is inspired by the store car park as well, so you'll find that distinctive logo looming over everything just as it did in the '90s.

Gameplay: Blockbuster is a wicked idea in every sense of the word, and always goes down well at get-togethers in my experience. There's a frantic energy powering it, and that'll keep everyone engaged. It's not the sort of game where you'll want to check your phone in between rounds.

Because everyone reacts differently to the card prompts, you won't get bored of it either; unlike a quiz, you can't 'learn' the answers. In much the same way, its short run-time means that it won't lose its shine after a few sessions. I've had my copy for years and still break it out whenever I can.

Even if you did get fed up, an expansion pack (Blockbuster Returns) is now available to shake things up. This adds bonus films to the lineup, along with extra categories.

Best RPG board game for adults

Powered by unique combat, a setting that's reminiscent of The Witcher, and more loot than you'll know what to do with, Gloomhaven is the RPG of your dreams. Branching storylines produce a quest you can lose yourself in for months as well, so get comfortable; you're in for something unforgettable.

Features & design: While this is a classic dungeon-crawler on paper (you'll explore ruins and nick every piece of treasure that isn't nailed down), it's so much more in reality. You'll get an idea of this when you see the box; it's almost comically big. Crammed with countless tokens, board tiles, models, maps, scenario booklets, and cards, Gloomhaven defines 'ambitious.'

Its gameplay is equally daring. Rather than using standard dice rolls for combat, you'll play with cards instead. These have two halves you can choose from (unique movement and attack options), so success in battle is purely down to skill. Similarly, you'll change Gloomhaven's world through choices that close off certain missions whilst opening up new ones. In much the same way, your adventurers will eventually retire and be replaced by secret heroes as you go.

Sound like a lot? It is – and the game's box is suitably massive as a result. I can't overemphasize how huge this thing is; I believe the scientific terminology is "absolute unit." The quality of its components hasn't suffered due to that scale, though. While the miniatures might not stand up to modern competitors like Descent or Bardsung (even if they're still decent, broadly speaking) everything else from the map to the quest book has a premium feel that won't fail to impress.

Gameplay: There's a reason why Gloomhaven became such a sensation when it launched back in 2017. This is tabletop gaming at its nerdiest, and best; alongside a map you'll permanently alter with stickers earned by journeying across the land, it includes hidden mechanics that are unlocked over time. An engrossing combat system also puts you in total control of battle (there's no blaming luck of the dice here), while morally gray choices keep you on your toes. Decisions can and will have consequences, so tread carefully.

If you're anything like me, that'll be enough to get you hyped by itself. Indeed, there's a childlike sense of wonder powering Gloomhaven. Stuffed from top to bottom with literal and metaphorical magic, it leads to watercooler stories that'll more than justify your excitement. Thanks to similarities with the best tabletop RPGs, it'll also go down well if you're a fan of Dungeons & Dragons or other pen-and-paper games.

That level of complexity will put off some. Gloomhaven is one hell of a commitment, too. But if you persevere, you'll discover one of the most enjoyable board games for adults.

Best horror board game for adults

How long do you think you'd last in a horror movie? Betrayal at House on the Hill lets you find out. Unfortunately, there's no way to tell if you're the hero or victim of this story until it's much too late... and that makes it one of the most replayable (not to mention engaging) board games for adults on this list. In fact, I still haven't seen everything after months spent braving those dusty halls.

Features & design: Taking on the role of horror cliches (like the jock or creepy preteen), who have been drawn here for mysterious reasons, players explore the house turn by turn to uncover the truth. But because you'll be laying down room tiles at random, it's impossible to tell what's waiting for you on the other side of a door. All you know for certain is that a secret mission will soon begin, turning the house – or your allies – against you. Maybe a monster wakes up in the basement, eager to feast on your flesh. Perhaps a teammate tries to sacrifice you in exchange for eternal youth. Either way, your aim is simple: survive.

Don't forget to stop and smell the roses, though. Despite all the horror, this is a good-looking board game for adults; its tiles are awash with vivid color not present in older editions (we're now on version three), the character tokens are a vast improvement, and everything is tied together with a distinct, instantly-recognizable style. It's a paradoxical beauty.

Gameplay: The result oozes tension, and even though there are similarities to rivals like Mansions of Madness, I'd say Betrayal at House on the Hill is more accessible on the whole. It's weirder, too; I once had to fight a ghost shark that was flooding the house room by room, for example.

Sure, there are issues here and there. Yet for the most part, this game is stuffed with enough cool ideas to smooth over any cracks. Particularly now that the formula has been improved with an all-new version. Although 2010's Betrayal at House on the Hill 2nd edition remains an excellent way to spend an evening, this 3rd edition glow-up gives the artwork an overhaul, offers 50 new scenarios, introduces vastly improved miniatures to represent each character, and finishes with streamlined mechanics that make the whole thing easier to play. As mentioned in our review, it's a "fantastic update to a beloved classic."

Best co-op board game for adults

Do you think you'd know if your friends were lying to you? Unfathomable puts that to the test with cloak-and-dagger gameplay where traitors work against their fellow players in an effort to sabotage your ship. The resulting paranoia is excellently handled, especially because those traitors have help from cosmic horrors who'd like nothing better than to turn everyone into chowder.

Features & design: It's 1913, and a band of unlucky passengers are about to find out that their voyage on the SS. Atlantica won't be a relaxing one. A few days from port, the weather takes a turn for the worse and 'Deep Ones' – monsters directed by eldritch beings of an impossible size – pour from the sea. The crew must try to reach safety while keeping the ship afloat, or all is lost.

Naturally, things get worse from there. Most players are normal humans who need to fend off those creatures and repair any damage done to the SS. Atlantica. Others are secret human-Deep One 'hybrids,' however. These turncoats are hellbent on destroying the ship, and they do this by scuppering 'crisis' challenges each turn. These randomly-drawn events have a target number you've got to hit unless you're a fan of dire consequences, so players anonymously hand over numbered cards that will (hopefully) add up to that total. Hybrids will throw in dud cards to derail things, and this means trust is at a premium.

The art-style is every bit as lavish as Unfathomable's gameplay. It makes great use of moody, hand-painted scenes to increase your sense of unease, and its other components are modeled after period-appropriate art-deco elements. Though I wasn't as taken with the mono-pose Deep One models, their eldritch masters are genuine showstoppers.

Gameplay: Teamwork is your only hope of protecting passengers and fixing the ship when it inevitably gets damaged, but there's an obvious flaw to that plan – you can't trust anyone. Because you're juggling an ever-growing to-do list on top of all that deception, the tension doesn't let up. The result is a game which seizes you by the collar with a gammy, webbed claw and refuses to let go.

It's also the definition of "life comes at you fast." New problems emerge at the beginning of each round and are compounded by gribbly monsters leaping from the sea to eat passengers. Planning on the fly is essential because of this, not to mention good communication. You just can't be sure if the motivation behind said communication is good…

The tension that follows is delicious. I enjoy team board games where you're trying to sniff out traitors at the best of times, but when you throw in those cosmic horror trimmings, the atmosphere ratchets up a notch. Things become genuinely creepy as the situation worsens, and in my testing sessions we were all on the edge of our seats.

Best strategy board game for adults

Few board games for adults have been more anticipated than the latest project by Cole Wehrle and artist Kyle Ferrin. Seeing as they were behind big-hitters like Root, that's understandable – but it's still a lot of pressure.

Fortunately, Arcs lives up to the hype.

This is a grand space opera in the vein of Cosmic Encounter, albeit a more focused one that won't outstay its welcome. Your aim is to bring the galaxy to heel by any means necessary, and what follows is a delight.

Features & design: Arcs challenges you to gather points in a spot of extraterrestrial kleptomania, and whoever collects the most will win. That doesn't mean the experience is predictable, though. Alongside ever changing 'Ambition' objectives that everyone competes for each round, players are encouraged to blaze their own trail through conquest, construction, or any of the other options open to you every turn. While it's not as free-form as something like Twilight Imperium, Arcs still affords you a long leash.

This is a visual feast, too. Ferrin's art-style is instantly recognizable, and it gives the game a vivid, vibrant personality that doesn't just feel like a reskinned Star Trek. Seeing as you'll spend a lot of time mastering this one (it benefits from repeat play), such a compelling world is a bonus.

Gameplay: If you haven't played a Leder Games title before, buckle up – you're in for a treat. As with its predecessors, Arcs is a fiercely creative strategy game that's a lot more sophisticated than you might think based on the light-hearted cartoon aesthetic. You can lay a lot of that praise on its card-based action system. Besides allowing you to take a variety of moves based on specific 'suits' such as Aggression or Administration, each round has a 'lead' suit dictated by whoever's got initiative. This decides which objectives you'll be chasing (allowing canny players to set the terms if there's something they're particularly good at, e.g. combat), but it allows for unique interplay as well. Trumping that original card with a more powerful one can lead to additional actions, for instance, whereas 'pivoting' to a different suit allows you to make a single move not listed on the lead card. It's the kind of system that forces you to think on the fly, and players will end up scheming even when it's not their turn.

Sure, some will bristle at the thought of your opening hand being randomly drawn. It puts your fate in lady luck's hands, after all. However, I'd argue that this is part of the game's challenge. Learning how to make the best of a bad situation is just as important as masterminding your opponent's downfall in battle.

What's more, the variety of playable characters – all with their own abilities and starting resources – can revitalize the game once you know the basics. If you ask me, this kind of asymmetry is what defines good board games for adults; the possibilities feel endless, even if they aren't.

How to choose board games for adults

Not sure what you're in the mood for? Don't worry, we've all been there. To help point you in the right direction, here are a few questions I ask myself personally when considering which board games for adults to buy. Oh, and if you see any terms you aren't sure of? Don't miss my guide to the different types of board games.

How we test board games for adults

Our testing process is incredibly important to the 12DOVE team, and we'll never recommend a product without forcing it to jump through multiple hoops first. If we don't love it, we won't recommend it.

As explained in our 'how we test board games' guide, we spend as much time as possible with the product in question to make sure we're intimately familiar with its mechanics before commenting. (This isn't a "one and done" deal.) Doing so provides a better sense of the game's longevity, too.

We also make sure that sessions are run with different player-counts to see how the experience differs. This helps us recommend titles that are optimized for specific numbers of people. (Two players, four players, etc.)

When approaching our actual critique as seen on this page, we then divide our thoughts into four distinct sections to make them more digestible:

• Introduction: We go over a game's 'elevator pitch' here (e.g. what does it do that competitors don't?) and boil its appeal down to a few sentences that should give you an idea of what to expect from the off. At-a-glance reasons to buy/not to buy also feature here.
• Features & design: Our reviewers will cover the game's basic mechanics at this point, along with exploring its art or component design.
• Gameplay: The majority of our writing is dedicated to actually playing the game, and how you'll feel when doing so. Any concerns or standout moments are raised.
• Should you buy: To wrap things up, we give a balanced overview discussing the pros and cons of whether a product is worth spending your hard-earned cash on.

In addition, our reviewers rank board games for adults using a standardized set of criteria: how easy its rules are to understand (accessibility), replayability, setup and pack-down, component quality, complexity, and gameplay – AKA the 'fun' factor. These will always appear in a table beneath each product with a straightforward star rating, as demonstrated below.

For a broader overview of our process sitewide, see the 12DOVE 'how we test' guide.

Board games for adults FAQ

Want more recommendations? Be sure to check out these essential classic board games, or must-have family board games.