Which board games should you buy on Black Friday?

Frosthaven | Check price at Amazon

💲 Full price: $250
📉 Expected price: $190-$200
❗ Record low: $189.97

As a follow-up to one of the most well-received board games in recent years, it's not a shock to see Frosthaven getting so much attention. Because it's only been out a year or two, I suspect this will be its first year getting a major Black Friday discount. I'm anticipating a drop to around $190, but there's every chance it'll go even lower. Keep a very close eye on this one.

Twilight Imperium | Check price at Amazon

💲 Full price: $164.99
📉 Expected price: $90-$95
❗ Record low: $76.40

As the king of tactical sci-fi games that's known for lasting hours on end, it's no surprise that Twilight Imperium normally costs anywhere up to $160 or thereabouts. This is why the Black Friday period is your best chance to pick it up; I've often seen it fall in price dramatically during November, a feat that doesn't tend to happen across the rest of the year. It's worth keeping an eye out until mid-December, actually. Twilight Imperium's lowest recorded price was just over $76 in the run-up to Christmas a couple of years ago, for example.

Spirit Island | Check price at Amazon

💲 Full price: $89.99
📉 Expected price: $40-$45
❗ Record low: $43.99

This is a tremendously well-liked co-op game, but the price often puts newcomers off. Well, unless it's Black Friday. I've seen Spirit Island halved in cost during November and December, so expect the same trick again this year.

Gloomhaven | Check price at Amazon

💲 Full price: $139.99
📉 Expected price: $90-$105
❗ Record low: $84.99

Because this critically-acclaimed fantasy adventure has a sticker price of around $140, it's one to watch during the Black Friday frenzy. It dipped to a record low of $85 at Amazon a few years ago (and UK gamers could grab it for £74.90), and this kind of discount only happens in November or December. In other words, sales season is the time to strike. Just make sure you move fast, as stock won't last long!

Mansions of Madness | Check price at Amazon

💲 Full price: $109.99
📉 Expected price: $50-$55
❗ Record low: $50.49

As one of the most well-regarded horror games, it's always a big deal when Mansions of Madness gets reduced. And traditionally, November is a good time for that. It hit $50.49 last year, for instance and it's literally never been cheaper. Watch this one like a hawk over the final two months of the year.

HeroQuest | Check price at Amazon

💲 Full price: $134.99
📉 Expected price: $85-$90
❗ Record low: $47.48

This remake of the OG dungeon-crawler is another pricey board game, so it's a good thing you can typically find it for at least $40 less during Black Friday. We probably won't see a repeat of the all-time saving of $47ish because that was a one-off occurrence during a random February, but hey. Anywhere past $85 is good value.

Scythe | Check price at Amazon

💲 Full price: $79.99
📉 Expected price: $55-$60
❗ Record low: $39.99

This $80 strategy game doesn't always get cut in cost for Black Friday, but it has happened before now. Indeed, it commonly comes down to around $55-$60 in November. While that doesn't match the game's best price of $39.99 back in 2019, this is one of those products that rarely drops in cost.

Arkham Horror | Check price at Amazon

💲 Full price: $79.99
📉 Expected price: $40-$45
❗ Record low: $31.99

As with Mansions of Madness listed above, Arkham Horror is a venerable but expensive tabletop staple (it costs $80 at full price). But like its counterpart, it also tumbles in cost for Black Friday. For instance, last year it went down to around $43.

Pandemic Legacy | Check price at Amazon

💲 Full price: $79.99
📉 Expected price: $65-$70
❗ Record low: $29.99

This spin on the classic Pandemic takes that beloved gameplay and turns it into a full campaign with consequences from session to session. What follows is brilliantly memorable experience that'll set you back anywhere up to $80 on an average day. If you shop during Black Friday, though, there's a chance you can get it for much less. Namely, the Blue version careened down to £29.99 in November 2019.

Descent: Legends of the Dark | Check price at Amazon

💲 Full price: $174.99
📉 Expected price: $85-$90
❗ Record low: $87.47

Much like Gloomhaven, this massive RPG adventure weighs a ton thanks to its numerous miniatures, components, and quests. That's reflected by a normal price nearing $200. While the UK didn't enjoy much of a dip in 2021, the US was a different story - the game tumbled by 45% to $95.99 in 2021, a couple of days after Black Friday.

Descent: The Betrayer's War expansion | Check price at Amazon

💲 Full price: $159.99
📉 Expected price: $95-$100
❗ Record low: $101.99

While we're on the subject of Descent, its expansion is similarly pricey so should be slashed in price around November time if its anything like its predecessor.

Root | Check price at Amazon

💲 Full price: $59.99
📉 Expected price: $45-$50
❗ Record low: $36.55

This cute but clever strategy game is another expensive one thanks to a sticker price of around $60, but it has been to known to drop by roughly $10 during the Black Friday sale.

Wingspan | Check price at Amazon

💲 Full price: $65
📉 Expected price: $40-$45
❗ Record low: $38.81

You'll be lucky if you can find this calming, family-friendly game for below its usual price of $70-ish unless you're shopping on Black Friday. As a case in point, it hit $43 in 2021 and $44.99 last year.