8 Best Board Games 2025: Top Picks from 100 Best
Looking for top choices from the 100 best board games? We tried classics and new hits to find the perfect beginner picks.
Looking for the perfect way to start your journey into the world of tabletop fun? We’ve put together a list of 8 amazing picks inspired by the 100 best board games out there. We focus on games that are easy to learn, loads of fun, and always get people talking at the table. Some are great for families, some work like magic at parties, and others are just perfect for when your friends are feeling a bit competitive. Get ready to meet our standout choices from the 100 best board games that have wowed us and our game group again and again!
On this list:
8 7 Wonders
We always go back to 7 Wonders when talking about the 100 best board games with our group. It’s got that all-star reputation and pops up on just about every ‘best of’ list. You’re collecting cards and building up your civilization faster than Dave can build a sandwich, and that’s saying something. It’s quick, surprisingly deep, and nobody has to wait long for their turn, which is good, because we get grumpy when we’re hangry. If you want to see what makes a board game classic, this is a strong contender. The blend of draft, strategy, and just a tinge of spite keeps it fresh.
7 Ticket to Ride
If your list of the 100 best board games doesn’t have Ticket to Ride near the top, did you even play? Easy to teach and fast to play, this game has become the gold standard for family nights. We’ve played it with everyone from grandma to the neighbor’s kid who thinks trains are ‘old tech’. It’s always tense as the maps fill up and someone always, always blocks your planned route. It’s fun, it’s accessible, and it gets everyone a little bit too competitive about train tracks.
6 Codenames
Every time we bring out Codenames, someone says, ‘I’m terrible at word games,’ and then wins. Codenames keeps popping up on the 100 best board games because it brings together every type of player. You don’t need to be a wordsmith, but you will want to be sneaky. Watching your friends try to communicate with one-word clues and then try not to break under pressure is priceless. Simple to set up, with endless replay value. It’s the kind of game you end up playing three rounds of before you realize it’s past midnight.
5 Carcassonne
Tile laying has never been so cutthroat. Carcassonne is a staple when you talk about the 100 best board games, especially with new players. We argue over the placement of monasteries as if city planning jobs are up for grabs. There’s something satisfying about seeing your landscape grow, not to mention the joy of placing a sneaky thief at just the right time. Easy to teach, but packed with strategy, this one’s great for casual play or for when you want to show off your medieval farm skills.
4 Dominion
Dominion makes the cut every time we talk about the 100 best board games, especially with friends who love to build things—specifically, decks. It’s simple on the surface, but after a few games, you’ll realize your friends are plotting three turns ahead. We’ve seen some wild combos and even wilder debates about the ‘right way’ to win. It was one of the first deck-builders, and it still holds its own thanks to endless expansion and strategy. Plus, there’s nothing like finally pulling off that perfect chain.
3 Splendor
Splendor is always shiny and proud among the 100 best board games. It’s the game for when you want to trick your friends into doing math but make it fun. You collect gems, buy cards, and race to 15 points, all while claiming you ‘don’t care about winning’. We’ve had evenings where this hit the table three times in a row, because it’s quick, smooth, and lets you blame ‘bad draws’ when you lose. The learning curve is gentle, and the competition is fierce.
2 Azul
Azul is probably the prettiest game on our 100 best board games list, and for good reason. You’ll be drafting tiles, building mosaics, and secretly trying to mess up your opponent’s day. Looks relaxing, but trust us, it gets intense. One of our friends claims to play for the ‘art’, but we all know she’s counting points two rounds ahead. Easy to teach, hard to master, and beautiful to look at—Azul sneaks into the heart of every new player we’ve introduced to it.
1 Catan
If the 100 best board games were an actual competition, Catan would be the grand champion. It’s our pick for best because it’s sparked more laughter, trades, and low-key betrayals in our group than any other. The roads, the sheep, the dice—everything just hits right. We’ve watched new players go from confused to cunning in one game, and it never gets old. Catan is friendly for beginners but always throws you curveballs, thanks to the luck and strategy mix. It’s a classic for a reason, and everyone should play it at least once—just be ready to negotiate for sheep.
