12 Best Adults Board Games Reviewed for 2026
Looking for board games perfect for adults? We’ve tested the best games that bring laughter, strategy, and excitement to every adult game night!
12 Best Board Games for Adults: The Ultimate List for a Night to Remember! Are you tired of boring game nights and want something made just for adults? We get it. When rounding up this list, we focused on party games that spark laughter, conversations, and maybe a bit of friendly chaos. These games bring out the best (and worst) sides of your friends. We avoided anything too complex, so you won’t need an instruction manual the size of your dinner table. Whether you’re planning a wild party or just hanging out, these picks promise fun for adults. Grab a drink and let’s get started!
On this list:
12 Codenames: Deep Undercover
We love playing Codenames: Deep Undercover with adults because it’s like the regular Codenames, but with words that will make your grandma blush. We still laugh about the time someone connected ‘banana’ and ‘naked’ with the clue ‘potassium’. Teams try to link risqué words without revealing the assassin card. This edition brings out the giggles and those awkward ‘I did NOT mean that!’ moments. Be warned: this is not for kids or for playing with your boss. It’s perfect for groups who love word games and a side of innuendo.
11 Cards Against Humanity
Cards Against Humanity is the grandparent of adult party games. We’ve played this at many gatherings, and nobody left with their dignity intact. The game is simple: you match cards to make the wildest and most inappropriate phrases. If you play with the right group, you’ll cry laughing—if you play with the wrong group, you’ll just cry. Warning: This is not for people who are easily shocked or offended! It’s all about having a thick skin and a twisted sense of humor.
10 Secret Hitler
Secret Hitler is an adults-only social deduction game where you try to find the fascist among your friends. We’ve accused each other of being Hitler so many times we might be on a list. The debates get heated, the lies get wild, and alliances last about two turns. If you’re looking for a game where you can yell ‘I KNEW IT!’ at your best friend, this one is for you. It’s best with big groups who don’t mind shouting and lying shamelessly.
9 Wavelength
Wavelength is a party game where adults test their psychic skills, or more likely, prove just how differently their brains work. We love how it gets us arguing whether ‘spicy’ is closer to ‘mild’ or ‘volcano’. It’s simple, clever, and always leads to hilarious conversations. The game’s design encourages debate and banter, so it’s perfect for adults who love talking things out…loudly. The ‘aha!’ moments are great, and so are the times we totally miss the mark.
8 Trial by Trolley
Trial by Trolley is a game where adults get to play philosopher and choose who (or what) gets run over by a runaway trolley. We can’t stop arguing about saving puppies or evil twins. The dark humor is the main draw; you get to make impossible choices that spark debate and plenty of laughter. If you love ethical dilemmas, and don’t mind being slightly evil to win, you’ll get a kick out of this. Some of our choices still haunt us though.
7 The Voting Game
The Voting Game turns a group of adults into a roast session disguised as a board game. We play this when we want to find out what everyone secretly thinks. Each round, you vote on questions like ‘Who would survive a zombie apocalypse?’ The results are hilarious, sometimes brutal, always memorable. You get to really know what people think—just hope they don’t know too much about you. It’s best played with friends who trust each other and don’t mind a little friendly fire.
6 Monikers
Monikers is a party game for adults who like charades with brain cells involved. We love the mix of guessing, acting, and wordplay. The cards go from easy to absurd, and watching friends do their best impression of ‘Guy Fieri’ still makes us laugh. It’s fast-paced, gets silly quick, and is easy to teach. The adult editions add a spicy layer, making it more fun for grown-ups looking for something livelier than classic charades.
5 That’s What She Said
That’s What She Said is like Cards Against Humanity but 100% focused on innuendo. We’ve played this at parties and the jokes fly faster than our maturity levels drop. You pair cards to make the funniest, sometimes shocking, sentences. It’s not for the easily embarrassed, but for adults who never outgrew dad jokes, it’s a winner. The best moments are when someone reads their answer and the room explodes with laughter—or groans.
4 Joking Hazard
We picked Joking Hazard because it’s a hilarious, somewhat NSFW party game for adults where you make comic strips with rude and absurd punchlines. Our group nearly choked from laughing too hard. It keeps things fresh and is perfect if you want an adults game with a wild, creative twist.
3 Disturbed Friends
Disturbed Friends is a party game for adults who aren’t afraid to shock or be shocked. We asked each other some of the most awkward questions ever. It’s full of NSFW humor and tough choices that’ll make you question your friends’ morals (and sanity). Each round, you guess how others will answer, and the winner is usually the one with the worst possible sense of humor. This is not a game you want to play with your in-laws—trust us.
2 Scrawl
Scrawl is like Pictionary if everyone in the room had a twisted sense of humor. We laughed so hard at some of the drawings we couldn’t breathe. Each round, adults draw ridiculous prompts, then pass their creations along for everyone to guess. The crazier the group, the better the results—and the wilder the guesses. It’s easy to play, full of epic fails, and guaranteed to leave everyone in stitches. Just don’t expect high art.
1 Decrypto
Decrypto is the best board game for adults because it’s clever without being crass. We play in teams, trying to send secret codes without the other side figuring them out. The game always sparks creative thinking, with just enough tension to make things spicy, but never awkward. It’s great for adults who want to use their brains and their sense of teamwork. Every time we play, it feels fresh. The best part? You get to feel smart even if you totally mess up. It’s a game that’s fun, tricky, and works for mixed groups. That’s why we chose it as the top board game for adults.
