14 Best Board Gams to Play in 2026
We played, laughed, and argued over snacks to find the best board gams. Here are our picks for endless fun.
14 Best Board Gams For New Players: Our Top Picks For Fun Nights
Looking for the best board gams to spice up your next game night? We’ve played all sorts with friends—had our share of arguments, snacks, and lost meeples in the couch. When we made this list, we focused on games that you can learn fast, won’t drag on forever, and bring plenty of laughs and cheers. We picked a mix of strategy, teamwork, and a bit of luck, so there’s something for everyone. Get ready to find your new favorite from our best board gams list—trust us, we’ve tested these enough to know!
On this list:
14 Ticket to Ride
Ticket to Ride pops up on every best board gams list for good reason. Trains, cards, and a little bit of sabotage—what more do you need? We once played this three times back to back and nobody even got bored (except my cousin, but he gets bored making toast). It’s so easy to teach, and watching your friends panic when you block their route is pure joy. This game is pure board game gold for families and new players alike.
13 Carcassonne
Carcassonne is the game we pull out when someone says, ‘I’ve never played a board game, not even Monopoly.’ Simple rules, fun tile-laying, and a sneaky way to outscore your grandma. The best board gams lists love it because it’s quick to learn but deep enough to keep you coming back. If you like building little towns and fields, or just making weird shapes, this game is a must.
12 Codenames
This party game makes you feel like a secret agent, minus the tuxedo. It’s easy to pick up and lets everyone show off their word-guessing skills—or, in my case, lack of them. We once had someone clue ‘dog’ for ‘bark, bone, tree’—guess who picked ‘tree’? Yup, me. That’s why best board gams always has Codenames: it’s hilarious, quick, and super easy for anyone to join in.
11 Azul
If you want to pretend you’re a fancy tile artist and argue about color choices, Azul is your jam. It’s puzzle-like, relaxing, and sneaky—someone will try to ruin your perfect row every round. We’ve played it while eating snacks (don’t tell the rulebook) and it never disappoints. Azul always finds a place on best board gams lists because it’s clever and looks so pretty on the table.
10 Splendor
Splendor lets you collect shiny chips and pretend you’re a gemstone mogul. It’s easy but makes your brain work overtime. We once had a game where the winner said nothing the whole time—silent plotting! That’s why it’s one of the best board gams around. It’s quick to set up, great to teach, and makes everyone want just one more turn.
9 Sushi Go!
With adorable sushi cards and quick rounds, Sushi Go! is a hit at any table. Draft your favorite rolls and giggle when someone gets stuck with all the puddings. My friend once tried to collect every wasabi for no reason and lost badly, but loved every second. For new and hungry gamers, Sushi Go! is a classic in the best board gams collection.
8 Kingdomino
Kingdomino feels like dominoes with a medieval upgrade. Build your kingdom, claim crowns, and try not to mess up your plans—like I do every time. Fast, fun, and perfect for folks who don’t want to read a rulebook the size of a pizza menu. It always pops up in our best board gams picks, especially for quick game nights.
7 7 Wonders
Looking for something epic, but not too hard? 7 Wonders lets us build empires by flipping cards. Draft, build, wish you’d paid attention last turn. We once played three times in a row because someone insisted their strategy would ‘definitely work this time’ (it didn’t). With great depth and easy rules, it’s found on every best board gams list for a reason.
6 Pandemic
If you enjoy losing to a deck of cards and yelling at your friends for moving the wrong way, Pandemic is for you. This cooperative classic brings everyone together to save the world—unless you’re the one who forgot to treat a city (I’m guilty). Pandemic is a staple in the best board gams world because it’s tense, fun, and lets you blame the game when you lose.
5 The Quacks of Quedlinburg
If you like pushing your luck and making silly potion sounds, Quacks is your potion-brewing fix. We once exploded our pots so often we started awarding a ‘Biggest Boom’ prize. It’s chaotic, colorful, and always a mess in the best possible way. For anyone after fun and randomness, this game is a five-star pick for best board gams.
4 Just One
Just One is a cooperative party game that brings out creativity and some very bad handwriting. Give clues, guess the word, and laugh when three people write the same thing. We always have fun with this one—even my uncle who spells everything wrong. With simple rules and loads of laughs, it lands right in the heart of best board gams for families.
3 Catan
Catan is the gateway board game for so many people (including us). Trading sheep for wood never gets old—except when the dice never roll your number, which is always me. Everyone should try it at least once because it belongs on every best board gams list, even if only for the classic stories of betrayal it creates.
2 Wingspan
Birds, eggs, and a gorgeous table presence—Wingspan has it all. We played it for the art at first, but kept playing for the combos and strategies. It’s gentle but tricky, and will make you argue about the best way to feed a falcon (trust us, we did). For new gamers who want something a bit more, Wingspan is a must-have for the best board gams journey.
1 Cascadia
At the top of our best board gams theme list, Cascadia takes the crown. Why? It mixes relaxing tile placement with clever animal pattern building. Every game feels fresh, and the rules are so easy that we’ve taught it to beginners and watched them win their first game. Cascadia has that ‘just one more round’ magic, looks great on the table, and works for almost any group—kids, adults, newbies, and pros. Plus, it’s the only board game we’ve played where building a salmon run led to group high-fives and bad fish puns all night. That’s how you know it’s the best.
