9 Best Boardgames of 2022 Reviewed for 2025
Discover the best boardgames of 2022—fun for everyone, easy to learn, packed with laughs, and perfect for any new player.
Our group played a ton of new releases last year, so trust us, we know the best boardgames of 2022 when we see them! When picking games for this list, we focused on fun, replay value, and if the table looked like a party, not a funeral. We wanted games that worked for different groups—rowdy friends, family folk, or the odd strategy nerd. The best boardgames of 2022 had to surprise us, make us laugh, and actually finish them without anyone rage-quitting. If you’re hunting for those awesome 2022 gems, this is your lucky day!
On this list:
9 Cat in the Box: Deluxe Edition
We picked Cat in the Box: Deluxe Edition because it turned trick-taking on its head and made us question everything we knew about colors, suits, and whether our cat was both playing and napping at the same time. The rules are simple and it’s super easy to teach new players, making it one of the best boardgames of 2022 for groups who like quick, tense rounds and a good laugh. The real fun is when someone thinks they’ve got it all under control, and then—BOOM—the paradox hits. Quick, wild, and different every game. If you want a game that’ll get people talking and maybe shouting (in a good way), this is your ticket.
8 Wonderland’s War
Wonderland’s War made us feel like mischievous misfits about to incite chaos at a very weird tea party, and it totally rocks as one of the best boardgames of 2022. The mix of bag-building and area control is fantastic and those colorful, chunky tokens are just as satisfying as a big slice of cake. The art is wild and if you love games where everyone schemes and no one’s safe, this hits the spot. Plus, the table presence is so eye-popping, strangers will wander over and ask, ‘What are you playing?’ (and will probably want to join).
7 Foundations of Rome
We felt like Roman architects with this one, dreaming of fountains and plazas yet somehow always building next to the world’s worst public toilets. It’s easy to teach: just slap down buildings, score, repeat. But wow, the city-building aspect is SO satisfying. Foundations of Rome stands out in the best boardgames of 2022 crowd for being both accessible and actually gorgeous on the table—seriously, the chunky city pieces are worth a flex on Instagram. It appeals to gamers and non-gamers alike and doesn’t outstay its welcome. Brass thumbs up from all of us.
6 Cascadia
Cascadia is so peaceful you’ll almost forget you’re trying to outscore your friends. It’s a nature puzzle with tiles and animal tokens and is super relaxing to play. Anyone who likes spatial puzzles, pretty landscapes, or silently plotting to outfox their buddies will love it. Cascadia gets a spot on the best boardgames of 2022 because it’s perfect for all ages and never feels repetitive. It’s the game you play to recover from a long day or a big argument over another game (we’re looking at you, Monopoly).
5 Turing Machine
Turing Machine turns your brain into scrambled eggs, but in the best way possible. We felt so smart (and sometimes so, so dumb) trying to crack codes quicker than everyone else. It’s like competitive Sudoku, if Sudoku could stare you down and make you sweat. What’s wild is the paper-and-punch card system that somehow works like futuristic tech but costs less than a burger meal. If your group likes puzzles or pretending they’re codebreakers, add this to your list of best boardgames of 2022.
4 Heat: Pedal to the Metal
This game makes us shout things like ‘Vroom vroom!’ and ‘You blocked me again, Carl?!’ Heat: Pedal to the Metal is pure adrenaline and you don’t even have to know cars to enjoy it. The card-driven racing feels fast, fierce, and the tension of pushing your luck (and engine) is just *chef’s kiss*. We slapped this on our best boardgames of 2022 list because it gets everyone invested, no matter the age or skill at steering tiny cars. Watch your friendships take a pit stop and then speed right back onto the track!
3 Ark Nova
We built better zoos than our local wildlife park—no joke. Ark Nova is crunchy (but in a fun way), letting you build habitats, rescue animals, juggle sponsors, and somehow still have time for coffee breaks. It’s the deep, strategic game that took over our group in 2022, and for good reason: so many paths to win, and all of them feel rewarding (unless a friend blocks your animal, then it’s war). Among the best boardgames of 2022, Ark Nova is perfect if you want to spend two hours feeling clever and a little bit evil.
2 Planet Unknown
Imagine Tetris in space, but with more snacks and less gravity. Planet Unknown is a polyomino masterpiece where you build planets for point-hungry corporations. Every turn, that lazy Susan spinner makes the table shake as we all race to grab the best tile. It’s interactive, fast, and good for big groups. We had so much fun jostling for the best planets and blocking each other from that one perfect tile. Easily one of the best boardgames of 2022 for puzzle lovers and anyone who likes colorful, smart games you can play with almost anyone.
1 ISS Vanguard
ISS Vanguard is the best of the best boardgames of 2022 for us. Why? It’s more than a game—it’s a space adventure that makes you cheer, panic, and secretly wish you’d paid more attention in science class. The campaign is MASSIVE: you’ll bond with your crew, explore planets, and face wild dangers, all packed into a rulebook that (thankfully) makes sense. What really blew us away was how involved everyone felt, whether we were patching up the ship, decoding mysteries, or arguing over snacks. If you want an epic journey you’ll talk about for years, ISS Vanguard is the rocket to take.
