11 Best Table Games to Play in 2025 Reviewed
Looking for the best table games to play with friends? Our picks guarantee laughs, easy rules, and loads of fun!
11 Best Table Games to Play: Our Top Picks for Game Night Fun!
Looking for the best table games to play? We know the struggle of picking the perfect game that works for everyone, from your game-loving cousin to your board-game-hating aunt. When making this list, we focused on games that are easy to learn, fun with groups, and don’t turn family game night into a shouting match (well, not every time). Whether you like matching wits, building worlds, or collecting sushi, our picks offer something for any table. Get ready to laugh, scheme, and maybe yell ‘just one more round!’
On this list:
11 Codenames
We love how Codenames lures in new players with its simple rules and then totally fries their brains with word associations. The tension between teammates trying to read each other’s minds is pure gold. We once saw a team lose because someone thought ‘cat’ and ‘detective’ went together—don’t ask. It’s fast, fun, and you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to play, making it one of the best table games to play at any gathering. Plus, the more, the merrier!
10 Carcassonne
Carcassonne turns table tops into medieval landscapes faster than you can say ‘meeple.’ We love how the strategy sneaks up on you—one minute you’re building a city, the next you’re blocking a friend’s road with a sly grin. Everyone picks it up quickly and stays hooked. It’s tile-laying at its finest, and it always sparks some friendly competition. If you love building (and sabotaging), this is one of the best table games to play.
9 Ticket to Ride
We’ve never seen anyone frown while collecting plastic trains! Ticket to Ride hits that sweet spot between luck and skill, and it feels so good when you finish your route before your friends can mess things up. It’s the board game version of taking a relaxing trip, except people are trying to cut you off at every turn. Super easy to learn, making this a top pick for best table games to play when family or friends come over.
8 Azul
We were skeptical at first: how exciting can tile-laying and pretty patterns be? Turns out, very. Azul looks peaceful, but it’s secretly cutthroat when someone takes the tile you need. The game is quick, colorful, and oh-so-addictive. We keep it on the shelf for easy game nights, and it’s perfect for anyone looking for the best table games to play with a mix of calm and chaos.
7 Sushi Go!
Sushi Go! is a small box, big fun kind of game. We introduced this at a party and suddenly everyone wanted to be the best sushi chef. The card drafting is fast and light, but there’s enough strategy to keep things interesting. It’s so easy to teach, and no one gets bored waiting for their turn. This is always on our list for best table games to play when you want something quick and tasty.
6 7 Wonders
7 Wonders makes us feel smart, even when we’re not. Drafting cards, building ancient wonders, and a bit of friendly warmongering—what’s not to love? The game scales well, so even with a big group, nobody has to sit out. The rules look scarier than they are, but after one round everyone is battling for points like pros. Plain and simple: it’s one of the best table games to play if you want a taste of history and strategy.
5 Splendor
Splendor is what happens when you mix poker chips, pretty cards, and the need for shiny things. We constantly chase those precious gems, elbowing each other for that one card. It’s competitive but not mean, and new players catch on fast. We call it our ‘gateway game’ because it gets everyone hooked. Whenever we want a chill but classic experience, Splendor ranks high among the best table games to play.
4 Wavelength
Wavelength is part game, part test of friendship. We love the wild debates it sparks as we try to guess where our friends sit on the spectrum between ‘spicy’ and ‘mild.’ The game is so simple, but we’ve played it for hours without realizing. It’s clever, silly, and perfect for testing how well you know (or don’t know) your friends. This is easily one of the best table games to play for laughs and those classic ‘wait, what?!’ moments.
3 Just One
Just One is a cooperative party game that makes us feel clever and dumb at the same time. We try to give the best clues, but someone always writes the same word as us! There’s lots of laughter, and it’s impossible to stay mad (even when we lose because someone thought ‘fish’ was a good clue for ‘mermaid’). It’s quick to set up and play, making it a go-to for the best table games to play with new people.
2 Kingdomino
Kingdomino makes us feel like real estate moguls, if real estate was all about fitting dominoes into a perfect kingdom. We love the speedy turns and sneaky blocking moves. It’s easy to teach, but still rewards smart choices. Every game looks different at the end, and everyone always wants a rematch. For newcomers, this is one of the best table games to play thanks to its fast pace and friendly competition.
1 Cascadia
Cascadia is our top pick for the best table games to play because it combines beautiful tiles, nature, and animals into a puzzle that never gets old. We’ve played countless rounds and still argue over who gets the best salmon. The rules are quick to pick up, and there’s plenty of room for strategy without making brains hurt. Cascadia manages to please both puzzle lovers and casual players, making it the perfect board game to bring everyone together and keep them coming back for more.
