12 Best Big Family Board Games 2025 Reviewed
Looking for fun big family board games? We’ve tried them all, from classics to new releases, and here are our top picks.
The 12 Best Big Family Board Games for Fun Nights Together
Finding the perfect big family board games can feel like searching for socks after laundry day—tricky but worth it. We focus on games that are easy to learn, quick to set up, and fun for both kids and adults. Our picks work with bigger groups and keep everyone laughing (or at least, not fighting over the rules). Whether you love bluffing, drawing, guessing, or just yelling at Aunt Linda for sabotaging your points, there’s something here for your next game night. Let’s make those family gatherings less awkward and a lot more fun!
On this list:
12 Codenames
We think Codenames works great as a big family board game because it’s so easy to explain. You get to split up in teams, whisper dumb ideas to each other, and shout out odd words your uncle thinks are ‘definitely’ connected. We often crack up at how off-base our guesses are. It’s a game of wits, wordplay, and a little bit of chaos—our family gatherings would not be the same without at least one heated round of Codenames!
11 Ticket to Ride: Europe
Ticket to Ride: Europe is one of the best big family board games because even your cousin who always forgets the rules will catch on. You get to collect pretty train cards, secretly block your family’s routes, and compete in the least-harmful way possible. We’ve had some epic showdowns over a single rail, and the board is so colorful even Grandma squints at it and says, ‘Isn’t this lovely?’ Everyone stays involved till the end. No one flips the board. (Usually.)
10 Sushi Go! Party
Sushi Go! Party scales up nicely for big family board games, and it’s got more sushi than a buffet bar. The rules are simple—draft cards, make sets, eat pudding (well, your cards do)—and the art is so cute, even the grumpiest family member cracks a smile. We love watching alliances form and fall apart as someone nabs the last wasabi card. Easy to teach, quick to play, and there’s enough variety to keep even picky gamers interested.
9 Just One
Just One turns every big family board game night into a laugh riot. We like that everyone works together, so Aunt Linda doesn’t get mad when she loses. The idea is simple: you write clues, but if two people write the same word, both get erased. There’s always at least one moment where we all groan because three people wrote “Banana.” It’s easy, fast, and no one has to do math (big plus for us).
8 Wavelength
Wavelength is a big family board game staple in our house. It’s like a mind-reading contest where you try to guess what that one weird cousin is thinking. You debate how ‘spicy’ a cucumber is, or if a dog is more ‘indoor’ or ‘outdoor.’ The spinning wheel is pure tactile joy, and even the quiet ones love to argue their point. This one always gets both cheers and groans, and we love it for that.
7 Dixit
Dixit is a magical, artsy big family board game. The dreamy cards make everyone feel like they’re back in kindergarten, and no reading required. Storytelling is key: one person gives a clue, everyone else tries to sneak in a matching card. We get creative (sometimes too creative) with our clues, and love seeing what stories people tell. It encourages both the shy and the bold, and adds a touch of wonder to any family night.
6 Telestrations
Telestrations always ends up being a highlight at our family reunions. Imagine playing Telephone with doodles instead of whispers. It’s designed perfectly for big family board games because you can play with up to 8 (or even more with the party pack). We guarantee you’ll laugh at the ridiculous drawings—our dad once turned ‘cell phone’ into ‘eggplant.’ Easy to set up, hilarious results, and zero pressure to actually be good at drawing.
5 King of Tokyo
King of Tokyo is all about big monsters, big laughs, and big family board game energy. We love smashing things and pretending to be giant lizards. The dice-rolling is pure excitement, and kids and adults get into the action. It’s light enough for casual play but there’s still some strategy—watching Grandpa go full Godzilla is a sight to behold. Plus, the game is quick, so no one gets bored waiting their turn.
4 Pictomania
Pictomania fixes everything we don’t love about Pictionary: everyone draws at once! This makes it perfect for big family board games where nobody wants to sit and wait. You try to draw, guess, AND make sense of everyone’s doodles all at the same time. We all laugh at our attempts to draw ‘pancake robot.’ It’s fast, chaotic, and works for all drawing skill levels (even stick-figure pros like us).
3 Decrypto
Decrypto is a big family board game for those who like to outsmart each other but still want to play in teams. It’s like Codenames, but with more sneaky clue-giving and decoding. We love how it keeps everyone on their toes—last game, our Mom over-thought her clue so bad we all just stared at each other. It’s a bit trickier but super rewarding if your family likes puzzles and teamwork.
2 The Resistance: Avalon
This one is for those big family board game nights when you want drama. It’s a game of hidden roles, so you can accuse your siblings of betrayal (officially). We get way too serious sometimes, but always end up laughing about wild bluffs and betrayals. It keeps everyone involved, because even if you’re out, you’re still spying on who’s lying. Don’t play if your family holds grudges, though!
1 7 Wonders
7 Wonders is our pick for the best big family board game because it fits up to 7 players with no waiting or downtime. Everyone takes a turn at the same time, so the game flows smoothly—even with large groups. We love the mix of simple rules and deep strategy. You can build a city, go to war, or just collect science like a nerd. It’s colorful, plays in under an hour, and everyone stays engaged. 7 Wonders hits all the right notes for a fun, lively family night!
