7 Best Board Games Adults Love in 2025 Reviewed
If you want great board games adults will actually play, check out our picks. These games turn any night into pure fun.
The 7 Best Board Games Adults Will Actually Love Playing Together
Finding the perfect board games adults enjoy can be tricky. We want games that make us laugh, challenge us just enough, and keep everyone off their phones. After lots of game nights with friends—some with snacks, some with spilled drinks—we picked seven games that always bring a crowd together. Our picks are easy to learn, don’t drag on forever, and pack enough fun to make you want to play again. Whether your group likes puzzles, bluffing, or just yelling at each other with fake confidence, there’s a board game here for you.
On this list:
7 Codenames
We always end up shouting strange words at each other when we play Codenames. This word guessing game is simple, but totally addictive. You team up, give silly clues, and try to outwit your friends (or at least not embarrass yourself too much). Codenames works well at parties and is also friendly for new players. It’s a classic for any board games adults collection, because everybody gets to play and laugh—no waiting around while your cousin does his taxes between turns.
6 Wavelength
Wavelength is a party game that has caused more heated debates in our group than pineapple on pizza. You try to guess where your team’s thoughts land on a spectrum, from ‘hot’ to ‘cold’ or ‘cringe’ to ‘cool’. It’s hilarious, fast, and makes you wonder how well you really know your friends. Perfect for board games adults night—no board game veteran skills necessary, just a willingness to argue about the weirdest stuff.
5 Azul
If picking out tiles and making pretty patterns sounds boring, you haven’t played Azul. We originally tried it because someone thought it looked relaxing, but by the end, everyone was sabotaging each other’s mosaic and taking the tiles you clearly wanted. Azul is easy to pick up, quick to play, and surprisingly cutthroat for a game about bathroom tiles. Definitely a top pick for board games adults—strategy, beauty, and a chance to glare at your so-called friends.
4 Wingspan
Wingspan is the only game where you can be proud of your bird-watching skills without actually owning binoculars. Our group had a blast collecting birds, feeding them, and pretending to know what a ‘chimney swift’ is. The engine-building is smooth, the artwork is stunning, and learning the rules won’t fry your brain. If you want board games adults can play while sipping something fancy, Wingspan is the classy choice (and nobody will know you called the ‘great horned owl’ a ‘big angry pigeon’).
3 Decrypto
If you love word games but Codenames feels too easy, Decrypto will fry your brain in the best way. Our group had some wild moments trying to send secret codes and mess up the other team’s guesses—someone once tried to link ‘banana’ to ‘Moon Landing’ and we still tease them for it. The tension is real, and winning feels like you just cracked the Enigma machine. Add it to your board games adults list and watch your friends turn into secret agents (sort of).
2 The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine
This trick-taking game is perfect for adults who want a co-op challenge instead of just blaming each other for losing. The Crew had our group desperately signaling (without words!) and groaning when someone ‘accidentally’ took the wrong card. Easy rules, but the missions ramp up the challenge—and you’ll yell ‘Noooo!’ a lot. If your board games adults group likes a clever puzzle that actually makes people work together, this one is a must.
1 Just One
Here’s our pick for the best board games adults title. Just One is pure chaos in the best way possible. You only need to give a single word clue to get your friend to guess the answer, but if anyone else matches your clue, both are wiped out. We spent most rounds laughing at the totally unhelpful clues or the poor soul left with something cryptic like ‘wet mammal’ for ‘dolphin’. It’s fast, perfect for groups, and you can teach it in two minutes—even that one friend who thinks Monopoly is still cool can play. No game we own causes more laughs and groans, and that’s why it’s the clear winner.
