Best 8 Popular Games to Play in 2024

Catan tops our popular games list. Gather resources, trade with friends, and build your settlement. Easy to learn!
Disclaimer: Clicking our links may result in us earning enough for a new pair of dice, but not enough to quit our day jobs as amateur board game hustlers.
Catan coverTicket to Ride coverCarcassonne cover

Top 8 Popular Games for New Board Gamers

On this list:

8 Catan

Catan cover

  • Age Range: 10+
  • Players: 3-4
  • Play Time: 60-120 minutes

Get your copy on Amazon ↗

Catan is a gateway game that brings people together with its trading and building mechanics. It’s easy to learn yet offers depth that keeps you coming back. Plus, the hexagon tiles always make each game different.

7 Ticket to Ride

Ticket to Ride cover

  • Age Range: 8+
  • Players: 2-5
  • Play Time: 30-60 minutes

Get your copy on Amazon ↗

Ticket to Ride makes train travel exciting! Collect cards, claim routes, and connect cities. It’s simple enough for first-time players while still providing strategic options for seasoned gamers.

6 Carcassonne

Carcassonne cover

  • Age Range: 7+
  • Players: 2-5
  • Play Time: 35 minutes

Get your copy on Amazon ↗

In Carcassonne, laying tiles and claiming roads or cities is strangely satisfying. The game scales well with more players and ensures no two playthroughs are alike thanks to its random tile draws.

5 Pandemic

Pandemic cover

  • Age Range: 8+
  • Players: 2-4
  • Play Time: 45 minutes

Get your copy on Amazon ↗

Pandemic offers a gripping cooperative experience. Players must work as a team to stop global diseases. Each player’s role adds a nice twist, ensuring every game feels different.

4 Splendor

Splendor cover

  • Age Range: 10+
  • Players: 2-4
  • Play Time: 30 minutes

Get your copy on Amazon ↗

Splendor’s gem-collecting and card-buying mechanics create a rewarding experience with smooth gameplay. It’s quick to learn but offers a lot of strategy, making it perfect for multiple sessions.

3 7 Wonders

7 Wonders cover

  • Age Range: 10+
  • Players: 2-7
  • Play Time: 30 minutes

Get your copy on Amazon ↗

7 Wonders allows players to build civilizations, balance resources, and outsmart opponents. Its card-drafting mechanic is clever, offering plenty of ways to build your empire, while keeping everyone engaged.

2 Codenames

Codenames cover

  • Age Range: 14+
  • Players: 2-8+
  • Play Time: 15 minutes

Get your copy on Amazon ↗

Codenames is a word game that involves clever clue-giving and guessing. It’s perfect for parties and family gatherings, where you can split into teams and laugh at each other’s bizarre thought processes.

1 Gloomhaven

Gloomhaven cover

  • Age Range: 14+
  • Players: 1-4
  • Play Time: 60-120 minutes

Get your copy on Amazon ↗

Gloomhaven is the best because it delivers a rich, immersive experience. With deep storytelling, tactical combat, and character progression, it’s a game you’ll be talking about long after the session ends.

Jamie in his proper element: With all of his board games
Jamie Hopkins

With years of dice-rolling, card-flipping, and strategic planning under my belt, I've transformed my passion into expertise. I thrive on dissecting the mechanics and social dynamics of board games, sharing insights from countless game nights with friends. I dive deep into gameplay mechanics, while emphasizing the social joys of gaming. While I appreciate themes and visuals, it's the strategy and camaraderie that truly capture my heart.