12 Best Top Indie Board Games to Try in 2025
We rounded up the top indie board games that surprised us with clever ideas and loads of fun—perfect picks for new players!
12 Best Top Indie Board Games For New Players: Our Honest Picks
If you’re searching for top indie board games, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve wrangled our group of friends, set up snacks, and tested loads of games—some even survived spilled drinks and rogue cats. Our focus? Simple learning curves, creative themes, smart mechanics, and replay value that keeps you hooked week after week. You won’t find the usual big-box suspects here. Instead, we picked games that make game night memorable, whether you love strong strategy, table talk, or eye-catching art. Let’s get started and help you find your next favorite!
On this list:
12 Root
Root looks cute, but don’t let those woodland creatures fool you—this is a ruthless game of trickery, alliances, and backstabbing. What makes Root stand out in the list of top indie board games is its unique asymmetrical gameplay, where every player controls a faction with different goals and mechanics. After several play sessions, we laughed, we argued, and one of us almost flipped the table! The replay value is wild and the artwork is top notch. It’s one of those games where you think you can outsmart everyone, but somehow the raccoon runs away with the victory. Worth it every time.
11 Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is the prettiest game about trees you’ll ever see. Don’t be fooled though—this indie classic is a tough, tactical fight for sunlight. We’ve argued over where to plant seeds like it’s the fate of the entire forest. Every move matters and blocking a rival tree is as satisfying as stealing their lunch money. If you want a game that’s both relaxing and makes you question your friendships, Photosynthesis is high up in our top indie board games picks.
10 PARKS
PARKS is a love letter to hiking, where you collect memories, not blisters. It’s one of those top indie board games that’s relaxing to play but sneaky competitive. During our games, we were all quietly racing for the same trails and photo spots, and someone always grabbed the camera right before I could! The artwork is gorgeous and you’ll want to hang the cards on your wall. If you need zen with a splash of strategy, this game is your trailhead.
9 Wingspan
Wingspan lets you build a bird empire (yes, that’s a thing). What makes it a feathered hit among top indie board games is how easy it is to learn, but the strategies go deep. We spent half the time gawking at the bird cards and the other half sneaky-planning our combos. Even the dice tower is shaped like a birdhouse! It’s a must-play for anyone who enjoys nature, engines, or just birds with funny names.
8 Spirit Island
Spirit Island flips the usual colonial theme on its head—you’re the spirits defending your land from invaders. When we played, it felt awesome to work together and scare off those tiny explorer meeples. The combo powers make you feel epic, and you really have to communicate. It’s brainy and tough, perfect for folks who love co-op games that don’t pull punches. Top indie board games rarely pack such a punch!
7 Sushi Go!
Sushi Go! is fast, cute, and surprisingly cutthroat for a game about sushi. It’s a card-drafting game that’s easy to teach (even after a few drinks). We loved the quick rounds—you’ll want to play again and again to see who can build the best sushi platter. It’s a staple for any game night and proves big fun can come from tiny indie packages. This one’s a quick pick in any top indie board games round-up.
6 The Quacks of Quedlinburg
It’s not every day you get to play as a potion-brewing charlatan. In Quacks, you pull ingredients from a bag, hoping not to blow up your cauldron. We laughed so hard when someone exploded and blamed ‘bad luck.’ The press-your-luck mechanic makes every turn tense. It’s one of the top indie board games for those who like a bit of madness with their game night.
5 Cartographers: A Roll Player Tale
Draw a map, block your friends, and hope the monsters don’t ruin your plans—yep, that’s Cartographers. It’s a flip-and-write indie gem that makes you feel clever every round. We passed our maps around for monsters, and wow, the sabotage was real. This game is perfect if you want to doodle, strategize, and laugh about some very questionable map art.
4 Calico
Calico is the best way to experience the true joy and pain of quilting, with cats. We all got competitive over who could attract the cutest cats or sew the prettiest patterns. It’s simple to learn, but the puzzle is tough! As a top indie board game, Calico hits the sweet spot between cozy and cutthroat. Also, cats. Enough said.
3 Obsession
Obsession is Downton Abbey in a box, complete with fancy parties and scandal. Each player manages a Victorian estate, trying to impress the most important guests. It’s crunchy and thematic, and there’s real satisfaction in pulling off that perfect tea party. We laughed about our terrible luck and even worse manners. Indie publisher Kayenta Games knocked it out of the park here.
2 The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine
The Crew is cooperative trick-taking in space. Yes, you heard that right. As a team, you must complete missions by playing cards in a certain order, but there’s hardly any talking allowed. It’s tense, clever, and every mission gets harder. We had moments of real triumph and some epic failures. Honestly, The Crew proves top indie board games don’t need fancy bits to be unforgettable.
1 Everdell
Everdell is the best of the best among top indie board games for us. Why? It nails everything—gorgeous table presence, smooth gameplay, and a perfect mix of luck and strategy. Building a woodland city never felt so fun or satisfying. We had memorable moments like arguing over who gets a spot in the tree first and cheering for our little chipmunk workers. Every session is a story. If you want a charming AND strategic experience, Everdell is the game to beat.
