15 Best Top Rated in Board Games 2025 Review
Looking for fun? These top rated in board games bring laughter, challenge, and excitement right to your table. Perfect for new players!
Looking for the 15 best top rated in board games and not sure where to start? We’ve tested piles of cardboard, laughed, argued, and maybe even thrown some dice across the room to bring you this list. When picking our favorites, we focus on easy rules for new players, tons of replay value, and that special fun spark that keeps everyone coming back. Whether you want action, strategy, or wild party chaos, we’ve got you covered. So grab your snacks, call your friends, and see which top rated in board games might just become your new favorite night in!
On this list:
15 Wingspan
We didn’t expect to turn into bird enthusiasts, but Wingspan did it. This gorgeous game sees you collecting birds and laying eggs like feathery experts. The lovely artwork and fun game play kept us coming back for more. Turns move quick, and everyone at the table gets to do something every round, so there’s rarely time to check our phones (unless we’re googling bird facts, which is alarmingly often). It’s popular for a good reason: simple rules, great components, and actual bird noises on the app. What more do you want? It’s a top rated in board games option if you want something chill but competitive.
14 Ticket to Ride
This game made us all feel like train barons, even though our train knowledge begins and ends with Thomas. Building routes and blocking friends’ paths is sneaky fun. Easy to learn but plenty of ways to win, Ticket to Ride is the first thing we grab for family night — which is extra nice since our aunt still thinks Catan is pronounced ‘Satan.’ If you’re new to board games, this is top rated in board games for good reason: it’s easy, fun, and always tense when someone steals your route at the last second.
13 Codenames
Spy games are cool, but Codenames makes you feel like the cleverest person at the table (or the silliest, depending if you’re winning). This word game is full of funny moments when you realize you and your friend don’t think the same way at all. It works with large groups, so it’s perfect for parties, family events, or even that awkward work gathering. Codenames is a top rated in board games classic because it blends laughs, loud arguments, and those rare moments when your clue is actually decent.
12 Azul
Azul is so relaxing we almost fell asleep, but in a good way! Placing little tiles onto our board is weirdly satisfying, and it becomes an intense puzzle as the game goes. There’s a surprising amount of strategy here, and we found ourselves debating each move like we were expert tilers. It’s gorgeous to look at, so even when we lost (which was almost always), at least our board looked nice. Azul is a top rated in board games staple and always hits the table for quick, clever fun.
11 Carcassonne
Building the perfect medieval city never gets old in Carcassonne. It’s easy to teach, so we use it as our go-to for new players. Watching the map grow is half the fun, and sneakily stealing a city from your friend leads to the kind of drama that makes board game nights great. Every session turns out different, and it’s satisfying no matter your skill level. With expansions and tons of replay value, no wonder it stays top rated in board games year after year.
10 Pandemic
Pandemic is the first game we played that almost ruined a friendship because we couldn’t agree how to save humanity. But that’s the fun! This co-op game feels tense, fast, and full of those ‘oh no’ moments. It’s about working together instead of crushing your friends, and it even made us feel smart for about five minutes. If you want top rated in board games that put your teamwork to the test, Pandemic is a wild ride every time.
9 7 Wonders
Drafting cards! Building wonders! Accidentally giving your neighbor everything they need to win! That’s 7 Wonders. It’s fast, seats up to 7 players (so, great for big groups), and every card you pick really does matter. The first time we played, someone managed to win by building the Statue of Zeus and then bragged about it for a month. 7 Wonders is easy to pick up but has layers to master. For top rated in board games that work with larger groups, you can’t beat it.
8 Sushi Go!
We love food, we love cute cartoons, and we love passing cards. Sushi Go! is our go-to snack between heavier games, and it’s always a hit. Set collection is simple but clever, and watching people panic over which cards to keep is half the fun. The art makes us smile, and the quick rounds mean you can squeeze in a game any time. Sushi Go! is a top rated in board games pick for all ages and skill levels.
7 Catan
We’ve yelled, laughed, and traded sheep for, well, everything in Catan. The classic resource game started our whole board game hobby, and it still stands up today. Negotiating with friends and racing to build is always a blast. Sure, there will be fights (about wood, mostly), but it’s all in good fun. For people new to hobby board games, Catan is a top rated in board games legend that’s accessible and endlessly replayable.
6 Splendor
Splendor made us all feel like Renaissance jewel merchants, minus the 16th-century plague, which is nice. The game moves fast and rewards clever planning. You’ll think you’re winning, then someone nabs a noble and ruins your plans. It’s quick to teach, looks classy on the table, and gets intense as gems run out. Splendor is often top rated in board games for those who want engine building without burning out their brains.
5 Terraforming Mars
Terraforming Mars is where we learned that making Mars livable is way harder than sci-fi movies make it look. Every game turns into a new challenge, and building your tableau feels like an epic achievement (even if you accidentally flood your own city). There’s a steep learning curve, but the depth is worth it. It’s top rated in board games for good reason: endless combos, wild strategies, and a game that never plays the same twice.
4 Scythe
Scythe made us want to start a farm, then conquer our neighbor’s farm… with robots. The game looks amazing on the table, and it’s more about clever actions than constant fighting. It’s a longer game but rewards those who can think a few turns ahead. Our games always turn into epic stories, with last-minute swings and desperate gambles. Scythe is a top rated in board games favorite if you want something deeper but still polished and fair.
3 Root
Root proved to us that woodland creatures can be absolutely vicious. Every faction plays differently, so you’ll never get bored learning new strategies. Games are tense, and the artwork is strangely adorable for such a cutthroat game. The asymmetry is the big draw here—each session feels different, and pulling off a win is always satisfying. For gamers who want top rated in board games that reward learning and clever play, Root is a must.
2 The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine
The Crew is a co-op trick-taking game, which sounded weird until we tried it. Now, we can’t stop playing. It’s easy to set up, but each mission throws something new at you. The teamwork involved is both fun and, honestly, sometimes a little bit stressful, but in the best way. We’ve played it over and over, and it never gets old. For fans of card games who want to try something new, this is a top rated in board games gem.
1 Gloomhaven
We saved the best for last. Gloomhaven is, hands down, the wildest ride we’ve had in board gaming. It’s massive: you’ll open the box and wonder if you’re setting up IKEA furniture. But once you start, the campaign grips you tight. Decisions feel like they matter, the world keeps changing, and your characters actually grow. We spent months with the same group, and by the end, it felt like we’d lived a fantasy epic. Gloomhaven is not just top rated in board games – it’s the king. For players ready for a serious adventure, there’s just nothing else like it.
