29 Best Board Games For A Party in 2025
There are a lot of hot and new board games out there to try, yet some of the best board games for a party are still the classics. Go ahead and enjoy your newfangled games like Mice and Mystics or Mysterium Park, but pulling out well-known favorites for the party will keep you on the “hot host” list.
According to the Games for Health Journal, studies have been conducted to demonstrate the benefits of playing board games for brain development and even regaining control of the brain for individuals with diseases or conditions that affect mental processing. What better reason to pull out your board games than to challenge the brain power of all of your friends at your next big event? An excellent sign of friendship is that you want to improve your friends' minds together.
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- Best Board Games For A Party
- Fun Board Games For Groups
- Fun Board Games For Big Groups
- Family Board Games For A Party
- Best Party Board Games For Adults
- What Are The Top 10 Board Games Of All Time?
Best Board Games For A Party
1. Scattergories
What board games are good for parties? Ones that involve creative challenges and word play — or teasing your friends about how their minds work! Board games for a party should always include the classic Scattergories — or its counterpart Outburst, where the terms fitting the category are already decided and you and your opponents guess the answers.
2. Ransom Notes
Each team gets its own board in this innovative magnet poetry and creative writing challenge, an example of party games for adults. Putting together your set of board games for a party should include fun things to get everyone's minds working and the “burns” flying – what better way to spend an evening than teasing your friends than with Ransom Notes.
3. Luck of the Draw
You don't have to be a fabulous artist to enjoy Luck of the Draw. Everyone draws the same thing during the round, and then everyone votes on whose drawings best fit the selected cards (like Apples to Apples but with categories like “Most Likely to Become a Kindergarten Teacher” or “Clearly Never Had An Art Lesson”). You can even show your friends a little mercy by making the vote anonymously.
4. Colorful Puzzles
Jigsaw Puzzles are a superb way of celebrating with friends, especially for neurospicy people who always want something to do with their hands while they chit chat. They are full of color and they come in so many types that you can choose one with enough pieces to satisfy any size group. Frame the finished puzzle to hang on your wall as a keepsake.
Fun Board Games For Groups
5. Dungeon!
This title may remind you of the tabletop role-playing game (RPG), but Dungeon! is actually a board game developed around the same time in the 1980s that is a pared-down version of the RPG. You get to hunt through different chambers for treasures and fight monsters. This is one of the best answers to the question: “What are good group board games?”.
6. Codenames
Often sold with the description “A board game version of charades”, Codenames involves the art of detecting deceit and using clues to solve the case. Board games for a party are like any other party games: engaging and interactive for multiple players or teams.
7. Magic: The Gathering
While traditionally thought of as a card game, there are boards involved for the management of playing cards strategically during Magic: The Gathering. This falls under board games for a party, especially when it's a party or gathering of people who all know how to play.
8. Risk
Who doesn't love strategizing to take over the world — and take down your friends? Build allies and enemies as you learn how to plan a war. in the classic board game, Risk. Board games for a party may never become more enticing than this.
Fun Board Games For Big Groups
9. You're Getting Old
Another card-based game that involves a board — this is excellent fun for people who think they're on the border between “young” and “old.” This makes for delightful board games for a party and party games for larger groups, because it comes with one big board for multiple players to rank up or down on the “how old are you” scale. It certainly hits home, but You're Getting Old is also a lot of fun to see who in your group of friends has the oldest soul!
10. Dungeons and Dragons
Tabletop role-playing games are called that for a reason. Many of these involve a board that displays a map and miniature versions of each person's character, illustrating how battles unfold. Board games for a party need to be chosen based on the type of party and the group of friends attending. If the group is into fantasy and the sublime art of storytelling, Dungeons and Dragons is a true classic that lasts for hours (or days).
11. Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective
Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective is a clue-hunting, crime-solving board game made for up to eight players at a time. Therefore, it makes for a magnificent addition to this board game list for a party. Perhaps a modern version of CLUE, although it takes us back to the quick and clever protagonist — or maybe it’s even more convoluted and tricky. You’ll have to try it and see!
Family Board Games For A Party
12. Kill Doctor Lucky
If you enjoy CLUE, you'll enjoy this, too! It's similar in strategy but about the opposite in theory — rather than figure out "who done it" before everyone else does, you're trying to commit the murder in private before anyone else does. Everyone has a reason to kill Doctor Lucky, but he has a way of easily evading damage. Board games for a party should be this intriguing all the time!
13. Ticket to Ride
Simple strategy games are a good way of helping the younger family members learn. Ticket to Ride is all about forming railroads across the country, connecting cities as you go. This is an apt opportunity for teaching your children about public transportation, as well! What more could you want from board games for a party?
14. Blokus
Board games for a party for families should always feature colorful pieces. Blokus is like a physical version of the classic arcade game of Tetris (though there is also a board game for that now, too). It can be played by up to four people at a time, which is another reason it’s a great game for family groups.
15. Mousetrap
Mousetrap has a complex setup, but it features diverting mechanics suitable for a variety of ages who can all help to build the set. Have you ever seen those videos of the chain reactions started by a little ball falling off a cliff and into? Do you love YouTubing Rube Goldberg machines? This game is all about that! The anticipation drives you wild, which keeps the game fun for all.
Best Party Board Games For Adults
16. Zombicide
This is a little less well-known, but it's a ton of fun — and each player gets their own board. Board games for a party should include something for everyone. Zombicide comes in a variety of themes, from the original to a Western theme, to something from Outer Space. No matter where you’re fighting zombies, you’ll love the dynamics of choosing a character and weapons. For once, there's a multiplayer game where you’re working together rather than against each other!
17. Drunken Monopoly
It's a lot harder to care as deeply or get as stressed about which properties you own when you add alcohol. You can still pull out the Monopoly when picking board games for a party while consuming the best cocktails. When you pass Go, you also take a shot (or a sip of your drink). Twist it up for some fun bachelorette party games so that you don't lose any friends along the way.
18. Pandemic
After living through one, it might be fun to feel like you have some control over ending the spread of a deadly disease. As board games for a party go, it's a bit more serious than a drinking game, but it certainly challenges your mind!
19. Cribbage
The classic combination of board game and card game involving a classic deck of playing cards and a Cribbage board (including pegs). Board games for a party can include things everyone is familiar with — whether that's dominoes and card tricks or classic games like Cribbage. You can even get your own bespoke Cribbage board built to suit your style.
What Are The Top 10 Board Games Of All Time?
20. Trivial Pursuit
Countless versions continue to be released, but the original is always a classic. Even if you don't play the part of the game involving the board, everyone loves to challenge their friends on their knowledge of random information and general knowledge across genres spanning History, Natural Science, Entertainment and more.
21. CLUE
It was Colonel Mustard with the Candlestick in the Conservatory! Now also available as a major motion picture, CLUE (or Cluedo) is a classic game that's referenced in many aspects of pop culture, but it's still a ton of fun for everyone to play at your event.
22. Cranium
While one of the most popular board games, Cranium is still a little less well-known, but it's fantastic and fun all the same. There are various challenges for every part of the brain, ranging from math problems to “Name That Tune” prompts and acting challenges similar to Charades.
23. Scrabble
Simple and classic, Scrabble can also be a brain challenge and fun for the whole family. Pick letters and create a plethora of garrulous words to get the most points and win. Everyone should have a Scrabble set on their game shelf.
24. Battleship
Although Battleship is only a two-player game, it still makes the top 10 list. Bring out your most competitive side in this classic marine-focused board game. For kids, it's a great way to learn strategy skills one-on-one.
25. Sorry!
Fun, flirty, a little vindictive (but not as bad as Monopoly), Sorry! definitely makes the list of top board games, let alone board games for a party. Plus, who doesn’t love pressing that bubble that flips the die until you get the number you want?
26. Chess
This two-person game may not be quite as suitable for parties, but it's certainly one of the top 10 board games, especially after its resurgence with The Queen's Gambit. The basic version of this game was invented in India in the 6th Century, and it continues to be challenging and beloved worldwide. Though it may come in and out of fashion, it is eternally on the list of known games to learn, to teach children, to watch extremely smart people play in tournaments. That means its popularity is truly evergreen.
27. Hang-Man
Okay, this one doesn't come with a board — but it does involve a board of some kind (even if hand-drawn). It may be a little insensitive considering that the concept is based on traditions of watching public executions, but the game itself – the challenge of discovering a phrase based on one letter at a time (think Wheel of Fortune) – is still enticing.
28. Candy Land
While this could certainly fit under the “Family” category, it makes more sense to put it on the top 10 list. Even if Candy Land is a children's game, it is one people talk about and even think about well into adulthood (some groups of adults turn it into a drinking game). Continuing to enjoy childhood favorites is never a bad thing.
29. Twister
This one's a no-brainer. What could be better for board games for a party than a hilarious body contortion game where you fall all over each other and giggle while you're at it? Plus Twister has been beloved for a long time and remains a simple game to learn and difficult to do.
What Are Popular Board Game Ideas?
Word games and mysteries are probably the most popular board game ideas. They have led to a variety of innovative game designs through multiple genres through the years, from games like Outburst to tabletop role-playing Games like Dungeons & Dragons and back to simple basics like Tic-Tac-Toe.
Board games for a party really could include any type of board games or card games, as long as they're fun for multiple people. You could even make a theme of your friends' favorite games, if you're searching for adult birthday party ideas. For example, a “Cards Against Humanity” theme could include balloons in white and black with gifts from an adult store, and a birthday cake from a bakery that makes them in fun shapes.
For even more fun ideas for pre-game night, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!
