The 12 best board games in 2025, all reviewed by GamesRadar+ experts

The best board games aren't just for family get-togethers when you have nothing else to do; this is a vibrant industry overflowing with new ideas to suit any mood. Want something for a party, or a team game you can play with your (very) competitive friends? No problem. It isn't an exaggeration to say that there's something to suit everyone. Long gone are the days when Monopoly was the most interesting thing on the menu.

To help point you in the right direction, the GamesRadar+ experts and I have put our heads together to build this list of suggestions we think deserve to be in every collection. If you ask us, they're the best board games on shelves right now. These range from old favorites like Catan (which is arguably the best entry-point to modern tabletop gaming) to fresh-off-the-press trendsetters including Life in Reterra. Oh, and don't worry if you're not sure what you're in the mood for – we've still got you covered. Just check out our advice on how to choose board games further down the page.

Wondering how we settled on which products to feature? Our team reviews the best board games all year 'round, and we've been rolling dice for decades before that. In other words, we won't ever recommend a product we don't truly believe in. As mentioned in this page's 'how we test' section, we've had extensive hands-on time with all of the entries listed here too.

Quick list

Best board game overall

Catan is a big deal in the tabletop community. For one thing, most agree that it's the perfect 'gateway' into more sophisticated board games. If you're ready to graduate from the likes of Risk or Clue, it eases you in whilst still providing enough complexity for players to sink their teeth into.

Secondly, it might be one of the most influential games on this list. First published in 1995, it revolutionized the tabletop space and gained global recognition as a result. It also spawned an entirely new genre – 'Eurogames' – which now dominates the industry. With this in mind, it's hard to argue that Catan doesn't deserve a spot here as one of the best board games overall.

Features & design: At face value, this is a resource-management game where players try to settle the eponymous island of Catan. Because space is limited, you'll all rush to secure resources (from stone to wood) which are used to build settlements and roads. These earn you Victory Points. As you might be able to guess, you'll need them to win.

Setting up shop next to the hottest goods doesn't guarantee success, though. Resources are given out each turn based on dice rolls, and these values are assigned randomly to an already random board at the beginning of a match. As such, you've got to weigh up probability and how likely something is to pay up ahead of time… or trade with rivals if you can't get what you need. Because feathers could be ruffled as you all dash to secure the most lucrative spots, this opens an amusing can of worms.

In terms of how it looks, Catan is equally forthright. Opting for classic wooden tokens and a realistic, birds-eye-view art style, it doesn't muddy the water with unnecessary pomp.

Gameplay: Even though it's easy to understand, Catan requires cunning if you want to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. You can only get resources if you have a settlement next door, and these can't be placed if someone else owns a town nearby. That makes clever placement crucial, especially because you must build roads to reach certain board spaces. It's all about the bigger picture, so even though produce is given out randomly, foresight is rewarded.

You can try to edge a win by building the biggest military, constructing the longest road, or using well-timed cards too. This choose-your-own approach is Catan's biggest contribution to modern board game design; there's no 'right' way to go about things, so you're more in control.

Social interaction is encouraged as well, so it's not the kind of board game where you'll be checking your phone between turns. If a resource's number is rolled at the beginning of someone's turn, everyone with a settlement there gets produce. The floor then opens up to trade, which is its own twisty conundrum. Haggling for items may help you in the short term, but it could also bring your opponents closer to victory.

Similarly, hoarding resources won't do you any good. If you roll a seven at the start of a turn, the Robber is activated. This little pickle then steals half of every player's cards if they have over seven in their hand. They're then placed onto a tile to stop resource production there. Seeing as the person who rolled that seven gets to choose where the Robber goes, it's your chance to be mean.

This has the potential to cause friction if you have an argumentative table, but even that feeds into Catan's metagame. Annoying your rivals will guarantee that they won't trade with you, so even though there are ways around this (you can secure spaces which let players swap one kind of resource for another), it's a wrinkle worth considering. I've been sunk by this particular chestnut in the past, for example; I thought I was being clever by handicapping my biggest opponent's resources, but then I needed something only they had. Understandably, they told me to get stuffed when I approached them like Oliver Twist with an empty bowl.

That's why Catan has endured for 30 years in a nutshell – it makes memories. This isn't the kind of board game you sleepwalk through.

Expert verdict

Expert verdict

Benjamin Abbott

"Catan sparked a revolution when it launched in the '90s, and gaming was changed for the better with its arrival. It isn't a relic better left in the past, however; it still holds up. Its core loop remains as engaging now as it was decades ago, and a wealth of ways to win gives you an agency you don't always get with family-friendly games." Read more: Catan review

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Best co-op board game

The odds are against you from the start in Pandemic, but that's the beauty of it. This team-based epic is never less than thrilling, and it doesn't feel hopeless either. Despite being tasked with curing a clutch of super-diseases, good communication (not to mention the ability to think on your feet) will see you through. Want satisfying cooperative board games for your collection? This should be at the top of the pile.

Sure, its theme hits closer to home nowadays. But there's something cathartic about giving a pandemic the boot… even if it's only in this tabletop world of tokens and cards.

Features & design: You're racing against the clock in Pandemic - you've got to contain and cure four deadly diseases that are sweeping across the globe. Naturally, this is far from a walk in the park. For starters, new infections (represented by dinky cubes) are placed on random cities each turn. If enough cases gather in one place, they'll spill into neighboring areas in a devastating domino effect. To make matters worse, the number of infections deployed each turn increases over the course of the game. Spin your wheels and you'll get overwhelmed.

This leaves you with a difficult choice: research a cure by collecting cards (at which point the game stops placing infections for that particular disease), or remove infections at a local level so you can keep things under control.

The game's visuals amp up this tension with a style taken from the CSI playbook. Although the movers are basic, single-color pawns, everything else feels flashy. It's the sort of thing you'd expect to see displayed on a massive screen while someone says something dramatic, like "my god - San Francisco has fallen."

Well, apart from the disease cubes. I've always thought that those could pass for sweets, which is pretty distracting on the whole. (Ah, forbidden jellies - how delicious you seem.)

Gameplay: Pandemic's balance of risk and reward secures its throne as one of the best board games overall. Is it better to keep disease levels down so that they don't spread from city to city in the short term, or should you play the long game and go all-in on developing cures? There's no right answer, and this puts the power into your hands. Random chance dictates which cards get drawn from turn turn, of course, but everything else is all down to your strategy.

More importantly, that question will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. I've rarely seen our board group more invested than when they're playing Pandemic, and the need to constantly change your battleplan on the fly means that communication is vital - a must for co-op games.

It's true that all this can be stressful. But it's also gripping. As mentioned in our review, such white-knuckle decision-making "shows off everything tabletop gaming is capable of."

Expert verdict

Expert verdict

Rollin Bishop

"There's no real board game canon, but if there were, Pandemic would clearly be included. While the subject matter might sound particularly dark, the actual mechanics of where to place resources are straightforward and serve as a good shift from map-based games like Risk to more crunchy titles. It's a classic for a reason, but is maybe a second step rather than a gateway game." Read more: Pandemic review

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Best board game for adults

The world is over as we know it in this quirky game, but you won't mind. It's way too much fun.

Humanity is rebuilding after society collapsed, and it's your job to construct the best settlement whilst taking advantage of relics like the mysterious AA battery. (What could it be for? Who knows.) This results in a tongue-in-cheek rush to the finish that's incredibly moreish. It's one of the best adult board games by a long way.

Features & design: Unlike most post-apocalypses, there isn't a zombie or viking-themed gang anywhere in sight here. Instead, everyone's recycling remnants of civilization into something new – and better. That old plane, for instance? It'd make a good school. What about that massive radar dish? The perfect soccer pitch, I'd say. You'll place these buildings on an ever-expanding board in a quest to construct the perfect village.

In a fitting twist, Life in Reterra recycles old ideas as well. It takes the ideas laid down by games like Carcassonne and molds them into an entirely fresh experience. What follows may seem like a tile-laying exercise, but you've got to think hard about where you place those pieces. Buildings that earn you points or bonuses have to be put on cog symbols, and you're only allowed to construct something if it's at least partially on a tile you just laid down. Whoever gets the highest score at the end will win, so you better think ahead. Particularly because the game finishes once you've put down 16 tiles…

That means you can't spend too long admiring the scenery, even if you'll want to. With the exception of a weirdly dull beige board where buildings are stored, this is a beautiful game; it opts for a vibrant cartoon aesthetic instead of dreary realism. It comes with excellent plastic tubs to put your pieces into as well, ensuring those tokens won't be flying everywhere when packed away in the box.

Gameplay: You'll often find yourself wishing you had more time during Life in Reterra. That's how it gets its claws into you – there's always a "what if." Due to short rounds which wrap up faster than you might expect, you'll be eager to reset and try something new you only thought of at the end of a match. I certainly am, and as someone who reviews the best board games for a living, this is a rarity.

There's a compelling risk/reward element at play here as well. You can only place buildings if they're partially on a tile you've just put down, and there are never enough cogs on a single piece. This leads to the quandary of whether you slap buildings down whenever you can, or hold off in the hope you can connect tiles for something bigger and more lucrative later on. That kind of mental Tetris is why Life in Reterra excels as a board game for adults; it exercises your gray matter and rewards repeat play with a regular group.

Each of the game's (many) buildings provide different and increasingly tempting rewards, you see, so they're worth messing with. Seeing as you can also mix and match these to create entirely new building sets with unique interplay, there's months of gameplay here to grapple with if you're willing to dive down the rabbit hole.

I'll admit that matches can end just as you're getting into them. Yet this is precisely why it works; you're always left wanting more. And yes, it doesn't have as much depth as other hobby games. But it's a superb middle-ground between the likes of Catan and Scythe, so I think it'll serve most people well.

Expert verdict

Expert verdict

Benjamin Abbott

"The best board games get better the more you play and understand them, so Life in Reterra has earned its place at the table. This is much cleverer than you might first think, and despite its apparent simplicity, there's enough beneath the surface to keep you playing for months." Read more: Life in Reterra review

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Best board game for 2 players

As the runaway success of 2024, Sky Team is taxiing its way onto more than a few wishlists. (That's the perk of winning a prestigious Spiel des Jahres award, I suppose.) Happily, it lives up to the hype; this is an engrossing exercise in teamwork that really makes you feel closer to one another because you're forced to overcome limited communication. That makes it great for couples.

It's also been designed specifically with two people in mind, and is small enough to take on the go. In other words? It's a textbook definition of what the best 2-player board games should look like. Rather than trying to please everyone with mechanics that scale for a crowd, it's laser-focused on providing the best experience for a pair.

Features & design: Sky Team bundles you into the cockpit and asks you to land a plane without reducing it to a smear across the runway. In true jet-setting fashion, you and your co-pilot will fly across the world to airports which offer unique challenges.

Because each player contributes dice to control everything from speed to angle of approach, being on the same page is crucial. If you aren't in sync, things will quickly go pear-shaped. This is why those dice are rolled in secret and you aren't allowed to tell each other what you've got – you'll need to think up another way of communicating.

This is capped off with a board modelled on aeronautical instruments, so you'll certainly feel the part. Actually, that's one of my favorite things about the game; it looks much more lavish than you'd expect for the price.

Gameplay: Seeing as you can't talk once those dice have been rolled, it's hard not to become invested in Sky Team from the start. This isn't something you can play on autopilot – pun very much intended. Problem-solving together is baked into its DNA.

OK, I'll admit that this can be stressful. But if you want a challenge, you'll find one here. It doesn't throw you in at the deep end, either. Designer Luc Rémond has done a great job of easing you into harder objectives, not to mention drip-feeding new mechanics that shake things up.

As an example, perks are available to balance the scales – you can spend reroll tokens to undo a bad result or deploy a coffee to adjust the number up or down. Working out when to break out these bonuses is a significant part of Sky Team's strategy.

The result is a game that seizes you by the collar and refuses to let go. If you can only get one board game for 2 players, make it this one.

Expert verdict

Expert verdict

Benjamin Abbott

"If you're trying to find something you can play as a couple or take with you on vacation, Sky Team is reporting for duty. It combines left-field problem-solving and a wealth of fresh challenges to keep you engaged from beginning to end." Read more: Sky Team review

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Best RPG board game

If you have a soft spot for fantasy and love nothing more than poring over ye-olde maps while dreaming of adventure, Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion should be on your radar. This dungeon-crawling epic taps into all that with branching storylines more commonly seen in the best tabletop RPGs, and it makes skilful use of 'Legacy' mechanics where the consequences of your actions carry across from one session to the next.

Seeing as it's more accessible than the original Gloomhaven (and much less expensive), this is a great place to start regardless of whether you intend to tackle other entries in the series or just want a taste of adventure. Yes, it's more complex than many other board games. But it's also a whole lot better.

Features & design: Jaws of the Lion casts you as a mercenary looking for work in the grungy metropolis of Gloomhaven (imagine the world of The Witcher and you won't be far off). As is only right for fantasy RPGs, said 'work' involves swords and/or sorcery. These jobs lead you through a grand narrative where your choices matter, so tread carefully. Decisions can, and will, have consequences.

While that sounds intense, the game has been designed with accessibility in mind. Unlike the full Gloomhaven or its sequel, Frosthaven, this one is smaller in scale and drip-feeds everything you need to know piece by piece. That includes a novel combat system which gets rid of random dice rolls. Rather than leaving success up to luck, all of your movement or attack actions are divvied up onto cards instead. The challenge lies in deciding which ones to use - and when.

The same handsome tokens and components have made their way across from Gloomhaven, though. Actually, I'd argue that its map board (upon you which you slap stickers to represent the missions you've completed) is better-looking than its predecessor.

OK, so the models may still be clunky in comparison to rivals like Descent: Legends of the Dark and Bardsung. Yet everything else sings, especially that moody artwork for your foes.

Gameplay: Few board games can match the sense of agency in OG Gloomhaven, and it's no different for Jaws of the Lion. Along with upgrades for your character that'll provide a more personal connection with them, battles being so skill-based makes victory all the sweeter. Your clever tactics saw you through, not luck of the dice. And while there is still a steep learning curve, it's far less intimidating than its predecessors.

It's also worth persevering with. Honestly, there's nothing quite like the combat of this series. Trying to figure out the best combination of actions to use at any one time is a compelling mini-game in itself, and juggling your limited resources (you'll lose cards as you progress) makes for a challenging puzzle.

Seeing as you'll have to balance helping your allies with hunting loot that can improve your hero, there's also a sizzling unease to keep you on the edge of your seat. Can your friends be trusted in a pinch, or are they more interested in helping themselves?

Expert verdict

Expert verdict

Abigail Shannon

"Jaws of the Lion takes a dungeon-crawling experience that is expansive and epic, and makes it slightly less expansive … but no less epic. This hefty chunk of fantasy co-op goodness will take you through many a session of monster battling and exploration. Narrative does take a bit of a backseat here but I’d argue that looking cool and looting treasure is a sufficient backstory for any adventurer." Read more: Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion review

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Best party board game

Finding the right party game can be tough. You've got to account for numerous tastes, it can't take too long to play, and it shouldn't use up much space at the table either (if any). It's a task worthy of Mission Impossible, and that's why I gravitate towards Codenames when my friends get together.

This spy-themed game challenges you to track down secret agents before your rivals can, and victory hinges on word associations. That means it has a really straightforward concept that anyone can pick up. What's more, Codenames gets people talking, is suitable for a larger group, and doesn't require lots of room to set up. Crucially, you may learn a thing or two about each other along the way…

Features & design: Your mission, if you choose to accept it, involves dividing into teams (red or blue) and laying out 25 randomly-drawn word cards into a five-by-five grid. Secret agents or innocent bystanders are hidden under these cards, but only two players – 'spymasters' for each team – know where they are. Find all your secret agents to win.

To help their team pick the right card, spymasters take it in turns to give clues. This is a single word associated with one or more cards on the board, along with a number for how many cards that word connects to. (As an example, you might say "war, two" so that your team picks 'battleship' and 'missile.') If players select the wrong card and hit an innocent bystander, the turn ends immediately. Everyone has to watch out for the lone assassin, too; if this is selected, it's game over.

Naturally, this is wrapped up in classic spy iconography. We're talking sunglasses, dapper suits, and slick hairstyles that feel as if they could belong to James Bond. Meanwhile, the word cards are modelled after those manilla envelopes that contain spicy secrets in thriller movies.

Gameplay: Even though it packs a simple concept, there's an iceberg's worth of depth under the surface here. Should spymasters play it safe by going through each card one by one, knowing that their opponents may pull ahead? Or is it better to connect multiple words as best you can, even if there's a risk players will choose the wrong card?

That's the devious brilliance of Codenames. Yes, the cards are randomly drawn. However, plenty of them can be lumped together in the same category – and you may not realize this until too late. I can't tell you the amount of times my team has gotten the right answer… before talking themselves out of it and choosing something completely tangential. It's hilarious, infuriating, and memorable in equal measure. (Tread carefully if you have overly-competitive friends, because they may not take kindly to mistakes.)

Thanks to the sheer volume of cards included in the box, and the amount of permutations you can get every match by mixing them up, this is the kind of game that doesn't get old. It'll play very differently based on who's around the table, too. In other words, you won't get tired of it any time soon.

Expert verdict

Expert verdict

Ian Stokes

"Codenames is the ultimate pick-up-and-play party game. No complex mechanics to trip up new players — just a word association game with some structure around it, and a competitive edge to spice things up. Don't let that simplicity fool you, though. There is a ton of depth and strategy on offer here for experienced players to sink their teeth into.The key to Codenames's success as a party game is that it's all about communication and getting on the same wavelength as your teammates. This means you come away from a game of Codenames knowing your teammates a little bit better, and isn't that the whole point of a party?" Read more: Codenames review

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Best strategy board games

Looks can be deceiving, and Root is the perfect example. Despite an inviting art-style, this is about as hardcore a strategy game as it gets. Alright, so the action takes place in a quiet woodland realm. However, all is not well beneath those trees. The animals living there want to kick the stuffing out of each other, and you'll need to hatch schemes that'll put your faction on top.

So long as you're happy to do a little homework in terms of its mechanics, you'll find that Root has a lot to offer. It's essential for strategy fans thanks to spotless asymmetric gameplay, and being able to boost the experience with a number of expansions keeps that spark alive.

Features & design: Much like the Redwall novels, each player commands a tribe of anthropomorphic creatures that must fight to control the forest's clearings. (In practical terms, that means collecting 30 'Victory Points.') The base game gives you control of four factions: the 'Marquise de Cat' that must cement their rule by putting down rebellion, feudal birds who operate via espionage, an insurgency of 'peasant' animals (mice and hedgehogs) called the Woodland Alliance, and an adventuring racoon who sneaks around the board. Each one has its own unique playstyle, and although there's a lot to take in, it encourages you to think creatively.

Fortunately, the nuts and bolts of battle are much more straightforward. Players simply roll dice and compare results to see how a fight turns out, with more meeples being able to deal greater damage. That allows you to get a sense of how combat will turn out just by looking at the pieces you've got on the board. Throw crafting and special abilities into the mix (found on a deck of special cards that you'll draw on throughout the game) for a heady tactical cocktail.

Not that you'd be able to tell from how Root looks. It carries a charming aesthetic by the hugely talented Kyle Ferrin that is reminiscent of Mouse Guard, and few board games in this guide can match the personality he brings to bear.

While you'd expect his work to be found across cards and the board itself, it's neat that his design extends to Root's playing pieces too. Rather than being plain wooden meeples in the shape of animals, these ones have expressive eyes that bring them to life.

Gameplay: First things first - be aware that there is a learning curve here. While our review called it "the most accessible complex wargame," Root is still a complicated beast that requires some investment. There's a payoff, though. Persevere and you'll wind up with one hell of a strategy board game.

I've never seen two games go the same way, for instance. Each factions' quirks (and the cards that can influence them) provide a wealth of options each turn, and while this is overwhelming at first, such flexibility makes Root truly compelling in the long-term. It's incredibly replayable.

Similarly, the simplicity of its combat isn't a drawback. The fact that meeples can only move into spaces their faction controls (or where they have a numerical advantage) allows clever generals to squeeze opponents into a corner. Well-timed bonuses also add texture to this elegant yet rich system.

Expert verdict

Expert verdict

Katie Wickens

"A masterful application of asymmetry in board games, Root manages to weave a tale of four distinct factions duking it out in the forest that never feels unbalanced. Turning your hand to the skills of one faction, you might find your wings in the slow-burn strategy of the Eyrie Dynasty, or dig your claws into the industry-centric Marquise de Cat, but no matter your favored strat, no game is ever the same." Read more: Root review

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Best horror board game

Ever wonder how long you'd last in a horror movie? Betrayal at House on the Hill lets you find out. Setting players loose in a haunted mansion that's quite literally out to get them, it's drenched with tension. It's also unpredictable enough that you're never sure what's going to happen next.

Sure, not all of the scenarios are created equal. But if you're hunting down something more mature in terms of both narrative and gameplay, I'd say that this takes the cake. There are scarier horror games as well, but this will be the best board game for most people due to its blend of accessibility with tactical gameplay and narrative.

Features & design: Your aim here is simple – make it out of the mansion alive. That isn't to say it's predictable, though. Betrayal isn't set up like traditional board games, which is part of its appeal. Your character has been drawn to the house for mysterious reasons (they're following a friend who's gone missing or have received a strange invitation, for example), and each room is selected at random when you enter it. The items or events encountered within are randomized as well. In short, there's no way of telling what lurks behind those doors.

The only thing you do know is that one of the game's scenarios will eventually begin, dictated by the rooms and items you've drawn. This mission turns your allies – or the mansion itself – against you. Seeing as both sides are given secret objectives to follow, the result is an anxious yet exhilarating race against time.

Still, this isn't a grim and gritty misery-fest. The latest edition is surprisingly vibrant, and its sense of humor lightens the mood considerably.

Gameplay: This game's deadly twist on guess-who keeps you coming back for more. Which player is going to be unmasked as a traitor? And what will their mission be? With several-dozen imaginative scenarios under its belt, the novelty won't wear off anytime soon. Actually, I've still not seen everything these dusty halls have to offer despite playing the game for years. That puts Betrayal one step ahead of more formulaic (though still excellent) rivals like Mansions of Madness, and it ensures you'll have a blast even if you've already played an older version of the game. (To see how previous instalments stack up against the current one, check out our guide to Betrayal at House on the Hill 3rd edition vs 2nd edition.)

Yes, there's a learning curve. Its scenarios aren't always the most well-balanced either. But for the most part, you'll have enough fun that those niggles won't matter. This is perfect for game night with your grown-up friends, and it's one you can keep coming back to time and time again.

Expert verdict

Expert verdict

Benjamin Abbott

"If you're in the mood for a game you can truly sink your teeth into, Betrayal leads the pack. A randomized board and 50 unique scenarios (all with their own strategy) should keep you on edge for months, and it occupies a Goldilocks zone of gaming even if it isn't always the most balanced. Regardless of whether you're trying to find must-have horror or Halloween board games, this is a house you'll want to visit." Read more: Betrayal at House on the Hill review

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Best classic board game

Few of the best board games can match Twilight Imperium's reputation; it's beloved and borderline-infamous in equal measure. "Grand strategy" comes close to describing the experience, but even that doesn't do the thing justice.

Having delighted armchair tacticians since it was first published in 1997, Twilight Imperium is a heady blend of negotiation and warfare. The result can eat up a full day if you let it, and few sessions last less than four hours. OK, it's a newer entry compared to other classic board games (1977's Cosmic Encounter, say). But none have lived up to its ambition before or since.

Features & design: After setting up your galaxy of planets and stars on the table, players choose one of many factions with their own strengths or weaknesses. The lion-like Emirates of Hacan excel when it comes to commerce, for instance, while the Universities of Jol-Nar are best at researching new tech.

No matter what, your aim is simple: rule the universe. The cosmos' previous rulers have stepped aside, so now everyone's scrambling to park their bums on that throne. You achieve this by completing a variety of secret or public objectives, and the result is political intrigue on an incredible scale. That's why matches can take so long.

It looks the part too. Twilight Imperium is awash with classic science fiction tropes and a 'digital' overlay that makes it look as if it's been pulled from Mass Effect.

Gameplay: When all is said and done, Twilight Imperium isn't a million miles away from Game of Thrones. Subterfuge, betrayal, and vast battles are commonplace.

While the rules powering these galaxy-shaking events aren't overly complex, they can have a big impact. As a case in point, attacks are rolled simultaneously. That means you can't ever guarantee how combat is going to pan out, so you must commit to a fight if you want to win. It's not just a case of rolling to see who gets a higher score, either; each ship has a specific attack value, and you'll roll a D10 for them all. Go over the threshold and you'll do damage.

Equally, players will vote for or against new laws that can change the game's mechanics. This leads to debates where you'll try and convince others to go your way, or an opportunity to spend your valuable 'influence' points.

Again, the downside is how long this all takes to run. You can spend an entire day on Twilight Imperium without much trouble, so be warned if you're short on time. Oh my, is it worthwhile though.

Expert verdict

Expert verdict

Ian Stokes

"Twilight Imperium is the ultimate big board game. It's expensive, takes ages to play, and has a ton of rules to learn, but the reward for your efforts is one of the best board games ever made.There is a ton of strategic depth here, as each player is required to balance diplomacy, trading, economics and good old fashioned space warfare. The size and mechanical depth means it’s not for everyone — I’ve always described Twilight Imperium as a mixture of Risk and a meeting of the U.N. Security council — but if that sounds like your jam then you need to get this game." Read more: Twilight Imperium review

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Best board game for families

Ticket to Ride is one of the most laid-back entries on this list, and that makes it the perfect choice if you want the best family board games that aren't going to start a civil war around the table. Thoughtful and relaxing, it's a delight for all ages that lets players tackle the challenge at their own pace.

It does still have tactical bite, though. More specifically, figuring out the best way from A to B whilst working around roadblocks laid by your rivals is an engaging puzzle.

Features & design: Picture the scene - it's the early 1900s, top hats are in, and trains are still of the steam variety. In this quaint landscape of frilly frocks and tail-coats, you've got to plot railway routes from one city to another. Whoever completes the most lucrative lines will win.

Sounds easy so far, right? And to an extent, it is; you couldn't call Ticket to Ride an overly competitive game. That's why it's such a good board game for families. There isn't as much opportunity for squabbling, which is something I think we can all appreciate after Christmas sessions of Monopoly gone wrong.

You shouldn't expect to coast, though. You need sets of differently-colored train cards to lay down routes, and because these are taken from either a face-up market available to everyone or drawn blind, others might work out what you need and beat you to the punch by taking those cards first. Plus, not completing routes will dock your score at the end of the game. This adds a push-your-luck element to proceedings.

With Ticket to Ride's turn-of-the-century vibe, that's fitting; it's couched in a time when the world was your oyster. There's an appealing steampunk tinge to everything as a result, and even the tokens have gone the extra mile thanks to being fully 3D carriages.

Gameplay: The railway theme may not light your world on fire, but there's an undercurrent of strategy holding everything together that allows it to hit the perfect balance of family-friendliness without losing any tactical complexity. That makes Ticket to Ride one of the best board games even if its players haven't ventured much beyond Scrabble.

It's not overly aggressive, either. Unlike so many entries on this list, there's less emphasis on screwing each other over. Although it is possible to ruin someone's day by building across their route, there's usually an alternative with which you can salvage all that time and effort. As such, Ticket to Ride is something I'm more than happy to break out if things typically get heated at family gatherings. Like our review mentions, it's "the perfect option for newcomers and tabletop veterans alike."

Expert verdict

Expert verdict

Tabitha Baker

"A tense but incredibly rewarding experience that opens itself up to strategy and logic just as easily as it does creative thinking and social play." Read more: Ticket to Ride review

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Best board game for kids

King of Tokyo is the ideal choice for both big and little monsters. Allowing you to command tongue-in-cheek kaiju (ranging from Space Penguins to classic Godzilla-wannabes) that are intent on squishing the city, it's all about pushing your luck. You earn points by stomping across Japan's capital, but this opens you up to attack from other players. The trick is knowing when to stick it out or when to make a hasty retreat, and this will keep everyone around the table invested.

It's a great introduction to board game strategy, in other words. When combined with the amusingly silly concept, there's plenty for kids to love here – it's one of the best board games for kids by a long way.

Features & design: As you might expect from a board game about wanton destruction, King of Tokyo isn't difficult to understand. You need to earn points by attacking the city, and players do this by placing your character on that board space when it's empty. The longer you stick around, the more points you'll get… and if you can earn 20 points overall, you'll win.

However, victory won't come easy. Anyone in Tokyo is open to attack from rivals, and they can't heal while there. Basically, you're playing a game of chicken with your monster.

Regardless of where your monster is, your actions are dictated by dice rolls. Getting the claw symbol allows you to hurt rivals, hearts let you heal, and rolling three of a particular number earns bonus points. The latter can be tricky, so you're allowed to reroll some or all of your dice up to three times per turn. To translate, King of Tokyo is great for risk-assessment.

Not that you'd know that at a glance. This is a wonderfully goofy game with endearing, cartoonish artwork.

Gameplay: Hurling dice across the table and hoping for a good result is always thrilling, and King of Tokyo builds on that by adding a sprinkling of danger. Should you hold on for as long as possible in Tokyo itself to nab extra points, even though it's as good as putting a bullseye around your neck? Or is it better to let your opponents bleed themselves dry before swooping in yourself? There isn't a 'right' answer, and that makes for a tense balancing act that keeps everyone on the edge of their seat.

There's plenty to think about as a result, but not in a way that'll bog kids down. They shouldn't find it hard getting to grips with King of Tokyo's strategy, and newcomers should be able to dive in quickly. After all, playing is a case of rolling dice and deciding which results you want to keep.

Want to delve a little deeper? Ability cards and upgrades keep things interesting for all ages, and if you're anything like me, you'll be hooked soon after.

Expert verdict

Expert verdict

Benjamin Abbott

"I fell in love with King of Tokyo years ago after it was recommended at a board game cafe, and it's been on my favorites list ever since. Those push-your-luck mechanics are darn compelling, and there's a sense of fun here you'll be hard-pressed to find anywhere else." Read more: King of Tokyo review

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Best trivia board game

If you'll excuse me, I'm going to be a little controversial. Everyone knows about Trivial Pursuit, but I don't think it's the best board game for trivia fans. In my mind, that honor belongs to Articulate.

For starters, it doesn't go 'out of date' in the way its competition does. Secondly, anyone can get involved; it's something of a one-size-fits-all for get-togethers. What's more, it's ideal if you have family or friends descending on you en-masse. Up to 20 people can take part in Articulate so long as you've got even team numbers, and countless people have been enjoying the brain-teasers that follow since 1992.

Features & design: Once you've split up into teams, one member from each group will draw a card. They've then got 30 seconds to describe something listed there without using those specific words (e.g. for 'king' you might say "man who wears a crown"). Because you get to take another card if your teammates guess correctly, and you move that many spaces along the board once your turn is over, being succinct is key. The quicker you are, the further you'll go.

The space you land on will dictate which category you're reading from too, and these include everything from actions to geography. Some spaces even allow you to move your token forward or put a rival back.

That's probably the most interesting thing about the board, though; it's otherwise pedestrian and a bit plain.

Gameplay: The rush to rattle through as many cards as you can on your turn is, in a word, electrifying. While some won't appreciate the pressure that comes along with the spotlight, it's surprisingly engaging.

I'll admit that the result isn't very tactical, or high-octane. Nevertheless, it is fun. The simplicity of Articulate means that anyone and everyone can get involved as well. You don't need to be the font of all knowledge either, because the categories are refreshingly broad. That also means they don't have an expiry date, unlike many trivia games.

Finally, there are enough cards that you shouldn't get bored any time soon. I've been playing Articulate for well over a decade now and still haven't grown tired of it.

Expert verdict

Expert verdict

Benjamin Abbott

"It isn't hard to find trivia board games, but tracking down good ones is a different story. Articulate continues to impress years after it was first published, and I always suggest it to family if they want to play something at a get-together." Read more: Articulate review

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How to choose the best board games

If you can't decide what you're looking for, or are feeling lost at the sheer amount of choice (you've got many types of board games to pick from, after all), there are a few questions you can ask yourself to narrow things down. Whenever we're looking for the best board games, our experts ask:

Longtime contributor and board game designer Katie Wickens has some advice as well. More specifically, she says that "board gaming is all about delighting your inner child – to do that you'll need to learn its language. Start with a theme. Something that brings out that childlike wonder is really important, because it'll give you something familiar, even nostalgic, to latch onto and fuel your immersion. Then you'll need to decide if you're all about playing solo, working collaboratively with others, or crushing your enemies at every turn. Some games will deliver you solitude, while others feed the team player in you, and some will feed your will to dominate, with the latter often landing somewhere on a sliding scale of relationship-endangerment.

"Your gaming group's needs should factor in too. There's no point presenting Grandma with an intensely strategic Eurogame when a simple game of snakes and ladders will do. Most importantly, think about what makes your brain light up. That could be collecting and managing resources, thinking tactically to outmaneuver your opponent, or even building something beautiful – the mechanics we mention will give you an idea of whether a game will speak to you. Remember: everyone games differently, and there's something out there for everyone."

How we test the best board games

The way we test products is incredibly important to the GamesRadar+ team, and our experts (who have years of experience covering the industry) won't ever recommend anything unless they legitimately feel it's worth your time. If we don't think a product is one of the best board games, it doesn't get onto this page.

You can find more details in our dedicated 'how we test board games' feature, but the GamesRadar+ process involves our reviewers spending as much time playing and living with a game as possible, allowing us to go far beyond surface-level judgements. This helps them ascertain what it does well, what it fails at, and its overall longevity. We also run multiple sessions with different player counts, just to see how the experience differs.

When approaching the critique on this page, we use four distinct sections described below:

• Introduction: We discuss the 'elevator pitch' of a game (what does it do differently?) here, along with 'buy if/don't buy if' boxouts to help you decide if it's right for you at a glance.
• Features & design: A game's basic mechanics are discussed here. We also explore its art/components in this section.
• Gameplay: As the name would suggest, the majority of our review will focus on a game's mechanics. Is it fun? Is the core loop satisfying? Is the pacing off? We'll discuss everything we did and didn't like about gameplay here.
• Expert verdict: We ask our experts for their opinion on the game in question, to provide an alternate take.

We finish each recommendation with a ratings table that covers essential elements like setup, complexity, and the good old-fashioned question of whether gameplay is fun or not. It looks something like this, and features a score out of five for every category:

For a more in-depth examination of our process sitewide, be sure to see the GamesRadar+ review policy.

Best board games FAQ

Which board games should I look forward to in 2025?

The tabletop gaming world never sits still, and new products are landing on shelves every single month. (It feels like there's a steady avalanche, in fact.) Because there's so much to sift through, the GamesRadar+ team and I have rounded up a few board games we're looking forward to in particular this year. If you put anything on your wishlist over the next few months, we'd suggest making it these entries.

The Fellowship of the Ring: Trick Taking Game | View at Amazon
There's a lot of excited buzz surrounding this beatifully-illustrated card game, and it's a novel spin on the trick taking concept thanks to co-op gameplay. I managed to see it in person at the London Toy Fair early this year and walked away impressed, so I recommend putting it on your wishlist now.

Arydia: The Paths We Dare Tread | View at Far Off Games
Here's an enormous, open-world RPG to keep us all busy. Having been in the works for years after a successful Kickstarter, and it promises epic co-op adventures featuring 60+ pre-painted miniatures, 40+ hours of play, and around 300 map cards. Contributor Katie Wickens is digging into this as we speak, so we should get her thoughts soon.

The Witcher: Path of Destiny | View at Gamefound
This narrative-based game caught our eye because it's a blend of the classic short stories from Geralt's past fed through the world of CD Projekt Red's games. If you're a fan of choose-your-own or story-heavy experiences with a gritty twist, this should be on your wishlist.

Eager for more recommendations? If you want something to play at your next game night, definitely check out the best party board games. As for something more adventurous, don't miss the best D&D books.