I review board games for a living, and I think these ones need to be on everyone's shelf for Thanksgiving

Azul | $31.97 $21.49 at Amazon
Save $10 - You can currently get a much-better-than-average price on this beloved puzzle game, and it's far superior to the normal cost of around $32. Yes, it has been cheaper in the past, but not for a long time. As noted in our full Azul review, it's the kind of game that's deceptively simple but eternally evolving; it's the sort of experience that makes you want to rerack and try again as soon as a match is finished. Besides being a great game to play with family over Thanksgiving or Christmas, it's also a really good gift for anyone that loves puzzles.

Buy it if:
✅ You really enjoy puzzle games
✅ You want something a bit more cerebral

Don't buy it if:
❌ You don't want anything too 'thinky'

Price check:
💲 Walmart | $31.97

UK price: £42.99 £25.49 at Amazon

Disney Villainous Unstoppable | $24.99 $12 at Amazon
Save $12.99 - I'm a massive fan of the Villainous strategy games, as exemplified by my very positive Disney Villainous review, but my one complaint about the original is that it can be hard to get into. This new, more straightforward version fixes that issue with an accessible approach that loses none of the strategy but sands off some rough edges. It's also more kid-friendly (the original is quite complex in terms of tactics, so it's more of a 'hobby' game), making it a better choice for family game night as a result.

Buy it if:
✅ You want a good strategy game
✅ You all love Disney movies

Don't buy it if:
❌ You didn't get on with the original Villainous

Price check:
💲 Target | $12

UK price: £27.99 £19.93 at Amazon

Catan (2025 edition) | $54.99 $24.99 at Amazon
Save $30 - First on the docket is this essential strategy game. As the top pick on our list of must-have board games (and the recipient of a glowing Catan review, no less), it's the kind of title I think deserves a place in every collection. It set off the tabletop revolution we're enjoying today with its incredibly smart resource-gathering, building, and trade mechanics that require foresight and planning over blind luck. While chance does come into it, you won't get far unless you have a cunning plan to maximize your odds or stack them in your favor by pursuing another strategy (like getting bonus points by making the largest army). This new edition is even easier to get into than before, and it's never been cheaper than this. The average cost is between $45 and $48 too, so the value is even stronger at the moment.

Buy it if:
✅ You want a game you can keep coming back to
✅ You'd like an accessible strategy game

Don't buy it if:
❌ You want a quick and light-hearted party game

Price check:
💲 Walmart | $47.50

UK price: £49.99 £22.49 at Waterstones

Ticket to Ride (2025 edition) | $54.99 $27.48 at Amazon
Save $27 - This game kept my family sane during lockdown, and I think that says a lot about how good it is. It challenges you to build a railway line from one part of the country to another, and although that sounds pretty dry, it's actually a real winner. There are limited links between locations and you can't build on top of someone else's tracks, so it's possible to outsmart and outmaneuver your opponents with clever placement... or overcome those obstacles by taking the long way around (something I had a lot of time for in my Ticket to Ride review). This refreshed 2025 version has literally never been cheaper, so now's the perfect time to jump aboard.

Buy it if:
✅ You enjoy a more relaxed kind of game
✅ ...but you still want a bit of strategy

Don't buy it if:
❌ The train theme sends you to sleep

Price check:
💲 Walmart | $59.99

UK price: £44.99 £38.23 at Amazon

Carcassonne | $41.99 $20.99 at Amazon
Save $21 - I absolutely adore this tile-laying game, and it's a regular feature on my own family's gaming table. That's because it's so easy-going, but incredibly satisfying nonetheless. As explained in our Carcassonne review, your job is to build points by laying down landmark tiles and 'claiming' them with little wooden people (meeples). Once a feature like a city or road is finished, you take that meeple back and earn points. The person with the highest score once all the tiles are gone wins. It's straightforward enough, but the skill comes in knowing when to close off your creations or give up lost causes. You could theoretically build an enormous city for mega points, for example, but closing it will become increasingly difficult as tiles run out - especially if you need an awkward shape to finish it. I'd say it's an essential purchase that's still good fun in a pair, and while it has been going up and down in cost over the last few days, $21 off still isn't bad.

Buy it if:
✅ You prefer more laid-back games
✅ You enjoy planning ahead in games

Don't buy it if:
❌ You want more intense strategy

Price check:
💲 Walmart | $33.59

UK price: £34.99 £22.89 at Zatu Games

Mysterium | $54.99 $29.99 at Amazon
Save $25 - In terms of atmospheric team games, it doesn't get much better than this. It casts most players as psychic mediums trying to solve a ghost's murder... and one of you is the ghost. The spirit world isn't exactly easy to reach, though, so the dearly departed can only communicate through carefully-selected cards. These use abstract art and may hint at the murder weapon, murderer, or location, so you've got to hope your allies can figure it all out using the breadcrumb trail you're dropping before time runs out. As noted in our Mysterium review, it's a delight - particularly with such a major price cut.

Buy it if:
✅ You love mystery games
✅ You enjoy more thoughtful team games

Don't buy it if:
❌ You don't want to think all that much, tbh

Price check:
💲 Walmart | $29.99

UK price: £36.99 £31.43 at Amazon

Pandemic | $49.99 $36.99 at Amazon
Save $13 - If I had to choose one title as the best co-op board game of all time, Pandemic would be my pick. I truly don't think we've ever seen a better balance of tension, on-the-fly thinking, and communication than here. It's a white-knuckle race to the finish, as noted in my Pandemic review, and you get very different results each time you play so it doesn't grow boring. I think it's a must-have.

Buy it if:
✅ You adore team games
✅ You like games that require thinking on your feet

Don't buy it if:
❌ You don't enjoy tension in games

Price check:
💲 Walmart | $36.99

UK price: £39.99 £24.88 at Amazon

Splendor | $39.99 $21.99 at Amazon
Save $18 - If you love puzzle games and competitive challegnes, Splendor should be right up your street. It's all about efficiency; can you make better, more effective gem purchases than your opponents? It's a race to get the most points before time runs out, so the clock is ticking. While there have been other versions since the original launched (as proven by our very positive Splendor Duel review), the original is designed for a larger group... making it perfect for families this Thanksgiving or Christmas. That's not a bad price either, proving to be far better than the average cost of $30 or so.

Buy it if:
✅ You love competitive games
✅ You enjoy improving on your scores

Don't buy it if:
❌ You want something laid back

Price check:
💲 Walmart | $31.99

UK price: £29.99 £20.99 at Zatu Games

7 Wonders Architects | $49.99 $34.49 at Amazon
Save $15 - You may have heard about the strategy marvel that is 7 Wonders, but it can be a little dense at first. This streamlined, more family-friendly version is arguably a better starting-point, and I'm really fond of it myself. It can't compete with the original in terms of tactical depth, but it's quicker and more accessible so is much easier to break out for a games night.

Buy it if:
✅ You love competitive games
✅ You enjoy improving on your scores

Don't buy it if:
❌ You want the classic 7 Wonders

Price check:
💲 Walmart | $39.99

UK price: £39.99 £27.99 at Zatu Games