It is a question that can practically plague an otherwise wonderful evening! You've invited folks over or perhaps are a guest. Maybe even home alone? You just finished watching a movie and it's at that 'too early to call it a night but too late to start up movie number three' point of the evening, you know? You might even be making plans for next week and, to avoid the same awkward moment again, the question is going to be uttered so the plan might be struck! You can hear the pause, the tense silence, and the intake of breath. Everyone shudders because the question is going to demand a decision! It comes: "So…what do you want to play?" It is time for a fantastic game. You know that you are going to have a blast once you start playing…but how do you decide which one to play!? There are so many options, but what are the top board games these days? Is it better to pull out one of the classic board games or are playing card games "in" this season? And what is even going on with these new cooperative board games!? Well, take a deep breath and let your heart rate settle, because we have so many games that we know you're going to love and we're happy to give you some ideas of which ones will be your go-to option for game night as well as a few to introduce some new chaos to the evening!

We can start with some of the best new board games that have been hitting the stage. No longer must you just play against each other. There's a new trend of games where you team up with your friends and play against the board. (Talk about team building!) They can be pretty challenging, though, as you face down the horror of zombies, solve supernatural murders, or even face down the stranger things that go bump in the night. Of course, going head to head with your friends and proving once and for all that you're the real marvel in your crew of would-be comic heroes, you can't go wrong with some serious competition. Live out your athletic ambitions with one of several NFL-themed sports games or even prove that your House will be the one to claim the Iron Throne in one of our Game of Thrones games. Alright, we can see that we're just throwing too many options at you again, so let's help sort out all these amazingly fun board games for adults to find which types are right for your game night!

Classic Board Games

The classics will always be here for those who want to pick up a game that they have played a dozen or more times or when it is time to teach the new generation how to enjoy them. We're talking about your Clue, Monopoly, and even the commitment of Risk! But the modern age continues to march forward, so you can trust that you can always expand your mind (and your game). Integrate your classics with your favorite fandom and you'll suddenly be playing Monopoly while claiming worlds with the Super Mario Brothers! Take the rules that you know and add exciting twists that line up with your favorite films and video games to bring classic fun to a whole new level.

When you say the word family, there are a few words that are always going to come to people's minds to follow it: vacations, movies, dogs, and—you guessed it—fun family board games! (For you cat-people out there, we're sure that Google didn't suggest family cats as an option because they are such independent critters!) Vacations take forever to plan and can get pretty expensive. Movie nights are great but, let's be honest…there isn't much family engagement with all the Shhh! and phone time making the best scenes go unseen. Board games are best enjoyed as a full group, though, and they're perfect to schedule for a night a week as a reward for all the hard work you've all done! It isn't all just Hasbro board games, either. We've got the best board games for families, including a wide variety of options to fit all your favorite styles.

Best Board Games for Kids

Kid's board games come in just as wide a variety as adult party games. Sure, there are the standard ones that we remember playing when we were growing up. Want a chance at winning victory in Candyland? That's still there (though you can even claim Willy Wonka's factory, this time around!) One of the best options that you'll find for fun board games for your kiddos will be those with Harry Potter themes. Trust us: trying to spell out spells and incantations in Scrabble is a bit more challenging than one might think! And that's just the beginning!

A lot of games can take quite a commitment. There might be near an hour of set-up for some of those really long games and sometimes folks even have to sit out! When you've got a bunch of folks coming over and you're looking for a night of constant, high-energy, you can't go wrong with our fun party games. These are the types that usually take ten or twenty minutes to play a round (and sometimes as little as two or three), give everyone a big laugh, and then you're ready to dive into round two! Get tired of being the werewolf again or want to give someone else a chance to win and you can switch it up to play another one! We've got everything from dinner party mysteries and pop culture trivia to games of intrigue and deception designed to see just how well you really know your friends and family!

There are really two types of card games. You've got the type where you're carefully looking at your secret hand and plotting out your next actions. This is the strategy game where you're hoping to catch a tell from your opponent that will let you know to lay your trap or save yourself from their onslaught. The other is the 'pray for a nice card' game where the cards are all a bit random and you're just hoping that you can react well to whatever you draw. At least no matter which of our fun card games you happen to draw, you can be sure it'll be great fun!

Now, these are the games where you can really feel like you're in control. Most games these days have a die to roll. You know, figure out if you get to move 1, 2, or 6 places? But those aren't really the dice games for kids or adults that we're talking about! We mean the ones where you've got a fistful of d6s—or even something exotic like a dodecagon (a twelve-sided die)—and you let them scatter across the table to count your successes, gathering them up, and arranging them to know just how amazing that toss might have been! The sound of the clatter. The look of them bounding to their rested score. Frankly, how we are still designing this page instead of running to toss the dice is beyond us! So, grab one of these fun dice games and get shaking, whether you're trying to build up your town, strategically place results on cards, or even tell a story with the illustrated icons! Roll those dice!

What are the best card games for adults?

Naturally, you've got plenty of options for your style of playing cards. There are the old classics like Uno and even Batman or Deadpool themed decks for these classic games. Of course, the days of heading out at night to play cards with the couple down the street don't have to be over, but there are a slew of new adult card games that are really exciting. Consider a game that tests your mind and your abilities to solve strange puzzles. But not all card games require a ton of rules first. Check out party style card games that have all the rules printed right on the cards so you can just focus on the chaotic fun!

What are the best card games for kids?

Kids can be a tough audience for some games. Attention spans might not be intense enough to stick with games that have really long rounds. That's why we've got several games that can be played in a half-hour or less and just make them want to play another round for revenge! Games like Munchkin have tons of variations from Harry Potter to Nightmare Before Christmas and are filled with great puns. Some card games simulate adventures where the kids will pick a hero and explore through strange dungeons to find loot and beat up the baddies. (It's almost like a video game that's played live, in person, and at the table! They won't even notice.) In fact, we've got card and board games for gamers that will really capture that Minecraft energy at the table!

What are some popular card games?

The great thing about these fun card games is that they're really portable so you can keep them in your car or bag to play at the drop of a hat the next time someone asks what folks want to do! Some of the best party games for adults and kids alike are also card games like Codenames where you have to work in teams to figure out what your teammate is thinking. Looking for something more complex? Deck-building games are where it is at! Start out with a set of base cards and build your hand over several rounds. You can even play campaign modes that involve several different sessions to help you really develop your tactics! Great for tweens to adults.

What are some Christmas party games?

One of the times you can be sure that folks are going to be asking that dreaded question is during the holidays. Perhaps you want something that is themed with Christmas. That's where you can feel right at home with a Grinch party game that gets several of your family playing at once! Of course, there are variations of other games like Disney Codenames that will get everyone involved in a classic party game that is especially geared for the family environment. It's all about getting everyone involved and excited, so you can't go wrong with getting your family to put their chips down with a family game of Wits & Wagers, either!

What are the best strategy board games?

Most of the first board games were all strategic ones that had you trying to claim territory or win a simulated war. There's nothing wrong with those classic games but there are updated versions that can't be beat. Look at all sorts of themed Clue or Monopoly games that hit up all your fandoms from happy-go-lucky Bob's Burgers to freak-out Top Gun Strategy Game. Heck, even the Golden Girls are getting involved in this!

If you're looking for some resource gathering and winning some victory points, you won't be just settling with one of our Catan variations and this is the kind of game that folks are always coming up with their own unique strategies for winning. (Want to make an entire kingdom out of sheep exporting so you get the longest and fuzziest of roads? Well, that's our favorite tactic!)

Truly team up with your friends in dynamic games that pit all of you against the board itself. In these games, typically some kind of strange mystery is happening in the background. Maybe there is buried treasure to be found or a haunted mansion to explore. Talk to each other and decide who will go where to do what. Just remember that, soon, the board gets its turn and might force you all to figure out a whole new strategy to deal with the sudden change!