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20 Best Board Games the Whole Family Will Love

From Clue to Catan.

Headshot of Brittney MorganBy Brittney Morgan
best family board games

Getting a new board game is one of the easiest and most entertaining ways to engage the whole family. Maybe you're a regularly-scheduled game night kind of family, or maybe you just like to play the occasional game or two together to turn an otherwise boring night in into a fun activity night at home. In any case, there are so many board games out there to choose from that will do more than just help you pass the time—they'll help you all bond, too.

Whether you prefer classic board games like Clue and Sorry! or want to try more new, modern family games (Exploding Kittens, anyone?), you're sure to find one you love here. From in-depth strategy games you can play for hours to easy, quick-play games even your youngest kids can participate in, these are some of the best board games for families.

1
Best for Families With Teens

Codenames Word Game

Best Seller
Codenames Word Game
1
Best for Families With Teens

Codenames Word Game

$16 at Target

You and your family split up into two teams to track down secret agents based on special code words in this hit game. This is a good game to play if you've got teens at home, since it's recommended for ages 14 and up.

2
Best Classic Board Game

Clue Board Game

Clue Board Game
2
Best Classic Board Game

Clue Board Game

Classic board game lovers will appreciate Clue, everyone's favorite mystery game where you try to be the first player to figure out which of the game's characters committed a murder, in which room, and with which weapon.

3
Best Drawing Game

Telestrations Board Game

Telestrations Board Game
3
Best Drawing Game

Telestrations Board Game

The perfect combination of the Telephone game and Pictionary, this drawing game is sure to make the whole family laugh. This pack is good for up to six players, and all you need to do is draw some quick sketches and make guesses based on others' drawings.

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4
Funniest Board Game

Throw Throw Burrito Board Game

Throw Throw Burrito Board Game
4
Funniest Board Game

Throw Throw Burrito Board Game

This just might be the silliest game on this list, but you're guaranteed to have fun playing it—even as adults. You work to collect and match cards, and if you draw the right ones, you'll have to have a duel where you throw adorable foam burritos at each other.

5
Most Unusual Board Game

Exploding Kittens Game

Best Seller
Exploding Kittens Game
5
Most Unusual Board Game

Exploding Kittens Game

This unique card game, which came out of a highly successful Kickstarter campaign, is easy to learn and fun for the whole family. Each player works to match up cards and avoid exploding kitten cards, which can kick them out of the game.

6
Best for Big Groups

Heads Up! Party Game 4th Edition

Heads Up! Party Game 4th Edition
6
Best for Big Groups

Heads Up! Party Game 4th Edition

With cards in many different categories to choose from, you're sure to find games that everyone in the family will appreciate. Plus, you don't have to buy the physical board game to play—you can also download Heads Up! on your smartphone and buy the categories your family prefers.

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7
Best Board-Less Board Game

Yahtzee Classic Game

Yahtzee Classic Game
7
Best Board-Less Board Game

Yahtzee Classic Game

Yahtzee is a great game to have on hand because it's as portable as it is fun to play. Since it doesn't use an actual board, but rather some dice and a score card, you can play it anywhere—and with anyone ages eight and up.

8
Best Retro Board Game

Battleship Game Retro Series 1967 Edition

Battleship Game Retro Series 1967 Edition
8
Best Retro Board Game

Battleship Game Retro Series 1967 Edition

If you're looking for a great game to play with just two players, Battleship is yet another classic that everyone will love playing. The goal? Place your ships on your playing field, then try to guess where the other player's ships are. The first one to find all of the other's battleships wins.

9
Best Easy-to-Learn Board Game

Rummikub

Rummikub
9
Best Easy-to-Learn Board Game

Rummikub

Rummikub is a lot like the card game Rummy, but played with tiles—and some joker wild cards—instead. It's quick and easy to learn, can be played with two to four players, and is a good staple to have in any board game collection.

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10
Best for Strategy Lovers

Settlers of Catan Board Game

Settlers of Catan Board Game
10
Best for Strategy Lovers

Settlers of Catan Board Game

If your family loves serious strategy games, Catan is the perfect game for you. Players work to settle an island, building roads and cities while trading and collecting resources along the way.

11
Best Building Board Game

Ticket To Ride

Ticket To Ride
11
Best Building Board Game

Ticket To Ride

Another great strategy game option, Ticket to Ride is a game in which players compete to build train tracks across the United States, working to connect all the different train stations to each other. To win, you need to create the longest continuous train ride on the board.

12
Best Game for All Ages

Apples to Apples

Apples to Apples
12
Best Game for All Ages

Apples to Apples

Now 13% Off

Apples to Apples is one of those games that never gets old, because both adults and kids love to play. Each player takes turns being the judge and drawing a prompt card, while the others anonymously submit their cards to fill in the blanks. The card the judge deems the funniest or most fitting wins.

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13
Best No-Frills Board Game

Sorry!

Sorry!
13
Best No-Frills Board Game

Sorry!

Another timeless classic, Sorry! is a simple board game in which players (ages six and up) work to move all of their pawns to the finish line while avoiding being sent back to the beginning.

14
Best Fast-Paced Game

Sequence Board Game

Sequence Board Game
14
Best Fast-Paced Game

Sequence Board Game

Sequence combines cards and strategy to create a classic game everyone ages seven and up can play. Players place chips on the board as they play cards from their hands, and aim to make sequences of five in a row. Plus, you can play against yourself, too.

15
Easiest Board Game

Connect 4 Game

Connect 4 Game
15
Easiest Board Game

Connect 4 Game

For a super simple game that anyone can play without memorizing a bunch of rules or having to strategize that much, go with Connect 4. It's like Tic Tac Toe, but more challenging and interactive.

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16
Best Precision Board Game

Classic Operation Game

Classic Operation Game
16
Best Precision Board Game

Classic Operation Game

Operation is plenty of silly fun for the whole family. If you played as a kid, you know the drill: Try to remove all the ailments without hitting the sides and setting off the buzzer. It's more challenging than you think!

17
Best Deduction Board Game

Guess Who?

Guess Who?
17
Best Deduction Board Game

Guess Who?

Another great two-player game, Guess Who? is an easy game you to play with kids and adults of all ages. Ask questions about the different characters on your board to figure out who the other player is—the first one to guess correctly wins.

18
Most Versatile Game

Spot It!

Spot It!
18
Most Versatile Game

Spot It!

This matching card game is a great game for players ages seven and up, and can be played in multiple ways to mix things up, so you don't feel like you're playing the same game over and over again.

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19
Best New Take on a Classic

Uno Attack

Uno Attack
19
Best New Take on a Classic

Uno Attack

You already know and love Uno, the easy—and competitive—card game kids and adults alike love. Take it one step further with Uno Attack, which makes the game way more unpredictable. You never know how many cards it'll toss out to you!

20
Best All-in-One Game

Game Night in a Can

Game Night in a Can
20
Best All-in-One Game

Game Night in a Can

When in doubt, go with a game that can do it all. Game Night in a Can actually has all the makings for 30 different games and creative activities in one spot, so you and your family will never be bored.

Headshot of Brittney Morgan
Brittney Morgan
Market Editor, House Beautiful

Brittney Morgan is a noted land mermaid and a Virgo with a penchant for crafts, red lipstick, and buying way too many throw pillows. Her work has also been published at Apartment Therapy, NYLON, HuffPost, Hello Giggles, Elite Daily, and more. 

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