There's something to be said for the fun of gathering up a few friends, sitting around a table, and opening up a new board game to play. These games aren't just for kids either! There are plenty of options for adults from puzzling strategy games to fast-paced card games, where it's all about versatility and knowing what you have in your hand. Whether it's just you and a partner, or a table with friends, there are games available for every occasion — and budget.
Best known
Cards against humanity
Staff Pick
Marketed as a party game for horrible people, Cards Against Humanity is essentially a meaner, naughtier, more crass version of Apples to Apples. The base set comes with 500 cards, and this includes 400 white cards and 100 black cards. The aim of the game here is to play white cards against black ones to come up with the best combo, which is often hilarious, raunchy, or terrible — if not all three. You can pick up a variety of expansion packs, and each game is defined as much by who is sitting at the table as it is by the cards you all play.
Strategic gameplay
Photosynthesis
Finding games that are suitable for two or more players isn't always easy. If you want a fun and challenging option you can play with your partner on weeknights, Photosynthesis is a great option. The aim of the game is to collect light points, which you get as your trees move through their life cycle. There is strategy involved as you pick the best place to plant as you try to avoid shadows and gather more light than your opponent. This game won a fair share of awards when it was released, and is manufactured with all recycled materials!
Classic fun
Catan
There are so many board games out there that it can be difficult to parse through all the new additions. Catan is an excellent option with plenty of expansion packs you can choose from, making it an excellent choice. It's built for 3-4 players in the base game and works off of three basic principles: Trade, Build, and Settle. You'll be competing with other players on a grid map with resources while you work towards collecting the most victory points. The gameplay can be fierce, but it's a game that can be easily revisited over and over, making it a classic to consider!
Budget pick
Unstable unicorns
While some board games are a bit pricy for folks on a budget, that isn't true across the board. Unstable Unicorns, a card game based around building unicorns and betraying your friends, is a super affordable option. There is a base game along with several expansions, and it's made for 2-8 players with a game-time of about 45 minutes. It was one of the most backed Kickstarter projects of all time and has sold over a million copies worldwide.
Get playing
There are literally thousands of board games out there waiting for you to find them and fall in love. However, if you're new to board games, it can be daunting to try and pick out the one that you'll enjoy playing. If we had to suggest a single game, then it would be Cards Against Humanity. It's a fun and fast-paced card game that's easy to pick up has multiple expansions to keep gameplay exciting and is definitely not for children.