Board games are a wonderful way to spend a cozy evening with friends or an afternoon with your family. Especially when the weather outside doesn't invite you to go out, a game afternoon can be a fun way to spend time. I have even played some board games with my 3-year-old children. However, I can hardly wait to be able to teach them my favorite games.
But which games are really good? Are there also games that are not just for children? As a passionate (board) gamer, I have already tried out quite a few board games and have selected my absolute favorites here, which I would like to introduce to you:
The best board games for adults
Board game Inkognito – Agent meeting in Venice
My absolute favorite game. Let me say right away: don't be put off by the instructions; it sounds much more complicated at first than it actually is.
Sequence of play
In this game, the goal is to first find out your partner and then your mission. Everyone receives cards themselves, where they learn their identity and a part of their mission. During the game, you have to keep trying to meet other players in Venice to exchange cards. Always take good notes of these exchanged cards; perhaps the other person will make a mistake and you will recognize which identity is hidden behind them. Wonderful for all secret agents and logicians.
Age
ages 10 and up
Players
3-4
Buying tip
Unfortunately, this game is no longer available new. Here I recommend looking out for flea markets or online on platforms for second-hand items. On Amazon, there are also always used versions available: Inkognito – Agent Meeting in Venice
Board game Bohnanza
I could play this game every day. It requires trading skills as well as well-planned tactics. It's even more fun with more players!
Sequence of play
Everyone gets different bean fields in their hand, which they are allowed to plant on their 2 fields. But be careful, only the beans that you are also planting on your field may be laid out. So it can happen that you really want to get rid of one bean or another because your bean field is currently blooming magnificently with other beans. A lot of trading and discussion is allowed here. Wonderfully communicative and funny game, which promotes combining and planning.
Age
ages 12 and up
Players
3-5
Buying tip
You can buy Bohnanza or the expansions in all toy stores, or on Amazon: Bohnanza – Card Game
Board game The Settlers of Catan
This game is rightly the 1995 Game of the Year and also won the German Game Prize in 1995. Here, skill and strategic thinking are required.
Sequence of play
This game is about harvesting as many resources as possible, because this allows small villages to be converted into large cities. At the beginning, you can place your house on the resources of your choice and must hope that the point number is rolled as often as possible, because only then are there resources that you can in turn use for building. The winner is the one who can accumulate the most points.
Age
ages 10 and up
Players
3-4
Buying tip
You can buy The Settlers of Catan in any toy store or on Amazon: The Settlers of Catan
Extra tip: I can also recommend the expansion 'The Settlers of Catan – Seafarers' to you. In my opinion, the best expansion.
Board game Citadels
Wonderful game for tacticians and those who like it action-packed.
Sequence of play
Here you can quickly slip from the role of the king into that of the thief. Each character has their good and bad qualities, which can be played in each round. The goal is to build the most cities, only they can also be destroyed again by some characters. Poker faces are required here.
Age
ages 10 and up
Players
3-7
Buying tip
The game is available in every toy store or on Amazon: Citadels (Ohne Furcht und Adel)
Board game Junta: Viva el Presidente
Strategic skill is required here, or do you keep your president or do you even want to be president yourself? You can also be really mean here!
Sequence of play
After a president has been appointed, they distribute their promises. The players must now decide whether they are satisfied with them or take to the barricades to perhaps become president themselves. The winner is the one who first reaches the most game points.
Age
ages 10 and up
Players
3-5
Buying tip
Viva el Presidente is available in toy stores or on Amazon: Junta – Viva el Presidente
Board game Carcassonne
This strategy game was Game of the Year in 2001 and is a really good game for children and adults. Furthermore, it is finally a game that you can also play very well with two people. Of course, it is much more fun with more players because there is much more interaction.
Sequence of play
With every turn, the medieval map grows and you have to decide again and again whether you want to place your followers in a lucrative area. Because caution is advised here; it can happen that the painstakingly built city is suddenly merged with the neighbor's small city and you receive no points for it. The winner is the one who was able to snatch the most points.
Age
ages 8 and up
Players
2-5
Buying tip
This game is available in toy stores or on Amazon: Carcassonne
Extra tip: I can highly recommend the following expansions:
1st expansion "Inns & Cathedrals"
2nd expansion "Traders & Builders"
Board game Was’n das? (What's that?)
Ever rebuilt the Statue of Liberty with a clothespin and a flower? Anything is possible with this game. A wonderful game to promote creativity.
Sequence of play
10 different objects are placed in the middle of the round scoring track. Now the first player begins and takes a term card. A number is drawn from their number cards, which names the term they have to represent. Now the player must use the objects to recreate the term so well that as many people as possible guess it, because only then do they receive points, and as is well known, the person with the most points wins.
Age
from 14 years
Players
3-6
Buying tip
You can buy this game in toy stores or on Amazon: Was’n das?
Adel verpflichtet (Hoity Toity)
Very funny game, which often proceeds unexpectedly. You are unsuspectingly holding an exhibition when a thief comes and steals your most precious collectible.
Sequence of play
The players receive hand cards with which they must interact, as well as collectibles. In each round, everyone plays simultaneously and you have to decide WHERE you play and WHAT you do. The WHERE options are: castle or auction house, and the WHAT options are: buy an object, put on an exhibition, play a thief or a detective. The winner is the one who sits furthest forward at the dinner table.
Age
Ages 12 and up
Players
2-5
Buying tip
The game is hardly available in toy stores anymore, more likely used or on Amazon
Board game The MAD Magazine Game
It is probably the craziest board game there is, and that is exactly what makes it so brilliant.
Sequence of play
The goal of the game alone is the opposite of almost 99% of games: you have to lose all your money. To accomplish this, you have to keep rolling dice and moving across the board, but watch out, there are grandiose tasks here ("You are a stone, go be one! If you are good, you lose $1000, if you are bad, you lose your balance"), crazy cards ("This card is only valid on Friday"), and cool rules ("always roll with your left hand, otherwise you get money").
Age
from 100 months
Players
2-4
Buying tip
Unfortunately, this game is only available with a bit of luck at flea markets or online on Ebay or willhaben.at, possibly also on Amazon: The MAD Magazine Game
Board game The Game of Life
Just like in real life, you have to make decisions here and some things just happen. A really fun game where you drive your car along the road of life, choose a career, start a family, and have to juggle unforeseen events.
Sequence of play
Everyone gets a car, a peg that serves as a figure, and starting capital in money. By rolling the dice, you drive along the road and have to carry out the respective events on the field. Just like in real life, you receive your regular salary and have to decide whether to take out insurance or choose stocks.
Age
Ages 8 and up
Players
2-6
Buying tip
I would definitely recommend the original, which unfortunately is only available second-hand: Ebay or willhaben.at or possibly also on Amazon: The Game of Life
Board game Activity
This game promotes team spirit, creativity, and reaction. Boredom never arises with this game.
Sequence of play
In teams, different terms must be guessed, which are sometimes represented by pantomime, drawing, or explanation. The winner is the one who has successfully completed the course first.
Age
ages 12 and up
Players
3-16
Buying tip
Available in toy stores or on Amazon: Activity
Board game DKT
DKT is a classic and an essential part of any game shelf. Here, properties are bought, sold, and assets are created, or is it debt? Monopoly is also structured this way, by the way.
Sequence of play
The players can buy the properties and transport companies. Houses and hotels can be built on the properties. If a player lands on a built-up property, they have to pay rent. That can get quite expensive with a hotel.
Age
from age 9
Players
3-6
Buying tip
You can buy this game in toy stores or on Amazon
Board game Karriere Poker
From dishwasher to boss is not possible? In this game, everything is possible; with skill and tactics, career jumps can be made here. Wonderful with several players – and important: preferably a game table with chairs, as the seats have to be swapped again and again here.
Sequence of play
Everyone gets cards (the dishwasher always 2 more) and these must be discarded in the course of the game, individually or as a pair. Whoever is the first to discard all their cards is the boss, the last one unfortunately the dishwasher. The game is funny because you also always have to give up your seat here, as everyone always has to sit in the correct order.
Age
ages 10 and up
Players
4-8
Buying tip
This game is available in toy stores or on Amazon: Career Poker
Board game Ligretto
Ligretto is a very fast game where reaction speed and combination skills are required.
Sequence of play
Here, the cards must be discarded as quickly as possible in the correct order. Everyone plays at the same time, so you always have to look around again to see where you can discard your numbers.
Age
ages 8 and up
Players
2-4
Buying tip
You can buy this card game in toy stores or on Amazon: Ligretto
Board game Rage
In this card game, skill and tactics are required. Also very funny, the more players who play along.
Sequence of play
In the first round, all players receive 10 cards, one suit is laid out as a trump, and every player must announce their planned tricks based on their cards. Sounds simple, but since there are also action cards here where the trump can simply change during the game, it can happen that things turn out quite differently than planned. After 10 rounds, the game is over and the points are added up.
Age
ages 10 and up
Players
3-8
Buying tip
Available in toy stores or on Amazon: Rage
Board game Wie ich die Welt sehe
This game promotes creativity and logical thinking and is a very communicative game.
Sequence of play
One player starts and reads out a 'My-World-Card', where there are always gaps that are to be filled by the other players with 'It-Cards'. The players add their suggestions face down and then the best 'It-Card' is selected. The person who suggested the 'It-Card' gets a point in this case. The winner is the player who has collected the most points in the game. Really good combinations come about here.
Age
ages 10 and up
Players
3-5
Buying tip
You can buy this card game in toy stores or on Amazon: Wie ich die Welt sehe (How I see the world)
Board game Boggle
At Boggle, the goal is to quickly find many long, meaningful words. Incidentally, the children (and perhaps also adults) learn something in the process. This game is great because you can also play it alone.
Sequence of play
For this game, you also need a pen and paper. First, the letters are mixed, the hourglass is turned over, and then the hunt for long, meaningful words begins. The winner is the one who gets the most points.
Age
ages 8 and up
Players
from 1
Buying tip
This game is available in toy stores or on Amazon: Boggle
Board game Uno
In this card game, logical thinking is required. Due to the short duration, it is a wonderful game for in-between.
Sequence of play
Each player receives 7 cards, which they must discard onto the pile in the middle of the table. Sounds simple, but various action cards or color changes can really throw you off track. The winner is the one who first discarded their cards – and don't forget, if you only have one card – say 'UNO', otherwise you immediately have two more penalty cards in your hand.
Age
ages 7 and up
Players
2-10
Buying tip
You can buy this funny card game in toy stores or on Amazon: Uno
Board game Taboo, Edition 4
This game requires wit and imagination and good communication, because terms have to be explained here, but not with the obvious terms.
Sequence of play
The players are divided into 2 teams and a card is drawn where the specified term must be described. However, the common words for this term are excluded, so you have to come up with something to explain the term to your team within the allotted time.
Age
ages 12 and up
Players
from 4
Buying tip
You can buy this game in toy stores or on Amazon: Taboo
Board game Ubongo
Ubongo is a skill game that can be compared a little to Tetris, as you have to fill your puzzle boards like in Tetris here. However, much funnier because you can play it with up to 4 players and also collect gemstones.
Sequence of play
At the beginning of the round, each player receives a puzzle board and their 12 puzzle pieces. Now the symbol die is rolled, and this indicates which pieces should be used to complete the board. The puzzle boards resemble the computer game Tetris and must be filled while the sand trickles down. Whoever has completely filled their puzzle board first calls out 'Ubongo' loudly. The order of the finished players then determines how many fields the figures on the tracks may move and how many gemstones are captured.
Age
ages 8 and up
Players
2-4
Buying tip
Available in toy stores or on Amazon: Ubongo
Board game Anno Domini – Austria
In this game, you either have a lot of know-how or a very good poker face. This game promotes social behavior and logical thinking, and is very communicative.
Sequence of play
Here, each player gets cards with historical events in Austria. Now the players must discard the cards in the middle of the table in exact chronological order. If a player becomes skeptical, they can check the chain; if the last event was wrong, the person gets penalty cards from the pile. The winner is the one who has no more cards.
Age
ages 10 and up
Players
2-8
Buying tip
This game is available in toy stores or on Amazon: Anno Domini
Board game Living Forest
In this game, you have to protect your forest as a nature spirit by extinguishing fires, attracting animals, and planting trees. At the same time, you have to collect a lot of victory points very quickly to win. Visually, the game is already great; the instructions were complex for us at first, you really have to read them through completely once, and then you recognize the game flow. In this game, you have to think tactically about which actions you take to get the most victory points, but also to survive an attack by Onibi.
Sequence of play
All players receive a forest game board, an animal card deck, 3 bonus tiles, and a nature spirit figure. The game flow is divided into 3 sections. In the 1st section, the animal cards must be revealed until you are no longer allowed to or stop yourself; everyone can do this together. Then the player with the tree begins to set their actions; here they can extinguish fires, buy an animal, plant a tree, or move further on the stone circle. Once all nature spirits have had their turn, the attack by Onibi must still be repelled. Do all nature spirits manage this? And who has collected the most victory points and wins?
Age
ages 10 and up
Players
2-4
Buying tip
This game is available in toy stores or on Amazon: Living Forest
I have tried out all these games personally and played them many times. Of course, new games are always coming onto the market, and I will continue to test and add games. If you are already missing a game here in the meantime and would like to recommend it, please just send it to me via comment or email.
Extra buying tip:
If some games are no longer available to buy new, I recommend looking out for them at flea markets or online on platforms for used items (e.g., willhaben.at or ebay.at). On Amazon, there are also always used versions.
I was very often at flea markets and always found it great when parents or even the children themselves sold their games and gave many tips and information about them. That's how I got some really great games that we really play or have played often.
Photos by Sabine, meinhaushalt.at
Also read: The perfect party from A to Z
Very great post and many classics included. Especially Taboo is also suitable for many teenagers and "non-adults". We have also introduced some classics ourselves.