We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza beats boredom because it's simple to learn, great for all ages, and lightning fast. Play this slap-tastic party game once and their friends will be begging to bring it out at every future game night.
Number of players: 3–8
Recommended age: 8+
Promising review: "We got this as a stocking stuffer for our daughter back at Christmas and it may have been the best gift she received! We play the game two or three times a week and it's always so much fun every time. The game is easy to learn and family members request we bring it when we come over for visits because of how much fun it is. I'd definitely suggest this game especially for families with elementary school–age kids." —JGrant
Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 1-day shipping. Non-Prime shipping options will still arrive before Christmas (see Amazon’s full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $9.84
2. Wingspan features loads of gorgeous game pieces and bird artwork that's almost as fun as the game itself. Easy to teach yet difficult to master, this card-driven engine builder will quickly become a staple in their tabletop rotation.
Number of players: 1–5
Recommended age: 10+
Promising review: "The artwork is what first drew me to this game and I stayed because it was so well designed and fun to play. If you are looking for a game that is fun, well balanced, beautiful, and a break from all the dark-themed stuff out there, then Wingspan is for you! A fun strategic game that is exciting enough for the avid gamer but simple enough to learn to play that a 7 year old can learn it." —IRNHIDE
Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 1-day shipping. Non-Prime shipping options will still arrive before Christmas (see Amazon’s full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $46.99.
3. The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine walks players through 50 cooperative space missions in a trick-taking format (like Spades) that scales in difficulty, so they can keep their friends on the hook and finally establish the weekly game night they've always dreamed of.
Number of players: 3–5
Recommended age: 10+
Promising review: "I gave this game to my brother for Christmas, and that night we all stayed up until 4 a.m. playing! Takes a little time to learn, but the instructions walk you through it." —Jackie
Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 1-day shipping. Non-Prime shipping options will still arrive before Christmas (see Amazon’s full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
4. Azul taps into their artistic side, guiding players through the creation of gorgeous (and point-scoring) tile mosaics featuring Moorish art-inspired designs.
Number of players: 2–4
Recommended age: 8+
Promising review: "This is such a great game for both board game fanatics and non-gamers. It's easy to teach, simple to set up, plays in under an hour, and it's FUN! Azul is an abstract tile placement game that features drafting, set collecting, and pattern building. It's pleasing to look at and the components are well made. The tiles feel especially nice. This is one of those games that everyone we've introduced it to loves and wants to play again right away. It hits the table quite a bit." —Shelly
Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 1-day shipping. Non-Prime shipping options will still arrive before Christmas (see Amazon’s full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $31.99.
5. Wavelength tests the group's telepathic connection in this social guessing game with a super flexible player count, making it great for small gatherings and parties, alike. Plus, it gets bonus points for actually being really fun to play on a video call (I can attest).
Number of players: 2–12+
Recommended age: 14+
Everyone I know who has played this game loves it! Brother, boyfriend, mom — everyone! You learn a little about the 'psychic' every time, and it's incredibly flexible to accommodate huge fluctuations in the number of players. It's a simple concept with a lot of depth since you have to adjust your thinking every round to match that of your partner.
Shipping Info: Free 2-day shipping available on select products.
Get it from Target for $20.
6. Parks brings the outdoors in by taking players to scenic hiking trails from national parks across the country. Play solo or with friends while hitting up as many different locations as possible (and snapping pics along the way) to score points.
Number of players: 1–5
Recommended age: 10+
Promising review: "This is a very cute strategy-lite game. The mechanics are simple, but player choice can affect the course of the game in a lot of different ways. The game pieces and park cards are a real highlight. If you're a fan of the outdoors, this game will put you in the mood for a wilderness trek. Great for an hour of casual, low-sodium fun with friends or family." —Andrew Simile
Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 1-day shipping. Non-Prime shipping options will still arrive before Christmas (see Amazon’s full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $44.99.
7. One Night Ultimate Werewolf skips the time-consuming explanations so they can get playing right away thanks to a free app that walks players step by step through each round. It's a social deduction game filled with lies, deceit, and year-round spooky vibes.
Number of players: 3–10
Recommended age: 8+
Promising review: "My daughter gave this game as a Christmas present to my son who is in college. He and his friends get together and play cards or games often. They have played this game multiple times and they love it! He said it is his new favorite game." —BCat
Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 1-day shipping. Non-Prime shipping options will still arrive before Christmas (see Amazon’s full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $18.99.
8. Ticket to Ride takes players on a trip across North America where they must connect train routes to score points. It's a straightforward strategy game they'll reach for over and over thanks to its flexible player count, family-friendly theme, and seemingly endless replay value.
Number of players: 2–5
Recommended age: 8+
Promising review: "This is one of those rare board games that manages to find the middle ground between simple, easy-to-understand rules, and quick-to-grasp-yet-deep-and-challenging-to-master gameplay. It's a great game to introduce to new players, as they'll be playing in no time. At the same time, it doesn't get old even after returning for multiple sessions. Strongly recommended." —Rick
Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 1-day shipping. Non-Prime shipping options will still arrive before Christmas (see Amazon’s full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $30.
9. Carcassonne delights history geeks, tabletop nerds, and board game noobs alike in this intuitive, tile-laying strategy game inspired by the real fortified French city of the same name.
Number of players: 2–5
Recommended age: 7+
Promising review: "Wow I didn't expect to like this game as much as I do. My family loves to play this. It's super easy to teach to guests too! It's nice to have a quick game that we can all play. Even my 5-year-old plays with us. But fun enough for my husband and me to enjoy it." —Keely
Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 1-day shipping. Non-Prime shipping options will still arrive before Christmas (see Amazon’s full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $33.99.
10. Dutch Blitz plays like a less solitary version of solitaire that's lightning fast and quick to pick up. Fun fact — the game was created circa 1937 by a German immigrant who settled in Pennsylvania. The game is still popular among the Pennsylvania Amish and Dutch communities today!
Number of players: 2–4 (an expansion pack is available for more players).
Recommended age: 8+
I ADORE this game. My partner and I teach it to everyone who will let us, and we've yet to encounter someone who hasn't also fallen in love with this super engaging, fast-paced, and competitive game. It's really easy to teach; newbies usually have a handle on things after the first round, and rounds go by quick. And since it's just a deck of cards, it's so easy to travel with — I even have the carrying case!
Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 1-day shipping. Non-Prime shipping options will still arrive before Christmas (see Amazon’s full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $11.54.
11. The Chameleon is a social game where everyone knows the secret word — except that round's Chameleon. Players take turns offering carefully chosen clues to prove they're in on the secret word, without giving so much away that the Chameleon can blend in and escape.
Number of players: 3–6
Recommended age: 14+
Promising review: "Very fun game to replay and easy enough to teach to a new player as well because, let's face it, learning a new game is a long and tedious process. This game is great due to its simplicity. While simple, however, it's loads of fun for everyone involved. Highly suggested." —Kayla
Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 1-day shipping. Non-Prime shipping options will still arrive before Christmas (see Amazon’s full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $17.
12. Planted proves they can keep a plant alive — or at least a pretend one. Featuring gorgeous artwork, players must collect and care for their very own houseplant collection by feeding them the right combination of light, water, and plant food each turn.
Number of players: 2–5
Recommended age: 10+
Promising review: "Absolutely love! The artwork is amazing, and the quality is very good. The pieces are well made. The game is fun and very easy to learn. I do wish there were a few more plants for extended variety, but maybe an expansion later on. You can even get decorations like macrame hanging and plant stands for your plants in the game and can propagate them! Super thematic. Love love love." —Leah
Shipping Info: Free 2-day shipping available on select products.
Get it from Target for $29.99.
13. Splendor transports players back to the Renaissance where they'll play as a wealthy jewelry merchant. Climb the ranks by strategically collecting gem tokens to create stunning jewelry for the nobility, and gain the prestige necessary to win.
Number of players: 2–4
Recommended age: 10+
Promising review: "Splendor is one of a handful of games that I grab when I have someone over who doesn't play board games very often, or when I feel like playing a game but don't want to commit too much time. This is a fun, relatively quick game that is easy to teach newcomers. At the same time, it's challenging enough to keep you on your toes. You really have to pay attention to what others are doing so they don't buy the card you were thinking about for your next turn. Though it's a fine two-player game, three players seems to be the sweet spot (personally, I find four a little overwhelming)." —Lemmy
Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 1-day shipping. Non-Prime shipping options will still arrive before Christmas (see Amazon’s full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $35.99.
14. Hanabi puts their recall skills to the test as players work together to properly launch a legendary fireworks display and earn the highest score. If they're the hate-to-lose type, don't worry, defeat in this game is simply failing to top the score on their own made-up leaderboard.
Number of players: 2–5
Recommended age: 8+
Promising review: "An engaging game requiring solid teamwork and communication to succeed. Easy to teach, hard to master, and small enough to bring to any gathering." —J. Kintzi
Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 1-day shipping. Non-Prime shipping options will still arrive before Christmas (see Amazon’s full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $10.54.
15. Pandemic assigns each player a unique role in the fight to save humanity from, you guessed it, a global pandemic! Work together to quickly build research stations, administer treatments, and discover a cure before it's too late.
Number of players: 2–4
Recommended age: 8+
Promising review: "Super fun game! This is the only toy that we are still playing from time to time among all Christmas gifts. It needs some strategy and is not easy to win, which makes it fun. The con: rules are a bit complicated (younger one does not enjoy as much as the older one who is 10). But overall, a great game to get the kids off from screen." —Judy
Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 1-day shipping. Non-Prime shipping options will still arrive before Christmas (see Amazon’s full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $35.50.
16. King of Tokyo combines traditional Yahtzee-style dice rolls with flashy monsters and power cards for a game that's easy to learn, but feels anything but boring.
Number of players: 2–6
Recommended age: 8+
Promising review: "King of Tokyo is a ton of fun and is easy to teach. I have a few board game–challenged people in my life and if I can get them to understand and be able to play within one game you should be able to do it too. The game is fun, easy, light strategy, luck with dice, and a whole lot of Godzilla and King Kong." —Phenom13
Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 1-day shipping. Non-Prime shipping options will still arrive before Christmas (see Amazon’s full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $39.99.
17. Dungeons & Dragons starter set provides roleplaying newbies with everything they need to kick off their first tabletop fantasy adventure. Complete with a ready-made adventure module, rule book, and five pre-built characters, this kit is the perfect way to dip their toes into D&D without getting bogged down by complicated rules and character creation.
Contents: A 48-page adventure booklet with everything they need to get started, a 32-page rulebook for playing characters of levels 1–3, five ready-to-play characters, five blank character sheets, and a set of six polyhedral game dice.
Number of players: 2–6
Recommended age: 12+
The tough thing about D&D is that it can be really intimidating to get into unless you have someone who knows what they're doing to bring you into the fold. That's where this kit comes in! Even with no experience, this kit presents a very streamlined version of the game and gives players absolutely everything they need to jump right in without going through the more complicated process of developing their own story/characters. This way, they can get a sense of how to play and build a foundation even if they don't personally know someone who plays already. Great for the D&D-curious gamer in your life.
If you want to take that gift to the next level, I recommend grabbing this D&D terrain set, which makes it really easy to set up quick game boards for any encounter imaginable. Going full "theater of the mind" as a newbie (or a vet, tbh) can be tough, so having something physical on the table to use as reference is super handy!
Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 1-day shipping. Non-Prime shipping options will still arrive before Christmas (see Amazon’s full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $10.
18. Anomia Party Edition puts all that seemingly useless information shaking around in their brain to good use. Players race to name an example that fits the category on their opponent's card. Turns out, it's a lot harder to remember a soup brand under pressure than anyone could've imagined, but it's also a lot more fun, too.
Number of players: 3–6
Recommended age: 10+
Promising review: "This is the only game I’ve ever felt compelled to leave a review on. My wife and I have played hundreds of card and board games and this is by far our most played one. It definitely gets cutthroat competitive (at least in our games), but there are tons of laughs and everyone has the best time. I bring it to every game night and it’s a favorite! Cards are decent quality. This party version comes with six sets of cards, which can be played independently, or mixed together for one massive mixup. The game is easy to teach and learn. It can be played with children that are old enough to read and understand the categories." —J. Khurmi
Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 2-day shipping. Non-Prime shipping options will still arrive before Christmas (see Amazon’s full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $27.99.
19. Everdell combines a charming board and in-depth gameplay to delight even the most seasoned tabletop enthusiasts. In this worker placement game, they'll lead a crew of forest critters through the seasons to construct buildings, host events, and ensure a plentiful year ahead.
Number of players: 1–4
Recommended age: 13+
Promising review: "This is probably one of my new favorite games. The aesthetic of the game is very pleasing, and the pieces are sturdy and high quality. The tree is super cool (even though it's essentially just a holding area, again, aesthetically pleasing). The game is basically worker placement and resource gathering, as well as an aspect of machine building. The rules are a bit thick, especially if this is your first game of this weight, but try not to get overwhelmed. Once you get into it, you can really start to build a strategy. It warrants a lot of re-playability, as you will definitely not see all the cards your first run, and since every setup is random, you will have plenty of new ways to build a strategy." —Hunter Meyer
Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 1-day shipping. Non-Prime shipping options will still arrive before Christmas (see Amazon’s full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $60.
20. Betrayal at The House on The Hill has players cooperatively exploring a modular mansion until the haunting begins and a player is turned against the group. From there, the game can devolve into any one of 50 different scary scenarios for a tabletop experience they'll revisit again and again with new surprises every time.
Number of players: 3–6
Recommended age: 12+
Promising review: "My friend brought this game and we played for HOURS. This game can be replayed multiple times with different outcomes since it has a ton of different scenarios. We're all obsessed and we play this game multiple times a week! A definite must!" —Abram Allen
Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 1-day shipping. Non-Prime shipping options will still arrive before Christmas (see Amazon’s full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $28.79.
21. Bookshelf Scrabble® reimagines the word nerd classic with letter tiles and a board that fold up into a stylish book that will seamlessly blend in with the rest of their decor.
Number of players: 2–4
Recommended age: 8+
Promising review: "Durable, cute, and space efficient! It’s everything you’d expect from Scrabble but it fits in a compact 'book' case that looks great too. Definitely love the aesthetic and ease of choosing a board game with these types of packages." —GoldnX
Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 1-day shipping. Non-Prime shipping options will still arrive before Christmas (see Amazon’s full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $39.95.
22. A wood-accented board game center includes the pieces and boards required to play 15 popular games like chess, Mancala, and Chinese checkers — just to name a few. If they love board games but don't have their own copies of the classics, this is a gift they'll cherish for a looonngggg time.
Contents: All the boards and pieces to play checkers, chess, Chinese checkers, Parcheesi, tic-tac-toe, solitaire, Pass-Out, snakes and ladders, mancala, backgammon, poker dice, playing cards, go fish, old maid, and dominos.
Promising review: "Great game set for the family. Some very small pieces to keep track of, so you may want to get some resealable bags for them. Great finish, love the wood and tray design. My kids love it and ask to play often and, in this day and age, any time with the family is good." —Lucas Costa
Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 1-day shipping. Non-Prime shipping options will still arrive before Christmas (see Amazon’s full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $43.97.
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.