Save from a charcuterie board and a bottle of wine, only the best board games for adults have the ability to really offer a night of endless entertainment. Board games come in various guises, and you may think that the best options for adults will be classic games such as Cluedo or Scrabble.
But you would be wrong.
Whilst they are entertaining games, make no mistake, if you really want to add some thrills to your next dinner party, then you need to invest in a board game designed specifically for adults.
So, we really aren’t talking about Connect Four or Scrabble, we’re talking about games that are legitimately fun and definitely worth spending a precious Friday or Saturday night playing. If you don’t have any games or don’t think your friends will be impressed with the ones currently in your collection, never fear!
We’ve rounded up the best board games for adults, guaranteed to give you and your mates an enjoyable and entertaining evening…
GAME
Players: 2+
Playtime: Until there is one person left standing
Price: $69
This card game, called GAME (original, we know) is guaranteed to give you and your mates one hell of a night – in the best way possible. It brings together classic favourites such as truth or dare, trivia and survivor all rolled into one. Be warned, some of the dares are a little risque but will make you and your friends howl with laughter.
Playing GAME couldn’t be simpler. Just take 5 cards from each of the 6 categories, shuffle them and place them face down. Go around the circle picking up a card, and perform or respond to whatever the card asks. You might get a simple question, “Who is the hottest F1 driver?” or something a little more daring, “Tie your hands to your ankles with something rope-like.”
There is drinking involved with GAME, which is what makes it one for adults. Although, replace alcohol with juice and you could potentially get the kids involved too.
Poetry for Neanderthals
Players: 2+
Playtime: 90-second rounds. Play until everyone has had a go.
Audience: Ages 7 and up
Price: $35
From the maker of Exploding Kittens comes Poetry for Neanderthals. It works in a similar way to Taboo, in that you have to describe what’s on your card to your teammates. But where Poetry for Neanderthals differs is that you can only speak using single syllable words. You of course, can’t mention a specified list of words on the card you’re holding.
If you do slip up and use words with more than one syllable, then opposing team members have permission to hit you with a 2-foot inflatable club. The makers say, “It’s a board game that forces you to explain complicated ideas using simple vocabulary.”
Poetry for Neanderthals can be enjoyed by a younger audience too, so this isn’t strictly just for adults. But we can guarantee if you get alcohol involved, it will become all the more hilarious.
Monopoly Deal
Players: 2 – 5
Playtime: from 15 minutes
Ages: 8+
Price: $5
Before you roll your eyes and groan because you’ve read the word, ‘Monopoly’ – hear us out! Monopoly Deal is a new version of the game that’s nowhere near as time-consuming or old-hat; it’s actually really fun.
There’s no board involved with Monopoly Deal, just cards, and like the original Monopoly, you want to get the most property and money but unlike the OG, you can do so quickly and easily. In fact, game maker Hasbro says you can theoretically win in as little as 15-minutes.
Oh, and you can also f*ck over other opponents by stealing properties off them or getting them to cough up rent money – which is so satisfying…
Betrayal at House on the Hill
Players: 3 – 6
Playtime: 30 minutes – 2 hours
Ages: 12+ (suggested)
Price: $72
We don’t want to give too much away about Betrayal at the House on the Hill because the suspense is part of the fun. The simplest explanation of the board game is that there’s a haunted house that you and your friends have to explore but, once the ‘Exploration’ phase of the game is complete, there then comes a ‘Haunt’ phase. It’s during this phase that inevitably one of you turns on all the others… Betrayal at House on the Hill features multiple scenarios and layouts, and 50 possible Haunts to play out, meaning you’re unlikely to play the same game twice.
It may take a couple of run throughs to fully understand the rules (they can be a little tricky for beginners to grasp) which is why we’d call this a board game for adults. There’s no drinking involved with it, although there’s nothing stopping you popping open a couple of bottles of something red or white to make things more interesting.
Cards Against Humanity
Players: 3 – 20+
Playtime: 30-minutes
Ages: 17+
Price: $49 (Base game), Expansion packs available from $9
You may have already played Cards Against Humanity, or at the very least, you should have heard of it. This isn’t an adult board game that should be played by anyone who is easily offended.
How come? Because some of the words, phrases and sentences written on the cards in Cards Against Humanity are vile, cruel and incredibly politically incorrect. You play the game by choosing a black card, which asks a question or provides a sentence that needs some blanks filling in. You then use the obscene white cards to answer those questions, or fill in the blanks.
Each player takes their turn hosting a round. They read out the black card for other players to respond to, and then go through all the responses. The hosting player then chooses the round’s winner, based on which response they think is the most shocking.
With cards saying things like, “Thy anus” and “Rubbing my clit with a handgun”, we really must stress: don’t play Cards Against Humanity with someone like your children, in-laws or grandparents…
