The board and card games that live on my shelf and come out every time friends come over, from quick party games to cozy strategy picks. Every one of these has earned a permanent spot on my game night table.
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My go-to gateway game, since anyone can learn to claim train routes across the map in five minutes.
Asmodee Ticket to Ride Board Game 2025 Refresh
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Wingspan is my relaxing strategy pick, and the birdfeeder dice tower and gorgeous bird cards make it a joy to play.
Stonemaier Games: Wingspan by Elizabeth Hargrave
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I love the chunky resin tiles in Azul, and it plays just as well with two people as with four.
Azul Mosaic Tile-Placement Board Game
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Splendor is quick to teach, and collecting the heavy gem chips is weirdly satisfying.
Asmodee Splendor Gem Trading Board Game
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When my friends hate losing to each other, we play Pandemic and team up to save the world instead.
Pandemic Cooperative Strategy Board Game 2-4 Players
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I build a new medieval map tile by tile every game, and the little meeples never get old.
Carcassonne Tile Placement Strategy Board Game
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My favorite two-player game for date nights, with three different ways to win that keep every match tense.
Asmodee 7 Wonders Duel Board Game - 2 Players
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Cascadia is my cozy Pacific Northwest puzzle of habitats and wildlife, and I even play it solo.
Cascadia: Award-Winning Cozy Nature Board Game
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I pull out Sushi Go Party when we have up to eight people, and the adorable cards make it easy for non-gamers.
Sushi Go Party! Deluxe Card Game by Gamewright
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Rolling dice as giant monsters smashing Tokyo is pure chaos, and it's always the loudest game of the night.
IELLO King of Tokyo New Edition Board Game
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Dixit's dreamy art cards turn everyone into a storyteller, and I love hearing the clues my friends come up with.
Dixit Board Game - Award-Winning Family Fun
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Telestrations is the game that makes us laugh the hardest, because the drawings go hilariously wrong as they're passed.
Telestrations Original 8-Player Family Game
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I play Qwirkle with my family because the matching shapes and colors are easy for all ages but still strategic.
MindWare Qwirkle Board Game
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Patchwork is my quick two-player quilting puzzle, and a whole game fits into half an hour.
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This little co-op trick-taking game has 50 missions, so my friends and I keep coming back to beat the next one.
Thames & Kosmos The Crew: Quest for Planet Nine
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Just One is my favorite co-op word game, since duplicate clues get erased and it gets everyone thinking.
Asmodee Just One Party Game (2025 Refresh)
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I spin the dial on Wavelength and we argue about where things land on the scale, which is half the fun.
CMYK Wavelength – A Mind Reading Party Game
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Monopoly Deal gives me all the fun of Monopoly in 15 minutes, and it fits in a pocket for travel.
Monopoly Deal Card Game - Quick Play, 2-5 Players
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Sequence is the game my parents always want to play, and teams of two make it great for bigger groups.
SEQUENCE Game with Folding Board, Cards & Chips
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I love how Blokus looks simple but turns into a sneaky fight for corners, and kids pick it up instantly.
Mattel Blokus Board Game Ages 7+, 2-4 Players
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SKYJO is the easy card game I teach to new friends, and it's become the one we play at the end of every game night.
magilano SKYJO Card Game for All Ages
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I bring Codenames out when we have a big group, and the spymaster clues always get the whole table yelling.
