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Best Strategy Board Games & Classic Games for Adults
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items Game nights with friends have become one of our favorite ways to spend a cold weekend evening. We have played our way through dozens of board games, and these are the strategy games and timeless classics that keep getting pulled off the shelf. Tell m...
Sections
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Modern Strategy Board Games
Timeless Classics & Tile Games
Game Night Accessories & Quick Card Games
Modern Strategy Board Games
Engaging strategy games that reward clever planning and replay well.
CATAN is the game that got our friend group hooked on strategy games, and the refreshed edition looks better than ever. Trading sheep for wood leads to hilarious negotiations every time. We have played it for years, and my partner still insists that ...
Asmodee CATAN Board Game Sixth Edition Refresh
Wingspan is a gorgeous engine building game about attracting birds to your wildlife preserve. The artwork and components are stunning, and the swift start pack makes learning easy. It is my favorite game to play with my sister, and we have learned so...
Stonemaier Wingspan with Swift Start Game Pack
Pandemic is a cooperative game where everyone works together to stop global outbreaks, so there are no sore losers at our table. The tension builds with every turn. It is the game I bring out when friends are new to strategy games, and we always chee...
Asmodee Pandemic Cooperative Board Game
Azul is a beautiful tile drafting game where you build colorful mosaic patterns. The chunky tiles feel so satisfying to handle. It is easy to learn but surprisingly strategic, and my parents, my kids, and my partner all love playing it together when ...
Asmodee Azul Tile Strategy Game
Carcassonne is a classic tile laying game where we build a medieval landscape of cities, roads, and fields together. Each game looks different, which keeps it fresh. It plays well with just two, and my partner and I have played it on countless weekni...
Carcassonne Board Game
Splendor is a quick, elegant game about collecting gems and building a jewelry empire. I love how the poker chip style gems feel luxurious in my hand. A game takes about half an hour, which makes it perfect for a weeknight, and it is the game my teen...
Splendor Board Game
Scythe is a deep, beautifully illustrated strategy game set in an alternate history Europe with giant mechs. The components are stunning, and every decision matters. It is the big game night pick for my strategy loving friends, and we clear an entire...
Stonemaier Games Scythe Strategy Board Game
Terraforming Mars lets us compete to transform the red planet with oceans, forests, and cities. There are hundreds of unique cards, so no two games feel the same. It is my partner's all time favorite, and he talks about his clever card combos for day...
Terraforming Mars Board Game
Cascadia Rolling Rivers is a relaxing roll and write game about building habitats for wildlife in the Pacific Northwest. It plays quickly and works well for our big group. I love that it is calming rather than cutthroat, and it has become our go to g...
Cascadia Rolling Rivers Roll and Write Board Game
Timeless Classics & Tile Games
Chess, mahjong, and classics that never go out of style.
Codenames is the party game that always gets our friends shouting and laughing as teams guess secret words from one word clues. It works for big groups and is easy to explain. It is my first pick when we host a crowd, and it never fails to get even q...
Czech Games Edition Codenames
This Bey-Berk acrylic chess set looks sleek and modern on our coffee table, so it stays out as decor. The clear pieces feel solid and elegant. My son and I play a game most evenings, and having the board always set up has made chess a regular part of...
Bey-Berk Acrylic Chess Set
The Bey-Berk Damien backgammon set is a handsome case that looks lovely on a shelf and travels easily. Backgammon is quick to learn and endlessly strategic. My dad taught me to play as a kid, and now I play with my own kids on this beautiful set duri...
Bey-Berk Damien Backgammon Set
This Verve Culture mahjong set has beautifully crafted tiles that click so satisfyingly on the table. Mahjong has become our monthly game night with neighbors. It takes a little time to learn, but once we got the hang of it, we were hooked, and it fe...
Verve Culture Thai Mahjong Set
Go is an ancient strategy game with simple rules and endless depth. This set has everything we need to learn and play. My partner and I started playing it on quiet evenings, and I love that it is a game we can keep getting better at together for year...
Go Game Set
This Bey-Berk domino set comes in a handsome case that makes it easy to bring to family gatherings. We find the tiles sturdy and substantial. Dominoes are a tradition in my family, and we play for hours after holiday dinners while the grandparents sh...
Bey-Berk Domino Set
Risk is the classic game of world domination that my friends and I have played since high school. Alliances form and break in the most dramatic ways. It is a long game, so we save it for snowy weekends, and the rivalries it creates are legendary in o...
Risk Board Game
Stratego is a two player strategy game of hidden pieces and bluffing that my son absolutely loves. The battle cards add fun new twists to our games. It is quick to learn and teaches planning and strategy, and it has become our favorite game to play t...
Stratego Classic Board Game with Battle Cards
Game Night Accessories & Quick Card Games
Dice, trays, and quick games that round out a game night.
I love that these Spin Master campaign dice sets are colorful and come with a handy storage pouch for our tabletop games. My son uses them for his Dungeons and Dragons campaign with friends. They make a great stocking stuffer, and he was thrilled to ...
Spin Master Games Campaign Dice Sets with Storage Pouch
These Greater Than Games clear card sleeves protect the cards in our favorite games from wear and spills. They are thin and slide easily when shuffling. Our most played games were starting to look worn, and sleeving them has kept our collection looki...
Greater Than Games Square Clear Card Sleeves
This Heroscape dice tray keeps our dice from flying off the table and scattering pieces mid game. The padded bottom makes rolling quiet and satisfying. It has saved us so many searches under the couch, and I think it is a clever little upgrade for an...
Renegade Game Studios Heroscape Valhalla Dice Tray
The UNO card shuffler mixes our decks quickly and evenly, which my grandmother especially appreciates since shuffling is hard on her hands. It works for regular playing cards too. It keeps our card games moving, and my kids think pressing the button ...
Mattel UNO Championship Card Shuffler
This Foster and Rye poker chip set comes in a sleek case with chips and cards for a proper poker night. I think the chips feel substantial and look great on our table. My partner hosts a monthly poker night with his friends, and this set made their g...
Foster and Rye Poker Chip Set
Exploding Kittens is a silly, fast card game that is perfect as a warm up before a longer strategy game. The artwork is hilarious, and rounds take just minutes. My friends and I play a few rounds while we wait for everyone to arrive, and it always ge...
Exploding Kittens Card Game
Jabba's Palace is a Star Wars version of the clever little card game Love Letter, with bluffing and deduction in a tiny box. Rounds are quick, and it fits in my purse. My son and I play it at restaurants while we wait for our food, and he loves the S...
Jabba's Palace A Love Letter Card Game