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. A traditional game of Scrabble that'll test your word-making skills and your friendship. Oh, so you've been friends with me for five years and don't trust me when I say that "kurplunk" is a word? Shady.
Promising review: "I am 76-years-old and had not played Scrabble in many years, but my daughter-in-law Mia ordered one and we played together when I went for a visit. I beat her. I've since played with another daughter and a granddaughter and beat them also. It is great to keep your mind active and lots of fun also. Nice to sit and play board games with family and friends rather than each playing a game separately on each one's computer." —ladyrs
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
2. Or a Harry Potter Scrabble if you like your games with a mix of wizardry. But, be warned, I doubt a spell will help you figure out what to .... ~spell~ with the letters Z, T, and Q.
Editor's Note: BuzzFeed does not support discriminatory or hateful speech in any form. We stand by the LGBTQ+ community and all fans who found a home in the Harry Potter series and will work to provide a safe space for fans. If you, like us, feel impassioned about trans rights, learn more or donate here.
Promising review: "I'm the 'Potterhead' of the family, but even my kids were excited for this. My son asks daily if we can play (multiple times a day some days!). We've been playing with the classic rules for now, but the cards seem like they'll be a fun addition. It's very well made, as well." —Brittiny Hummell
Get it from Amazon for $26.99.
3. A deck of giant Uno playing cards just begging to upgrade your classic Uno game. They even come in a BTS version. Draw four takes on a whole new meaning when you slam it down with a giant Korean pop star on it.
Promising review: "These are hysterically amazing! Huge hit at parties. I may or may not be sneaking out for a girls night (yes mom, I have my sanitizer and face mask) and you bet your tushy I'll be bringing these cards. Beware! The deck is pretty damn heavy, so either have someone strong carry them or you can just consider it your arm workout for the week." —Lynette
Get it from Amazon for $14.29 (also available in a BTS version).
4. A What Do You Meme? party game you can break out when the party seems to be getting a little dull. Soon, that awkward silence will turn into roaring laughter when you begin to piece together these memes.
Promising review: "I’ve been hearing a lot about this game recently so I figured I’d join in. I bought this game for my mom because she loves to hold game night parties. I must say it’s one of the best games I’ve ever played. It definitely makes for a good laugh. It was a huge hit at her last Game Night. I highly recommend this." —Nicole Ernst
Get it from Amazon for $29.99.
5. Beat That! combo pack — a fun game for kids and adults with more than 160 challenges that test how much confidence they have in their own abilities.
Promising review: "This is such a FUN game!!! We were all laughs. The amount of cards are amazing. We went several rounds and didn’t come close to using half the deck. Mommas of multiple kids make sure you are on top of your kegels because you will be laughing hard. 😳" —Eric Silvis
"Background: early 30s but still party. This game is AMAZING. Best purchase of the season. This game is so fun, it has easily reached the top of our list. We have played about 10 hours of this game and have come nowhere close to repeating any portion of the game. All of our friends have so much fun with it. As a reference, here are some games that we like, but are not as good as this game: Code Names, The Voting Game, Jenga, In The Bag, Catan, Cards Against Humanity, What Do You Meme. Honest, unbiased opinion, best money I’ve spent in a while. We will have many more hours of entertainment. Our friends keep asking how we found this game. Only negative thing I can say is that it doesn’t involve alcohol, but that’s not the point. BUY THIS GAME IF YOU LIKE FUN WITH FRIENDS!!" —David Shlecter
Get it from Amazon for $37.98.
6. An interactive family game that'll have you hanging on for dear life.
This game is so fun. Think of it like Twister mixed with Bop It. In a nutshell, you follow the directions, whether the game tells you to grab a color, press a color, or high-five your opponent without letting go of your other hand. You've got to hold on. You can play by yourself, or with friends and family. I have a pretty big family so we just take turns playing. When someone loses, we swap in the next person waiting to play. It says ages 8 and up, but my 7-year-old nephew can play so I'd just use your judgement.
Get it from Amazon $24.99.
7. A game of ~cat and mouth~ because a pinball-style competitive game where you get to use tiny cat paws as slingshot to shoot balls through a cat's mouth just screams fun, or should we say ~meows~ fun.
Promising review: "I love this game. I'm a grandma and love playing games with my grands. As they're getting older, it's harder to find games they'll enjoy. I have played this one with my 9-year-old grandson. The first time I played him, won. (No. I don't ever lose on purpose. I know, I know... bad grandma! BUT... he beat me the second time we played. Methinks he's supposed to let me win, no? I bought a friend one of these to play with her grands. I hope they like it." —M. G. Ashby
Get it from Amazon for $19.99.
8. A Funkoverse DC Comics board game for the comic-lovers who are always down for a good strategy game.
Promising review: "Funkoverse delivers an amazing game that is fun for all ages! The Funko pops included in the game are solid. I played the game several times in public places and people would stop to see what I was playing because they recognized the characters from far away. The game has a lot of replay ability because of the different scenarios that are in each game and the double-sided game boards. The four scenarios each have different objectives. Many rulebooks are often hard to follow, but the game easy to learn with their step-by-step guide and their glossary of terms. Highly recommend this game to play with your kids, but it was also just as fun playing with my adult friends!" —Tricia Sydney
Get it from Amazon for $26.99.
9. A Maleficent card game that'll have the whole family playing for keeps — that is to keep the coveted Maleficent Pop! figure.
Play the numbered and colored cards to make sets and runs. If you score a set, you get to snag the character figure's special power that helps you to win the game. You can also combine characters from other Something Wild games to add more characters and more powers to the game like The Nightmare Before Christmas, Toy Story, Mickey and Friends, and more.
Promising review: "My husband and I really enjoy this game. We have 3 different decks and have fun putting them together to make one game. It can get pretty competitive which makes it better." —Elle2016
Get it from Amazon for $7.99.
10. GibGab — a back-and-forth game that can be played for unlimited rounds. You pick a category and say a word for that category. Hit your button and the clock starts for your opponent to say their word before the light reaches their button.
Promising review: "Game night with a group of young men from the college and GibGab was a hit! Played 14 rounds with my 8-year-old grandson and laughed until we cried. All ages will enjoy this game. I love the card storage compartment. Never have to worry about losing them! We love this game and would like more cards!!!" —Marilyn
Get it from Amazon for $24.95.
11. A stimulating game of Suspend, a topsy turvy reverse pick-up sticks game. You'll be putting your fine motor skills through a serious test while you try to balance colored sticks without disturbing the rest of the pile.
I've played this game before with friends and it's clean, wholesome fun — but beware because it's a lot harder than it looks. It's a great alternative to games that require pages of instructions and a lot of scheming and strategy (which usually ends with hurt feelings); this one is pretty darn simple but surprisingly fun.
Get it from Amazon for $17.42.
12. A more complex multi-level tic tac toe board for a new spin on a classic game that'll let you win in three ways: getting three same-sized pieces in a row, lining up three different-sized pieces in ascending or descending order, or positioning three concentric circles in one spot.
13. Villainous, a game where you get to play as your favorite Disney baddie and rewrite history letting evil triumph! *evil laugh*
Promising review: "What a fun little game! I bought this game prior to the quarantine specifically because as little as two players can play this game. My boyfriend and I have had a blast trying out all the different characters. We love this game. It’s great for children and adults alike." —KatanaKitteh
Get it from Amazon for $24.99.
14. A nostalgic party game inspired by Blockbuster, the video rental store that you'd go to on a Friday night to get two or three movies to watch over the weekend. *sigh* Those were the days.
15. A movie trivia game because let's face it, you can never have enough games to pull out at the next shindig to show off your movie knowledge.
Promising review: "This game is amazing. My roommate and I have played it everyday since it was delivered. If there were 10 stars it would get 10 stars. The packaging and the cards themselves? Beautiful. The quality of the cards and the directions pamphlet is great. We stop play just to ooh and ahh over the illustrations sometimes LOL. It’s five games in one, but it’s essentially a deck of cards so you can create your own games. I’m so glad I bought this. Also the deck is diverse which I am huge fan of. I mean Pam Grier? Old actors I don’t know? Well-rounded deck for the win." —Saphire
Get it from Amazon for $12.69.
16. Toy Story Talent Show to turn any family into an actual circus act. Get ready to strut your stuff when you perform 100 physical challenges and tongue twisters for the whole family.
17. Crossed Signals, a game where following instructions is the only way to win. Move or shake the wands up or down depending on the instructions. It has four game modes that you can play solo, in a group, with teams, or head-to-head. But remember, don't get your signals crossed!
Promising review: "What a fun game! I bought four of them sight unseen and hoped for the best. The kids that opened them throughout Christmas Day All LOVED THIS, ages 10 to 16. Many were putting down and picking up throughout the day and night - even the adults got in on the fun. Overall great purchase. A unique gift idea for kids and adults" —kengboston
Get it from Amazon for $13.99.
18. Trivia Crack, where knowing your friends is almost more important than knowing the answer to the trivia questions. You'll have to wager whether your friends know the answer, too.
Promising review: "Nice game, really fun, and the family enjoys it!" —Jordan O'Laughlin
Get it from Amazon for $14.84.
19. Pictionary Air kids vs grown-ups edition to test your wand capabilities. It's the same fun as classic Pictionary except for this time you draw in the air and players can see what you're drawing on your smart device or the TV.
Get it from Amazon for $22.20.
20. Herd Mentality, a party game the whole family can enjoy where thinking like the ~herd~ wins you points. But, being the odd one out wins you...a pink cow?!
Promising review: "This is one of the funnest family games we have played! We have a very large family and like to play games together but nobody has the patience for board games. Interactive games that get us talking, laughing, and having fun together are what we love! This game is perfect for us. We played with all ages from 8 to 60. Everyone loves it! Easy to play and no two rounds are ever the same so nobody gets bored." —JustMe
Get it from Amazon for $20.
21. Beat the Parents — a fun family game where both the parents and kids place a wager at the start of the game. Reviewers advise that you wager carefully, you don't want to be the one stuck on dog duty for the next three months.
22. A Jumanji deluxe board game — a game for those who seek to find a way to leave their world behind. You roll the dice to move your token, doubles get another turn. The first player to reach the end wins. Adventurers beware: Do not begin unless you intend to finish; the exciting consequences of the game will vanish only when a player has reached Jumanji and called out its name.
Promising review: "Bought this for my kids birthday, haven’t seen or heard from any of the kids in a few weeks now. Best purchase EVER!" —William D. Dewitt
Get it from Amazon for $39.99.
23. Codenames so you cosplay as Kim Possible and channel your inner spy.
Promising review: "This might be the best game I have played since Cards Against Humanity. This is a great game for people that know each other, or a great icebreaker for those who don't. You can be as literal or as creative as you'd like with your descriptions. Unlike other games with cards, the possibilities of card layouts are nearly infinite so you don't have to toss it just because you play it often. At least three other people have bought this game after playing it with us. If you enjoy 'thinking outside the box' this is definitely a game for you." —Kristine R.
Get it from Amazon for $15.97.
24. Never Have I Ever, a game sure to help you know even more about your friends and family. You might learn a few things you didn't actually want to know, too.
What happens in the game... stays in the game.
Promising review: "I played this at a Christmas party with my friends and we had a great time, doubling over with laughter mixed with 'omg' moments. There were so many things we shared in that room that will also NOT leave that room. Fair warning: Some of the choices are a 17+ rating so keep that in mind if you want to play with a mixed crowd. The rules are simple and it is a great game!" —LolaFlowers
Get it from Amazon for $23.95.
Already own it? Check out the expansion packs!
25. Jenga for the adrenaline rush one feels when trying to gently place a tiny block atop a tower without having everything come crumbling down.
Promising review: "Never owned this game before, but I’ve played it. Thought it would be a good diversion for the spouse and myself during quarantine. Something non-electronic that we can do together. I was pleased with the outcome. A few evenings of real togetherness and laughs." —A. Graham
Get it from Amazon for $12.44.
26. Unstable Unicorns — the goal? Steal everyone's unicorn. I mean, do you even need more info? Get ready for the backstabbing, it may have magical creatures but this game is all about betrayal.
Promising review: "Fun little game! Although marked for a minimum of 2 players, I suggest playing with at least 4. I tried it with 2 players and quickly realized how much more fun it would have been if there were more than 2 people. The main goal of the game is to screw everyone over by stealing their unicorns. So while you're screwing people over, people are screwing you are so you have to strategically use your cards correctly to take the win. It's less pleasing when you are forced to attack the same person over and over. Overall, good game, would play again!" —UbuntuJohn
Get it from Amazon for $19.99.
27. I Gotta Go With you can bet will have you searching your brain for all possible answers to topics like "TV titles that are four letters or fewer" or "celebrities with a color in their name." Hurry, there's no time to waste!
Although the basic gist of the game stays the same, there are a few different modes of play so you can mix it up with different group sizes.
Promising review: "Super fun game! Great for family night or drinking night with friends! We had a blast playing the game with our close friends, brought out a lot of laughs! Game is fun, engaging yet challenging. Perfect for a gift or to bring to any party!" —Kristen Kelly
Get it from Amazon for $16.99.
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