We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects 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.