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. The storytelling game Dixit, because your most artistic loved ones absolutely know that a picture is worth a thousand words. With players trying simultaneously to guess which beautifully-illustrated card the “storyteller” for each round has drawn and to fool the others into guessing their own card, it’s a competitive game that also oozes calmness, thanks to its dreamy art style.
2. Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza, a fast-paced challenge that’ll test both their reflexes and their word association skills – and crack ‘em up in the process. Easy to learn but tricky to master, this three-to-eight-player card game is excellent for kids and adults alike.
3. A Squishmallows-themed version of Monopoly any plushie-obsessed pal will absolutely flip for. Squishmallows Monopoly plays just like regular Monopoly – except instead of collecting properties and building up their real estate portfolio, they’ll be collecting Squishmallows and building up their plushie portfolio. It even comes with anextra lil' gift: A limited-edition mini-Squishmallow – Cam the Cat – to add to their collection!
4. Viticulture, so your favorite wine connoisseur can try their hand at running their own vineyard. Surprisingly chill, this worker-placement strategy game is good for up to six players, but it can also be played solo for a soothing night in on their own.
5. Throw Throw Burrito, a combination dodgeball/card game that’ll satisfy both their love of collecting thematically-matched sets and their occasional desire to throw things at people (softly!).
6. Mysterium, an engrossing and intriguing option perfect for would-be detectives and armchair criminologists. For two to seven players, this one puts a twist on the “whodunnit?” genre; one player takes on the role of the “ghost” and sends visions in the form of stunningly surreal pieces of artwork to the remaining players, who must determine exactly how the ghost died. Oooo. Eerie.
7. Ransom Notes, because it’s basically made for that person you know who always has at least three different Magnetic Poetry sets on their fridge at all times. Played like Cards Against Humanity, Ransom Notes sees players answering ridiculous prompts by constructing sentences out of a selection of individual words — the more outlandish, the better.
8. The Great British Baking Show Game, so they can win the title of Star Baker fair and square, once and for all. The goal in this pattern-making game is to lay out tiles in specific arrangements as fast as you can to complete each "bake" and earn points. No soggy bottoms here!
9. Codenames, a word guessing game that’ll let them hone their sneakiest secret agent skills (mwahahaha). This one can accommodate a ton of players, so it’s great for parties — meaning if your sneaky secret agent friends also like to host gatherings, well, you can’t do much better than Codenames. Housewarming gift, anyone?
10. Ticket to Ride, because who doesn’t like trains? Ticket to Ride is a particularly good “entry-level” title — so if you know some folks who are interested in exploring tabletop games that are a little more complex than some of the ones they may have grown up with, introduce them to this one. It might just be a match made in heaven — or, y’know, the trainyard.
11. A vintage-style edition of Clue that’ll look as good on display as it will on the table during game night. With a design inspired by the original 1949 edition of the game and housed in a gorgeous, fabric-wrapped box, it’s as perfect for the mystery lover as it is for the avid Instagrammer.
12. Or, a murder-mystery-in-a-box, so those same Clue-loving pals can truly live out their deepest Agatha Christie dreams (but without the, uhh, actual murder). Set during a grand night at the theatre in the 1920s, this thrilling whodunnit is playable both in person or over Zoom. There are even three different endings to add to the replay value!
13. Sriracha: The Game, a spicy slapping card game sure to enthrall rooster sauce enthusiasts everywhere. With adorable illustrations and a fun foodie bent, Sriracha is sure to be well-received by anyone with a deep and abiding love of the iconic hot sauce.
14. The word-guessing game Poetry for Neanderthals that’ll challenge them to give clues to their teammates only in single-syllable words — and in which they’ll get to whack their friends over the head with an inflatable club if they slip up. Who doesn’t know someone who would appreciate that???
15. Blank Slate, the perfect word association party game for anyone who has ever wondered even briefly if they’re actually a mind-reader. (Everyone has at least one friend or loved one who’s into that kind of thing, right?)
16. Strawberry Sunset, a super chill garden-growing card game your most stressed-out — or your most relaxed! — friends can play to unwind. As cute as it is calming, it’ll see them laying down cards on their garden plots to grow lush, gorgeous oases. Strawberry Shortcake who?
17. Sushi Go, because, I mean, this one truly has it all: Easy-to-learn rules! Fun and speedy gameplay! Disgustingly cute art! SUSHI! This fast-paced matching card game makes for a perfect just-because gift for fans of, well… all of the above!
18. Spot It!, so they can get their Where’s Waldo on in more ways than one. The fun of Spot It! is that there are multiple different ways to play with the exact same deck — so basically, it’s not just one game, but five, all wrapped up into a single little package. They’ll never get bored with this one on hand!
19. Azul, a stunning, tile-based strategy game so gorgeous, it might just inspire them to take up ceramics as a hobby. The goal in this one is to create the most beautiful pieces of Moorish art possible in order to decorate the walls of a royal palace. Brightly colored and oh-so-elegant, Azul makes a terrific kick-back-and-relax addition to their board game shelf.
20. Wavelength, for those interested in seeing whether they’re on the same, uh, wavelength as everyone they know, right? A spin on titles like Codenames where players try to get each other to guess something specific based on limited clues, it’s a party game that looks as cool as it is fun to play. (Check out that utterly giftable psychedelic box art!)
21. Zombie Dice, because stumbling around for braaaaaaaains will never not be fun. Let the most ardent Walking Dead fan learn what it’s like to be on the other side of the undead fence by rolling the dice and trying to eat as many brains as possible. Omnomnom.
22. Hanabi, a card game that’ll light up their life — literally and metaphorically. Hanabi is collaborative, rather than competitive, encouraging players to work together to figure the correct order in which to launch a set of dazzling fireworks. Simple to learn and a challenge to play, it’s great fun — and also super packable, making it a terrific prezzie for folks who are always on the go.
23. Draftosaurus, so your amateur paleontologist friend (or your actual paleontologist friend!) can finally build their dream version of Jurassic Park — ideally minus the mayhem. This pick has players creating a zoo, except the animals are, well, dinosaurs. What’s not to love?
24. Cat Lady, the card-based game your fave cat lovers had no idea they needed. Players take on the roles of the elite "Cat Ladies" — who count Ernest Hemingway and Marie Antoinette among their numbers — and go about collecting cats, feeding them, and giving them special powers (yes, really). Adorable art, little cat-shaped meeples, and other fun pieces make this one a gift they’ll never forget.
25. Gloom, a darkly hilarious card game with a storytelling component your Wednesday-obsessed pals will be thrilled to receive. With Edward Gorey-style art and a tongue-in-cheek tone, Gloom is the perfect little piece of darkness to gift to your favorite goth.
26. Wingspan, so the birders and nature lovers in your orbit can get their fill of the great outdoors even when the weather is… let’s call it less than cooperative. Challenging yet also chill, this engine-building tabletop game is a terrific way to spend an afternoon — and it can even be played solo for an individual unwinding session they’re sure to appreciate.
27. And We’re Not Really Strangers, because who says a good conversation can’t also be a game? This conversation-starting deck offers hours and hours of connection; if you’ve got a friend group that loves sitting around and talking for ages, it’s the gift for everyone that keeps on giving!
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.