We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.
1. A Scrabble Deluxe to test your word-making abilities. You'd better have a dictionary nearby because you're gonna need it.
Promising review: "Who doesn't love Scrabble? It is such a great, classic game and we have played it many times while under quarantine. It is always challenging, so we never get bored of playing it. This particular edition is wonderful for traveling (as I hope we will one day be able to do so again). It is sturdy, well-made, compact, and I like the handle feature." —Ali Nelson
Get it from Amazon for $42.99.
2. Or a Harry Potter Scrabble if that's more your cup of tea. It follows most of the rules as an old-school Scrabble game but spells, potion names, characters from the series, and wizarding locations all count as words.
3. A retro Yahtzee — another traditional game that'll have you pulling out your lucky rabbit's foot before each roll.
4. Mancala because I am about to crush you with colorful glass stones. I take Mancala very seriously if you couldn't tell.
Promising review: "I love this game. I had it as a kid and bought it as a gift for my daughter for Christmas. I am always looking for things to do, just the two of us, so that we aren't glued to electronics all day. This is a fun and quick game we can play together. I also love how easy it is to fold back up into the box." —Michele
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
5. Monopoly Fortnite so you can boogie bomb the millennials or Gen Z'ers in this battle royale version of classic Monopoly. It has many of the same elements as the video game: Tilted Towers, loot chests, the storm, and even the battle bus. So, where we dropping boys?
Promising review: "Great to get Fortnite fans to try this classic board game!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $36.98.
6. Connect 4 Shots to put your years of beer pong experience to use. It's just like regular Connect 4 except you have to bounce your colored balls from the table to the slots.
Promising review: "So I wasn’t going to buy it because I thought it was just a way to make a familiar game different and make the company more money. Plus I hate chasing balls. But the reviews convinced me, and my 11-year-old, 8-year-old, 5-year-old, and Daddy played it last night and they loved it. Which says a lot because we are a GAME PLAY FAMILY. Of course one ball Is already lost! Grr. Anyway, they said it’s very fun and easy to play and are glad we got it. With the age range of the three kids playing and the Dad making his own thumbs up comment I think it’s a good buy!" —Debra Rishmawi
Get it from Amazon for $18.99.
7. A folding magnetic chess set if you're getting ~board~ with other games.
Promising review: "This set is actually better than I expected. The pieces are finely finished, with nice felt bottoms, and a perfect travel size with the pawn about an inch tall. The magnetic hold is sufficient to keep a piece attached to the board when you hold the board upside down. A nice drawstring bag is provided that holds and protects all the pieces when stored inside and is large enough that you don't have to squeeze in all the pieces. I especially appreciate that when the board is folded and closed, it snaps shut and stays shut with little prongs that fit into holes. In fact, it takes a steady pull to open it. I had an older travel set that did not stay shut; this one is a distinct improvement. This set is nicely made for the money." —Show Me
Get it from Amazon for $13.85.
8. A fun game of checkers that'll no doubt bring out your competitive side. The board is reversible so you get two games in one: checkers and tic-tac-toe!
Promising review: "Nice set for the price. We have enjoyed using it during this time that we have had to stay isolated." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $12.62.
9. Or Chinese checkers for testing your tactical skills. Can you get all your colored pegs to the opposite side of the board?
Promising review: "Chinese checkers is a favorite game that I used to play as a kid with my family. It was always a fun game, intuitive and makes you think, yet is easy for all ages to pick up and play. My husband bought me this wooden version for my birthday, and I love it! This is a really nice game set, and it's a lot of fun to play!" —BRoti
Get it from Amazon for $17.99.
10. Cribbage because now is the perfect time to finally learn how to play. And once you get going, a game will only take you ~30 minutes so you can try plenty of times.
Promising review: "Isn't Cribbage fun?!?! I grew up playing with my grandmother, but had not played in the last 20 years. I wasn't sure my husband was going to like it, or even if he did, how much we would play. I wanted a cheap board that we could use without wasting money if he didn't like to play. After looking at the prices of other boards, I thought this one would be really cheaply made. It was not! The wood was made of high quality with no chips or cracks. The coloring was painted straight and even. The pegs were basic plastic pegs that took score just fine. We ended up taking this board to our campground and play it every time we go camping. It's fun and it brings back great memories of Grandma." —Jason A.
Get it from Amazon for $10.94.
11. Jenga so you can get your daily adrenaline rush as you remove a block and hope your giant tower doesn't 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 $10.27.
12. Or Jenga Throw 'n Go to add another element of surprise to your game. The roll of a dice determines which color block you have to remove.
13. A indoor foosball table if you'd rather be on the pitch right now but are practicing safe social distancing.
14. A fast and frantic word-building game called Bananagrams that'll challenge your spelling skills and finger speed.
Promising review: Our family of four loves this game! We're on our 39th day sheltering in place, and we play it several times a day with two, three, or four players at a time. It's only slightly based on luck (the tiles you draw) and works the mind. Not a super competitive game as the winner simply finishes first, and it doesn't necessarily have the most complex arrangements or points as in Scrabble. Highly recommend!" —KD
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
15. A Mexican Train dominoes set for some good, clean fun. It'll bring back memories of playing dominoes with Grandma and Grandpa!
Promising review: "A friend introduced our family to this game, and the next week we ordered our own copy of the game. Especially during the quarantine, we have loved playing this together. It's logical yet up to chance. It's a great domino game to play with family and/or friends. It's super fun and one game can sometimes last over a few days!" —Latina Vivit
Get it from Amazon for $24.99.
16. A stimulating game of pick-up sticks because we could all use a midday pick-me-up. Test your fine motor skills as you attempt to pick up colored sticks without disturbing the rest of the pile.
Promising review: "My family and I have awesome fun playing this game together. I didn't even realize that there were point rules. The sticks come in a nice box with rules. The set is sturdy and neat. Great family game!" —ladyfitzgerald
Get it from Amazon for $5.95.
17. An air hockey table so you can take out your aggression on the plastic puck.
Promising review: "I ordered this air hockey table for the kids to play although I find myself playing on it quite often as well. It arrived well packaged. There was a little assembly required but it was very simple and the instructions were straightforward. I was blown away with the quality of this table; I did not expect an air hockey table this nice at such a great price. The surface is smooth as ice, the legs fold for storage, it has electronic digital score keepers at each end, and comes with pucks and paddles. It's great fun for everyone. I highly recommend it." —Jason K.
Get it from Amazon for $66.55.
18. A stylish backgammon set to give you a new game to master. Your goal is to remove all your colored pieces from the board.
19. A fun pop-a-shot basketball set if you and your partner like to turn everything into a competition. Take turns shooting and try and get as many balls in bounds and in the hoop before time expires.
Promising review: "I don't post reviews, but I had to because I asked myself if this would be a fad that would end up taking space, but it is the most used toy in our house. It's great for kids and adults and it's amazing quality. We are home during COVID-19 and I can't imagine what we would do without this game. So many challenges between the kids all day long!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $299.99 (available in two styles).
20. A 3D tic-tac-toe set that'll take you back to your childhood, except you're no longer playing on a piece of notebook paper.
Promising review: "A fun twist on tic-tac-toe. Games last longer and require strategy. We played this at home and I bought one for my daughter’s second grade teacher for students to play during indoor recess." —Elizabeth Rousek
Get it from Amazon for $15.29.
21. Or a more complex multi-level tic-tac-toe board for kids and adults who want to try something new. You can win 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.
22. A strategy-based railroad-building game like Ticket to Ride because it'll take you on a journey across North America without you ever having to leave your home (or even the couch!). It's also Alexa-compatible; just say, "Alexa, launch Ticket to Ride" and you'll have a digital tour guide *or* a virtual opponent.
Promising review: "This game is so much fun! My 13-year-old daughter and I have been playing it a few times a day during quarantine, and Alexa joins as not only another player, but she also explains the game and keeps track of the score. You won’t regret buying this no matter what age you are!" —nikki schulte
Get it from Amazon for $44.99.
23. Villainous, a game where you play as Disney baddies so you can finally see evil triumph — y'know, if you're into that sort of thing.
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 $34.97.
24. A 4-in-1 game table to keep you entertained when you don't know what to play. It comes with air hockey, foosball, table tennis, and billiards.
Promising review: "We have had this table a little over two months and it has been wonderful. We wanted it for family time and to give our teens something to do with their friends other than sit around on their phones. We decided when purchasing if it lasts a year, it was a good investment. So far it is holding up to regular use a few times a week. It is a good size for the room we have it in and super fun to play." —Avid Reader
Get it from Amazon for $260.94.
25. A tabletop cornhole set if you're a Midwest transplant and missing home a little bit. We'll save the bags vs. baggo vs. beanbags vs. cornhole debate for another day.
Promising review: "We all play it in the house together. It is a wonderful gift for the family, from my 3-year-old to my husband. It's pretty hard but I like that." —Kristin the artist
Get it from Uncommon Goods for $48.
26. Codenames Duet, a co-op version of my favorite word-association game that'll encourage team bonding because guess what — you're both on the same team!
Promising review: "My husband and I purchased this game at the beginning of the quarantine and needed something besides TV to fill our time. It has been great fun and always challenging. Each time you play it's different. Many times it's frustrating but we have actually gotten to know how each other thinks better! Great for couples, can play around in less than 10 minutes, and of course play as many rounds you want." —Wendy Johnson
Get it from Amazon for $15.99.
27. The Exploding Kittens card game for fans of felines and flare-ups — but not together. The objective is to use your action cards to avoid the exploding kitten and outlast your opponents.
Promising review: "We played this game a couple of years ago with my cousin and my daughter liked it so much she bought one for her brother for his birthday back in May! Since we were under quarantine it quickly became our go-to game! And five months later we are still playing it two to three times a week! Now, it is our go-to high school graduation gift! Everyone seems to love it and is now playing it with their families. It is like a cross between Go Fish and Uno!" —Momof3
Get it from Amazon for $19.99.
28. Forbidden Island, another co-op card game, because capturing sacred treasures from a sinking island is more rewarding when you do it together.
29. A 500-piece Frank Lloyd Wright double-sided puzzle so you get double the puzzle for your money.
Promising review: "Fallingwater is a national treasure, and this puzzle gave us hours of enjoyment. Not an easy puzzle; some pieces apparently fit but were in the wrong place and had to be moved. We were so happy to finish that we left it on display in our family room for a month afterwards." —John P Landis
Get it from Amazon for $15.99.
30. Sushi Go! to ~maki~ quarantining a bit more fun. This fast-paced, strategy-based card game is a favorite that'll entertain even the biggest grouch. Still on the fence? Just ~roe~ with it and get it!
Promising review: "Bought this for the family to do something together during quarantine. Two adults playing with two teens. When we started we all thought it was a bit too simple, but then we picked up on the subtleties of the strategy, and before long it turned into a roaring good time. It's easy to learn, it's cute, and it's a blast. For $10, you really can't go wrong!" —S. Egan
Get it from Amazon for $8.99 (or the party pack for $21.95).
31. Unstable Unicorns if — and let's get right to the ~point~ — you and your opponent have a strong enough relationship that it can handle a little backstabbing. The goal is to fill your stable with a unicorn army while hilariously screwing over your rival.
I LOVE this game. I've played it with one other person and with large groups and it's always a stressful yet fun experience. (If there are only two players, make sure you remove these cards before starting!) It requires players to be strategic and each game is different, but the concept is simple enough that younger players can still have fun. Plus, the card design is so hilariously cute that you won't feel bad about losing to your opponent who just played a ginormous unicorn card.
Get it from Amazon for $19.97.
32. Blokus, a tile-placing game that'll challenge your spatial reasoning. Each player is trying to fit as many of their pieces on the board as possible while simultaneously blocking their opponent.
33. A trivia game because you secretly think you're a genius. Well, here are over 400 questions that'll test your knowledge of random factoids.
Promising review: "My partner (28 years old) and I (25 years old) played the entire game in a few hours. We enjoyed this game very much! It was full of laughter and friendly competition. We didn't even realize how much time went by! Some of the questions were difficult and definitely factoids that an 'average' person would not know; however, we both felt we learned a thing or two. 10/10 would recommend!" —@QueerHousePlants (on IG)
Get it from Amazon for $16.27.
34. Overcooked! 2 so you and your S.O. can test your communication skills while completing as many recipes as possible within a certain amount of time. Oh wait, I almost forgot to mention that you have to do all of this while navigating moving platforms and avoiding exploding mines, pedestrians, and even aliens.
View this video on YouTube
I own this for Nintendo Switch, and it's one of my favorite games to play with my partner. We're not usually fans of the same style of video games, but Overcooked! 2 is a great way to bond!
Get the digital game code for $24.99 (available for Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC)
35. Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime to test your combined alien-fighting abilities. Each player controls a different part of the spaceship (like steering and the cannons), so you have to work together to navigate your way out of danger while blasting baddies.
View this video on YouTube
Get the digital game code for $14.99 (available for Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC)
36. Luigi’s Mansion 3, a Nintendo Switch exclusive if you're ready to join forces to take on the poltergeists that have captured your friends.
View this video on YouTube
Get the digital game code from Amazon for $59.99.
37. Snipperclips, another Switch exclusive that'll require you and your teammate to put on your thinking caps to solve various puzzles, like carrying objects from point A to point B and popping balloons.
View this video on YouTube
Get the digital game code from Nintendo for $19.99.
38. Portal 2, a puzzle platformer because even though it's an oldie (and by old I mean it was released in 2011), it's considered by some to be one of the greatest video games ever.
View this video on YouTube
39. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, a Switch exclusive so you can best your opponent in this upgraded version of everyone's favorite racing game.
View this video on YouTube
Get the digital game code from Amazon for $59.99.
40. Or Fitness Boxing, another Switch exclusive to encourage you and your roommate to get active without ever having to leave the apartment.
View this video on YouTube
Get the digital code from Amazon for $49.99.
If none of these video games piqued your interest, check out these other co-op games to try!
41. A deck of cards because you don't need a fancy game board and a million pieces to have fun.
Get it from Amazon for $2.99.
Here are some fun games you can play with just a deck of cards:
—GOLF
—Poker / 3 Card Poker / 5 Card Draw / Texas Holdem
—Snap
—Spit
—500
Did we miss anything? Let us know what you're playing!
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.