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 pack of six color-coded game piece trays so everyone can easily keep track of their mini settlements, tokens, and more.
Promising review: "As an avid board game fan, I'm always looking for items that pack well, can help with setup and tear-down, and keep the play area organized. These are perfect for my use. Well made and have proven to be durable over many, many uses of assembly/disassembly." —Tim
Get it from Amazon for $19.99.
2. A game of Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza because it's easy to learn, fun to play, fast paced, and a round is sure to end in a barrel of laughs!
Dolphin Hat is a small business whose mission is to create easy-to-learn games that are fun for the whole family!
Promising review: "Seriously, you need this game! We've played from ages 11–60+ with 3–5 players in many different settings. You'll laugh and laugh, guaranteed. We play this at home for family game nights, give it as gifts, and take on trips for fun evenings of hanging out. Each player will develop a unique style of playing and there will be goofy strategizing against the player who always seems to win. This inevitably ends in at least one player laughing so hard that they can't keep up and then the chain reaction starts. Always a great hit!" —SKK
Get it from Dolphin Hat on Amazon for $9.84.
3. The Herd Mentality card game, an aMOOOsing way to spend time with the family! Try your best to stay in the majority or else risk landing the dreaded pink cow.
Promising review: "This game is a ton of fun without being overly competitive. We play a number of games as a group of 6 adults ages 29–60, and this is the new favorite. It brings about a lot of conversations and a lot of laughs. And the chance to MOO at your fellow players is a great added bonus!" —MJoelle
Get it from Amazon for $20.
4. Ghosted because someone wanted you dead and you need to figure out who before someone else does. It's a fun game of BOO-dunnit!
Promising reviews: "I was surprised at how much fun this was! Quick and easy to learn, and fun to play again and again! Highly recommend it!" —Jen
"We love Ghosted!! It’s a fun mixture between Clue and Guess Who and it’ll provide endless fun!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $13.59.
5. Monopoly Cheaters Edition if you've ever been tempted to cheat and just wished there were a game that encouraged it. Here, you can follow, bend, or break the rules in order to win! Cheat cards even help you decided exactly how to attempt it.
Promising review: "Family of six here. Who knew I had a bunch of sneaky cheaters in my house?! My 10-year-old asked for this game for Christmas. It’s a big hit at our house. It’s a struggle for me to keep up with trying to spot everyone else’s sneakiness and try to to play my own game, but it’s been hilarious. Even our 5-year-old was able to be sneaky and get money 💵 from the bank without anyone noticing." —Saadia
Get it from Amazon for $10.88.
6. A fun and creative game of Ruin It to ruin any topic with just four words!
Inspiration Play is a small business making toys and games for all ages!
Promising review: "My partner and friends were in agreement with me that playing this was really fun. One of my friends even said he liked it better than Cards Against Humanity because you can write your own answers in this. As a bonus, you can easily play this with friends online." —NIBsmf
Get it from Inspiration Play on Amazon for $29.95.
7. A snack caddy and cup holder that you can easily position on the corner of your side of the card table to keep your food and drink away from that Royal Flush you're about to lay down.
8. A portable Bose Bluetooth speaker so you can blast game-specific Spotify playlists to up the ante of game night. This waterproof speaker even has a tear-resistant strap so you can attach it to your backpack or handlebars to keep the good times (and tunes) flowing.
Promising review: "This is my first time buying a Bose product and I am completely blown away! I listen to music all the time and I've used a few different Bluetooth speakers from other big name brands. None of them are as good as these. I purchased two so I could get a nice full sound. These little guys pack a punch! They are so crisp and clear-sounding. I'm picking up on subtle sounds that I've never heard before and I'm very impressed. They are easy to set up and use, and I really enjoy the amount of control I have with the volume. Each speaker can be controlled individually and together. I definitely recommend!" —Chris
Get it from Amazon for $119 (available in four colors).
9. A jumbo puzzle board because you're probably not gonna finish that 1,000-piece puzzle all in one night. Start your puzzle on this board and you'll be able to tuck it away later when it's time to play some other games.
10. A TikTok-famous 1,000-piece puzzle sure to bring you a sense of adventure and accomplishment with each new detail you and your friends piece together! It's even got a surprise twist ending once you've finished putting it together.
Promising review: "I bought this as a gift for my husband because he absolutely loves puzzles and magic, so it was a no-brainer! I was honestly way more excited to finish putting this puzzle together than a normal puzzle because I couldn’t wait to see the end result. Blown away. I’m super impressed and will be purchasing a different version. Oh, and they weren’t kidding about the no dust in the box...very pleased with this purchase!" —Nlbrimberry
Get it from Amazon for $22.99.
11. A family-friendly game of Ticket to Ride where you are tasked with building train routes from one city to another. Gain points by completing routes and by having the longest one!
Promising review: “Engaging game for everyone! Ticket to Ride is one of my favorite games in recent years. Fairly easy to learn, competitive, and fun. There is an element of luck with the draw of destination tickets and train car cards, plus strategy of how to complete your routes through different cities to reach your final destinations. The longer routes are more challenging to complete and give you more points. You will usually complete several routes in each game, but be careful to not have any incomplete routes, because they count against your final score. There is a large, well-made game board, plastic train cards, destination tickets and different-colored train car cards. The more people playing means more competition and challenges to complete your routes. All in all, a great game and a good value.” —Island April
Get it from Amazon for $47.44.
12. Codenames if you're both a wordsmith and a mind-reader. You must work with the other agent(s) on your team to make contact without landing on the assassin.
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 $12.99.
13. The Chameleon — in this game of suspects and secrets, the chameleon doesn't wanna get caught not knowing the topic at hand. See if you can fool your friends into thinking you know exactly what's going on.
Promising reviews: "This game allows you to get super clever with your family and friends, and I would definitely suggest this for some good laughs. It is super easy to learn and doesn't require too much space or too many pieces. It would also be a great gift for anyone who loves to play games, and would be a great drinking game as well!" —ABH
"This game is super fun and can be adapted for large groups! I used it as an ice breaker during the first week of class, and it was so fun. It’s a great way to show how people think differently and set an inquisitive tone for the semester." —Kara Stone
Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in two packaging styles).
14. A "Mystery" candle from Mise en Scènt whose saffron, blackberry, and amber notes are sure to enhance any game of Clue. You didn't hear it from me, but there was definitely a loud BANG coming from the conservatory...
Mise en Scènt is a Brooklyn-based small biz making soy candles inspired by all your favorite films.
Get it from Mise en Scènt for $36.
15. A pair of color-changing Philips light bulbs because game night is all about creating a vibe, a mood, an aesthetic. They're even Alexa- and Google Assistant-compatible!
16. The Düngeonmeister Cookbook to help you cook a meal that tastes as good as rolling a natural 20 feels. This book features 75 recipes from finger foods to easy-to-share meals. And with so many people in your adventuring party, you're gonna need 'em.
Promising reviews: "These are perfect to eat and play. Bonus point for the humor in the book as well. A must-have if you host games." —Sean Moulson
"My husband loves nerdy cookbooks, so this was a no-brainer! He loves it, and so far everything has been pretty good." —Madison M.
Get it from Amazon for $16.19.
17. Clipology, an always-updating streaming trivia game of with thousands of questions about movies and TV shows that'll keep you and your friends entertained for a long time.
Promising review: "Ever since Scene It? was discontinued I've been missing this type of game, but Clipology is even better. Great clips and smart, fun trivia. Plus with it being online, the content will continually be refreshed with new games. Highly recommended!" —shopper
Get it from Amazon for $23.35.
18. A game of Catan so you can strategically buy, steal, and trade to build a new world while making sure your opponents don't have the resources to do the same.
Promising review: "Love this game! I recommend this game (including the extensions) to anyone who enjoys a good challenge and has lots of time on their hands as this game can take up a good chunk of time to play." —Brooke Hess
Get it from Amazon for $41.99.
19. A tufted chenille floor pillow because it's not easy to kick butt in Guess Who when your butt's hurting due to your hardwood floors.
Promising review: "These floor pillows were absolute perfection for a picnic that my business partner and I recently set up for a client. They added to the overall aesthetic and are of great quality!" —Rhashanna Curry
Get it from Amazon for $39.19+ (available in eight colors).
20. A spicy, fast-paced game of Sriracha for a fun but intense slapping game where you must quickly collect all the cards.
21. A kid-created game of Taco Vs. Burrito where you steal, trade, and fight to craft the perfect meal with the best toppings before it's too late!
Hot Taco is an award-winning small biz making unique card games that are fun for the whole family.
Promising review: "This is an awesome game. I never realized how serious my daughter was about winning a game. It was exciting because my daughter was trying to cheat the whole time. We laughed so much…especially because I won the game! I recommend it! It was a lot of fun!" —Mary Robinson
Get it from Taco Vs. Burrito on Amazon for $19.99.
22. A silicone microwave popcorn maker whose lid and built-in handles make having this delicious snack even easier. You won't have to worry about burnt bits because it's designed to spread heat evenly. So even if you might not win at Monopoly, you'll win at being the best host!
Promising review: “For years I've been looking for a better way to do popcorn without the microwave bags. I even tried a small popcorn machine but it was such a hassle to clean. This silicone bowl is perfect!!! I can use my own choice of kernels along with butter, oil, and salt to make the best popcorn south of the North Pole!! Quit reading reviews and buy one!” —Scott S.
Get it from Amazon for $13.49+ (available in 14 colors).
23. An all-in-one box dive bar murder mystery game — in this immersive experience from Hunt A Killer, you get to play an investigator looking into the suspicious death of a bar's owner. You'll solve puzzles, discover secret messages, and find new evidence to reveal whodunnit!
24. Classic Jenga because it doesn't get any better (or more anxiety-inducing) than this strategic stacking game!
25. Unstable Unicorns, a friendship-destroying strategy game about unicorns and betrayal. Be the first to build up an army of seven unicorns using action cards to slow down your opponents.
Promising review: "I love the combination of cutesy art and absolutely vicious game play. Betray your friends! The unicorns are your friends now!" —Diane Greene
Get it from Amazon for $14.42.
26. A speed- and accuracy-testing bungee table game since the first to have no pucks on their side wins! Think you have what it takes to a friend on one-on-one?
Promising review: "This was so fun! Grown-ups and kids can play. It’s easy and hilarious. We bring it to breweries now, too." —Choir Momma
Get it from Amazon for $24.95.
27. A conversation-starting game for couples so you can get to know your partner on a deeper level while you're stuck inside this winter. With questions that range from asking about embarrassing moments to important lessons learned, this game will help you both feel closer to one another.
Promising review: "The husband and I took our trailer out for our first camping trip of the year. We’ve been married 22 years. I wanted us more than anything to not talk about work! We sat around the fire, each grabbed a few cards, and took turns. The prompts helped spark conversations late into the night. The surprising part is 1) how down my husband was, and 2) how much we can still learn about each other after being married so long. What’s not surprising is the fact that I’m one lucky lady. These are well worth the price. Sure, after going through the deck you may not use again but if you grab a few and let them be prompts for longer conversations they should last. Road trips, vacations, just married, or married and settled into routine — I highly recommend." —Carmen Blankenship
Get it from Amazon for $19.95.
28. Urban Trivia, a trivia game that'll test your knowledge of Black pop culture, history, and more! Do you know every Beyoncé lyric? Do you know what's in a Country Crock butter container? Let's see!
Urban Trivia is a small business!
Promising review: "We have so much fun when we play this game!!! We laugh the entire time. Highly recommend it for a party or just hanging around the house!" —Blaque
Get it from Urban Trivia on Amazon for $19.95.
29. A scary dollhouse-themed escape room game — this difficult and spooky immersive experience is sure to turn any game night into a survival test.
Promising review: "Rather than spend $200 on an escape room experience for our family of six, I bought this game for our daughter’s 15th birthday afternoon activity. It was so much fun! The rules were explained well, the game packaged perfectly, and the ability to get hints to help us on our way greatly appreciated. Everyone from the 7-year-old to the adults had fun with this game. We can’t wait to share the experience with others since it’s a one-time use game. Definitely worth the money and such a time saver compared to me making a DIY escape room from Pinterest." —Janamtmt
Get it from Amazon for $40.74.
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.