Board Game Gift Guide 2022!
As the holidays approach, it’s super common for people to look for the best family board games to give as gifts to family members and friends.
This is our 12th year publishing a Board Game Gift Guide to help you find fantastic board games, dice games, card games, party games, and more for those you love.
And this year we’ve got 36 new board games to recommend!
Since there’s a wide range of people to consider for game gifts, we break down this board game gift guide into various categories with a handful of game ideas in each.
Scroll through the whole list or jump to the category you’re interested in by clicking on a category:
- Children’s Games
- Family Games
- Cooperative Games
- 2-Player Games
- Party Games
- Abstract Games
- Dice Games
- Deduction Games
- Gamer Games
Children’s Games
Here’s a good set of children’s board games young kids will enjoy playing.
Quacks & Co.: Quedlinburg Dash
Ages: 6+, Players: 2-4, Time: 25 min
One of our favorite family board games over the past few years has been The Quacks of Quedlinburg – where players build their bag of tokens and draw them out to add to their pot. In Quacks & Co. players likewise draw tokens from a bag. But this time they’re colorful “dream tokens” that each do different things that help toward getting more tokens and advancing their animals on the track. The first to the end of the track wins.
Mountain Goats
Ages: 6+, Players: 2-4, Time: 20 min
Mountain Goats is a light and fun game that with a bit of press-your-luck in the mix. It’s a king of the hill type of game where players use their dice to get to the top of mountains (numbered 5 to 10) and score victory points. And since players can knock other goats back down the mountains, there’s also a bit of chaos at times. The box is very small and easy to take with you and play wherever you go.
Unlock! Kids: Detective Stories
Ages: 6+, Players: 1-4, Time: 20-60 min
Of all the “escape room” board and card games, our favorites have been in the Unlock! series. And last year, Space Cow and Asmodee release an Unlock! game for children. The Unlock! Kids: Detective Stories includes a series of 6 cooperative card games where players search scenes, combine objects and solve riddles. And unlike the other Unlock! games, this edition does not require the use of an app. It’s a great game for kids to team up to solve the scenarios.
Get a copy of Unlock! Kids: Detective Stories.
Yummy Yummy Monster Tummy
Ages: 6+, Players: 2-4, Time: 15-30 min
Yummy Yummy Monster Tummy is a co-operative card game of color matching. The goal is to complete each level by feeding all of the cute, colorful monsters foods they like. They will eat anything, but what attracts them the most is the color of objects! The game can be played in either Story Mode or Party Mode. In Story Mode, there are 12 levels to tackle. In Party Mode, players get to use all of the Items they’ve unlocked so far. Similar to other cooperative games from Lucky Duck Games (ie. Chronicles of Crime), this game uses an app for players to scan QR codes on the cards to progress.
Get a copy of Yummy Yummy Monster Tummy.
Family Games
Family board games are what we’re all about. So it can be hard to narrow the list down for our board game gift guide. With that in mind, here’s what we’d recommend for this year.
7 Wonders Architects
Ages: 8+, Players: 2-7, Time: 25 min
7 Wonders has been one of our favorite family games for almost a decade. Then last year, Repos Productions came out with a new game with similar theme and symbols but with a completely different experience – one that we totally love! 7 Wonders Architects is simple to learn, quick to play, and very fun. Players work to build their wonder before the other players, but that may still not be enough to win because there are multiple ways to score victory points along the way through resource management, military might, civil power, and science. We highly recommend 7 Wonders Architects and will post our full review soon.
See our full review of 7 Wonders Architects.
Get a copy of 7 Wonders Architects.
Mountains out of Molehills
Ages: 9+, Players: 2-4, Time: 45 min
Mountains out of Molehills is a terrific light, family strategy board game. There are two levels to the game board – one underground and one above ground! Players move their moles around on the underground level through programmed movement cards and then build up mountains above them on the above ground level. It’s a sight to behold on the game table and lots of fun to play.
See our full review of Mountains out of Molehills.
Get a copy of Mountains out of Molehills.
World’s Fair 1893
Ages: 10+, Players: 2-4, Time: 45 min
In World’s Fair 1893 players help prepare the fair by sending out supporters to gain favor with influential people and secure grand exhibits. The objective is to earn the best reputation and it’s done through majority control of the different exhibit areas. The central feature in the game is the grand Ferris wheel and the round timer is controlled by “midway tickets”. While the game was first published in 2016, Renegade Game Studios recently updated the game with even more goodness. It’s a great theme for a family game and filled with fun.
See our full review of World’s Fair 1893.
Get a copy of World’s Fair 1893.
Cascadia
Ages: 10+, Players: 1-4, Time: 40 min
I first played Cascadia at SaltCon earlier this year and immediately added it to my wish list. It’s a puzzly tile-laying and token-drafting game where players build out their own area made up of different habitats and wildlife of the Pacific Northwest. Players draft tiles and animal token combos on their turn and add them both to their growing area. Players earn points for different animal patterns. For example, elk score by being in groups, hawks by being separated, salmon by being in lines, bear by being in only small groups, and foxes by being surrounded by a variety of animals. Not only does each animal score differently from the other animals, but each animal has multiple scoring cards with slight variations in their scoring. A random scoring card is chosen for each animal each game – making it a game with a ton of replay value.
See our full review of Cascadia.
Get a copy of Cascadia.
Cooperative Games
Cooperative board games are fantastic because you either all win or all lose together!
The Crew: Mission Deep Sea
Ages: 10+, Players: 2-5, Time: 20 min
Two years ago we recommended The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine on our 2020 Board Game Gift Guide. Then last year, Kosmos went ahead and made this cooperative, trick-taking card game even better when they released The Crew: Mission Deep Sea! It’s hard to keep track of how many times we’ve played the game since we absolutely love it. Players work together to complete missions in a logbook with progressively harder challenges. But with this new implementation, the challenges are even more vast and even more varied.
See our full review of The Crew: Mission Deep Sea.
Get a copy of The Crew: Mission Deep Sea.
Stuffed Fables
Ages: 7+, Players: 2-4, Time: 60-90 min
Stuffed Fables is a cooperative adventure game where the main characters are “stuffies” (stuffed animals) working together to save the child they love from a scheming, evil mastermind. It’s also an “Adventure Book” game where the game board is actually a physical book teaming with adventures on every page. The book is spiral bound and lays flat on the table with one side being the “board” and the other side having the story, goals, and special rules for that scenario. And it works wonderfully!
See our full review of Stuffed Fables.
Get a copy of Stuffed Fables.
Switch & Signal
Ages: 10+, Players: 2-4, Time: 45 min
Switch & Signal is a cooperative strategy train game from Kosmos where players work together to build a network of trains to transport goods as efficiently as possible. Since each of the 3 types of trains travel at different speeds, it’s always a challenge to keep them from running into each other. In addition to those differing speeds, the tracks include switches that must be open for the trains to pass through. Players must choose wisely which switches to open and close and when to do so. Getting the goods to their destinations is a tricky challenge to face together.
Get a copy of Switch & Signal.
Last Defense!
Ages: 8+, Players: 2-6, Time: 20 min
In Last Defense! players have just 20 minutes to save the world from all sorts of trouble like space aliens, spider robots, and an oozing building-sized blob. Players roll dice each turn to determine how far they can move and how many actions they can take. They also must clear rubble from the streets to discover tools to use to defend themselves or recruit specialists needed to defeat the monsters. The game’s app audio track also increases the tension with sounds and urgent news bulletins announcing where threats are attacking.
2-Player Games
Sometimes it’s great to just sit down and play a game against one other person. Consider these 2-player games.
The Fox in the Forest Duet
Ages: 10+, Players: 2, Time: 30 min
This is a little bit of a continuation of the category above because The Fox in the Forest Duet is not only a 2-player game, it’s also a cooperative game! It’s cooperative trick-taking card game for two. Players help each other move through the forest collecting all the gems before the end of three rounds of play. Last year we included original The Fox in the Forest game on our gift guide and this year we’re recommending the new Duet version that’s specifically for 2 players.
Get a copy of a The Fox in the Forest Duet.
Jekyll vs. Hyde
Ages: 8+, Players: 2, Time: 30 min
Jekyll vs. Hyde is also a trick-taking game for 2 players, based on the famous novella “Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” by Robert Louis Stevenson. But this one isn’t cooperative. As Dr. Jekyll, you’ll need to resist Mr. Hyde’s fierce attacks to protect your mind and keep the secret of your dual nature. As Mr. Hyde, your goal is to dominate Dr. Jekyll to overcome his identity. At the end of each of the 3 rounds, Dr. Jekyll’s identity will progressively disappear under Mr. Hyde’s relentless attacks. And it all depends on the difference in the number of tricks taken each round. As Dr. Jekyll, your goal is to keep balance, without giving in to darkness!
Get a copy of Jekyll vs. Hyde.
Skulk Hollow
Ages: 8+, Players: 2, Time: 40 min
Skulk Hollow is a 2-player, asymmetric, tactical combat game with a ‘good versus evil’ element at its core. One player takes on the role of the foxen heroes and the other 1 of 4 monstrous Guardians. The Foxes are trying to take down the Guardian and the Guardian is trying to eliminate the Foxen Leader, or gain enough of their individual tribute. Players use action cards to move their units, summon, and use special abilities.
Head Spin
Ages: 12+, Players: 2, Time: 20 min
Head Spin is a 2-player, puzzle race with a fidget spinner type handheld device. Players race to be the first to complete a challenge with the revealed card by getting their colors on their spinner in the right order. Each solution has the 4 colors in a unique order and players must solve the puzzle and then get their spinner colors in that order. The game comes with 100 double-sided challenge cards that cover 10 different types of puzzles with varying levels of difficulty.
Party Games
Let’s get this party started!
Games are all about the social experience. And party games are a fantastic way to socialize.
Fun Facts
Ages: 8+, Players: 4-8, Time: 30 min
Fun Facts is a party game that we first played last month and it’s been a huge hit! It’s a cooperative party game where players try to place their answers in order to score the most points collectively. In each round, a question is read and all players secretly write their answer on their dry erase arrow board. All questions have a numeric answer. Like “What age are you on the inside?” or “How much do you enjoy talking to strangers (on a scale of 0-100)?” The first player places their answer face down in the center of the table and then in turn order the other players place their answers in the location they think it fits. For example, if they think their answer is greater than the other player, they place it above it. Or if they think it fits somewhere in the middle, they place it there. Once all answers are in, the results are revealed and the team scores points for how many are in a proper order.
See our full review of Fun Facts.
Get a copy of Fun Facts.
So Clover!
Ages: 10+, Players: 3-6, Time: 30 min
You can tell we love cooperative games because we keep recommending them even in different categories. So Clover! is another cooperative game – and is also a word association game. Each player gets a 4-leaf clover dry erase board and 4 word cards to put in each leaf section so that each area has two words side by side. Players then simultaneously write their word clues on their boards that tie those two words together somehow. After everyone has written clues, players take turns having their board analyzed – where all the other players try to correctly reconstruct the order of the cards on that clover. With so many words cards in the game, the replay value is huge.
See our full review of So Clover!.
Get a copy of So Clover!.
Similo
Ages: 7+, Players: 2-8, Time: 15 min
Are you ready for another cooperative party game recommendation? Similo is a cooperative deduction game that comes in a variety of card sets of 30 cards each (such as fables, animals, historical figures, myths, and more). The goal is to make the other players guess one secret character (out of the twelve characters on display in the middle of the table) by playing other character cards from your hand as clues, stating whether they are similar to or different from the secret character. After each turn, the other players must remove one or more characters from the table until only the right one remains and you win — or it is removed and you lose! If if you have more than one set, it’s great to mix and match cards from the different sets for totally new challenges.
Stella: Dixit Universe
Ages: 8+, Players: 4-10, Time: 10 min
Now on to a competitive party game – Stella: Dixit Universe. (It needs to have that “Dixit Universe” monikor so you know exactly the type of fanciful artwork you’ll find on all the cards in the game. In each of the 4 rounds, players interpret Dixit cards on a board after receiving a common clue word. Each player observes the cards and secretly associates these cards with the clue word, marking on their erasable personal slates the cards that they choose. The more matches a player has, the more points they’ll score.
Get a copy of Stella: Dixit Universe.
Abstract Games
Games don’t always need to have a theme to be fun. Here are a handful of fun abstract strategy board games.
Azul Summer Pavilion
Ages: 8+, Players: 2-4, Time: 45 min
Yes, it’s another addition to the Azul family of board games. The familiar tile drafting of Azul is still present in Azul Summer Pavilion, but from there, things change. The way players add their tiles to their board patterns is quite different. For starters, players don’t immediately place their tiles on their board. Instead they store them up to place at the end of the round. If you’re familiar with Azul and are looking for even more strategic choices, then step on up to Azul Summer Pavilion.
See our review of Azul Summer Pavilion.
Get a copy of Azul Summer Pavilion.
Santorini: New York
Ages: 8+, Players: 2-5, Time: 30 min
The game title on this one catches everybody off guard. Because this island of Santorini is a long ways away from New York City. However, the name is there because the game play is derivative of the original board game Santorini. But the setting is now New York City and there are a number of changes to the game. One big change is that it can play up to 5 players. The original is best played as a 2-player game, but this one is better suited to be enjoyed by more players to shine. And while this game does have a theme, the origins of it are based on a pure abstract strategy board game.
See our full review of Santorini: New York.
Get a copy of Santorini: New York.
Calico
Ages: 10+, Players: 1-4, Time: 30 min
Here’s another game with a theme, but we’re still putting it in the abstract strategy game category because it really is just about tiles and patterns for points. The theme in Calico is quilts and cats. But just because it’s about quilts and cats, don’t think it’s easy. It’s a more thinky game than you’d realize. Players have to pay careful attention to tile colors and patterns as they draft new tiles and place them on their individual player boards (“quilts”). If players are able to create a pattern combination attractive a particular cat, the player can add that cat to their board. At the end of the game, players score points for buttons, cats, and how well they’re able to complete their unique quilt pattern.
Coatl
Ages: 10+, Players: 1-4, Time: 45 min
In Coatl, players build serpents from chunky and colorful plastic heads, tails, and body pieces in ways that match patterns on their victory point cards. Once a Coatl has been completed, the player can gain additional bonus points if they managed to fullfill any of the temple cards requirements – like a specific serpent length or colors used. It’s a fun and colorful game with interesting choices throughout.
Dice Games
Let’s get rolling some dice!
Marvel Dice Throne
Ages: 8+, Players: 2-6, Time: 40 min
Who would win between Doctor Strange and Captain Marvel? Or between Black Panther and Black Widow? Or between Loki, Mile Morales Spider-Man, Scarlet Witch, and Thor in a free-for-all match? Well, in Marvel Dice Throne you’ll get to find out. Who comes out on top will change from one play to the next. That’s what makes this dice-rolling, dice manipulating, and card playing game a hoot. We like to refer to it as “battle Yahtzee” with Marvel super powers, special abilities, and combo bonuses.
See our full review of Marvel Dice Throne.
Get a copy of Marvel Dice Throne.
Qwixx
Ages: 8+, Players: 2-5, Time: 15 min
Qwixx is a quick-playing dice game where all players may mark things off on their sheet on everyone’s turn. Each player has a scoresheet with the numbers 2-12 in rows of red and yellow and the numbers 12-2 in rows of green and blue. To score points players want to mark off as many numbers as possible in each row. But they can only mark off a number if it’s to the right of all marked-off numbers in the same row. It’s a fun and quick game that’s great for family game nights.
Noctiluca
Ages: 8+, Players: 1-4, Time: 30 min
Noctiluca is a dice game about underwater gem collecting. The translucent dice are randomly rolled and distributed on the board and players take turns collecting dice to match specific color patterns on their cards for points. The fun part is in how players go about collecting their dice. Players choose 1 open space on the outside of their board to place their pawn and then select a number. They collect all the dice in a straight path from their pawn with the number of pips they chose. As the path options narrow, choosing wisely is a fun challenge.
Floor Plan
Ages: 8+, Players: 1-100, Time: 40 min
Floor Plan is a roll-and-write game where players are designing the perfect house plan. the active player rolls 2 dice and then all players get to draw out a room or feature based with the dimensions of the dice results. Different numbered dice let you draw different types of rooms. For example, a 4 let’s you add a living room while a 3 is for a bedroom. If the active player rolls a 4 & 3 as their result, players can either add a 4×3 living room or 4×3 bedroom to their house plan (which they label as such). You can get some pretty interesting houses every time you play.
Deduction Games
It’s time to put your thinking caps on and dive into some fun deduction games!
Star Wars: Jabba’s Palace – A Love Letter Game
Ages: 10+, Players: 2-6, Time: 20 min
The basic game play in Star Wars: Jabba’s Palace – A Love Letter Game is like the many iterations of Love Letter that have come before (Thus, the name “A Love Letter Game”.). However, this version quickly became our favorite of the series. One of the reasons is because of the Agenda cards that change the way players can win from game to game. But the best part is having 2 factions and the unique variety the Star Wars characters bring to the mix.
See our full review of Star Wars: Jabba’s Palace.
Get a copy of Star Wars: Jabba’s Palace.
EXIT The Game: The Sacred Temple
Ages: 10+, Players: 1-4, Time: 90 min
We’ve enjoyed playing a number of the EXIT The Game series of “escape room” games. But what makes this edition special is that it includes a number of actual puzzles within the game. Before the players can explore the mysterious temple, they have to solve tricky puzzles and assemble four puzzles. And there are riddles within riddles within those puzzles! If you know someone who loves both escape room games and puzzles, this will make fantastic game gift.
Get a copy of EXIT The Game: The Sacred Temple.
EscapeWelt Puzzle Boxes
Ages: 10+, Players: 1-4, Time: 90 min
If you want to give a gift of a physical escape room experience, look no further than the puzzle boxes from EscapeWelt. They have a wide assortment of challenge boxes to solve including Lost in Space, Fort Knox, Breakout, Top Secret, Mind Cracker, Ancient Secrets, House of the Dragon and more. The quality of craftsmanship and engineering is fantastic. And the challenges themselves are very engaging.
See our review of EscapeWelt puzzle boxes.
Get an EscapeWelt puzzle box.
Avalon Big Box
Ages: 14+, Players: 4-10, Time: 30 min
The Resistance was one of the first social deduction games we reviewed 10 years ago and it was a huge hit with our family and friends. Then Indie Boards & Cards published a follow-up version with a King Arthur theme called Avalon. Earlier this year, they released Avalon Big Box – a remastered edition with a huge amount of additional content added for near limitless gameplay options. Included are 23 distinct characters and numerous optional modules, including Lancelot, Excalibur, Plot Cards, Sorcerers, and Rogues.
Gamer Games
If you’ve got a die-hard gamer in your family, these are some great games for you to consider giving them for a gift.
Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest
Ages: 14+, Players: 1-6, Time: 60 min
The original Libertalia board game was published 10 years ago and now there’s a new ship on the seas (or in the sky – as is the case with the new theme). Stonemaier Games published this revised and expanded edition of Libertalia with new artwork, 40 characters per player, a reputation system, deluxe loot tokens, and a solo mode. The goal is to be the wealthiest sky pirate by looting treasure and goods across 3 voyages. The game is packed with great choices and endless variety.
See our full review of Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest.
Get a copy of Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest.
Horizon Zero Dawn: The Board Game
Ages: 12+, Players: 1-4, Time: 60-90 min
Steamforged Games brought this extremely popular video game to life in board game form in 2020. In Horizon Zero Dawn: The Board Game, players band together to form a hunting party to take down the rampant machines. Over the course of multiple encounters, players will level up their hunters with new skills and upgrade their equipment to become even stronger before they face the final encounter against the Sawtooth.
See our full review of Horizon Zero Dawn: The Board Game.
Get a copy of Horizon Zero Dawn: The Board Game.
Unfathomable
Ages: 14+, Players: 3-6, Time: 120-240 min
We seem to always have a game from Fantasy Flight Games in our game gift guides because they publish such awesome games. And this year is no different. Leveraging the wonderful game play of Battlestar Galactica, Unfathomable takes players into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean with the Cthulu mythos in tow. It’s a semi-cooperative game where one more more players may be trying to thwart the mission and sink the steamship. It’s a long game to play, but your true gamer friends will thank you for the gift.
Ark Nova
Ages: 14+, Players: 1-4, Time: 90-150 min
In Ark Nova, players plan and design a modern, scientifically managed zoo. With the ultimate goal of owning the most successful zoological establishment, they’ll build enclosures, accommodate animals, and support conservation projects all over the world. Specialists and unique buildings will help along the way. The game includes 255 cards featuring animals, specialists, special enclosures, and conservation projects, each with a special ability to add plenty of choices throughout the game.
Need even more board game gift ideas? Take a look at our Board Game Gift Guides from years past.
- 2021 Board Game Gift Guide
- 2020 Board Game Gift Guide
- 2019 Board Game Gift Guide
- 2018 Board Game Gift Guide
- 2017 Board Game Gift Guide
- 2016 Board Game Gift Guide
- 2015 Board Game Gift Guide
- 2014 Board Game Gift Guide
- 2013 Board Game Gift Guide
- 2012 Board Game Gift Guide
- 2011 Board Game Gift Guide
