Board Game Gift Guide 2019!
Are you looking for fun board games as gifts for family and friends?
Then you’ve come to the right place!
Because for the 9th year running, we’ve got fantastic suggestions for you!
This year’s Board Game Gift Guide includes 43 great game ideas!
You can scroll through the whole list or jump to the categories you’re interested in by clicking on a category title:
- Children’s Games
- Family Games
- Cooperative Games
- 2-Player Games
- Party Games
- Abstract Games
- Dice Games
- Deduction Games
- Gamer Games
- BONUS: Escape Room Games
Children’s Games
Games are always a hit with kids. That’s why we like to dive right into suggestions for children’s games.
ICECOOL2
Ages: 6+, Players: 2-4, Time: 20 min
While we haven’t reviewed ICECOOL2, by Brain Games, we know exactly what’s in store with this fun dexterity game. That’s because it’s just like its predecessor ICECOOL, which we reviewed 3 years ago. ICECOOL2 is both a standalone game as well as an expansion for the original (if you want more layout and to play with more people). Flicking penguins around an icy school is just so fun it’s hard to pass up.
Drop It
Ages: 8+, Players: 2-4, Time: 30 min
In Drop It, by KOSMOS, players take turns dropping their various colored shapes into a central plated pillar to score points. However, if the new piece comes to rest touching a piece of the same color or of the same shape, the player doesn’t score any points. Also, if the piece is touching the edge of the board in an area that shows it’s not allowed, it also scores nothing. It’s more challenging that it originally looks which draws kids into playing over and over.
See our full review of Drop It.
Get a copy of Drop It.
Miaui
Ages: 8+, Players: 3-6, Time: 20 min
Grab your fishing pole and hit the islands in Miaui, by Z-Man Games and Asmodee. Of course, in Miaui, you’re not fishermen but instead you’re fisher-cats. After all, isn’t it well known that cats love fish?
Players choose how far they want to dive by which cards they play from their hand each round. The tricky part is that the card play is simultaneous, so the crux of the game is in guessing which cards the other players will play from their hands. It’s a fun game of strategic guessing with fantastic, colorful artwork.
See our full review of Miaui.
Get a copy of Miaui.
Toy Story Obstacles and Adventures
Ages: 8+, Players: 2-5, Time: 45 min
In Toy Story Obstacles and Adventures, players work together as Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Bo Peep and Rex to overcome hazards and bring about a happy ending. USAopoly (now “The OP“) has taken a game we love, Harry Potter Hogwarts Battle and reimplemented it with the characters and fun of Toy Story. The game includes 6 boxes of cards that get unlocked as players progress over a series games. Characters like Hamm and Mr. Pricklepants as well as antagonists like Sid, Prospector Pete, and more get added to the mix as players unlock the contents.
See our full review of Toy Story Obstacles and Adventures.
Get a copy of Toy Story Obstacles and Adventures.
Harry Potter Labyrinth
Ages: 8+, Players: 2-4, Time: 20 min
If your kids love Harry Potter, they may enjoy the mysterious shifting tiles in Harry Potter Labyrinth by Ravensburger. The original Labyrinth game may be over 30 years old, but it’s still a great game to play — especially when Harry Potter characters room the corridors. Players shift tiles in the various rows and columns to meet up with the secret characters shown on their cards. Once they’ve found them all, they must be the first back to their starting space to win.
See our full review of Harry Potter Labyrinth.
Get a copy of Harry Potter Labyrinth.
Family Games
We could add a ton of games to this section because there are so many great family board games. But we’ve whittled it down to 5 fun games for families everywhere.
Skull King
Ages: 8+, Players: 2-6, Time: 30 min
From the first time we played Skull King, we were hooked. Skull King, by Grandpa Beck’s Games, is a trick-taking card game where players declare how many tricks they’ll win each round. Players score points based on how well they guess the number of tricks they get as well as potential bonus points. The catch is that players make their declarations simultaneously before each round. With each higher round, players will have more cards in their hand. So as the game progresses, both the potential scores and the anticipation of each winning trick increases
See our full review of Skull King.
Get a copy of Skull King.
Reef
Ages: 8+, Players: 2-4, Time: 30 min
Reef, by Next Move Games, is a fun family board game for a number of reasons. It’s simple to play. It has quick player turns. It has great components. It’s full of interesting choices. And it has a good mix of strategy and luck. Players try to score the most points by adding colorful coral pieces to their growing reef and scoring patterns. Turns are quick because players choose to either take a card to add to their hand or play a card from their hand to gain coral and score points. To do well, players need to plan ahead.
See our full review of Reef.
Get a copy of Reef.
Disney Villainous
Ages: 10+, Players: 2-6, Time: 50 min
In Disney Villainous, by Ravensburger, players take on the role of famous Disney villains to accomplish their unique objectives. Each player has their own, character-specific decks that tie in perfectly to their movie. While working on their own objectives, players also try to thwart the progress of their opponents by playing Fate cards tied to those other characters as well. It’s a well-themed game and fun for Disney fans. In the base game you can play as Maleficent, Jafar, Ursula, the Queen of Hearts, Captain Hook, or Prince John. Expansions add even more villains to play.
See our full review of Disney Villainous plus a couple expansions.
Get a copy of Disney Villainous.
The Quacks of Quedlinburg
Ages: 10+, Players: 2-4, Time: 45 min
The Quacks of Quedlinburg, by North Star Games, is about miracle doctor “quacks” showcasing their healing remedies. In reality, the board game is a fun press-your-luck, bag-building game where players compete in mixing the best potions. Players start with a certain number of ingredient chips in their personal bag and use currency during the game to acquire more chips to add to their bag. Thus, they fill their bag with more and better chips that allow them to do more powerful things as the game progresses.
See our full review of The Quacks of Quedlinburg.
Get a copy of The Quacks of Quedlinburg.
The Quest for El Dorado
Ages: 10+, Players: 2-4, Time: 60 min
In The Quest for El Dorado, by Ravensburger, players traverse jungle, waterways, and native villages to find the elusive treasure. They must prepare well to make the journey. But they can’t spend all their time preparing or they’ll be left behind and another explorer will beat them to it. The game is actually a deck-building game with an adventure board to race across. The first player to get their explorer to the famed El Dorado tile at the end of the jungle wins.
See our full review of The Quest for El Dorado.
Get a copy of The Quest for El Dorado.
Cooperative Games
If you’re looking to team up and battle together, then dive into some great cooperative board games! Get a copy of one of these great games and have fun working together in a common cause.
Fantastic Beasts: Perilous Pursuit
Ages: 8+, Players: 2-4, Time: 45 min
In Fantastic Beasts: Perilous Pursuit, by TheOP, you and your friends / family work together to capture 5 beasts by rolling special dice. However, if 2 beasts get away or one player loses all their Health, they all lose. Like many cooperative board games, there’s one way to win and many ways to lose. Since the game involves plenty of dice rolling, there’s a big luck element of the game. The good news though is that there’s still plenty of choices to make as you work together for a common goal.
See our full review of Fantastic Beasts: Perilous Pursuit.
Get a copy of Fantastic Beasts: Perilous Pursuit.
Aeon’s End Legacy
Ages: 14+, Players: 1-4, Time: 90 min
Aeon’s End Legacy, by Indie Board and Cards, is a cooperative, deck-building, story-driven, legacy game. Games are played over a series of Chapters. Players begin by opening the Chapter 1 packet and following the instructions. If they’re successful, they’ll move on to subsequent Chapters revealing more to the storyline through tougher Nemesis’ to fight. Players improve their characters from game to game and make game-altering choices that personalize their copy of the game along the way.
See our full review of Aeon’s End Legacy.
Get a copy of Aeon’s End Legacy.
Shadows: Amsterdam
Ages: 10+, Players: 2-8, Time: 20 min
While it’s a team game rather than purely cooperative game, we think Shadows: Amsterdam is a great game to include in this category. Published by Libellud and Asmodee, Shadows: Amsterdam is a real-time, simultaneous deduction game played in teams. It’s full of colorful artwork, obscure clues, frantic racing, and lots of fun. It also reminds us a lot of the movie Zootopia! And just like in that movie, you’re trying to solve a crime by following clues all over colorful locations. The great thing is that you’re not alone. Work together with your teammates to make your way around the city to solve the case.
See our full review of Shadows: Amsterdam.
Get a copy of Shadows: Amsterdam.
Spirit Island
Ages: 13+, Players: 1-4, Time: 90 min
If you’re up for a very challenging cooperative board game, Spirit Island, may be just what you’re looking for. Rather than playing colonizers, players take on the roles of unique island spirits fighting off the invaders who are trying to establish colonies on your island. This unique game by Great Than Games heats up right from the start and doesn’t let up the whole game. Players will have to work tightly together with every move if they hope to win. There are also various scenarios players can incorporate into the game which deliver their own challenges.
2-Player Games
Sometimes it’s great to go head-to-head with a little friendly competition. That’s when it’s great to pull out a 2-player board game. Here are 4 fun 2-player games to give as gifts.
Kingdomino Duel
Ages: 8+, Players: 2, Time: 20 min
In Kingdomino Duel, by Blue Orange Games, is a “roll and write” game where players use dice to create “dominoes” that they add to their personal kingdom. It’s based on Kingdomino but is a completely separate game and different game experience. Players each have their own sheet where they draw the symbols of their chosen dominoes. And they score points based on the way they arrange their dominos. It’s a great 2-player game that plays very quickly. And it’s easy and fun to play multiple games in a row.
See our full review of Kingdomino Duel.
Get a copy of Kingdomino Duel.
Imhotep: The Duel
Ages: 10+, Players: 2, Time: 30 min
In Imhotep: the Duel, by KOSMOS, is another 2-player game that’s a derivative of a previous game for more players (Imhotep). In the game players take on the roles of Nefertiti and Akhenaten, one of Egypt’s most famous royal couples. Game pieces must be cleverly placed so that players can unload the most valuable tiles from the six boats. While this is happening, each player builds their own four monuments (Obelisk, Temple, Pyramid, Tomb) in order to gain as many fame points as possible.
Get a copy of Imhotep: The Duel.
Blokus Duo
Ages: 5+, Players: 2, Time: 15 min
Blokus is an extremely popular board game that’s fantastic for families. That’s why it’s been on our 10 Must Have Family Board Games list for years. (It’s also one of the first games we reviewed 10 years ago!) While the original Blokus can be played with 2-4 players, it’s really best as a 4-player game. Enter Blokus Duo!
Blokus Duo is the same game play as Blokus but created specifically for just 2 players. The game board is smaller and makes for a very strategic abstract game.
Tak
Ages: 12+, Players: 2, Time: 20 min
Tak is a purely strategic abstract strategy game for 2-players. If you know someone who loves Chess, it’s time to introduce them to Tak!
In Tak, players must build a path connecting two sides of the board. While the path doesn’t have to be straight, diagonal touches between pieces don’t count. On a turn, players can either add a piece (flat or standing) to an empty space or move existing pieces. But it’s the way pieces move that add amazing depth to the game.
Party Games
Let’s get this party started! It’s time to look at games for a larger group of friends and family to play. Grab one of these games as a gift for your upcoming holiday party.
Tsuro
Ages: 8+, Players: 2-8, Time: 15 min
Tsuro, by Calliope Games, is a fantastic board game for players of any age. We reviewed it many years ago and still pull it out to play on a regular basis. It’s simple to teach and play. Players create paths for their pawns to follow by laying a tile in front of their piece each turn and then moving their piece along the new path section. If your pawn follows a path off the edge of the board, you’re eliminated. The last pawn on the board is the winner!
See our full review of Tsuro.
Get a copy of Tsuro.
Camel Up
Ages: 8+, Players: 3-8, Time: 45 min
We recently reviewed the second edition of Camel Up, by Pegasus Spiele, and we love it! Everyone we introduce it to has had a blast playing Camel Up. And it’s just as great at all player counts. In fact, it’s now a favorite lunch-break game at work where we regularly have 8 players join in the fun. The game centers on camels racing around the board and players guessing on which camels will be in the lead each round as well as at the end of the game. Players score points based on how well they guess and when. Tons of fun every time!
See our full review of Camel Up.
Get a copy of Camel Up.
Just One
Ages: 8+, Players: 3-7, Time: 20 min
Just One is a cooperative party game in which you play together to discover as many mystery words as possible. Players take turns trying to guess a one-word answer based on clues from their teammates. But players must try to create unique clues because all identical clues will be cancelled. The game includes white erase boards and markers that make playing super simple. If you’ve got word game lovers around, Just One will scratch both the word game and party game itch.
Watch Ya Mouth
Ages: 8+, Players: 3-10, Time: 30 min
Watch Ya Mouth is a game we first heard about from some friends who said their family absolutely loves it. The game includes a bunch of mouthguards and more than 900 phrases on 143 cards. You may think pronouncing words is easy. But try doing it with these crazy mouthguards in your mouth! Because these aren’t your standard sports mouthguards. They’re more like a contraption you’d find at a dentist’s office. Lots of fun for your next party.
Abstract Games
We love games that have a fun theme. But abstract strategy games can be just as great. Check out some of these abstract games for potential gifts.
Azul
Ages: 8+, Players: 2-4, Time: 30 min
While Azul, by Next Move Games, technically does have a theme, when we play the game, all we’re focused on are the various colored tiles and where to place them. And that’s just fine with us. We don’t need a big theme tie-in with this tile game. During a round, players take turns collecting tiles from the central board to place on their own personal boards. There are many things to consider with each collection and placement to keep you thinking.
See our full review of Azul.
Get a copy of Azul.
Azul: Stained Glass of Sintra
Ages: 8+, Players: 2-4, Time: 30 min
Continuing on the amazing success of Azul, Next Move Games, came up with another fun way to collect and place tiles on boards in Azul: Stained Glass of Sintra. This time, players are working with tiles that represent glass panes to place in their windows. Once again however, the them gets lost in the various levels of thinking players must employ to do well. The window panels are also double-sided, which means the game has plenty of variability.
Get a copy of Azul: Stained Glass of Sintra.
NMBR9
Ages: 8+, Players: 1-4, Time: 20 min
If we had gotten a copy of NMBR9 a few weeks earlier last year, it totally would have been in last year’s Board Game Gift Guide. That’s because NMBR9 was an immediate hit in our family. We think it’s highly likely that it will be in your family as well. Players stack grid-like numbers (0-9) on top of each other in their own play area to earn the most points. The higher the level a number is on, the more points it will score. The Tetris-like shaped tiles can be challenging to place because players can’t leave empty spaces below a tile. Carefully planning and anticipation can payoff well.
See our full review of NMBR9.
Get a copy of NMBR9.
Ingenious
Ages: 10+, Players: 1-4, Time: 45 min
Ingenious is another game on this game gift guide that we reviewed almost 10 years ago that still holds up fantastically. When you first see Ingenious you may think it’s just a simple children’s game. Sure it’s a simple tile placement game, and kids will have fun just matching tiles from what they draw, but by throwing in a unique scoring element and game winning condition, you’ll find yourself putting a lot of thought into each move to get the best result.
See our full review of Ingenious.
Get a copy of Ingenious.
Dice Games
Now let’s turn our attention to dice! Whether the game has cool, unique dice or just uses dice in creative ways, these games are sure to appeal to dice-lovers.
Seasons
Ages: 14+, Players: 2-4, Time: 60 min
Seasons, by Libellud, is a gorgeous dice game that’s full of variety and strategy. Much of the play revolves around a circular game board, which keeps track of the seasons and years. It has card drafting, combo building, and various complexity levels. But the focus of the game is on the awesome dice! Each round, the starting player rolls the colored dice representing the present season and then players take turns drafting a die and taking the actions on it. The symbols take a little getting used to, but then you’re off and rolling for fun.
Our review of Seasons is still to come.
Get a copy of Seasons.
Alien Frontiers
Ages: 13+, Players: 2-4, Time: 90 min
In Alien Frontiers, by Clever Mojo Games, players use standard D6 dice. However, they use them in a very clever way. The dice represent players’ spaceships which they roll and then place throughout the galaxy to gain different actions. These various actions ultimately give players resources they use to place colonies on the central planet. While the continuous dice rolling delivers the luck, players can mitigate that luck through cards that also let them manipulate their results. Tons of fun in space!
See our full review of Alien Frontiers.
Get a copy of Alien Frontiers.
King of Tokyo
Ages: 8+, Players: 2-6, Time: 30 min
King of Tokyo, by iello, is a light and fun “king of the hill” type board game that’s also great for parties. In a Yahtzee-style mechanic, players take turns rolling dice up to 3 times to get the combinations they like. The big difference is that with these dice players are gaining points, gaining energy, attacking other players, or reviving their health. It’s a bunch of fun for both family and friends. It’s also a good “go-to” game with our guys game night. Lots of fun and another great board game gift idea with dice!
See our full review of King of Tokyo.
Get a copy of King of Tokyo.
Pandemic The Cure
Ages: 8+, Players: 2-5, Time: 30 min
Pandemic: The Cure, by Z-Man Games, is a dice-based version of the popular Pandemic board game. As in the board game, four diseases threaten the world and it’s up to the players – working together as a team to save humanity. But this time, players are rolling custom dice to gain actions to take! They can fly and sail between the six major population centers of the world, treat disease in their current region, collect samples for further study, exchange knowledge, and use their unique character abilities to help them in their goal of discovering cures!
Get a copy of Pandemic: The Cure.
Deduction Games
Do you know someone who loves solving mysteries? Then you’ll want to take a look at these suggestions of great deduction games.
Dinosaur Tea Party
Ages: 7+, Players: 3-5, Time: 20 min
Dinosaur Tea Party, by Restoration Games, is another super fun family board game that would have been in last year’s board game gift guide if we had gotten it a few weeks earlier. Because Dinosaur Tea Party was an immediate (and continuing) hit! Players have to deduce who their fellow tea party guests are based on the characteristics of all the dinosaurs at the party. The artwork is wonderful and the game play is addicting.
See our full review of Dinosaur Tea Party.
Get a copy of Dinosaur Tea Party.
Chronicles of Crime
Ages: 14+, Players: 1-4, Time: 60-90 min
Chronicles of Crime, by Lucky Duck Games, is a cooperative game of crime investigation, mixing an app, a board game and a touch of Virtual Reality. Players are able to play many different scenarios and solve various different crime stories. The goal being to catch the killer of the current case in the shortest short time possible. Using the Scan&Play technology, each component (locations, characters, items, etc.) has a unique QR code, which, depending on the scenario selected, will activate and trigger different clues and stories. We’re sure you know someone who would totally dig this game.
Get a copy of Chronicles of Crime.
Decrypto
Ages: 12+, Players: 3-8, Time: 15-45 min
Decrypto is a team game where players compete trying to correctly interpret the coded messages presented to them by their teammates. At the same time, they’re trying to intercept and crack the codes from the opposing team. The tricky part is that the object of the game isn’t to guess the words, it’s to guess the order of the clues for the words.
It can be a brain burner for some and others will love the word guessing intrigue.
See our full review of Decrypto.
Get a copy of Decrypto.
Cryptid
Ages: 10+, Players: 3-5, Time: 30-50 min
Cryptid, by Osprey Games, is a unique deduction game where players try to pin-point where the Cryptid creature is location. Each player has a clue to the location. Players try to uncover information about their opponents’ clues while throwing them off the scent of their own. On their turn, they can try to gain more information from their opponents. But if they give away too much information about their own clues, their opponents might find the creature first!
Gamer Games
If you’ve got a die-hard gamer in your family or among your friends and you really want to brighten their holidays, then snag one of these hot board games for them.
Wingspan
Ages: 10+, Players: 1-5, Time: 40-70 min
Wingspan is perhaps the hottest board game of the year! It’s a competitive, medium-weight, card-driven, engine-building board game from Stonemaier Games. Players are bird enthusiasts seeking to discover and attract the best birds to their network of wildlife preserves. Each bird extends a chain of powerful combinations among player’s habitats. Yes, the game is about birds, but with how hard it has been to keep this game in stock, it’s obvious you don’t have to love birds to love the game.
Paladins of the West Kingdom
Ages: 12+, Players: 1-4, Time: 90-120 min
Last year we included Raiders of the North Sea, by Renegade Game Studios, in our board game gift guide. And this year we’re recommending another game of similar style. Paladins of the West Kingdom is set in the same realm but takes players on a different journey. The prior game has players raiding locations as vikings. In Paladins, players must gather workers from the city to defend against enemies, build fortifications and spread faith throughout the land.
Get a copy of Paladins of the West Kingdom.
Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated
Ages: 13+, Players: 2-4, Time: 90-120 min
Earlier this year we reviewed Clank! and Clank! In Space. We absolutely love both of these deck-building games. Well, Dire Wolf Digital and Renegade Game Studios have built on the fun even more with a legacy-style game in Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated. The game board, player’s decks, and the world changes over the course of multiple games in a unique campaign tailored on the choices players make of their adventuring party.
Get a copy of Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated.
Brass: Birmingham
Ages: 14+, Players: 2-4, Time: 60-120 min
Brass: Birmingham, by Roxley, is a heavy economic strategy game that’s a sequel to the original Brass. In Brass: Birmingham players are competing entrepreneurs in Birmingham during the industrial revolution, between the years of 1770-1870. As in the original, players must develop, build, and establish their industries and network in an effort to exploit low or high market demands. Players build alehouses, coal mines, iron works, shipyards and cotton mills across two game phases (canal phase and railroad phase) in order to gain income and points. Doesn’t that sound like something your gamer friend would love?
Get a copy of Brass: Birmingham.
BONUS: Escape Room Games
A big trend in board games over the past few years has been escape-room type games. They make great game gifts too since they’re all about teamwork. If you give someone one of these games, there’s a good chance you may be asked to play it with them!
Many different board game publishing companies are making these types of games and each has their unique way to implement them. Some are physical components that you’ll manipulate to solve the puzzles while others are decks of cards with puzzles that can be arranged back together to share with someone else.
Rather than recommend specific games from these publishers, we’re recommending you check out each family of escape-room games to consider in your gift giving. Find one with the theme you think is most interesting and go for it.
Escape Room In a Box (2 to choose from)
Deckscape (6 to choose from)
Escape Puzzle (6 to choose from)
Exit The Game (13 to choose from)
Unlock! (~20 to choose from)
Need more ideas? Take a look at our Board Game Gift Guides from years past.
- 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
Thank you so much for doing this gift guide every year. I read all your reviews and pretty much every game I buy is because you recommended them. Your gift guides are great to help narrow down presents for my family. I really appreciate all the work you put onto your reviews. It saves me a lot of time at Christmas. Thank you!!!!
Renee – Thanks for the comment. It takes a lot of work to assess and pull together, but hearing from folks like you keeps us excited to share.