Gathering your closest friends for an exciting game night is always a blast, right? Laughter, friendly competition, and unforgettable memories make those evenings so special. But with countless board games out there, picking the right ones can be a bit challenging. Don't worry, though! We've put together a list of the 11 best board games to play with friends that are sure to make your game night memorable. 

From all-time classics to hidden gems, these games cater to different tastes and group sizes so everyone can join in the fun. So grab some snacks, drinks, and your favorite people; it's time to roll the dice and create unforgettable moments!

Best Board Games for Friends Comparison Table

1. Rescuing Robin Hood - The Best Board Games for Friends

Our Rating: 5/5 Stars

If you’re looking for one of the best board games for friends, Rescuing Robin Hood is a fantastic choice! Rescuing Robin Hood is a cooperative board game where players team up and rescue Robin Hood, who’s been imprisoned by the Sheriff of Nottingham. Players take control of the leaders of Robin Hood's Merry Band. The goal is to round up as many villagers as you can in five rounds in order to save Robin Hood

Why We Like It

Rescuing Robin Hood is great for friends who enjoy working together. The cooperative gameplay means everyone wins or loses as a team. The entertaining storyline keeps players engaged and the game’s five-day structure offers a variety of challenges. Its easy-to-learn mechanics make it perfect for groups of friends aged 10 and up.

2. Micropolis - The Best Tile-Laying Board Game

Our Rating: 5/5 Stars

Our first recommendation for the best board game to play with friends is Micropolis. It's a fun tile-laying game where players get to build their own bustling ant colony! On each turn, you get to choose tiles showing different parts of the ant world, like tunnels, chambers, queens, and soldiers. You can strategically place these tiles next to your colony, making it bigger and unlocking new ways to score points. It's an exciting game that will entertain you and your friends for hours!

Why We Like It

It's one of the best board games to play with friends. It’s super easy to understand and play, making it perfect for everyone, whether you're a seasoned player or just starting out. Despite its simple rules, Micropolis offers a lot of strategic depth, keeping each game interesting and engaging. The artwork on the game board is adorable, and the pieces are made with high-quality materials. Plus, its compact size makes it easy to take anywhere for a fun game night. Every playthrough feels fresh and exciting, thanks to the variety of tile combinations and different player strategies.

3. Disney Villainous - The Best Disney-Themed Strategy Board Game

Our Rating: 5/5 Stars

If you’re a Disney fan, particularly inclined towards the iconic villains, we have just the game for you: Disney Villainous! It's a really fun board game that lets players take on the roles of 6 Disney villains. Each player gets to control a different villain, each with their own unique objectives and powers. Whether you're playing as the cunning sea witch Ursula or the evil magical being Maleficent, you'll have to outsmart your opponents and work towards your goals.

The game has beautiful artwork and themes that really make you feel like you're in the world of Disney villains. Plus, the gameplay is all about strategy, player interaction, and the excitement of trying to win against your friends. 

Why We Like It

We like Disney Villainous because it offers a unique opportunity to play as a villain, something that’s rarely explored in family-friendly games. It combines casual enjoyment with strategic thinking, creating an exciting and balanced experience. With six different villains to choose from, each game feels fresh and highly replayable, keeping players coming back for more.

4. Double Double Dominos - The Best Dominoes Board Game

Our Rating: 5/5 Stars

If you like the classic dominos, you’re going to love Double Double Dominos! It's a fast-paced and strategic game that combines the traditional game of dominoes with a unique board-based scoring system. The players draw dominoes and strategically place them on the board to create chains and score points. What makes it exciting is that the dominoes are double-sided, so there's always a surprise element and lots of room for strategic play.

As you place your dominoes, your pawn moves along a scoring track. The goal is to reach the highest score before your opponents.

Why We Like It

Double Double Dominos is one of the best board games to play with friends because it feels like an updated and more exciting version of the classic Domino game. Its quick setup makes it perfect for casual game nights or family gatherings, and the strategic skills it requires keep players engaged throughout. The double-sided dominoes add an exciting twist that keeps the game unpredictable and fresh. Overall, Double Double Dominos is a fantastic choice for hours of fun and entertainment.

5. Dilbert - The Best Humorous Board Game

Our Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

If you’re looking for one of the best funny board games to play with friends, we suggest trying Dilbert. The game is inspired by the iconic comic strip, Dilbert, which has around 48 books. It's a satirical take on the corporate world, in which players experience the absurdities of office life, including everything from pointless meetings to incompetent bosses. 

The game involves strategy, luck, and a healthy dose of humor. Players compete to climb the corporate ladder while avoiding issues like pointless projects and office politics. 
The best part about Dilbert is its unique blend of wit and competition, which offers a refreshing alternative to traditional board games.

Why We Like It

Here’s why we think Dilbert: The Board Game is a great choice for game night: it’s more than just a game — it’s a hilarious portrayal of the modern workplace. Players get a dose of laughter as they encounter familiar office scenarios and characters, making it both relatable and entertaining. The game's strategic nature keeps everyone engaged, while the unpredictable cards add an exciting element of surprise. Whether you're a longtime Dilbert fan or just someone who enjoys a good laugh, this board game is sure to provide endless hours of entertainment.

6. Gaia Project - The Best Deep Strategy Board Game

Our Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Next up on our list of the best board games to play with friends is the Gaia Project. It's an enthralling space colonization board game in which players play as different alien groups competing in the galaxy. This strategic game involves turning planets into habitable places with advanced technology and a strong economy. 

With fourteen unique alien groups, each with unique abilities, you can play this game over and over without getting bored. However, to win, you have to be smart about exploring, managing resources, and getting better technology to beat your friends. 

Why We Like It

We think the Gaia Project is an amazing game to play with friends because it offers the perfect blend of strategy, complexity, and replayability. The constant drive to expand technologically and economically keeps players fully immersed from start to finish. It’s an ideal choice for seasoned strategy gamers or anyone looking to challenge themselves with a deep and engaging new title.

7. Resident Evil 2 - The Best Cooperative Horror Board Game

Our Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

If you’re a fan of the Resident Evil movie franchise or zombies in general, Resident Evil 2: The Board Game is just the game for you! It's a cooperative experience that throws players into the terrifying world of Raccoon City. Based on the iconic movie series and video game, the board game revolves around survival horror, with players taking on the roles of familiar characters like Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield.  

The players must work together to explore, manage resources, and solve puzzles while staying safe from the horrors lurking in the streets. With a thrilling combination of exploration and combat, Resident Evil 2 offers a thrilling and immersive experience for fans of the movies, games, and board games.

Why We Like It

Resident Evil 2 is one of the best board games to play with friends because it creates a tense and immersive experience for everyone at the table. The constant threat of zombie encounters and the pressure to manage limited resources keep players on edge throughout the game. As a cooperative experience, it encourages teamwork and communication, requiring players to work together to overcome challenges and survive. Plus, the game brings players back to iconic locations and characters from the movies and video games, offering a nostalgic and thrilling experience for fans.

8. Code of Nine - The Best Resource Management Board Game

Our Rating: 4/5 Stars

Code of Nine is an exciting card-based board game set in a post-apocalyptic world. In the game, players control automatons who wake up to a world without humans and must carry out humanity's wishes. The game involves gathering resources, completing objectives, and using information strategically.

At the beginning of the game, each player has limited knowledge about the objectives, which are represented by memory cards. As the game goes on, players must make wise choices to gather information, get resources, and finish tasks. To win the game, you must interpret the memory cards and take the right actions. 

Why We Like It

Code of Nine is one of the best board games for friends because it offers a unique fusion of strategy, deduction, and resource management. With limited information available to players, the game adds an exciting layer of thrill, uncertainty, and fascination. Different memory cards ensure that each playthrough feels fresh, making the replayability very high. On top of that, the game's impressive theme and artwork truly immerse players in a post-apocalyptic world. Overall, Code of Nine delivers a challenging and rewarding experience for both seasoned players and casual gamers alike.

9. Tiffin - The Best Fast-Paced Board Game

Our Rating: 4/5 Stars

Let’s discuss a board game that’s a bit different from other traditional board games. We’re talking about Tiffin. As the name suggests, Tiffin is a fast-paced board game in which players play as food delivery guys, also called dabbawalas, the legendary lunchbox delivery men of Mumbai.

In this game, the goal is to deliver as many tiffins as possible to different locations by planning your routes carefully, leaving your opponents behind, and taking advantage of opportunities. Each round is like a new day, and you earn points for each successful delivery. The game ends after four rounds, and the player with the most tiffins delivered wins!

Tiffin is an easy and fun game that everyone can enjoy. Although it has a light theme, the competitive element makes it a top choice for game nights with friends!

Why We Like It

Tiffin is considered one of the best board games for friend groups because it keeps players on their toes with constant decision-making and exciting risk-reward strategies. It’s a perfect blend of strategy and luck, where bluffing, timing, and careful planning are all equally important. The game’s theme is both interesting and refreshing, revolving around real-life professions and offering a unique gameplay experience. Tiffin lets players step into the shoes of dabbawalas, experiencing the daily challenges they face in a fun and engaging way.

10. Amazonas: Explore a Dangerous Paradise - The Best Adventure Board Game

Our Rating: 4/5 Stars

How about a thrilling game that takes you on a journey through the beautiful Amazon rainforest? Say hello to Amazonas: Explore a Dangerous Paradise! It's a strategy game in which players take on the role of explorers in a dense jungle on a mission to establish an outpost in villages. The game board is full of obstacles including hungry crocodiles and lurking jaguars, ready to attack you! Then, there are special tiles representing the tricky terrain, like confusing paths weaving through the jungle and deep waterways.

Players get to cleverly move their explorers in such a way that they can accomplish the mission of the game while reaching the villages in time. The game is a wonderful mix of luck and strategy. The initial placement of pieces is random, but as the game progresses, you need skillful planning and moves for victory.

Why We Like It

We like Amazonas because it offers endless strategic possibilities, making every game a fresh and exciting challenge. Players must carefully consider each move to gain an advantage, keeping everyone fully engaged throughout. Plus, the game’s compact design makes it easy to transport, perfect for playing anywhere.

11. Awesome Kingdom: The Tower of Hateskull - The Best Dungeon-Crawler Board Game

Our Rating: 4/5 Stars

We’ll wrap up this guide with an all-time favorite board game genre, dungeons! Awesome Kingdom: The Tower of Hateskull is a fun, fast-paced dungeon-crawler game that guarantees more laughter than treasure! In the game, you and your friends join a group of hilarious heroes on a mission to conquer the tower. 

Each turn is like a day in the game, and you collect Dungeon Cards to earn Awesome Points, the ultimate measure of heroism. It's got simple rules and tons of humor and is the best friends’ sleepover board game!

Why We Like It

We like this game because it’s a fun strategy experience that’s easy for players of all skill levels to enjoy. The ridiculous character abilities and outrageous card effects guarantee plenty of laughs throughout the game. Plus, with short rounds, you can play multiple times in a single game night, keeping the energy high and the fun going.

Buying Guide for the Best Board Games for Friends

Whether you’re hosting a game night with a large group of friends or an intimate gathering, choosing the perfect board game can be a bit difficult. Here's a guide to help you select the best board games to play with a group of friends for your next game night:

Consider Your Group Size

Knowing the exact number of players can help you choose a game accordingly. 

Keep the Skill Level in Mind

Another thing to consider is your friends' skill levels. Are they experienced gamers, or do they prefer something simpler?

Game Types

When it comes to choosing the games, you’ll come across several types. For instance:

• Party Games: These are fast-paced, often humorous games that prioritize fun over strategy.
  
• Strategy Games: Strategy games require careful planning, decision-making, and critical thinking.
  
• Cooperative Games: In such games, the players work together to achieve a common goal.
  

Game Length

Lastly, how long do you want the game to last? You can choose from games that last for hours to games that end in just a few minutes.

Final Thoughts on the Best Board Games for Friends

Game nights mean lots of fun, snacks, and a memorable time with friends. However, finding the perfect game for your whole friend group can be a bit difficult as everyone has different preferences. In this guide, we have discussed 11 of the best board games to play with friends, catering to all skill levels and choices. 

And, if you’re looking for more variety and genres, check out our board game collection and choose the one you like best!