Top 10 Board Games for Adults
When we hear the words ‘board games’, most people will automatically think of grandparents hunched over Monopoly or young children, with nobody in between. However, the past few years have seen a board game revolution. Countless board games for adults have been released that are brilliant fun, whether you are in your twenties or young at heart.
A well-chosen, good board game for adults can brighten an otherwise dull family gathering or kick off pre-drinks perfectly. Although there are plenty of good board games for adults out there, finding them isn’t always an easy task.
Some board games proclaim uproarious laughter but fall flat into a huge disappointment. Others have complex rules that nobody is getting past after a couple of glasses of wine. With so many options to consider, how do you separate the best board games for adults from the rubbish ones?
That’s where we come in! To help you break the ice at your next gathering (and save you from the depths of fourth-page Amazon searches) we have compiled a comprehensive list of the top 10 board games for adults:
This guide has been written by:
Rachel Simms
Senior Editor (Toys & Games)
- Top 10 Board Games for Adults
- The Verdicts
- Cards Against Humanity review
- Drawing Without Dignity review
- That’s What She Said – First Expansion review
- Drunk, Stoned or Stupid review
- The Voting Game review
- It’s In The Bag! review
- Drink-A-Palooza review
- Taboo review
- Watch Ya Mouth Family Edition review
- What Do You Meme review
- Top 10 Board Games for Adults Buyers Guide
The Verdicts
1
Cards Against Humanity
Our Verdict
- Brand: Cards Against Humanity
- Amazon Rating: 4.8/5 stars
- Number of Amazon Reviews: 7, 549
- Player Number: 4-20+
Although we’ve picked this customer favourite as our board game for adults with the best reviews, we definitely do not recommend that you play this game with your parents – and certainly not your grandparents! The aim is simple: try to find the funniest response to the question on the black card, revealing your dark side to all present in the process. The hilarity that will ensue makes this the highest rated board game for adults by far. This 2.0 version comes with an impressive 150 additional cards, making for even more diabolical laughs.
2
Drawing Without Dignity
Our Verdict
- Brand: TwoPointOh Games
- Amazon Rating: 4.2/5 stars
- Number of Amazon Reviews: 154
- Player Number: 4-12+
Pictionary just got taken up a level with this top selling board games for adults! The classic fast-paced illustration contest has been reimagined as the uncensored ‘Drawing Without Dignity’, one of the highest rated board games for adults. It doesn’t matter how appalling your artistry – in our experience, this makes it even more entertaining! The pack contains over 650 NSFW things to draw, so gather your friends (we recommend weeding out the ones who are easily offended) and leave your dignity at the door to play this firm favourite.
3
That’s What She Said – First Expansion
Our Verdict
- Brand: That’s What She Said
- Amazon Rating: 4.3/5 stars
- Number of Amazon Reviews: 9
- Player Number: 4+
Bring on the innuendos – the more shameless the better! Similar to ‘Cards Against Humanity’, the game involves matching the setup card with one of your phrase cards to create a suggestive innuendo. This is an expansion pack, which requires the original game which is one of the top board games for adults. An extra 100 cards (including fan-submitted content) will keep the laughs coming for longer! ‘That’s What She Said’ is guaranteed to lower the tone of any party in the best possible way, earning it a place on our prestigious list of board games for adults.
4
Drunk, Stoned or Stupid
Our Verdict
- Brand: DSS Games
- Amazon Rating: 4.3/5 stars
- Number of Amazon Reviews: 112
- Player Number: More players the better (10+)
We’ve chosen ‘Drunk, Stoned or Stupid’ as our Editor’s Pick for top board games for adults, and for good reason! Think hard about which of your mates is most likely to use daddy’s credit card? Spend all day interpreting a text? Wake up with half a burrito in bed? Friendships will be irretrievably damaged as you collect shame cards, getting knocked out once you reach seven. We can only conclude that the opportunity to call out your friends is oddly appealing, as ‘Drunk, Stoned or Stupid’ has become one of the most popular board games for adults!
5
The Voting Game
Our Verdict
- Brand: Player Ten
- Amazon Rating: 4.1/5 stars
- Number of Amazon Reviews: 54
- Player Number: 6-8
‘The Voting Game’ allows you to get to know your friends deeply in a way you probably didn’t want to. There are similarities with ‘Drunk, Stoned or Stupid’: who would survive a zombie apocalypse? Whose search history would you most like to see? However, you can discover what your friends really think of you by turning the tables and guessing who pegged you as the winner.
6
It’s In The Bag!
Our Verdict
- Brand: Gatwick Games
- Amazon Rating: 5/5 stars
- Number of Amazon Reviews: 1
- Player Number: 4+
Looking for something more family-friendly from your board games for adults? ‘It’s In The Bag’ is one of our top board games for adults and children alike. A twist on Charades and Articulate, you must describe the word, define the word then act out the word in a series of increasingly difficult rounds. The game is easy to understand, meaning you waste less time arguing over the rules. It also comes with a free e-book!
7
Drink-A-Palooza
Our Verdict
- Brand: Palooza Games
- Amazon Rating: 4.4/5 stars
- Number of Amazon Reviews: 16
- Player Number: Up to 12
Student flat, hen do, stag do, house party, or pre-drinks: ‘Drink-A-Palooza’ is sure to be a hit! All of the classic drinking games are combined into a single fun board game for adults, which can be played at any kitchen table. Treat yourself, or it makes a great gift idea for any party animal. It’s best played in pairs, so choose your partner wisely! If you want to make it less riotous and/or more inclusive, you can always use soft drinks instead.
8
Taboo
Our Verdict
- Brand: Hasbro
- Amazon Rating: 4.8/5 stars
- Number of Amazon Reviews: 8
- Player Number: 4+
Despite the name, ‘Taboo’ is not really that taboo compared to many of others on our list of board games for adults. It’s family-friendly but is recommended for ages 12+ (unless you happen to have a child prodigy) as it might go a bit over the head of younger children. You have to describe the word on your card, without using any of the ‘taboo’ words. Try describing ‘Flower’ without saying ‘Garden’, ‘Petal’ or ‘Plant’ … not easy, right? We can vouch for it being tricky yet surprisingly fun!
9
Watch Ya Mouth Family Edition
Our Verdict
- Brand: Buffalo Games
- Amazon Rating: 4.3/5 stars
- Number of Amazon Reviews: 27
- Player Number: 3-10
If we had to summarise ‘Watch Ya Mouth’ in three words, it would be ‘unattractive yet hysterical’. Maybe not one to play with your crush present, but if you’re up for embarrassing yourself it can be side-splittingly funny. Wearing fetching cheek retractors, you have to try and read out phrases clearly enough for your team to understand. The phrases in this edition are all family-friendly, but there are more NSFW expansion packs if you’re looking to spice things up a bit with this top board games for adults!
10
What Do You Meme
Our Verdict
- Brand: FuckJerry
- Amazon Rating: 4.5/5 stars
- Number of Amazon Reviews: 142
- Player Number: 2+
Can you match the best caption card with the photo to make priceless memes? This is one of the best board games for adults because it’s so easy, even your tipsy friends with poor alcohol tolerance will get to grips with it. ‘What Do You Meme?’ is one of the best board games for adults of the social media generation. With over 400 cards, it doesn’t get boring even if you play it over and over again… we think you’ll get pretty addicted!
| Image | Product Name | Our Rating | Our Verdict | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Cards Against Humanity |
Although we’ve picked this customer favourite as our board game for adults with the best reviews, we definitely do not recommend that you play this game with your parents – and certainly not your grandparents! The aim is simple: try to find the funniest response to the question on the black card, revealing your dark side to all present in the process. The hilarity that will ensue makes this the highest rated board game for adults by far. This 2.0 version comes with an impressive 150 additional cards, making for even more diabolical laughs. |
CHECK PRICE | |
|
|
Drawing Without Dignity |
Pictionary just got taken up a level with this top selling board games for adults! The classic fast-paced illustration contest has been reimagined as the uncensored ‘Drawing Without Dignity’, one of the highest rated board games for adults. It doesn’t matter how appalling your artistry – in our experience, this makes it even more entertaining! The pack contains over 650 NSFW things to draw, so gather your friends (we recommend weeding out the ones who are easily offended) and leave your dignity at the door to play this firm favourite. |
CHECK PRICE | |
|
|
That’s What She Said – First Expansion |
Bring on the innuendos – the more shameless the better! Similar to ‘Cards Against Humanity’, the game involves matching the setup card with one of your phrase cards to create a suggestive innuendo. This is an expansion pack, which requires the original game which is one of the top board games for adults. An extra 100 cards (including fan-submitted content) will keep the laughs coming for longer! ‘That’s What She Said’ is guaranteed to lower the tone of any party in the best possible way, earning it a place on our prestigious list of board games for adults. |
CHECK PRICE | |
|
|
Drunk, Stoned or Stupid |
We’ve chosen ‘Drunk, Stoned or Stupid’ as our Editor’s Pick for top board games for adults, and for good reason! Think hard about which of your mates is most likely to use daddy’s credit card? Spend all day interpreting a text? Wake up with half a burrito in bed? Friendships will be irretrievably damaged as you collect shame cards, getting knocked out once you reach seven. We can only conclude that the opportunity to call out your friends is oddly appealing, as ‘Drunk, Stoned or Stupid’ has become one of the most popular board games for adults! |
CHECK PRICE | |
|
|
The Voting Game |
‘The Voting Game’ allows you to get to know your friends deeply in a way you probably didn’t want to. There are similarities with ‘Drunk, Stoned or Stupid’: who would survive a zombie apocalypse? Whose search history would you most like to see? However, you can discover what your friends really think of you by turning the tables and guessing who pegged you as the winner. |
CHECK PRICE | |
|
|
It’s In The Bag! |
Looking for something more family-friendly from your board games for adults? ‘It’s In The Bag’ is one of our top board games for adults and children alike. A twist on Charades and Articulate, you must describe the word, define the word then act out the word in a series of increasingly difficult rounds. The game is easy to understand, meaning you waste less time arguing over the rules. It also comes with a free e-book! |
CHECK PRICE | |
|
|
Drink-A-Palooza |
Student flat, hen do, stag do, house party, or pre-drinks: ‘Drink-A-Palooza’ is sure to be a hit! All of the classic drinking games are combined into a single fun board game for adults, which can be played at any kitchen table. Treat yourself, or it makes a great gift idea for any party animal. It’s best played in pairs, so choose your partner wisely! If you want to make it less riotous and/or more inclusive, you can always use soft drinks instead. |
CHECK PRICE | |
|
|
Taboo |
Despite the name, ‘Taboo’ is not really that taboo compared to many of others on our list of board games for adults. It’s family-friendly but is recommended for ages 12+ (unless you happen to have a child prodigy) as it might go a bit over the head of younger children. You have to describe the word on your card, without using any of the ‘taboo’ words. Try describing ‘Flower’ without saying ‘Garden’, ‘Petal’ or ‘Plant’ … not easy, right? We can vouch for it being tricky yet surprisingly fun! |
CHECK PRICE | |
|
|
Watch Ya Mouth Family Edition |
If we had to summarise ‘Watch Ya Mouth’ in three words, it would be ‘unattractive yet hysterical’. Maybe not one to play with your crush present, but if you’re up for embarrassing yourself it can be side-splittingly funny. Wearing fetching cheek retractors, you have to try and read out phrases clearly enough for your team to understand. The phrases in this edition are all family-friendly, but there are more NSFW expansion packs if you’re looking to spice things up a bit with this top board games for adults! |
CHECK PRICE | |
|
|
What Do You Meme |
Can you match the best caption card with the photo to make priceless memes? This is one of the best board games for adults because it’s so easy, even your tipsy friends with poor alcohol tolerance will get to grips with it. ‘What Do You Meme?’ is one of the best board games for adults of the social media generation. With over 400 cards, it doesn’t get boring even if you play it over and over again… we think you’ll get pretty addicted! |
CHECK PRICE |
How To Choose The Best Board Games For Adults?
Is the amount of choice when it comes to top-selling board games for adults overwhelming you slightly? There can be an element of pressure: if you’re hosting a party, things turn awkward pretty quickly if the central entertainment is disappointing, not to mention the money wasted. To help narrow down your options, we’ve created this useful buyer’s guide that lists all the factors to consider, making sure your new game is a hit!
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Age of players
The best family-friendly choices are ‘It’s In The Bag!’, ‘Taboo’ or the family edition of ‘Watch Ya Mouth’. These are entertaining for children without boring your socks off in the process! If you have some underage guests at your house party, use soft drinks rather than alcohol in ‘Drink-A-Palooza’ to make sure they don’t feel left out.
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Relationship to other players
Showing off your flair for innuendos with mates is one thing, but another thing when you hardly know anyone, or with your staid work colleagues. If you’re looking for a funny board game for adults that doesn’t involve baring the darkest corners of your soul, try ‘What Do You Meme?’ or ‘Watch Ya Mouth’.
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Number of players
Some games, in particular, ‘Drunk, Stoned or Stupid’ and ‘The Voting Game’ are classic cases of the more the merrier. Best played at larger gatherings, the more people you can lure to the dark side the greater the potential for humour! If you’re having a smaller adult games night, ‘Drawing Without Dignity’ and ‘That’s What She Said’ both require no more than 4 players.
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Competitive spirit
When we play ‘Cards Against Humanity’, it’s usually more about the laughs than the thrill of winning. If you are looking for more of a competitive edge, try ‘Drink-A-Palooza’, ‘It’s In The Bag!’ or ‘Taboo’. These fast-paced board games for adults are sure to bring out the ruthless side in even your most mild-mannered mate.
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Teams
If you’re looking for a board game involving teams (for example, if most of your guests are couples), some of the best options are ‘Drawing Without Dignity’, ‘Drink-A-Palooza’ and ‘Watch Ya Mouth’, as well as the word-guessing games ‘It’s In The Bag’ or ‘Taboo’.
Prefer to strike out on your own? Trust in your own abilities in ‘Cards Against Humanity’, ‘What Do You Meme?’ or ‘That’s What She Said’.
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Time available
Are you and your friends in a hurry? Need to pre-drink before catching the bus into town? We’ve collected the best board games for these situations: ones where you can stop playing at the drop of a hat and quickly count cards to declare a winner. They’re also intuitive and easy to grasp – no reams of instructions to work through before you even start playing!
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Price
The cheapest complete game on our list is ‘Drunk, Stoned or Stupid’ at £16. The most expensive is ‘What Do You Meme’ at £27.99. However, the great thing about many of these games is that if you become addicted, you can invest more in add-ons and expansion packs, such as our Best Value For Money pick; the ‘That’s What She Said First Expansion’. Many of the rest of our top 10 board games for adults also have expansion packs available, including:
- Cards Against Humanity: So many expansion packs… They even have themed ones, such as ‘Absurd Box’ and ‘Your Sh**ty Jokes’ which allows you to write your own cards.
- What Do You Meme?: Also boasts a tonne of expansion packs to keep your memes up to date. From Game of Thrones to Mean Girls, there is a range of themed packs to choose from too.
- Drawing Without Dignity: One expansion pack is available.
- That’s What She Said: Two expansion packs are available.
- Drunk, Stoned or Stupid: First expansion pack and EXTREME expansion pack available.
- The Voting Game: NSFW, Fill in the Blank and Create Your Own expansion packs available.
- Taboo: Add to your collection with the ‘Midnight Taboo’ version, which, as the name suggests, is definitely adult-only.
- Watch Ya Mouth: Filthy minds are clearly driving the market because this game is another with an adult-only NSFW version.
