The best board games for adults who love to play

Playing board games is a great way to spend a fun evening with friends. If you’re looking for an alternative to Catan and Monopoly, this roundup is for you. Here’s our pick of the best board games for adults in 2019.

• What are the most popular board games of all time? Chess, Checkers, Backgammon, Scrabble, and Monopoly make up the top five.
• Where is the best place to find new board games? Stay tuned to our Board Games category for the freshest titles!
• Don’t board games take forever? Depends which game you pick. Some games can be done and dusted in half an hour, while others can last for days!

When we reach adulthood, fun sometimes takes a back seat. Board games offer the perfect escape from the daily grind, and you can play at any time of the year. Want to give it a try? Here are some of the best board games for adults we have come across in the past year.

Enigma Box Adventure Board Game

This incredible game combines traditional gameplay with the latest tech. Your task is to solve historical riddles, using VR, AR, NFC chips, and 3D printing to help. The creators say that Enigma Box offers 6,000 minutes of fun.

Price: TBA USD

Tortuga 1667 Pirate Game of Mutiny

Set in the warm Caribbean sea, Tortuga puts you in charge of your own pirate ship. The problem is, your crew is planning a mutiny. The only way to win this game is by making pacts and breaking the non-existent rules.

Price: $24.99 USD

Risk Game of Thrones Edition

This twist on a classic will have you and your friends battling over Westeros and Essos. There are two custom maps, 600 unique game pieces, and three different ways to play: Skirmish, Dominion, or World at War.

Price: $66 USD

YogaLand Experiential Yoga Board Game

And now, for something a little different. YogaLand is both a fun board game and an educational tool for folks wanting to learn about yoga philosophy. You can’t get that from Monopoly!

Price: $78 USD

Master Wine Aromas Tasting Kit

This game tests your knowledge of wine aromas and helps you master wine tasting. The kit contains 88 different scents, corresponding to various grape varieties, winemaking techniques and regions.

Price: $349.02 USD

Square Off Smart AI Chessboard

Fancy taking on an AI grandmaster? This intelligent chessboard lets you do that, with a built-in opponent. You can choose from 20 difficulty settings, and the board can even analyze your game to help you improve.

Price: $389 USD

Voice Originals When In Rome Alexa Travel Trivia Game

Based around Amazon Alexa audio, When In Rome is a great little culture trip. The game gets you to answer trivia questions, as delivered by native speakers in 20 countries. It’s educational and hilarious in equal measure.

Price: $17.03 USD

Expedition Roleplaying Card Game

Although Expedition is based around cards and a mobile app, it feels like a board game. It’s not unlike Dungeons and Dragons, except the app provides new adventures to follow every week.

Price: $24.99 USD

Felix Salut Galapagos Pocket Board Game

You could describe Galapagos as more of a journey of self discovery than a standard board game. You get a tiny pack of geometric tiles that you can use to create shapes and words. There’s no rulebook — only your imagination.

Price: $55.14 USD

Best board games for adults

Whether you’re a hardened board game pro or just getting started, this list should have something to offer.

Regular players: what has been your favorite game this year? Tell us in the comments!