The best board gamesfor adults don't have to be lewd, crass, or artistic, but those are some traits that set them apart from family or kid's games. Trivia, murder mysteries, role-playing, or tile games are often recognized as board games for grown-ups, and they often go deep into the night over a few alcoholic beverages.
The following games aren't exactly only available to people more than 21 years of age or older, but they're the kind of activities that adults will appreciate more than kids or adolescents. Several of the following games can accommodate several players or teams, so pull them off the shelf for parties or gatherings after the younger humans in the house are in bed.
Updated September 28, 2022, by Kristy Ambrose: The selection of the most popular board games for adults continues to grow with the demand. The growing number of adult-oriented board games includes many new and creative ideas along with classic and vintage remakes of old favorites. Not just for boozy parties or nerdy game nights, although these activities are also great with board games, the selection of the best board games for adults includes activities for couples or even those designed for solo or remote play.
10 Scythe
A game with a complex premise that requires a fair amount of planning, building, and attention to detail, Scythe is recommended for players 14 and older, but younger players can also participate provided they can handle the dark subject matter. The setting is an alternative reality of post-WW1 Europe where most of civilization is in ruins, and it's not exactly all smiles.
Each player represents one of the warring factions vying for control of what's left of Europa, and their ultimate goal is to control the mysterious Factory, an independent city-state with the resources and population to survive and rebuild the rest of the continent. There's also a hidden objective that each player is assigned at the start of the game as they build special machines and recruit new minions to enhance their influence and power.
9 Half-Truth
Designed primarily as a party game, Half-Truth is partly the brainchild of 74-time Jeopardy! winner Ken Jennings, which is one of the reasons why the hundreds of trivia cards included with the package all belong to certain creative groups. These aren't the types of categories often seen in other adult board games, with very specific and often quirky descriptions like "animals with blue tongues."
Finding the answer to each question is just part of the challenge. Each bit of trivia has six possible answers, three of which are false, so players not only have to determine which are correct but also which ones are either wrong, fake, or both.
8 Trivial Pursuit
It's considered a classic, but Trivial Pursuit has only been around since 1981. Since its release, it's become one of the most popular board games in the world, and there are thousands of different versions for all ages and situations. There are also various electronic versions along with custom and commemorative editions.
The classic base game is a staple in every cottage or dining room shelf and is generally an activity for adults, but everyone seems to know a sharp kid who also likes to take part. The addition of a board game and the small but adorable "pie" pieces is what elevated Trivial Pursuit ahead of other trivia challenges.
7 Class of '98: Mystery Killer Box Set
The "murder mystery" dinner party is a fashionable way to spend the evening with friends, and Class of '98: Mystery Killer Box Set uses the 1990s as a setting to inject some nostalgia into the murderous mix. The whole drama consists of six episodes, so a group could play the game as the evening progresses.
There are some interesting role-playing options here too if the host and participants so choose. The game features a variety of colorful characters and the story takes place at a high school reunion in the sleepy town of Chesnut Falls. Players have to follow the clues and solve the mystery and survive the killer's rampage.
6 Betrayal at House on the Hill
Using an aesthetic that's a combination of murder mystery and Eldritch Horror, Betrayal at House on the Hill is also a role-playing and European-style tile game. Players build the house on the hill using cards as the match progresses, and even though the average session is only an hour, there's a lot to discover in this creepy abode, the most important mystery being the identity of the Betrayer.
Betrayal at House on the Hill is best with three to six players, and each person chooses a pre-generated character to play in a dark and immersive setting. There are also a variety of expansions available for this game for when the gang has played it a few times and wishes to add some new features to the storyline.
5 Boom Again Board Game
There are so many it might get a little crowded, so hand out the Boom Again Board Game to distract them so everyone else in the room can get a pension and an affordable mortgage. This is primarily a trivia game, created in the same spirit as other popular games like Trivial Pursuit, but this one is focused solely on the 1950s, '60s, and '70s. These are the three decades that spanned the first few decades of the Boomer Generation and when board games really became a household thing.
The game is designed to look like an old-timey wooden box, which adds to the nostalgia factor. The tokens also resemble classic trinkets from the mid-20th century, like a milk bottle cap and an old-school roach clip. Questions lead players through the important events in the decades that cover the Boomer life span.
4 Drink-A-Palooza
Considering that there's alcohol involved, this is the most obvious adults-only tabletop game on the list, but it also uses some mature humor and lewd jokes that younger players won't understand. Anyone familiar with Beer Pong will recognize some features of Drink-a-palooza.
This game doesn't just take its inspiration from one drinking classic but combines the features of several others as well, along with trivia games and physical comedy. The board itself is designed to resemble a more conventional board game like Monopoly, which joke.
3 Wingspan
Wingspan is slow-paced, relaxing, and beautiful, the kind of game a group of people can play on a quiet, leafy patio while enjoying a round of cold drinks. The polar opposite of the kind of competitive, ruthless game that breaks friendships, this board game for adults is fun no matter who wins or loses.
Each player is the caretaker of a wildlife preserve, taking on the role of ornithologists, researchers, or outdoor enthusiasts, and the goal is to attract as many birds as possible to their placid sanctuary. Use cards to choose different species of birds, and get food tokens to attract as many feathered friends as possible.
2 Nemesis
Wait for the kids to be safely tucked in bed before pulling this board game out of that dark place in the back of the cupboard. Like the movies that inspire it, Nemesisis a survival horror game that pits humans against aliens. It has a role-playing angle too. A single player can complete this popular board game for adults but as many as five can play together.
The crew of the spaceship where this game is set is made up of distinct characters, such as the soldier and the scientist, with their own talents and skills. Players choose their roles when the game begins. There are real stakes and some tense moments, and a character is just as likely to meet a gruesome fate as they are to survive.
1 Azul
An ideal game for history buffs, art enthusiasts, and designers, adults will appreciate this game more than younger people. Azul is inspired by the ancient practice of azulejo, decorative ceramic art that dates from the medieval period in Spain and Portugal.
Each player is the designer of King Manuel's royal palace, and the pattern that scores the most points wins the game. Completing specific patterns and sets with the tiles means a higher score and everyone has a beautiful pattern that they can admire at the end.