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The 10 best board games to buy in the UK

Picture of a board game

Most of us have tried a board game at some point in our lives. Fun, exciting, and very sociable, there are many reasons to invest in a great board game, but choosing a new one is certainly easier said than done for many. While classic board games such as Monopoly are well-known and easy to understand, finding a newer board game can be the challenge considering all the choices out there! Finding the best board game for your personal tastes may take some time and research, but is certainly very rewarding when done!

Looking for the best board games available today? Take a look below for all the information you need!

What are board games?

A board game is a tabletop game played on a board. Typically containing counters of some description, the pieces are moved around pre-marked surfaces on the board in accordance with whatever the rules of the game dictate. There tends to be a goal of some kind in a board game, with players or teams competing to achieve this, and therefore winning the game.

A good board game will involve a degree of skill needed to win, while some also include chance, with others not even requiring skill and thus relying solely on chance. Modern board games are wide and varied, so rules and playing tactics can be very different depending on the game.

Why should you buy a good board game?

The best board games offer endless hours of fun. Whether with friends, family, or a combination of both, you can expect to have a very enjoyable time when playing a great board game. Also, as there such an incredible range of board games available, it’s easy to find one that you enjoy. Moreover, board games provide a traditional source of entertainment that’s often lost in modern technology or games for computers and smartphones. As they mostly require several people to play, a good board game is a very sociable form of entertainment that has a lot of replay value!

How to choose the right board game in 2024?

Another picture of a board game

Now, there finding the best board game is all about personal taste. As a form of entertainment, what you enjoy is purely subjective, so it can be difficult to know what might the better type of board game for you to play.

Here are some things that should make finding a great board game easier:

  • Age: There are many classic board games that are suitable for people of all ages, but many modern board games are better suited for adults. So, it’s a good idea to know what age group will mostly be playing it, as you don’t want to buy a game that’s too difficult for children or respectively too easy for adults!
  • Number of Players: Certain board games are designed to be played between groups while others are only for two players. It’s often a good idea to buy both two-player board games, such as chess or checkers, and group board games, such as Monopoly, to cover all bases!
  • Complexity: Even adult board games can be quite difficult to understand, so you’ll want to consider how complex the board game might be. For instance, many feel the best board games are quick, easy and require less strategy, such as snakes and ladders, while others will love a more complex game rooted in strategy and tactics, such as Risk.
  • Playing Length: Even a great board game doesn’t have to take too long to play, but some players will want a lengthy game to really enjoy the experience. For example, board games that last an hour or under are often viewed as great choices for children, while longer games that take several hours may be best suited for adults. However, not every adult wants to play a board game for hours, so be sure to look at this when choosing a potential game.

What is the best kind of board game in the UK?

There are simply too many types of board games to name – they date back centuries after all! However, there are certain types of games that are very popular and are worth checking out when looking for the best board game:

  • Traditional Board Games: This includes some of the oldest board games that remain popular today. Many view them as timeless, and possibly the best type of board games out there. Examples include chess and backgammon.
  • Children’s Board Games: Many classic board games are considered children’s, yet they are also certainly great for adults although they tend to rely more on chance than skill or strategy. Perfect for playing as a family, children’s board games include Snakes and ladders, Mousetrap, and Operation!
  • Party Board Games: Designed for larger groups, party board games are often adult-orientated, although teenagers and older children will likely be able to play too. The best types of board games for playing as teams, examples include Trivial Pursuit.
  • Classic Board Games: Perhaps the best-known types of board games, these are games that while different in play style, are known for being timeless and offering lots of replay value. Scrabble, Monopoly, and Risk are all prime examples of classic board games.

Top 10 list of board games in the UK (2024)

The bestseller list compares brands and their board games. Which board game is the best?
Best choice TOP 1
Image of OUTSMARTED! A1-3 board game
Outsmarted - The Live Quiz Show Board Game | Kids, Teens & Adults…
  • BESPOKE GAMING: Outsmarted comes with 6, 500 questions across six ‘core’…
  • WORLD’S FIRST REMOTE PLAY BOARD GAME: Your friends & family can now join…
  • ALWAYS UP TO DATE: Say goodbye to tired, outdated questions, Outsmarted’s six…
BUY NOW
Offer TOP 2
Image of CONFIDENT? 1 board game
CONFIDENT? Board Game | The Smash Hit Guessing Game | Board Games…
  • AMAZING GIFT – Delight friends and family with a surprise gift for kids and…
  • FUSS-FREE & FUN FOR HOURS - Addictively simple so you can play straight away…
  • HILARIOUS GUESSES - Flip your answer boards for the big reveal and laugh at crazy…
BUY NOW
TOP 3
Image of Libellud MYST01 board game
Libellud | Mysterium Board Game (Base Game) | Mystery Board Game |…
  • NUMBER OF PLAYERS AND AVERAGE PLAYTIME: This family and adult board game can be played…
  • VARIABILITY: Dozens of different suspects, weapons and locations ensure no two games…
  • INTERPRET VISIONS : Each player investigates a case assigned to them to determine…
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TOP 4
Image of Gamely GUL-EN-01 board game
Gullible: The super-fun party game of creativity, bluffing and hilarious…
  • GREAT FUN AND GOOD FOR THE WORLD. When you buy a Gamely game, you’re not just…
  • ONE OF FRANCE’S BEST SELLING GAMES COMES TO THE UK! Gullible is the UK version…
  • THE TRIVIA GAME WHERE YOU DON’T NEED TO KNOW THE FACTS! In Gullible you don’t…
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TOP 5
Image of Drumond Park T73162 board game
Drumond Park The LOGO Board Game Second Edition - The Family Board…
  • AGE SUITABILITY & NUMBER OF PLAYERS: This family game for kids and adults has…
  • EASY GAME FOR ALL FAMILY: Easy to learn and fun to play for nearly all ages. Logo's…
  • ENDLESS HOURS OF ENTERTAINMENT: This board game includes a fold-out playing board,…
BUY NOW
TOP 6
Image of CATAN CN3071 board game
Catan Studios | Catan | Board Game | Ages 10+ | 3-4 Players | 60 Minutes…
  • English Version 3 to 4 Players Ages 10+ 60 Minute Playing Time
  • MINUTES TO LEARN AND A LIFETIME TO EXPLORE: The basics of CATAN can be learned in…
  • BUILD OR JOIN A COMMUNITY: Whether you play as a family, a board game group or via…
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TOP 7
Image of Big Potato CHA01 board game
The Chameleon, Award-Winning Board Game for Families & Friends…
  • MULTI-AWARD WINNING: ‘Best Party Game’ at UK Games Expo. ‘Seal…
  • EASY TO LEARN, QUICK TO PLAY: Like all good family board games, it takes 2 minutes…
  • DON’T GET CAUGHT: Use hidden codes, carefully chosen words, and a bit of finger…
BUY NOW
TOP 8
Image of Z-Man Games ZM7810 board game
Z-Man Games | Carcassonne | Board Game | Ages 7+ | 2-5 Players | 45…
  • HIGH REPLAYABILITY: With its simple yet rich game mechanics and eighty-four tiles…
  • HOW TO ACHIEVE VICTORY: Players score points by having followers on tiles as features…
  • JACK OF ALL TRADES: Followers can take many different roles (knights, monks, farmers,…
BUY NOW
TOP 9
Image of Gamewright CSG-FORI board game
Gamewright | Forbidden Island | Board Game | Ages 10+ | 2-4 Players…
  • Suitable for 2-4 players aged 10 and up.
  • Race to collect the treasures and make a triumphant escape before you are swallowed…
  • Several different levels of play are available in this multi-award winning game.
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TOP 10
Image of Azul NMG-600010EN board game
Plan B Games | Azul | Tile Laying Game | Ages 8+ | 2 to 4 Players…
  • Be careful! If take too many tiles, and cannot fit them on the row, the leftover…
  • On your turn, you’ll select tiles from one of the available market discs. However,…
  • Azul offers simple rules but meaningful choices making it easy to learn while offering…
BUY NOW
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We participate in the Amazon Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We consider only products that are available on Amazon while the ranking is based on factors such as customer reviews, number of sales and keyword. Last Update: 2024/12/23.