All-Time Favorites

Our All-Time Favorite games are considered modern classics that are a great start for anyone's game collection. They'd make our Gamer's Hall of Fame and are often the beginning to a life-long love of games.
7 Wonders	Carcassonne	Ticket to Ride
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Players: 2 to 7 Time: 30 minutes Ages: 10 and up Price: $33-$45	Players: 2 to 5 Time: 60 minutes Ages: 8 and up Price: $23-$44	Players: 2 to 5 Time: 45 minutes Ages: 8 and up Price: $32-$50
Review by John Bandettini Video Overview by Watch it Played	Review by Tom Vasel Video Overview by Watch it Played	Review by Elijah Lau Video Overview by Watch it Played
Catan	Pandemic	Dominion
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Players: 2 to 4 Time: 30 minutes Ages: 8 and up Price: $28-$45	Players: 2 to 4 Time: 45 minutes Ages: 10 and up Price: $26-$36	Players: 2 to 5 Time: 45 minutes Ages: 8 and up Price: $32-$50
Review by Elijah Lau Video Playthrough by TableTop	Review by Eric Herman Video Overview by Watch it Played	Pictorial review by EndersGame Video Review by Tom Vasel

New This Year

Games that are New This Year are some of the most popular selections from 2018 and 2019. Even the most hardcore tabletop gamers may not have gotten their hands on all of these.
Marvel Champions: The Card Game	Wingspan	Tapestry
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Players: 1 to 4 Time: 90 minutes Ages: 14 and up Price: $60	Players: 1 to 5 Time: 60 minutes Ages: 10 and up Price: $55	Players: 1 to 5 Time: 120 minutes Ages: 12 and up Price: $99
Review by gibby290 Video Review by Tom Vasel	Review by Neil Thomson Video Playthrough by GameNight!	Review by koalaguy4566 Video Overview by Watch it Played
The Quacks of Quedlinburg	Horrified	L.L.A.M.A.
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Players: 2 to 4 Time: 45 minutes Ages: 10 and up Price: $55	Players: 1 to 5 Time: 60 minutes Ages: 10 and up Price: $35	Players: 2 to 6 Time: 20 minutes Ages: 8 and up Price: $10
Review by Goatcabin Video Playthrough by GameNight!	Review by thearkhammonk Video Overview by Watch it Played	Review by Vacabck Video Playthrough by GameNight!

Games For All Ages

These games are accessible to a wide range of gamers because of simple rules and creative gameplay.
Splendor	Azul	King of Tokyo
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Players: 2 to 4 Time: 30 minutes Ages: 10 and up Price: $25-$35	Players: 2 to 4 Time: 30 minutes Ages: 8 and up Price: $35-$45	Players: 2 to 6 Time: 30 minutes Ages: 6 and up Price: $27-$40
Review by Neil Thompson Video Overview by Watch it Played	Review by Neil Thomson Playthrough Video by GameNight!	Review by superflypete Video Review by Tom Vasel
Forbidden Island	Camel Up	Kingdomino
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Players: 2 to 4 Time: 30 minutes Ages: 10 and up Price: $15-$20	Players: 3 to 8 Time: 30 minutes Ages: 8 and up Price: $40	Players: 2 to 4 Time: 20 minutes Ages: 8 and up Price: $15-$20
Review by Wil Wheaton Video Review by Tom Vasel	Review by TheBoardGameFamily Video Review by Miami Dice	Review by Neil Thomson Video Review by Watch it Played

Games for Teenagers and Adults

These games provide more of a challenge but also a more rewarding experience.
Clank!	Disney Villainous	Everdell
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Players: 1 to 4 Time: 60 minutes Ages: 12 and up Price: $35-$45	Players: 2 to 6 Time: 50 minutes Ages: 10 and up Price: $40	Players: 1 to 4 Time: 80 minutes Ages: 13 and up Price: $74
Review by adamw Video Overview by Watch it Played	Review by TheHumanTim Overview by Watch it Played	Review by juggler5 Video Playthrough by GameNight!
Terraforming Mars	Small World	Lords of Waterdeep
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Players: 1 to 4 Time: 120 minutes Ages: 12 and up Price: $70	Players: 2 to 5 Time: 80 minutes Ages: 8 and up Price: $33-$50	Players: 2 to 5 Time: 60 minutes Ages: 12 and up Price: $35-$45
Review by calbond Video Playthrough by GameNight!	Review by ronaldinho Video Overview by Watch it Played	Review by Merric Blackman Video Playthrough by GameNight!

Family Games for Older Children

These are family games that should be fun for both kids and parents. This set of games require a little more thought than your standard family games but provide adventure and a sense of accomplishment without an aggressive approach.
NMBR 9	The Quest for El Dorado	Magic Maze
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Players: 1 to 4 Time: 20 minutes Ages: 8 and up Price: $30	Players: 2 to 4 Time: 60 minutes Ages: 10 and up Price: $35	Players: 1 to 8 Time: 15 minutes Ages: 8 and up Price: $25-$45
Review by chriswray84 Video Playthrough by GameNight!	Review by Goatcabin Video Playthrough by GameNight!	Review by Goatcabin Video Playthrough by GameNight!
Survive: Escape from Atlantis!	Takenoko	Welcome To...
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Players: 2 to 4 Time: 60 minutes Ages: 8 and up Price: $28-$45	Players: 2 to 4 Time: 45 minutes Ages: 8 and up Price: $35-$50	Players: 1 to 100 Time: 25 minutes Ages: 10 and up Price: $25
Review by Bruce Murphy Video Review by Tom Vasel	Review by Graham Dean Video Overview by Watch it Played	Review by OxfordRow Video Overview by rahdo

Family Games for Younger Children

These games are accessible to the youngsters while still providing enough to keep the parents interested. Also check our Games by player age wiki page.
Animal Upon Animal	My First Carcassone	Zombie Kidz Evolution
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Players: 2 to 4 Time: 15 minutes Ages: 4 and up Price: $20-$25	Players: 2 to 4 Time: 10 minutes Ages: 4 and up Price: $28-$35	Players: 2 to 4 Time: 15 minutes Ages: 7 and up Price: $25
Review by Bartosz Trzaskowski Video Review by Tom Vasel	Review by Peter Hein Review by Tom Vasel	Review by Brandoshido Video Review by Tom Vasel
Ice Cool	Hey, That's My Fish!	Rhino Hero
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Players: 2 to 4 Time: 30 minutes Ages: 6 and up Price: $30-$40	Players: 2 to 4 Time: 20 minutes Ages: 8 and up Price: $12	Players: 2 to 5 Time: 15 minutes Ages: 5 and up Price: $10-$15
Review by Tiago92 Video Playthrough by GameNight!	Review by Friendless Video Review by TheBoardGameFamily	Review by The Innocent Video Review by HBG

Solo Games

Solo games are the easiest to get to the table - all you need is the game and you! These games offer difficult choices and immersive play. Perfect for those days that the rest of the group isn't available to get together.
Spirit Island	Friday	That's Pretty Clever
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Players: 1 to 4 Time: 90 minutes Ages: 13 and up Price: $80	Players: 1 Time: 25 minutes Ages: 13 and up Price: $20	Players: 1 to 4 Time: 30 minutes Ages: 8 and up Price: $15
Review by neotrunks2002 Video Playthrough by GameNight!	Review by russ Video Review by Rahdo	Review by Neil Thomson Video Playthrough by GameNight!
Cartographers: A Roll Player Tale	The Lost Expedition	Hostage Negotiator
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Players: 1 to 100 Time: 30 minutes Ages: 10 and up Price: $25	Players: 1 to 5 Time: 30 minutes Ages: 14 and up Price: $40	Players: 1 Time: 20 minutes Ages: 13 and up Price: $25
Review by xugreatone Video Overview by Watch it Played	Review by guigtexas Video Overview by Watch it Played	Review by xen911 Video Overview by Watch it Played

Two Player Games

Great activities for gaming couples, for challenging your main gaming rival, or as fillers while waiting for additional players.
Jaipur	Patchwork	Lost Cities
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Players: 2 Time: 30 minutes Ages: 8 and up Price: $17-$24	Players: 2 Time: 15-30 minutes Ages: 8 and up Price: $20-35	Players: 2 Time: 30 minutes Ages: 10 and up Price: $15-$25
Review by Maarten D. de Jong Video Review by Tom Vasel	Review by iSlayTheDragon Video Review by Rahdo	Review by Lowell Kempf Video Review by Scott Nicholson
7 Wonders Duel	Santorini	Codenames: Duet
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Players: 2 Time: 30 minutes Ages: 10 and up Price: $24-$30	Players: 2 Time: 20 minutes Ages: 8 and up Price: $25-$35	Players: 2 Time: 15 minutes Ages: 11 and up Price: $15-$22
Review by aldaryn Video Review by The Game Boy Geek	Review by Nightsbane Video Review by Zee Garcia	Review by Neil Thomson Video Review by gameboygeek

Party Games

These are fun and light games capable of being played with a larger group.
Dixit	Werewords	Just One
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Players: 3 to 6 Time: 30 minutes Ages: 8 and up Price: $20-$30	Players: 4 to 10 Time: 10 minutes Ages: 8 and up Price: $15-$20	Players: 3 to 7 Time: 20 minutes Ages: 8 and up Price: $25
Review by Tiffany Smith Video Review by Tom Vasel	Review by Chris Wray Video Playthrough by GameNight!	Review by Goatcabin Video Playthrough by GameNight!
Wits & Wagers	Codenames	Sushi Go Party!
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Players: 3 to 7 Time: 25 minutes Ages: 10 and up Price: $35	Players: 4 to 8 Time: 15 minutes Ages: 14 and up Price: $10-$20	Players: 2 to 8 Time: 20 minutes Ages: 8 and up Price: $15-$25
Review by EndersGame Video Overview by Watch it Played	Review by Dismas Video Review by GameNight!	Review by OxfordRow Video Review by TheKillShirt

Stocking Stuffers

Small, inexpensive, and well worth your time.
Love Letter	No Thanks!	The Fox in the Forest
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Players: 2 to 4 Time: 20 minutes Ages: 8 and up Price: $7-$10	Players: 3 to 5 Time: 20 minutes Ages: 8 and up Price: $7-$12	Players: 2 Time: 30 minutes Ages: 10 and up Price: $15
Review by Doug Adams Video Playthrough by GameNight!	Review by Tom Vasel Video Review by Farid Widjaya	Review by Neil Thomson Video Review by gameboygeek
Star Realms	The Mind	Deep Sea Adventure
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Players: 2 Time: 20 minutes Ages: 12 and up Price: $15	Players: 2 to 4 Time: 15 minutes Ages: 8 and up Price: $15-$25	Players: 2 to 6 Time: 30 minutes Ages: 8 and up Price: $25
Review by Neil Thomson Video Review by Tom and Melody Vasel	Review by Chris Wray Video Playthrough by GameNight!	Review by Loophus Video Playthrough by GameNight!

Where to Buy?

Many of these games can be found at your local specialty game store.

If you don't have a store near you, or they don't carry the game you're looking for, you can buy online.

See our full list of online vendors.

Other Game Gift Guides

In addition to this guide, several other gift guides exist:

• Video Game Gift Guide: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2012, 2011

Other Gift Guides By Users

• Chris James' 2013 Holiday Gift Guide at Casual Game Revolution: 2013
• Dr. Matt Carlson's Holiday Guide at GamerDad.com: 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2003
• GamerChris' Holiday Gift Guides: 2014,2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008
• Hexgamers: 2017
• Matthew Baldwin's Gift Guides for the Morning News: 2017,2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006
• Yehuda Berlinger's Holiday Gift Guides: 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007
• BGG Blog Christmas Game Guide by David Montgomery: 2012
• Critical Gamer's Holiday Gift Guide: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006
• San Francisco Chronicle's annual Games Guide: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007
• The Spiel's Holiday Gift Guides: 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006
• Ars Cardboard: 2016