We researched the best classic and modern board games on the market, considering play duration, player number, and variety of each pick. Monopoly is our best overall pick, because the beloved board game is suitable for various, has multiple expansions and themed editions, and teaches money basics to young ones. Here are the 14 best board games on the market. It’s hard to beat the most classic board game of them all: Monopoly. The 85-year old game has been translated into 47 languages and Braille and more than 250 million copies have been sold. Why does it have such staying power? Monopoly lets you buy, trade, and sell property with fake money as you become a real estate mogul. Younger players can learn the basics of money and property, while more seasoned professionals can test how their skills have developed over time. Every game will be different with the chance to try new strategies, making for a high replay value. Games definitely take some time, but if younger players begin to get restless, break longer competitions up over a few days. The game has stayed relevant with licensed versions ranging from a kid-friendly Monopoly Jr. Trolls World Tour, a Voice Banking edition, and even a Cheaters edition, not to mention versions for just about every professional sports team out there and many colleges and universities. To win requires good sense and luck, making it an irresistible combo. Pass the “Go” square and collect $200! Price at time of publish: $19.92 How it works: Divide into two teams, then 25 cards are placed into the grid in random order. Some are spies, some are innocent bystanders, and one is an assassin. The spymaster will give a clue to his or her teammates, who then guess who the spies are. For example, say the two codenames are “cat” and “dog:", “animal” would be an okay clue, but runs the risk of teammates guessing all the animals on the board, say a lion; in this instance, “pet” would be a clearer clue. The game ends when one team identifies all the other team’s spies or if a team accidentally uncovers the assassin. Our tester noted that the game became more fun the longer they played. “The more we played, the more fun the rounds became as everyone starts to get the hang of the word associations, particularly ones that will provide clues to locate more than one spy at the same time,” they shared. Price at time of publish: $15.89 While it may not sound like life or death, the game can get pretty cutthroat as you try to force your opponents to take less desirable tiles. The tile pieces themselves are colorful and beautiful to look at and feel substantial in your hand. Price at time of publish: $34.86 Players draw a new card after each turn—but watch out because Jacks are wild. The first one to create the sequence or sequences needed (two when you’re playing with two players or one for three players or more) wins. When you’re playing with four players or more, you’ll need to break into two teams. While the premise seems simple, the game changes with each round as new players take their turns. “I loved this game back when I first started playing it. I love it more now. After playing with five different kids in short succession, I’ve found that it feels like a unique game each time,” our tester says. Price at time of publish: $17.97 Price at time of publish: $43.98 Ironically, Not Parent Approved is a Scholastic Gold Star Toy Award Winner as it encourages kids to read, which sounds pretty parent-approvable to us. Another plus is that it’s totally portable, so you don’t need a big table and lots of space to play it. Price at time of publish: $29.99 Strategy is required to plan the best places to build and there are additional ways to pick up points, including buying development cards and being the first to build an army. One reviewer calls this the “Candyland of strategy games” noting that it’s easy to pick up and master. “The beautifully designed, intricate, adjustable board pieces and lovely cards, as well as the absorbing complexity of the game all warrant the higher price,” they added. Price at time of publish: $47.99 The object of the game is to figure out the other player’s selected character by asking yes or no questions—the first person to get it right wins. A question might be, for example, “Is your person wearing a hat?” If the answer is no, all the characters with hats get flipped over and so on until there’s only one person standing. If you played this when you were a kid, you’ll appreciate that the updated version includes more female characters and more people of color. Price at time of publish: $11.97 Like the original, the NSFW version features the distinctive artwork from The Oatmeal (only this time it’s in a distinctively not family-friendly way) and is played in the same way—you’re trying to avoid drawing the “Exploding Kittens” card while aiming to arm yourself with the diffuse cards. One reviewer called it “perfectly crass and absurd.” Price at time of publish: $19.99 While the youngest family members can’t get in on the fun just yet, everyone over 8 years old will love trying out new strategies with each game. Be warned, Ticket to Ride can last over an hour, so small attention spans beware. But, with intricate maps and engaging gameplay, you’ll be reaching for this game again and again. Price at time of publish: $48 Players also fish, explore the island, and learn fun lessons along the way. While it can be played with up to four players, this game is perfect for solo play on rainy days. The board design is beautiful and the pieces are high-quality, making for a peaceful and versatile gaming experience. Price at time of publish: $30 There are three difficulty levels, which ensures kids and adults can enjoy the game equally. Concept challenges your quick-thinking and problem-solving skills while being high-energy and tons of fun. There’s also a kids-only version, perfect for birthday parties or playdates. Price at time of publish: $36 There’s no reading required, but little ones will still need an adult leading the way. It’s a great bonding game with easy-to-understand instructions and a quick playtime. Just be beware of the small pieces, especially with young children. Price at time of publish: $11 With small decisions, the fate of your relationship changes, making for a fresh game every time. There are endless possibilities for choices and outcomes to discover. Couples will love becoming someone new for an hour or two to work out fake problems that hopefully put some real conflicts into perspective. Price at time of publish: $50

Number of Players

Don’t buy a board game if you’ll rarely have enough people to play it. If you’re hosting board game parties weekly, or you like to pull one out after dinner with friends, look for games that are best for 4-6. However, if you’re looking for a fun game that you and your significant other can play on the regular, pick one that’s best for 2 players.

Variety

If you’re looking for a board game you’ll be able to play regularly, make sure that the game has plenty of variety or potential for expansions down the road. If not, a board game with the same few outcomes can get old fast.

Why Trust The Spruce?

Anne Fritz is a lifestyle writer for The Spruce. Her work has appeared in several media outlets such as Reader’s Digest, Cosmopolitan, Patch, In Style, Insider, SELF Magazine, Everyday Health, Refinery29, Aol.com, and Men’s Journal. Additional reporting was done by Rabekah Henderson, a freelance design and decor writer whose work has appeared on MyDomaine, Atomic Ranch, Cary Magazine, and American Farmhouse Style.