The 10 best board games to buy for Christmas in 2019
By Jason Bailey and Sarah Pulliam Bailey
Each year we have a mini battle over what genre of game deserves our “game of the year” pick. Jason almost always gravitates toward strategy games and Sarah gravitates toward party games that can include anyone and everyone.
So you know it’s a good game when Jason agrees to make a party game our top prize, which is listed below. It’s a cooperative game where everyone works together to achieve the highest score, not the usual cut-throat goal of eliminating your enemies (Secret Hitler, anyone?). Think of it as a more elegant Taboo or Apples to Apples.
For more gift ideas, we list other games we’ve enjoyed to try to help you sort through some newer board games on the market, featuring birds, vegetables, sushi and treasures. And if you need even more, scroll all the way to the bottom for our previous recommendations. Although we link to Amazon, we recommend you frequent your local board game store first.
Game of the Year
The word game Just One also checks all the boxes of an excellent party game. It can be taught in a few minutes, produces laughter and cheers, and can regularly make players feel clever.
The premise is simple: One person is assigned a word to guess, each other player writes down one word that will serve as a clue, and any duplicate clues are discarded. The challenge comes in thinking of that helpful, sometimes esoteric, clue nobody else will give, while praying that somebody gives the obvious one. It won the highly coveted Spiel des Jahres award this year.
$25, 3–7 players, 20 minutes, ages 8+
Past “game of the year” winners
Azul, 2018: Select colorful tiles to efficiently create a pattern while stifling opponents.
Kingdomino, 2017: Weave together a grid of domino-like tiles to build a kingdom.
Codenames, 2016: Devise clues to connect words in a shrewd party game.
Colt Express, 2015: Assign actions to rob a train, and expect it to go haywire.
7 Wonders, 2013: Choose cards that will escalate in power as your city grows.
Two-Player Game
Imhotep: The Duel This actually ratchets up the tension from the original Imhotep, which was already a test of willpower. Countering your opponent’s plans often involves sacrificing some of your own. It’s the best two-player game since Targi.
$20, 2 players, 30 minutes, ages 10+
Roll-and-Write Game
That’s Pretty Clever: One of the earliest success stories in the young roll-and-write genre, That’s Pretty Clever forces players to consider the merits of different pathways. With little downtime, it features satisfying combo potential and the tactical decision-making of what dice you should activate.
$20, 1–4 players, 30 minutes, ages 8+
Cooperative Game
Letter Jam: Although not as elegant as the game Hanabi, Letter Jam similarly forces players (who cannot see their own cards) to rely on information from their teammates. The word game serves as logic puzzle, with some friendly negotiation about who should give the next clue.
$40, 2–6 players, 45 minutes, ages 10+
Strategy Games (from easiest to hardest)
Curios: In this light deduction game, you search for the most valuable treasures by using information from your hand and by observing the actions of others. Players can bluff by spending a few resources, encouraging opponents to commit significantly more.
$24, 2–5 players, 15–20 minutes, ages 14+
Sushi Roll: This a dice version of Sushi Go, with a healthy increase in player interaction. Chopsticks let you take a die from another player, and everything is public information: You know how many tempura are available, rewarding those who pay attention to their opponents.
$25, 2–5 players, 20 minutes, ages 8+
Point Salad: This could be a welcome addition to many shelves because it is an easy game that accommodates six players. Because the scoring cards are flipped over so often, it’s challenging to plan long term, but it is zen-like to harvest the colorful vegetables.
$25, 2–5 players, 15–30 minutes, ages 10+
Wingspan: With a creative theme of birds that manifests itself in beautiful illustrations and thematic components, Wingspan received numerous accolades. Thankfully, the game mechanics — collecting food, laying eggs — are also a pleasant journey of resource management.
(Out of stock. -Check your local board game store), 1–5 players, 40–70 minutes, ages 10+
Carpe Diem: You collect tiles from a central board and try to maximize your score through timing and small combos, much like Castles of Burgundy. But the victory point mechanic is novel: Every round, each person claims a specific spot that be scored only once per game.
$45, 2–4 players, 45–75 minutes, ages 10+
Classic Game (at least 10 years old)
Can’t Stop: The press-your-luck mechanic evokes a feeling unlike any other in board games: Do you continue rolling the dice to aggressively make progress, even at the risk of total collapse? Almost 40 years after this classic was released, it still provides great narrative moments.
$40, 2–4 players, 30 minutes, ages 9+
[Best board games to buy in 2018]
[Best board games to buy in 2017]
[Best board games to buy in 2016]
