Board games are a big part of life in our household—my husband and I love playing them together, and over the years, we’ve built up quite the collection of modern board games. While we don’t always agree on favorites, these are my personal top picks: the best modern board games that bring a mix of strategy, fun, and great replay value.
Table of Contents
If you’re looking for strategy board games for adults, casual games to play with friends, or even fun 2-player board games, this list covers a variety of favorites I return to again and again. Whether you’re new to modern board games or a seasoned player, I hope this list helps you discover a new favorite too.
Gold Medals: The very best board games
Spirit Island
Spirit Island easily takes the top of the podium for both me and the hubby. It’s fantastic. It’s cooperative, meaning that the players are working together to beat the board, which makes it so much more fun and less competitive.
In this game, each player is an aspect of nature (river, ocean, leaves, rocks, etc.) trying to keep the invaders off the island. (Gotta say, it feels a lot like the premise of Disney’s Pocahontas without the characters.)\
We LOVE it! No two games are the same, there are ways to increase the difficulty level once you’re comfortable, and it’s entertaining. There are also expansion packs available which adid more variety and complexity.
Harmonies
Puzzle games are my favorite! And this one has some strategy, too. Each card is unique and adorable in this game where you are building habitats for different animal species to live in harmony.
The hubby and I have already played so many rounds of this, and we aren’t burned out yet. It’s quick, easy to learn, and each game feels like a clean slate in the best way.
Pandemic Legacy Season 1
Pandemic is the first board game that my husband and I played together, and we credit it with sending us down the board game rabbit hole. It is also cooperative (the players work as a team to beat the board).
Pandemic is a game about disease outbreak, and the players are the workers (doctors, scientists, researchers, etc.) trying to save the world. (We played it about 5 years before the coronavirus outbreak, which then felt like the game coming to life – not in a good way.)
Legacy games mean that the circumstances of one game effect the next and the game develops as you play more. There are boxes with new tokens, scratch off cards with new scenarios, stickers to change the board, etc. It is so much fun!
Note: There are two versions of Seasion 1 – red and blue. They are the same. Get whichever one has the better price.
Note: There is also a season 0 and season 2. We have played them both. Season 1 is the winner.
Watergate
This is our top competitive 2-player game. It is made for only two players, which is perfect for us. (Most games made for more than 2 players aren’t great with just two.)
The premise of this game is the one player is Nixon trying to finish his presidency and the other player is the press trying to connect evidence of the watergate scandal.
It is elegant in its simultaneous simplicity and complexity. It’s quick once you get the hang of it, and you’ll want to keep playing it again and again.
Honorable Mentions: Other Great Board Games
In no particular order, these are other games that I have enjoyed a lot and would recommend to anyone. 5 stars.
Votes for Women
Votes for Women is a competitive game about the Suffragist movement. One player is the Suffragist movement trying to get enough states to ratify the amendment. The other player is the anti-suffragist movement trying to block the amendment.
The board is a map of the US with pieces that look like green check marks and red Xs – it’s like watching an election map develop. The cards are full of actual people from the time with quotes and history.
Bonus: Included in the box are replicas of documents and newspapers from the time. I put them all on a bulletin board in my daughter’s room. It’s like a little museum display of a very special time.
My City
My City is a tetris-style legacy board game where each game influences the next. It’s kid-friendly, and each game is pretty quick.
Azul
Azul is a tile placement game. You’re trying to create patterns and get the most points. The tiles are beautiful and feel good in your hands, which makes it a tactile experience, too. It’s kid-friendly, and pretty quick.
Railroad Ink
Railroad Ink is a simple roll-and-write game. You use a grid and dry erase markers to plan roads and railroads for your city. Kid-friendly and quick!
Splendor
Splendor is a board game where you collect gems and use them to purchase cards. The gems are represented by poker chips that are a high quality, making it a nice tactile experience. It’s kid-friendly and pretty quick.
If you only have two-players, try Splendor Duel instead – it’s better balanced for 2 players.
Flamecraft
Flamecraft is a game about an adorable little dragon world. It’s suitable for a younger audience that’s ready for a more involved game.
Through the Ages
Through the ages is a game that progresses from ancient times through the modern age. It is fun and has so much history! Plan for this game to take at least a couple of hours.
Race Through the Galaxy
Race for the Galaxy is such a great game – we love deck builders. There is also a yahtzee-style Roll for the Galaxy, if that’s more your style.
Codenames
Codenames is a fun party game, and it’s a great intro to modern gaming. If you want to play with only two people, try Codenames Duet.
Twilight Inscription
Twilight Inscription is a much more palatable variant of Twilight Imperium. It’s a roll-and-write game where you mark up your game boards with dry erase markers to indicate what you’ve done and figure out who wins.
Mr. Knitrition is very into huge complex games about space wars – he loooooooves the 8-hour political stragegy game of Twilight Imperium, among others. It’s just not my cup of tea. Twilight Inscription is a great way for him to get to revel in his space wars while I enjoy using neon orange pens to mark my board.
Final Thoughts on Board Games
Board games are a great leisure-time activity for couples, friends, and family. I recommend trying a few different types to figure out what style of board games you prefer.
A note on cost: Board games aren’t cheap, but I do think they are worth it. Each of the games listed here have provided hours of entertainment for the hubby and I, and when you do the math of cost divided by time, they are comparable to or cheaper than a movie ticket. That said, lots of people sell used board games – check out your local board game store if you’re lucky enough to have one – and Target has board game sales every now and then. You won’t find all of these there, but you will find some of them.
I have even more Favorite Things lists if you’re interested!
