Board Games Hub: Picks, Rules And Games For Every Group

Board games hub

Everything we've written about games, in one place. Picks sorted by who's at the table, seasonal lists for Christmas and Boxing Day, and plain-English rules for the four games British families argue about most.

We don't sell games - we make cards, prints and badges - so nothing here is being pushed. Start with whoever you're playing with.

Start with who's playing

• Adults on a game night - Codenames, Catan, Azul. See board games for adults.
• Children aged 4 to 12 - Dobble, Sleeping Queens, Ticket to Ride. See board games for kids.
• Toddlers of 2 and 3 - cooperative games with chunky pieces and five-minute rounds.
• Teenagers - social deduction and party games, every time.
• Two of you - 7 Wonders Duel, Patchwork, Jaipur, or backgammon for £10.
• Eight or more - team games and social deduction. Never anything with elimination.
• Older relatives - Rummikub, dominoes, cribbage, big clear pieces.

By occasion

• Christmas Day - Articulate, Codenames, charades, Rummikub. Quick to explain, everyone included.
• Boxing Day - the long ones you couldn't play yesterday, plus a jigsaw left out all day.
• A party - Werewolf, Codenames, Herd Mentality, Telestrations.
• A long car journey or a waiting room - games that need nothing at all.

Rules people argue about

• Monopoly - free parking pays nothing, and unbought properties go to auction.
• Uno - stacking draw cards is not an official rule, and a Draw 4 needs an empty colour.
• Articulate - no rhymes, no initials, no miming.
• Cluedo - a suggestion is free, an accusation is your one shot.

Buying well

• Under £20 buys Dobble, Codenames, Sushi Go, The Crew or a deck of cards that plays twenty games.
• Modern games are shorter and nobody gets knocked out. Classics are already in the loft.
• If you can't teach it in five minutes, it won't get played twice.

Funny cards for family occasions

Birthdays, Christmas and rematches. Blank inside, kraft envelope included.

Prints for the wall

A5, A4 and A3 art prints, drawn in house and printed in the UK.

Where to shop next

• Best family board games: curated picks
• Board games for adults
• Board games for kids
• Board games for toddlers
• Board games for teenagers
• Board games for two players
• Board games for big groups
• Games for older relatives
• Best card games for families
• Christmas board games
• Boxing Day games
• Classic vs modern board games
• Quickest board games to learn
• Board games under £20
• Monopoly rules explained
• Uno rules explained
• Articulate rules explained
• Cluedo rules explained
• Kids' party games by age
• Car journey games
• Games for a pub table
• Charades word lists
• Pictionary word lists
• Quiz round builder
• Printable party sheets
• Riddle of the day
• Free feel good tools
• Christmas hub
• All guides
• Shop all cards
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Gifts to make someone smile
• Thinking of you gifts

Frequently asked questions

What is the best board game for a family?

Ticket to Ride is the strongest single pick: five minutes of rules, about forty-five minutes to play, and it suits roughly eight years old upwards. Dobble or Rummikub are easier again with younger children or older relatives.

What board games work with a big group?

Team games and social deduction - Codenames, Articulate, Werewolf and Just One all scale past eight. Avoid anything where a player is eliminated early.

What should we play on Christmas Day?

Something quick to explain that includes everyone: Articulate, Codenames, charades or Rummikub. Save Monopoly, Catan and Trivial Pursuit for Boxing Day.

Which board game rules do people most often get wrong?

Monopoly's free parking jackpot and its missing auctions, and stacking draw cards in Uno. Neither is in the official rules, and both make games much longer.

Do you sell board games?

No. We make greeting cards, art prints and pin badges in the UK. These guides are just what we'd recommend to a friend - the cards on this page are ours.