The best board games for teens are the perfect way to bring family togetherness and entertainment into one. Whether you're looking for a light strategy game that's quick to learn, or want a social party game with plenty of laughs, there's something here for everyone.
Not only do board games entertain, but they can also help develop important skills like critical thinking, strategy development, and emotional intelligence – so it's no surprise that psychologists recommend them as part of a healthy lifestyle. While some are aimed at players aged 12 and up, we've included options suitable for those older too.
Whether you prefer simple classics like Monopoly or more strategic fare like Pandemic or Catan, there's something here to suit most tastes and ages. And if you're looking for more than just board games? Check out our guides to the best party games!
How We Choose
We looked at a variety of factors when choosing the best board games for teens, including thematic appeal, gameplay complexity, popularity with teen gamers, and safety concerns. We also consulted expert reviews to get an idea of what the best board games on the market are. From there, we narrowed our list down by considering factors such as genre (card games, strategy games or Euros), player count (1-4 players) and rating/reviews from customers and experts.
Everdell is a gorgeous game that's based on worker placement mechanics. It has simple rules, and it plays quickly, which makes it great for families or groups of friends to play together.
The theme revolves around building a city for adorable woodland creatures. The end goal is to build the most impressive city, with the best buildings and amenities. You'll do this by placing your workers on various cards in order to gain resources or complete an action.
Everdell has been praised for its beautiful artwork and immersive world. There are plenty of different types of cards to explore, so there's lots of variety when playing through the different scenarios included in the box.
Betrayal at House on The Hill 3rd Edition
Cooperative Board Game, Ages 12 and Up, 3-6 Players
Betrayal at House on the Hill is one of those games that has been around for a long time, and yet it still feels like a relatively fresh experience. The premise is simple: up to six players take on the role of explorers who are exploring the haunted house. You never know what's lurking in the next room, and you never know who to trust.
Each game is different thanks to the modular board and 50 different scenarios so you'll never quite know what you're about to get into when you start playing. This can be frustrating as sometimes you want certain rooms or items but they just aren't there, but that just adds to the fun since it means you don't always have a clear path forward. It also helps make sure no two games are the same which keeps things exciting and fresh each time you play.
The 3rd edition of this game features detailed plastic miniatures that look great alongside all new illustrations that keep things interesting even if some people miss some of the old school nostalgia from previous editions. All in all, Betrayal at House on the Hill is an exciting adventure filled with tension and surprises where anything could happen!
If you like strategic games, then Wingspan is the game for you. This bird-collecting and engine-building game has been described by players as 'addictive' and 'exhilarating'. It's a lot more complex than it looks, but once you get your head around the rules, it becomes an enjoyable experience that's perfect for groups of friends.
The aim of the game is to build up your collection of birds, each one with a different skill set which will allow you to build up your own aviary. These skills include collecting food tokens or pushing other players' pieces forward on the board. You can also play bonus cards from your hand, adding further diversity into the mix.
What we love about this game is how easy it is to pick back up again after taking a break - it doesn't require much set-up time or attention between plays, making it ideal for those who struggle with extended sessions when playing board games. With five different player modes in total and some great artwork on both cards and box cover, this makes for a truly unique experience among our best picks for best new board games right now.
Terraforming Mars is a game with an attention to detail that's rarely seen in the board game industry. It's not just about playing cards and moving pieces, it's about exploring new worlds, building empires and pushing the boundaries of science. This is a game for people who want more than just rolling dice and pushing cogs around – this is a full experience based on sci-fi adventure.
Terraforming Mars has kept its price low by avoiding plastic miniatures or high quality card stock – but this doesn't mean it lacks detail. The cardboard used feels substantial enough to stand up to plenty of play time, while the artwork manages to capture the feel of a distant future without sacrificing readability.
You'll need at least one other person to make the most out of Terraforming Mars, but if you can get together five players you can settle into some serious corporate dealing as each player tries to create their own perfect planet from scratch.
Nine Arches Legacy Edition
A Real World Adventure Game for Adults & Teens Legacy Kit
Nine Arches is a real world adventure game, and you can play it as an adult or with your family. The box contains gold-foiled cards and a bandana, in addition to the main deck. The aim of the game is to be adventurous, whether that's trying new foods or exploring new places.
There are two packs of cards - quest and action - which are shuffled together into one big stack, then divided between players (you can have up to nine people playing). Each player draws three quest cards, then chooses one of these at random to act out. The other two go back into the stack for another player to draw later on in the game. Once everyone has had a turn as actor, each player selects three action cards from their hand and uses these to complete their chosen quests - such as booking flights for an adventure trip around the world or baking cookies for someone's birthday party.
Best Board Games For Teens FAQs
There are a lot of board games out there, but which ones are the best for teens? You want to get them something special and fun, but you just don't know where to start.
It can be tough to figure out what the best gift is for your teenager, especially if you've never played any of these games before. There's a lot of conflicting information online about which board games make good gifts and it can be hard to trust some of this information. We've created this list of Frequently Asked Questions about the best board games for teens so that you can make an informed decision when choosing a gift for your loved one!
What Is The Funniest Board Game?
While there are plenty of board games that can be considered funny, none are as laugh-out-loud funny as Codename. Not only is this game witty and clever, but it's also interactive, which makes players feel like they're part of the action. As you might expect from the name alone, Codename involves spies and code names. Each player is given a card with a word on it – such as "tree" – which represents their spy's code name. Everyone else gets a card with another word on it – such as "fork." The object of the game is for each player to correctly guess which word corresponds to his or her spy without using any words that appear on other cards. It sounds easy enough, but since players aren't allowed to speak during their turn (except for one special card), things get pretty hilarious quickly. This high energy game keeps everyone guessing until the very end and will definitely leave your family laughing out loud.
What Can A Teen Do When Bored At Home?
Teens are often bored at home because they're not sure what to do. A lot of times, boredom is a cry for attention and if you give your teen the attention they crave, you can stop them from being bored. Make time in your schedule each week to spend one-on-one time with your child so they don't feel like they're being ignored or left out.
Some teens may be looking for something to do after school but before their parents get home from work. If this sounds like your teen, make sure there's some money in their pocket and let them know you'd like them to stick around the house until you get there. You can also set up a list of chores that need to be done so there's always something for them to do while they wait.
Finally, make sure your teen knows it's OK to go over to a friend's house or ask someone over if he or she gets really bored and needs something more exciting to do than watch TV or play video games alone at home.
Conclusion
The best board games for teens are those that offer an engaging and entertaining experience while also providing a level of challenge appropriate for their age group. Board games can help develop problem-solving skills, strategic thinking, and social interaction; they provide an excellent alternative to digital gaming due to their face-to-face interaction and collaborative nature. Whether you're looking for a family game night activity or simply want to try something new with your friends, there's sure to be a great board game out there just waiting for you to discover it!
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