Game night: the best board games for adults

If hearing the term ‘board games’ makes you picture family night with the kids, think again. There are games available on the market now that are much better suited for adults on a night out with friends because they involve a level of complexity too high for children.

When the conversation with the gang lulls after a few rounds, these games are guaranteed to keep the fun levels flowing. Take a look through our list of the best board games for adults.

Spirit Island

A cooperative game that’s deeply complex and immersive, the objective of Spirit Island is to drive away colonizing invaders from taking over your island home.

Each player takes on the role of a spirit entity, each with its own unique powers and elemental control.

You can grow and combine energies by drawing power cards, and stop the colonizers from ravaging your settlements.

Dune: Imperium

This deck-building game takes inspiration from the Dune series that was released last year, one of a number of Dune spin-offs from the wildly popular franchise.

You play as a noble with the goal of building up your strengths and resources by acquiring cards, and your strategy revolves around how you build your deck.

Defeat your rivals in combat while navigating the political factions, build up your military – the choice is yours.

Exit: The Abandoned Cabin

If you like escape rooms, you can experience one with friends without ever having to leave your home.

The game’s narrative centers around taking shelter in a cabin for a night But by morning, the door is secured by a combination lock, and the players are trapped.

You must use your creativity to crack codes, solve puzzles and collect objects that will help you figure out how to leave.

Wingspan

This is a card-driven board game where players are bird enthusiasts, ranging from a variety of roles like researchers, bird watchers, ornithologists, or collectors.

The goal of Wingspan is to discover and attract the best birds to your network of wildlife preserves and construct suitable habitats to keep them happy.

You can gain food tokens from custom dice in a birdfeeder dice tower, lay miniature eggs, and play over 150 illustrated unique bird cards.

Gloomhaven

This is a complex game involving plenty of strategy and combat, and its layered approach puts it on our list of the best board games for adults.

Take on the role of a wandering adventure, each player with their own unique set of skills and backstories. Enhance your abilities by exploring dungeons and ruins, collecting loot, and expand into new locations as the story continues to branch out in all directions.