A good party game takes a minute to explain and gets everyone laughing within five. No one needs to be a gamer.
Every game here won or was shortlisted for a major prize. Most play six or more, and all of them work with people who have never played a modern board game.
Designed by Vladimír Chvátil
4–815′12+Great for friends who like wordplay
Two teams, one spymaster each: give one-word clues that link your team's secret words. The modern party classic, and a Spiel des Jahres winner.
2016 Spiel des Jahres (Game of the Year) winner
Designed by Ludovic Roudy and Bruno Sautter
3–720′8+Great for a mixed group of all ages
Everyone writes a one-word clue to help one player guess a word, but identical clues are cancelled. Cooperative and quick; it won the Spiel des Jahres.
2019 Spiel des Jahres (Game of the Year) winner
Designed by Jean-Louis Roubira
3–830′8+Great for a creative crowd
One player gives a clue for a dreamlike picture card, everyone else adds a card, and the table guesses which was the original. It won the Spiel des Jahres.
2010 Spiel des Jahres (Game of the Year) winner
Designed by Peter Sarrett
4–1860′12+Great for a big party
Teams guess famous names in three rounds: any words, then one word only, then just gestures. Big laughs; it won the As d'Or.
2006 As d'Or Game of the Year winner
Designed by Ted Alspach
4–1010′8+Great for groups who like a little bluffing
One player knows the secret word and answers yes-or-no questions, but a werewolf among you is trying to stop the village from guessing it.
2019 Spiel des Jahres (Game of the Year) nominee
Designed by Alain Rivollet and Gaëtan Beaujannot
4–1240′10+Great for groups with different languages
Players guess words by placing markers on a board of icons, without speaking. It won the As d'Or.
2014 As d'Or Game of the Year winner
Great for music lovers
Listen to songs and place them in the right order on a timeline. A music party game with a smartphone app.
2023 Deutscher Spiele Preis, 9th place
Great for a trivia night
Everyone writes an answer to a numbers question, then bets on the closest answer. You can win without knowing anything.
2006 Mensa Select
Designed by Aurélien Picolet
4–930′14+Great for an adult group
Players rate wild scenarios from 1 to 10 and the team tries to put them in order. Cooperative and hilarious.
2022 Spiel des Jahres (Game of the Year) nominee
Great for a regular game group
A social deduction game for up to 20 players: the town must find the demon, and a storyteller runs the game. Unforgettable for groups who play it often.
2025 Deutscher Spiele Preis, 7th place
Codenames and Time's Up! are reliable hits. For a big regular group, Blood on the Clocktower.
Just One and Dixit are both cooperative or gentle enough for families with children from about 8.
Time's Up!, Concept and Werewords all work with large groups.
