The 17 Best Board Games for College Kids of 2023

Stellar Factory Werewolf: A Party Game for Devious People

4.3

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When searching for the perfect party game that everyone at your gathering can play together, look to Stellar Factory Werewolf, which can accommodate up to 35 players in one round, making it our favorite. In this take on the classic card game Mafia, each player gets a character card and must keep their identity a secret.

The game moderator then instructs everyone to close their eyes except the Werewolf, who chooses a player to "kill." Then, through lies and deceit, the rest of the characters must come together to determine who the werewolf is before any other casualties occur. Players will get a new character to embody and play every round, making for a high replay value. You can also try new strategies and deceptions as you work to uncover the werewolf.

Price at time of publish: $14

_{Number of Players: 7-35 | Duration: 15-90 minutes | Recommended Age: 12 years and up}

Brilliant or BS? Game

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Players can test their skills at bluffing by playing "Brilliant or BS?," a game that's all about convincing the judge that you know the answer. Each player takes a turn at being the judge while the rest cast their votes for the correct answer to a multiple choice question. Players must then convince the judge how and why they know the correct answer—even if they're completely faking it—before the judge then guesses who is brilliant and who is faking it. After guessing, the judge turns over the cards to see who actually guessed correctly.

Price at time of publish: $14

_{Number of Players: 4-6 | Duration: Not listed | Recommended Age: 14 years and up}

Catan Strategy Board Game: 5th Edition

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This classic strategy game will never go out of style and is equally fun for adults and kids over 10 years old. Players attempt to trade, build, and settle on the island of Catan in order to build their civilization and earn victory points. With a completely variable board, the possibilities for replay are endless and for a completely new experience, add on an expansion pack for new trials, elements, and ways to play. This game prioritizes player interaction, so it's perfect for family game nights or birthday parties.

This game earned a nearly perfect review from our tester, saying "Catan is an awesome, absorbing game, and vying to build the biggest settlements is as exciting as it gets." They did note, however, that the rules do take a bit of time to understand and it may be difficult for young players. However, there's tons of tutorials and supplemental material online to help you during your first few rounds.

Price at time of publish: $48

_{Number of Players: 3-6 | Duration: 60-90 minutes | Recommended Age: 10 years and up}

Telestrations After Dark Adult Party Game

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The iconic combination of telephone and Pictionary gets an adult upgrade with Telestrations After Dark. The rules are simple: One player draws what they see, and the next guesses what they saw for a hilarious repeating cycle each turn. Now, the 100 prompts are specifically designed for players aged 17 and older for a more mature, but still outrageous time. For even more ways to play, snag an expansion pack that has different themes suitable for the whole family.

Price at time of publish: $30

_{Number of Players: 4-8 | Duration: 15 minutes | Recommended Age: 17 years and up}

Bicycle The Alpha

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Lead your wolf pack to claim territory, search for food, and hunt prey in this light strategy game from Bicycle. Players send their packs to various regions with the ultimate goal of becoming The Alpha. When encountering a rival pack, you can choose to fight or share, but only one pack will come out on top. One of the coolest touches of this game is the highly detailed illustrations done by a park ranger in an effort to be extremely accurate to wolves in nature. Thus, even when not in use, The Alpha makes a beautiful addition to any game collection.

Price at time of publish: $13

_{Number of Players: 3-6 | Duration: 45 minutes | Recommended Age: 10 years and up}

Buffalo Games Chronology

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See if you can accurately build your own timeline with random historical events like the invention of mayonnaise, or the Gettysburg Address to claim victory in Buffalo Games' Chronology. Each player draws a card and tries to decide where that event fits within the timeline of their other cards. If they are correct, they keep the card and their timeline grows. The first timeline of 10 cards wins in this portable and historical card game.

Price at time of publish: $18

_{Number of Players: 2-8 | Duration: 20 minutes | Recommended Age: 14 years and up}

Czech Games Codenames

4.2

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This top secret word game is a perfect choice for game nights as two rival teams compete to determine the identities of 25 agents known only by codenames. Two spymasters give one-word clues that could point to multiple words on the board while teammates try to guess words of the right color, while avoiding those on the opposite team. This game is quick, so you can play multiple rounds with different teams in one night and get a new high-energy experience each time.

Our tester loved the fun spy game and high-energy gameplay, fitting for multiple age ranges. They also noted that it's better with more than two players. "While it’s nice to have the option to play as a duo, we found that this version eliminates the competitive component," they shared.

Price at time of publish: $16

_{Number of Players: 2-8 | Duration: 15 minutes | Recommended Age: 10 years and up}

Mattel Games Apples to Apples

4.6

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Apples to Apples is so beloved by the teen and 20-somethings–many families use it as the gold standard by which they judge all other board games. In this dorm-pleaser, players are dealt seven nouns—places, faces, or pop culture icons—and compete to pair them with an adjective card supplied by a highly subjective judge, who awards points based on entertainment value. The result is a hilarious, easy-to-learn game that quickly draws a crowd.

Price at time of publish: $30

_{Number of Players: 4-10 | Duration: 30-75 minutes | Recommended Age: 12 years and up}

University Games Smart Ass

4.8

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For a trivia game that's fast-paced, fun, and educational, look no further than Smart Ass. This easy-to-follow game features four categories of cards (What Am I, Where Am I, Who Am I, and Hard Ass), and each card contains a clue that players must answer before anyone else. However, you don't have to wait your turn to yell out the answer! Whoever answers the question first can roll the dice and advance on the board. Rounds progress until someone lands on "The End" space. There's a nice mix of questions, so no one will feel excluded from the fun, and the content will appeal to a wide range of ages.

Our tester loved the wide range of topics, saying "With topics ranging from history and geography to literature, pop culture, and food, Smart Ass will make the most of your collective brain power." However, the short rounds can feel a bit rushed, leaving players wanting more. Luckily, with so many cards, you can play this game again and again.

Price at time of publish: $15

_{Number of Players: 2-6 | Duration: 15-30 minutes | Recommended Age: 12 years and up}

Jax Jumbo Sequence Game - Tube Edition

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If your kid loved playing Sequence when they were younger, they will likely realize that it's a game with serious staying power. This version comes in a tube, so it's easy to store, and the large, cushioned board game mat can be used either on a table or on the floor. The mat is made from vinyl, so it's also easy to wipe down in case of spills during game night. Sequence mixes elements of dominoes and card games like rummy and poker, and the point is to create rows of five chips (called sequences) while blocking your fellow players and removing their pieces.

Price at time of publish: $45

_{Number of Players: 2-12 | Duration: 30 minutes | Recommended Age: 7 years and up}

Half Truth: The Trivia Game That Makes You Feel Smart

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Unlike other trivia games where participants are expected to come up with a single answer spontaneously—which means you're out of luck if you know nothing about the particular subject—Half Truth is a more accessible option because each card offers a multiple-choice question with six possible answers. Then, each person places bets on which answers are right, racking up points when they guess correctly. The game was created by Ken Jennings, who became famous for his 74-game winning streak on Jeopardy and knows a thing or two about the world of trivia.

Price at time of publish: $27

_{Number of Players: 2-6 | Duration: 45 minutes | Recommended Age: 12 years and up}

Bob Ross: The Art of Chill Board Game

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Fans of the late and beloved artist and TV personality will love the chance to paint their own Happy Little Trees, Fluffy Clouds, and Almighty Mountains as they move through the game trying to rack up "chill points." Bob Ross is featured as a character who pops up on certain sides of the dice. When you "roll a Bob"—as a player, your goal is to try and finish the painting before he does—and strategizing is required as you complete actions such as using certain colors, adding paint to the palette, washing it off, or filling in parts of the picture.

Price at time of publish: $25

_{Number of Players: 2-4 | Duration: 30 minutes | Recommended Age: 12 years and up}

Fantasy Flight Games Star Wars: Outer Rim

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The roles of this immersive game include eight iconic Star Wars scoundrel characters such as Boba Fett, Han Solo, Jyn Erso, and Doctor Aphra. Players will be expected to build their own new story as they deliver cargo, capture bounty, and travel across the outer rim of the galaxy. They'll need to avoid warring factions and, of course, their fellow players as they gather tokens and try to become the most famous outlaw in space. "Intuitive and easy to pick up... I genuinely felt like a true Outer Rim occupant doing whatever it took to get by," said one happy user.

Price at time of publish: $61

_{Number of Players: 1-4 | Duration: 3-4 hours | Recommended Age: 14 years and up}

Smart Zone Games Hive

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Affordable and portable, Hive is a two-person strategy game that's reminiscent of chess (one reviewer called it "chess for the impatient"), with the hexagonal-shaped tiles modeled after insects such as beetles and ants. And like chess, there are specific rules governing the movement of the different pieces—ants guard the perimeter, grasshoppers can jump, and beetles are permitted to climb onto other pieces. The goal is to surround your opponent's queen bee on all seven sides with other bugs. As you work to do so, you'll need to keep an eye on your opponent's reserve pieces while you plan your next move.

Price at time of publish: $40

_{Number of Players: 2 | Duration: 10-15 minutes | Recommended Age: 9 years and up}

Funko Games Parks and Recreation Party Game

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Fans of the beloved sitcom Parks and Recreation will flip over this party game from Funko Games. Treat yo' self to some heartwarming fun in Pawnee, Indiana with Leslie, Ron, April, Donna, Rom, and Andy. Work with other players to complete projects for the department with images and iconic murals from the show. There's also a Lil' Sebastian figure to collect and admire. Different characters show up in every round, adding to this pick's replay value for fans and newbies alike.

Price at time of publish: $13

_{Number of Players: 3-6 | Duration: 30 minutes | Recommended Age: 14 years and up}

Funko Games ESPN Trivia Night, 1000 Trivia Questions

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Calling all sports fans! Funko Games' ESPN Trivia Night is the perfect trivia game to test your sports knowledge from basketball to baseball to football and more. In addition to challenging trivia questions, the game also includes miniature challenges inspired by different sports, including scoring a mini field goal. Add this game to your next football Sunday tailgate or during a dinner party of sports lovers to determine the master of all things professional sports. it accommodates up to 10 players, so don't be afraid to get your whole friend group together for some hardcore trivia. You may even learn something new.

Price at time of publish: $16

_{Number of Players: 2-10 | Duration: 50 minutes | Recommended Age: 10 years and up}