Family game nights were a staple in my household growing up. Every Sunday night my mother would pull out one of the best board games for teens and encourage some friendly competition between her and my siblings. Now, as an adult, I keep the tradition alive by hosting game nights for my friends. Needless to say, when it comes to a good board game, I’ve got plenty of recommendations.
Beyond bringing people together, game nights help all of us take some much-needed time away from our phones. It’s nice to be able to reconnect and forget about our online personas, even if it’s just for a few rounds of Settlers of Catan.
But which game is best for 14, 15 and 16-year-olds? Is any age appropriate for board games? The answer is basically any. While many games have recommended age requirements needed to understand the basic rules and strategies, most games are ages 8+. Yes, even the number one game in the world: Monopoly.
Below, we rounded up the best board games for teens (and the best family board games)—including some of the top-selling games in the world, like Scrabble, Clue, and more. We also happen to think they make great birthday gift ideas too, like for your boyfriend or teen sister. And, yes, I own or have played every single one of these.
The Best Board Games for Teens
- Best Game Overall: Wingspan, $44
- Best Game for Fantasy Lovers: Flamecraft, $34
- Best Deck Building Game: Clank!, $59
- Best for Family Game Night: CATAN,$44
- Best Game on Amazon: Codenames,$20
- Best Strategy Game: Ticket to Ride, $44
- Best Party Game: Herd Mentality, $25
- Best Two-Player Game: Azul, $32
- Best Civilization-Building Game: Everdell, $65
- Best Dice Game: Machi Koro 2, $30
- Best Card Game: Doomlings, $25
- Best 15-Minute Game: Sushi Go!, $12
- Best Funny Game: Exploding Kittens Original Edition, $19
- Best Classic Game: Monopoly: Naruto, $38
- Best Mystery Game: CLUE: Squishmallows, $35
- Best Word Game: Scrabble Vintage Bookshelf Edition, $40
- Best Trivia Game: Trivial Pursuit: Wizarding World Harry Potter Edition, $22
- Best Social Deduction Game: One Night Ultimate Werewolf, $25
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