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The best new board games to buy for 2023

Perfect for your next cosy night in!

By , and Zoe Shenton
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Cosmopolitan UK

Guys, Christmas season is basically here which means cosy evenings in with your friends and family. That also means it's time to get hold of the best new board games out now for some quality nights playing cards and trying not to argue over Articulate. The TV is on in the background, the snacks are flowing, and you're about to make your younger cousin cry by bankrupting them at Monopoly. What more could you want?

So, whether you're a Harry Potter fan and want to race to the Triwizard cup, or you want a small board game you can chuck in your handbag like Dobble, here are our pick of the best board games available right now, including new additions and some absolute classics. Just don't expect us to play nice during Articulate!

The best board games for Christmas 2023

1
Best new card game

Ginger Fox The Traitors Card Game

The Traitors Card Game
1
Best new card game

Ginger Fox The Traitors Card Game

£12 at John Lewis

How to play: This card game is centred all around BBC One gameshow we know and love, The Traitors, which sees contestants attempt to suss out who are the Traitors and who are the Faithfuls among them.

In the card game version, players must attempt to gather gold and shields each round, while also voting as a group to try and out the Traitor.

Number of players: 4 - 6 players

Recommended age range: 8+

Who to play with: Family and friends

Estimated game time frame: 40 - 60 minutes

2

Gamely Gullible

Gullible
2

Gamely Gullible

How to play: Are you a good enough liar to fool the other team into believing the unbelievable? Gullible is a party game where you create fake answers to outlandish questions to trick your opponents into believing the ridiculous. Each round, each team creates two fake facts that are more believable than the truth to try and fool the opposing team.

Number of players: 2 - 14 players

Recommended age range: 12+

Who to play with: Family and friends, teenagers

Estimated game time frame: 30 - 45 minutes

3

Format Games Format Games Karen Bluffing Party Game By TV And Radio Personality Matt Edmondson Ages 14+ 3-10 Players 30-45 Minutes Playing Time

Format Games Karen Bluffing Party Game By TV And Radio Personality Matt Edmondson Ages 14+ 3-10 Players 30-45 Minutes Playing Time
3

Format Games Format Games Karen Bluffing Party Game By TV And Radio Personality Matt Edmondson Ages 14+ 3-10 Players 30-45 Minutes Playing Time

Now 20% Off

How to play: No one likes a Karen, but in this game, you can be! Here, each player tries to sneak their own fake complaints in amongst hilarious real one star reviews found online, to try and convince their opponents that they are the real Karen.

Players start with five stars on their scoreboards and the aim of the game is to lose four of your stars and be the first player with only one star left on your board.

Number of players: 3 - 10 players

Recommended age range: 14+

Who to play with: Family and friends

Estimated game time frame: 30 - 45 minutes

4

Wildcard Games Who Knows Where? – Global Location Guessing Board Game

Wildcard Games Who Knows Where? – Global Location Guessing Board Game
4

Wildcard Games Who Knows Where? – Global Location Guessing Board Game

How to play: Race your opponents to try to be the first player to travel around the world by locating famous places on the map.

This board game has over 1,000 locations across five categories (capital cities, major cities and towns, events and facts, famous tourist sites and beautiful images) and players are asked to identify different locations in order to make it around the world. Flexible rules make it accessible for everyone! So how good is your geography?

Number of players: 2 - 4 players

Recommended age range: 12+

Who to play with: Family and friends

5
Best board game based on a TV show

Rascals Michael McIntyre's The Wheel Board Game

Michael McIntyre's The Wheel Board Game
5
Best board game based on a TV show

Rascals Michael McIntyre's The Wheel Board Game

How to play: Just like the hit Beeb show, you have to get your thinking cap on to complete seven questions in order to make it through to the End Game AKA the final question.

Team up with pals or, if your trivia is on point, you can go it alone! Spin the wheel and see where it lands. Just make sure you avoid red or you’ll have to hand back to the opposing team.

Number of players: 2 or more

Recommended age range: 10+

Who to play with: Family and friends

6

More or Less More or Less Card Game- How Good Is Your Judgement? 2+ Players | Adults & Kids |

More or Less Card Game- How Good Is Your Judgement? 2+ Players | Adults & Kids |
6

More or Less More or Less Card Game- How Good Is Your Judgement? 2+ Players | Adults & Kids |

Now 20% Off
7
Best classic board game

Esdevium Settlers Of Catan Game 2015 Edition

Settlers Of Catan Game 2015 Edition
7
Best classic board game

Esdevium Settlers Of Catan Game 2015 Edition

How to play: Often thought of as the best ever strategy board game, Catan challenges players to take on the roles of settlers, each attempting to build and develop holdings while trading and acquiring resources. The player with the best camp wins.

Number of players: 3 players

Recommended age range: 10+

Who to play with: Family and friends

8

Harry Potter Race To The Triwizard Cup Board Game

Harry Potter Race To The Triwizard Cup Board Game
8

Harry Potter Race To The Triwizard Cup Board Game

How to play: This combines two of our favourite things, that's Harry Potter and board games.

Partake in mini games and challenges to be the first one to reach the Triwizard cup. Here's to hoping you fair better than Cedric Diggory!

Number of players: 2+ players

Recommended age range: 8+

Who to play with: Family and friends

9
Best card game

Herd Mentality Board Game

Herd Mentality Board Game
9
Best card game

Herd Mentality Board Game

How to play: The aim of the game? Write down the same answer as someone else. Beginning with a random question, everyone secretly writes down an answer and if your answer is in the majority, you win cows

If your answer is the odd one out, you'll land the Pink Cow and your herd will be worthless — unless you can pass it on. Basically the opposite of Pointless.

Number of players: 4 - 20 players

Recommended age range: 10+

Who to play with: Family and friends

10

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire Game

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire Game
10

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire Game

How to play: A fancy upgrade on the original, this latest edition of the Who Wants to Be A Millionaire board game comes with digital lifelines you can easily access on your phone. Simply scan the QR code at the bottom of the question, pick the lifeline you want and follow the instructions.

As always, the first player to reach £1 million on the money tree and answer the question correctly wins the game.

Number of players: 2+

Recommended age range: 14+

Who to play with: Family and friends

11
Best new board game

Spin Master Games Tell Me Without Telling Me

Tell Me Without Telling Me
11
Best new board game

Spin Master Games Tell Me Without Telling Me

Credit: Amazon

How to play: Players take it in turns to describe what their card says, choosing from three methods: Show Don’t Tell, One Syllable, or Freestyle. The fastest team to guess wins.

Number of players: Up to 10

Recommended age range: 17+

Who to play with: Friends

12

Ginger Fox Taskmaster Game

Ginger Fox Taskmaster Game
12

Ginger Fox Taskmaster Game

Now 25% Off

How to play: Anyone else obsessed with the TV show Taskmaster? This is that in board game form, challenging each participant to do something (usually quite silly) before voting for their winner.

Number of players: 3 or more players

Recommended age range: 8+

Who to play with: Friends and family

13

What Do You Meme? What Do You Meme Game

What Do You Meme Game
13

What Do You Meme? What Do You Meme Game

How to play: Similar to Cards Against Humanity, the aim of the game is to create the funniest card combo, matching famous memes to captions.

A rotating judge chooses the best pairing each round, and it's one that won't fail to make you laugh on your next games night.

Number of players: Up to 10

Recommended age range: 17+

Who to play with: Friends

14

Drumond Park The LOGO Board Game

The LOGO Board Game
14

Drumond Park The LOGO Board Game

Credit: Amazon

How to play: Think you know your logos? Think again. Match the most logos to the right brand, character or advert and voilà, you're the winner!

Number of players: 2 - 6 players

Recommended age range: 12+

Who to play with: Family and friends

15
Dirtiest board game

WHAT DO YOU MEME? For The Girls - The Ultimate Girls Night Party Game

For The Girls - The Ultimate Girls Night Party Game
15
Dirtiest board game

WHAT DO YOU MEME? For The Girls - The Ultimate Girls Night Party Game

Credit: Amazon

How to Play: Five different coloured decks represent five different types of card, including dares, 'most likely to' questions and 'never have I ever' type confessions.

Then, the player with the most cards at the end wins. Perfect for your next girly night in!

Number of players: 3+ players

Recommended age range: 17+

Who to play with: Friends

16

BAD PEOPLE Bad People Game + After Dark Expansion Pack

Bad People Game + After Dark Expansion Pack
16

BAD PEOPLE Bad People Game + After Dark Expansion Pack

Credit: Amazon

How to play: Essentially an elaborate game of 'most likely to', vote for which of your friends you'd most expect to do different things - ranging from funny to pretty questionable. The player with the most cards is the winner.

Number of players: 3 - 10 players

Recommended age range: 15+

Who to play with: Friends

17

CONFIDENT? Board Game

CONFIDENT? Board Game
17

CONFIDENT? Board Game

Now 13% Off

How to play: Participants are given a broad question and must suggest a 'range' in order to win. So, if the question was 'On average, how long do couples in the UK wait to get engaged?' each person must guess a number of months.

Will you risk a small range or play it safe? Win each round by being the closest to the specific answer revealed later.

Number of players: 2 - 30 players

Recommended age range: 11+

Who to play with: Family and friends

18

Mattel Games Scrabble Crossword

Scrabble Crossword
18

Mattel Games Scrabble Crossword

Now 50% Off
Credit: Amazon

How to play: Honestly, you can't go wrong with Scrabble. Use your given letters to make a word. Each letter has a certain number of points, and the player with the most points wins.

Number of players: 2-4 players

Recommended age range: 8+

Who to play with: Family and friends

19

Mattel Games Blokus Game

Mattel Games Blokus Game
19

Mattel Games Blokus Game

How to play: This one is alllll about tactics. Each player must attempt to place their 21 pieces on the board while touching another piece of the sae colour but only at the corners. Claim territory and play strategicially to attempt to block other players out.

Number of players: 2 - 4 players

Recommended age range: 7+

Game duration: 30 minutes

Who to play with: Family and friends

20

Green Board Games Qwirkle

Qwirkle
20

Green Board Games Qwirkle

How to play: Designed for between 2-4 players, this game is all about getting the highest score. Each tile has a different amount of points, and you must pick up and put them down until all have been used and you have a winner.

Number of players: 2 - 4 players

Recommended age range: 6+

Who to play with: Family and friends

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