This article discusses some of the best board games of 2021 that you can play with families and friends to whirl away time.
Are you tired of playing the same old board games? Do you crave something new and exciting to add to your collection? Look no further than the best board games of 2021!
This year, from strategy to party games, has brought us some truly innovative and thrilling options.
Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or just starting, there’s something for everyone in our list of top board games for 2021.
However, considering gameplay, replayability, and overall fun factor, we’ve scoured the market to bring you the most highly rated and talked-about games.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into the best board games of 2021!
From cooperative games like “Pandemic Legacy: Season 0” to fast-paced card games like “The Crew,” we’ve covered you with the year’s most exciting and engaging board games.
With these top picks, gather your friends and family for unforgettable game nights!
1. Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion
“Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion” is a cooperative strategy game for one to four players. It is a standalone game, a prequel to the original Gloomhaven game, released in 2017.
The game features an innovative card-driven combat system, where players must choose which cards to play each turn to use their abilities and move around the board.
One of the strengths of “Jaws of the Lion” is its streamlined gameplay and easy-to-learn rules, making it a great option for new and experienced players.
The game also includes a storybook that guides players through interconnected scenarios, creating an immersive narrative experience.
Furthermore, “Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion” is a must-play game for fans of cooperative strategy games.
Its excellent mechanics and engaging storyline makes it one of the best board games of 2021.
2. Destinies
Knowing your non-tabletop interests can help you choose a board game that suits you.
For instance, I tirelessly promote the value of QR codes as a marketing professional.
As a devoted follower of series like Fallout and Mass Effect, I value the inclusion of a strong moral code.
Therefore, when I learned that “Destinies” by Lucky Duck Games had combined these, I knew I had to add them to my collection.
Players will spend their turn in “Destinies,” exploring the map and stopping by interesting locations like in any other RPG.
Unlike most board games, the app-assisted mechanics let players interact with NPCs and perform skill checks that take the game in fresh directions.
The outcome is a hybrid of a board game and a text-based adventure game, making it the ideal choice for someone looking for a tactical iPhone RPG.
3. Dune: Imperium
Based on the classic science fiction novel by Frank Herbert, “Dune: Imperium” is a deck-building and worker placement game for two to four players.
Also, in the game, players take on the roles of powerful leaders competing for control of the desert planet Arrakis.
What sets “Dune: Imperium” apart from other deck-building games is its unique combination of mechanics, allowing players to build up their decks while strategically placing workers on the board to gain resources and influence.
The game also features various factions and leaders, each with special abilities and powers.
Overall, “Dune: Imperium” is a well-designed and engaging game that will please fans of both the book series and board game enthusiasts.
Its blend of strategy and luck makes it one of the best board games of 2021.
4. The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine
The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine” is a cooperative trick-taking game for two to five players.
In the game, players work together to complete a series of space missions, each with unique challenges and objectives.
What makes “The Crew” so unique is its innovative communication system.
Players cannot discuss their hands but must communicate through pre-determined signals and gestures.
This creates a sense of tension and excitement as players try to figure out what their teammates are trying to communicate.
Overall, “The Crew” is a fun and challenging game for players of all skill levels.
Its unique communication system and exciting gameplay make it one of the best board games of 2021.
5. Unfathomable
Corey Konieczka’s “Battlestar Galactica: The Board Game” was a seminal work for everyone who fell in love with beautiful board games in the early 2000s.
The game combined now-common gameplay elements like cooperative challenges and hidden roles — Konieczka’s rulebook crawled so “Dead of Winter” could run — and provided a new generation of cardboard enthusiasts with the ideal balance of mainstream appeal and crunchy gameplay.
However, the secondary market for “Battlestar Galactica” quickly made it impossible to play, as is so frequently with out-of-print titles.
Fortunately, Fantasy Flight Games has filled the gap by collaborating with Konieczka to produce “Unfathomable.”
A blatant spiritual successor to “Battlestar,” Fantasy Flight’s new game, set in its well-liked Arkham Horror universe, swaps out space for the ocean, Cylons for cultists, and places players on the steamship Atlantica.
6. Lost Ruins of Arnak
“Lost Ruins of Arnak” is a deck-building and exploration game for one to four players.
In the game, players take on the role of explorers searching through an ancient civilization for treasures and artifacts.
One of the unique features of “Lost Ruins of Arnak” is its combination of deck-building mechanics with a board game setting.
Players must build up their decks of cards to gain resources and abilities while strategically exploring the ruins and uncovering artifacts.
The game also features an immersive theme and artwork, with detailed illustrations and a sense of adventure that keeps players engaged throughout the game.
Overall, “Lost Ruins of Arnak” is a fantastic game perfect for deck-building and exploration game fans.
Its engaging mechanics and captivating theme make it one of the best board games of 2021.
7. It’s a Wonderful World
It’s a Wonderful World” is a drafting and engine-building game for one to five players.
In this wonderful game, players take on the role of leaders of a futuristic empire, competing to build the most prosperous and powerful civilization.
What makes “It’s a Wonderful World” stand out is its unique drafting system, where players choose and pass cards to build up their resources and abilities.
The game also features various paths to victory, allowing players to customize their strategies and play styles.
The game also features beautiful artwork and a streamlined ruleset, making it easy to learn and quick to play.
Overall, “It’s a Wonderful World” is a must-play game for fans of drafting and engine-building games.
It’s innovative mechanics and engaging gameplay make it one of the best board games of 2021.
8. Intrepid
Up to four players cooperate in “Intrepid” to manage their crew’s vital resources and survive on the International Space Station (ISS).
The game involves each player taking on the role of a different nation; Canada, Japan, Russia, and the USA all have slightly different in-game abilities.
Players use dice to complete mission cards and survive dangerous situations. You might come home as a national hero if you survive every toxic leak or meteor shower the game throws at you.
The “Intrepid” game’s design team collaborated directly with a real NASA flight controller to keep their game more realistically grounded in science than science fiction.
This means that the technology used in the game is based on actual ISS research, making “Intrepid” the closest any of us will ever get to living out our low-orbit fantasies, except Jeff Bezos.
A word of caution, though: you should only train for this mission if you’re not afraid of a challenge, just like a real astronaut. This is one of the best board games of 2021.
9. Beyond the Sun
Beyond the Sun” is a space exploration and civilization-building game for two to four players.
Players become leaders of different factions in the game, competing to discover new technologies, explore the galaxy, and colonize planets.
What sets “Beyond the Sun” apart is its unique technology tree system, which allows players to research and discover new technologies to upgrade their abilities and resources.
The game also features an action selection mechanism, where players must strategically choose which actions to take each turn to further their objectives.
The game’s stunning artwork and immersive theme also add to the overall experience, creating a sense of wonder and excitement as players explore the vast expanse of space.
Overall, “Beyond the Sun” is a fantastic game that combines exploration, strategy, and technology uniquely and engagingly.
Its innovative mechanics and captivating theme make it one of the best board games of 2021.
10. Pandemic Legacy: Season 0
“Pandemic Legacy: Season 0” is a cooperative legacy game for two to four players.
In the game, players take on the role of secret agents working to stop a global conspiracy during the height of the Cold War.
As a legacy game, “Season 0” features a campaign-style gameplay with a storyline that evolves as players progress.
The game also features unique mechanics, such as using cover identities and secret communication to complete missions.
While the game is a standalone entry in the “Pandemic” series, it is also a prequel to the original game and adds new layers of depth and backstory to the series.
“Pandemic Legacy: Season 0” combines strategy, storytelling, and compelling cooperative gameplay.
It is innovative mechanics, and immersive theme makes it one of the best board games of 2021.
11. Roll Camera!: The Filmmaking Board Game
In “Roll Camera,” players take on the roles of the cast of an independent film, including the director, production designer, producers, and others, to overcome the challenges and put together an honorable feature.
Your team will overcome production issues, work together on fresh concepts, and connect scenes into a seamless movie by rolling and allocating Crew dice.
You win if you create a masterpiece or even a “So Bad It’s Great!” title, but beware your schedule and budget work against you.
Roll Camera” might not be the first board game to focus on the film industry, but it does so with unmatched authority.
Rempen is a well-known board game designer who works as a filmmaker and educator during the day.
Also, he has a background in film production and has taught at Catalyst, a reputable institute for creative arts and technology in Berlin.
There is no word yet on whether defeating “Roll Camera” counts as his course’s final project.
12. The King’s Dilemma
“The King’s Dilemma” is a narrative-driven legacy game for three to five players.
In the beautiful game, players take on the role of advisors to the king, making decisions and navigating political intrigue in a medieval fantasy world.
One of the unique features of “The King’s Dilemma” is its emphasis on storytelling and player choice.
Each decision made by players can have far-reaching consequences, shaping the story and affecting the kingdom’s fate.
The game also features legacy-style gameplay, where the decisions made in each session carry over to the next, creating a sense of continuity and investment in the story.
Overall, “The King’s Dilemma” is a fantastic game that combines strategy, storytelling, and legacy mechanics uniquely and engagingly.
Its immersive theme and emphasis on player choice make it one of the best board games of 2021.
13. Paleo
Paleo” is a cooperative survival game for one to four players.
In this beautiful game, players take on the role of prehistoric humans, working together to survive in a dangerous and unpredictable world.
One of the unique features of “Paleo” is its focus on cooperation and communication between players.
Each player has their cards and abilities and must work together to overcome challenges and dangers as they explore the wilderness.
The game also features a modular game board and various scenarios, ensuring each playthrough is different and challenging.
Overall, “Paleo” is a fantastic game that combines strategy, cooperation, and survival uniquely and engagingly.
Its immersive theme and focus on player interaction make it one of the best board games of 2021.
14. Streets
“Streets,” a work of urban planning by Haakon Gaarder (“Villagers”), features the kind of vibrant colors and eye-catching structures that would make Richard Scarry pleased.
Players take turns putting buildings and meeples on a constantly changing cityscape.
The street is scored, and players receive points for their structures once a row of residences or businesses has been enclosed on both ends.
Create a benevolent real estate tycoon by connecting similar buildings or dense populations on the same street.
No matter your level of board game experience, “Streets” is a game that anyone can pick up and enjoy with a community rating of “Medium Light” on BoardGameGeek.
As a result, it makes a worthy successor to Gaarder’s previous game, which also received high marks for being a family-friendly game.
Streets have been particularly hard hit by industry supply chain problems, which is unfortunate for American board game enthusiasts.
Expect to see it on more lists now that North American fulfillment has started earnestly. This is one of the best board games of 2021.
15. Fort
“Fort” is a deck-building game for two to four players that combines strategy and friendship. Players take on the role of kids building the coolest fort in the neighborhood.
What sets “Fort” apart is its innovative theme and mechanics. Players must recruit new friends to their fort, build new rooms, and earn points to win the game.
The game also features a unique “garage sale” mechanism that allows players to trade cards, creating a sense of social interaction and player engagement.
The game’s colorful artwork and whimsical theme also add to the overall experience, creating a sense of nostalgia and childlike wonder.
Overall, “Fort” is a fantastic game that combines strategy, deck-building, and social interaction uniquely and engagingly.
Its innovative mechanics and captivating theme make it one of the best board games of 2021.
16. Canvas
“Canvas” might be one of the easier games to come to your table, even in a year with many approachable games.
Each player starts with a few abstract background cards and a few inspiration tokens.
Then, each player will complete their canvas during their turn by combining the art cards in their hands or selecting from a shared board of art cards.
Three paintings are completed, the results are added, and the artist with the highest score wins.
It’s difficult to avoid drawing comparisons between “Canvas” and “Dixit,” another straightforward game that gains a lot from the unique artwork on the cards.
Both appear to be excellent “change of pace” games that you can introduce to give your group a break in between taxing big-box experiences.
In addition, even though “Canvas” appears to be a game for groups of friends, the rules do include variations for both one- and two-player combinations, just in case you’re the one who needs a break. This is one of the best board games of 2021.
17. Red Rising
“Red Rising” is a hand management and set collection game for one to six players, based on the popular science fiction novel series by Pierce Brown.
In the game, players take on the role of characters from the books, competing to gain influence and control over Society.
What sets “Red Rising” apart is its innovative use of cards and tokens to represent the different characters and factions from the novels.
Players must strategically manage their hands and use their abilities to gain advantages over their opponents and collect sets of cards to earn points.
The game also features stunning artwork and a captivating theme that captures the essence of the “Red Rising” universe, creating a sense of intrigue and political maneuvering as players navigate the complex social hierarchy of the Society.
Overall, “Red Rising” is a fantastic game that combines hand management, set collection, and strategy uniquely and engagingly.
It is innovative mechanics, and immersive theme makes it one of the best board games of 2021.
18. Oath
“Oath” is a strategy game for one to six players that combines deck-building and area control mechanics.
In this beautiful game, players take on the roles of different factions vying for control of a kingdom, each with unique abilities and agendas.
What sets “Oath” apart is its innovative use of a legacy-style system, where the game board and rules evolve over multiple playthroughs, creating a unique narrative experience for each group of players.
The game also features stunning artwork and a richly detailed world, creating a sense of immersion and depth as players explore the kingdom and compete for power.
Overall, “Oath” is a fantastic game that combines strategy, deck-building, and legacy-style gameplay uniquely and engagingly.
It is innovative mechanics and immersive world-building make it one of the best board games of 2021.
19. Fast and Furious: Highway Heist
Never take Prospero Hall lightly. Although the Seattle-based studio mainly collaborates with big-box retailers and existing properties, their games are anything but inexpensive.
Prospero Hall has straddled a fine line between respecting the source material and producing something deserving of your collection with recent releases like “Horrified” and “Jaws.”
The creators of “Fast and Furious: Highway Heist” also allow you to game a quarter-mile at a time.
In “Highway Heist,” much like in the movies, you’ll spend a lot of time in the driver’s seat of a very fast vehicle.
Players can choose from various moves, such as “shake off” and “ram,” and even leap between moving vehicles for some classic car-on-car combat.
Furthermore, the game doesn’t feel like a cheap spinoff and more like a classic novelization that expands on the world and the characters, even though it prefers abstracted artwork to licensed cast images.
20. Unmatched
“Unmatched” is a one-on-one tactical combat game for two to four players, where each player takes on the role of a legendary hero or villain from history and myth.
What sets “Unmatched” apart is its innovative use of asymmetric gameplay, where each character has unique cards and abilities, creating a diverse and dynamic playing experience.
The game also features stunning artwork and various characters, including iconic figures like King Arthur, Medusa, and Sherlock Holmes.
Overall, “Unmatched” is a fantastic game that combines tactical combat, asymmetric gameplay, and stunning artwork uniquely and engagingly.
Its innovative mechanics and diverse characters make it one of the best board games of 2021.
21. Descent: Legends of the Dark
I’ve recently become a fan of “Gloomhaven,” so I’ve come to terms with the fact that I’ll never have time to play “Descent: Legends of the Dark.”
With all the breathless hype that comparison implies, Fantasy Flight Games’ most recent Realms of Terrinoth game is the board game equivalent of a summer blockbuster.
However, popularity and quality are not inversely correlated, much like a summer blockbuster, and “Descent” is already climbing the BoardGameGeek charts.
If you are familiar with the “Descent” series and its distinctive fusion of tabletop mechanics and RPG storytelling, you already know what to anticipate.
The Overlord, an app that controls most combat and exploration, lets you and your band of brave heroes fight monsters and discover new places.
You and your party will also get every last bit of value from the game’s hefty $140-plus price tag, given that the average playtime is around 50 hours. This beautiful game is one of the best board games of 2021.
22. Trekking the World
“Trekking the World” is a family-friendly game that combines route building and set collection mechanics for two to five players.
Players take on the role of travelers trekking worldwide, collecting souvenirs, and visiting famous landmarks.
It sets “Trekking the World” apart through its accessible gameplay and educational component, teaching players about different countries and cultures worldwide.
The game also features colorful artwork and a sense of whimsy, creating a fun and engaging playing experience for players of all ages.
Overall, “Trekking the World” is a fantastic game that combines education and entertainment uniquely and engagingly.
It’s accessible gameplay, and family-friendly theme makes it one of the best board games of 2021.
23. The Isle of Cats
“The Isle of Cats” is a tile-laying and card-drafting game for one to four players, where each player takes on the role of a cat lover rescuing and adopting cats on a deserted island.
What sets “The Isle of Cats” apart is its innovative use of polyomino tiles, where players must strategically fit different shapes of cat tiles onto their player boards to gain points.
The game also features stunning artwork and a charming theme, creating a sense of whimsy and fun as players collect different cats and score points.
Overall, “The Isle of Cats” is a fantastic game that combines strategy, tile-laying, and card-drafting mechanics uniquely and engagingly.
It is innovative gameplay and charming theme make it one of the best board games of 2021.
24, Oath: Chronicles of Exile and Empire
The last time Cole Wehrle and Kyle Ferrin collaborated on a project, “Root,” an award-winning asymmetrical strategy game regarded as one of the best board games of the twenty-first century, was the result.
It would probably be an understatement to say that “Oath: Chronicles of Empire and Exile” was met with high expectations.
Thank goodness, “Oath” fulfills the promise made by its gifted developers, offering a distinctive legacy-style game with enduring complexity and appeal.
In “Oath,” players compete to control the kingdom as they progress through three distinct phases: wake, act, and rest.
Each subsequent game will change in response to how power is maintained through the generations.
One player controls the Chancellor at the beginning of the game. Will the Chancellor rule the kingdom? Will the Exiles achieve their goals or usurp power?
Every move you make can make winning the game easier (or harder), depending on your strategy or goals.
25. Sleeping Gods
Some board game creators create compartments. Others favor doing everything on their own.
Ryan Laukat, who has worked as a designer and artist on well-known works like “Above and Below” and “Near and Far,” undoubtedly falls under the latter category.
Laukat is pushing his design principles even further with “Sleeping Gods,” creating an exciting new open-world concept for board gamers to enjoy.
Sleeping gods transported you and your crew to strange lands in 1929.
Players must control the resources on their ship, deal with local events, and explore a constantly growing map to return home.
In addition to controlling their crew’s health, morale, and mental state as the game progresses, players will also face off against monsters.
What kind of gods would lead you to the Wandering Sea, a magical location, without making you battle mythical creatures?
26. Anno 1800
The award-winning “Anno 1800,” a city-building simulation that transported players to the early Industrial Age, was released by video game publisher Blue Byte in 2019.
Publisher Kosmos Games unleashed a secret weapon to create this intricate system into a board game: Martin Wallace, the celebrated creator of renowned board games like “Brass: Birmingham” and “Brass: Lancashire.”
The outcome fits the publisher’s emphasis on historical and educational gameplay well.
To win, each “Anno 1800” player must expand their island to its maximum potential.
They achieve this by carrying out a typical set of civilization-building activities, such as producing goods, hiring laborers, and attending to the needs of their populace.
The end-game condition in “Anno 1800” differs from other civilization games in that it only ends when a player runs out of population cards. This beautiful game is one of the best board games of 2021.
27. Cubitos
Whatever level of complexity you prefer in your board games, there is nothing more satisfying than rolling a fistful of thematically appropriate dice.
You will try your luck to win the Cube Cup, an annual race for the cube-shaped citizens of the world of Cubitos, in “Cubitos,” the new game from creator John D. Clair.
Players of “Cubitos” will roll dice to distinguish hits from misses, using the former to improve the performance of their runner.
You might even receive in-game bonuses by landing on particular spots, enabling your racer to add dice to their Draw Zone permanently.
If you bust, you’ll fall behind; if you push your luck wisely, you might sprint to the finish line and win the Cube Cup trophy for another year.
“Cubitos” promises players a game that will be enjoyable for the whole family thanks to its art style, which appears to be influenced by pop culture icons like “SpongeBob SquarePants” and “Minecraft” (especially those a little too old for more child-friendly titles like “Camel Up”).
Furthermore, the push-your-luck mechanic ensures that even failure is tempered by a healthy dose of humor.
After all, nothing conveys life lessons more effectively than witnessing your opponent sob in agony as their dice come up blank.
Conclusion
In conclusion, 2021 has been a fantastic year for board games, with various innovative and engaging titles released.
From strategy games to party games, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
The games listed above are just a small sampling of this year’s fantastic titles.
Each offers a unique playing experience with innovative mechanics, captivating themes, and stunning artwork.
Whether you’re a seasoned board gamer or new to the hobby, there’s never been a better time to explore the world of board games.
With so many fantastic titles, you will surely find something providing hours of fun and entertainment.
So gather some friends or family, and dive into the exciting world of board games. You might discover your new favorite game!
