15 Best Board Games for Teens
Updated 07 April 2020
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Author
Danny is the father of a very active 2-year-old and has made plenty of mistakes buying toys over the last couple years so hopes his site can help others avoid the same fate.
Keeping teens entertained can be difficult, particularly if there are no consoles or devices nearby. Enter Tabletop Gaming. If your teen hasn't got the bug for board games yet, you're in for a nice surprise. There's a game for every occasion, whether it's an option for two friends, a family get-together game or a four-hour strategy mega mission. We've compiled the best games for teens in 2020 to help you get started.
1Ticket to Ride Board Game | Family Board Game | Board Game for Adults and Family | Train Game | Ages 8+ | For 2 to 5 players | Average Playtime 30-60 minutes | Made by Days of Wonder
For a modern take on a classic game, Ticket to Ride With Alexa is the way to go. Just like the original game, you and your opponents try to connect railway routes throughout the continent by claiming as many as possible for yourself. You can use Alexa to explain the rules and guide you through the adventure, or even play against her. However you choose to play, there is so much fun to be had.
What we love
- Appeals to a wide audience
- The cards are well made
What We Don't Like That Much
- Can be hard to catch up if you have a bad start
2Cosmic Encounter 42nd Anniversary Edition Board Game | Strategy Game | Sci-Fi Exploration Game for Adults and Teens | Ages 14+ | 3-5 Players | Average Playtime 1-2 Hours | Made by Fantasy Flight Games
Take on the entire universe one peace treaty or act of war at a time. Cosmic Encounters is a fun board game that allows up to five players to have their own alien race. Make your way from colony to colony in an attempt to expand your own. You can choose to be passive, or ruthless, the choice is yours.
What we love
- Wide variety of unusual aliens
- Plenty of negotiation between players
What We Don't Like That Much
- Could be more challenging
3Drumond Park Articulate
Can you think quick under pressure? Articulate puts that to the test as players attempt to guess words and phrases on a card that their teammate tries to describe. But you only have 30 seconds to guess as many as you can! This isn’t your typical Pictionary. Grab up to 20 people for chaos, excitement, and endless fun.
What we love
- Over 20 players can get involved
- Fun and fast-paced
What We Don't Like That Much
- The pressure may be too high for some
4Avalon Hill Betrayal at House on the Hill, Green
If you’re a fan of scary stories and creepy tales, this game is for you. Betrayal At House of the Hill is a frightening yet exciting board game that allows you to explore a haunted mansion room by room where you’ll encounter monsters, secrets, and who knows what else. With over 50 scenarios to play out, this game will never get old, as the story changes every time you play!
What we love
- Replayability is great
- Scenes and settings are interchangeable
What We Don't Like That Much
- Need four or more players for maximum fun
5Pandemic Board Game (Base Game) | Family Board Game | Board Game for Adults and Family | Cooperative Board Game | Ages 8+ | 2 to 4 players | Average Playtime 45 minutes | Made by Z-Man Games
Now that we’ve had a front-row seat to our very own pandemic, this game should be easier to beat. You and your friends work as a team to try to save humanity from an infectious disease. You must rely on communication, strategizing, and problem-solving to save the planet. Can you handle the pressure?
What we love
- Promotes teamwork and strategizing
- Edge-of-your-seat excitement
What We Don't Like That Much
- Some might find it overly challenging
6Bezier board Games One Night Ultimate Werewolf Black
Proceed with caution! Anyone can be the werewolf. That’s the whole point of One Night Ultimate Werewolf. Everyone is given a card that tells them whether they are on the Villager’s Team or the Werewolf’s team. Using the app, you are to use the information and clues given to figure out who the werewolves are. With up to 10 players available, this game is sure to be a party starter during any full moon.
What we love
- Lots of replayability options
- Downloadable app streamlines the set-up
What We Don't Like That Much
- Is quite fast paced
7Carcassonne Board Game (BASE GAME) | Family Board Game | Board Game for Adults and Family | Strategy Board Game | Medieval Adventure Board Game | Ages 7 and up | 2-5 Players | Made by Z-Man Games
Bringing a bit of history to life, Carcassonne is a tile-laying game that allows players to plan and strategize in order to strengthen their city walls. This requires strategic thinking in order to win, so put on your thinking cap and safeguard your city.
What we love
- Thinking a few moves ahead is rewarding
- Gameplay requires strategy
What We Don't Like That Much
- Keeping score can be a bit challenging
8Mysterium Board Game (Base Game) | Mystery Board Game | Cooperative Game for Adults and Kids | Fun for Family Game Night | Ages 10 and up | 2-7 Players | Average Playtime 45 Minutes | Made by Libellud
Mysterium takes players on a haunted adventure as they attempt to connect with an astrologist from beyond the grave. We won’t give away any spoilers, but using the included cards, players must decipher his eerie message and find out how he died. A great game for anyone who enjoys critical thinking mixed with paranormal fun.
What we love
- Artwork is gorgeous
- More interesting concept compared to other games
What We Don't Like That Much
- Some might find it a little too strange
9Czech Games Codenames
If you want a bit of crazy chaos, try Codenames. This board game takes two players as opposing “spymasters” and tasks them with finding the names of their respective 25 agents with their teammate’s help. Teams will trip over each other’s words as they try to guess the names of the agents all while staying clear of an evil assassin.
What we love
- More players make gameplay better
- Easy to learn
What We Don't Like That Much
- Made for critical thinking rather than mindless fun
10Star Wars Rebellion Board Game | Strategy Game for Adults and Teens | Ages 14+ | 2-4 Players | Average Playtime 3-4 Hours | Made by Fantasy Flight Games
Now you can play as the Empire or Rebel Alliance in this strategic Star Wars boardgame. The objective is to either deploy your armies to find and destroy the rebels, or, if you're the Rebel Player you need to get the planets onside and plan strikes on your enemy.
What we love
- Playing time up to 2 hours 40 minutes
- Plays up to 4 people
What We Don't Like That Much
- Might be too strategic for some
11King of Tokyo: New Edition Board Game
King of Tokyo is a fun, exciting game that allows players to be gigantic monsters that terrorize the city. The roll of a die will determine your next move, but ultimately the choice is yours. How will you take the crown and become King of Tokyo?
What we love
- Lots of social elements
- Possibility of exciting battles with dice
What We Don't Like That Much
- Doesn’t require much strategic thinking
12Cephalofair Games Gloomhaven Multi-Award-Winning Strategy Boxed Board Game for ages 12 & Up, Multicolor
With a new experience almost every time you play, Gloomhaven puts you and your teammates behind the wheel as you decide how your story will unfold. Battle giant monsters by choosing a card that explains your next moves and how each turn will play out. Gloomhaven can provide hours, if not days, of fun each time you play.
What we love
- Consequences can last for the game
- Included miniatures are cool
What We Don't Like That Much
- The gameplay can become too in-depth for some
13Fallout The Board Game (Base) | Strategy Board Game | Apocalyptic Adventure Game for Adults and Teens | Ages 14 and up | 1 to 4 Players | Average Playtime 2-3 Hours | Made by Fantasy Flight Games
Who doesn’t love it when video games come to life? Fallout by Bethesda SoftWorks, one of the most popular video games today, gets its very own board game, and much like the video game, this one is filled with the action and excitement gamers are used to. Made for serious gamers in mind, Fallout The Boardgame takes players on an adventure through strange worlds to complete quests where the possibilities (and battles) are endless. Not for the faint of heart, this game promises hours of edge-of-your-seat fun.
What we love
- Perfect recreation of the video game
- Offers plenty of depth
What We Don't Like That Much
- May take quite some time to beat
14Ravensburger Disney Villainous Strategy Board Game for Age 10 & Up - 2019 TOTY Game of The Year Award Winner
You’ve seen the movies, you know the characters. Now it’s time to bring them to life in this awesome board game. Playing as Disney’s worst villains, players must plan and execute maniacal plots to fulfill their evil plans before anyone else. With the ability to set traps, unleash curses and even form alliances, there is sure to be tons of evil fun.
What we love
- Fantastic artwork
- Surrounds well-known characters
What We Don't Like That Much
- A bit challenging
15Ravensburger Jaws Board Game for Age 12 and Up - A Game of Strategy and Suspense
One of the most iconic movies of all time, Jaws finally comes to a table near you with this board game. Players split up into two uneven teams; humans (characters from the movie) versus the great white. Played out in two “phases” players must try their best to survive the oncoming shark attacks.
What we love
- Easy-to-follow instructions
- Colorful, non-slip stepping stone pads
What We Don't Like That Much
- The floor stones are a little thinner than expected
Summary: Buying Board games for Teens
With every board game, a new challenge awaits. In 2020, there are more options than ever to suit a wide range of interests when it comes to games. Codenames, for example, is a fantastic family game that inspires inventive communication. Alternatively, One-Night Ultimate Werewolf is a great option for a group of friends who can put their acting skills to the test to fool the others that they are not the werewolf. Whatever you choose, drop us a line, and let us know which game you like the most!
