I t’s really sad how we would find in major family settings, we are still pretty much glued to our screens. There will just be a few who actually take out the time to talk to one another. Otherwise the focus is more so on what’s happening on their phones. But that doesn’t mean we have lost all hope. You can still enjoy spending some quality time by indulging in some game nights with your friends and family. It was a beloved trend and still continues to be one. You can find yourself in the middle of a board game renaissance. What was once a hobby relegated to the dusty racks at the back of friendly local game stores has gone mainstream. Here is a list of the very best modern board games which allow you to make the most of your game nights!
Azul
Azul is a great game to keep around for chill game nights. This tile-laying game brings the history of decor to life. It is said that King Manuel I of Portugal was so inspired by the beauty of the Alhambra Palace in southern Spain that he brought the tile decor back to his own palace. As a player, you’ll be similarly inspired to draw and design patterns of colored tiles to display around your palace (aka your game board). Specific patterns and complete sets earn you points, but wasting tiles can set you back. Once all the tiles are gone, the player with the most points wins.
Blood Rage
The end of the world is here. Strategies are endless, but doom is inescapable. Can you strike a balance and adapt to your foes before the end of the third age? Guide your Viking clan to victory by going down in a blaze of glory!
Cascadia
Everyone can enjoy the gorgeous game art and natural themes of this tile-drafting game. From the first draft, you have decisions to make about how to balance your ecosystem. Match terrain and wildlife to gain the most points and earn bonuses at the end of the game.
Nemesis
Every essentials list needs a blood-chilling game. Our pick is Nemesis. The gameplay focuses less on killing and more on finding ways to escape, avoid, or outwit danger. It is truly a survival-horror experience brought to life on your tabletop.
Oath: Chronicles of Empire and Exile
This isn’t a strategy game at all. It’s a complex storytelling engine. Played regularly with the same group of people, it becomes more than a simple contest of wills. It’s a role-playing game wearing the clothes of a board game. Combined with the amazing art of Kyle Ferrin, it’s something truly special.
Secret Hitler
Ready to cause chaos? Pick up Secret Hitler for your next party. This fan favorite combines deduction, bluffing, and betrayal with the backdrop of 1930s Germany. Will the liberal team be able to pass enough policies to take down the secret Hitler? Or will the hard-liners create enough chaos to elect him to office? The fate of the world is in your hands!
Wingspan
The nonviolent experience, created by an avid bird watcher, is bursting with Audubon-grade art by Ana María Martínez and Natalia Rojas. The components, courtesy of Stonemaier Games, include charming little wooden eggs and handy trays to keep all your bits in order.
