Time was, like most kids, you loved board games. You bugged your parents and your aunts and uncles and your grandparents and your babysitters to “play a gaaaaame” until they finally gave in, picked up the dice, and proceeded to let you win. Except the uncles; they thought losing built character. And, let’s be honest—they also sort of got a kick out of beating you.
But now, perhaps, it’s time to get your revenge on those uncles of your youth. Break out any of these ten board games—they’re still fun to play, honestly—and challenge your uncle. Teach that son of a bitch just how much character you built up over all those years.
10. Payday
A simple game that plays in some ways reminiscently of the more visually complex Game of LIFE, but never got the same respect. Where the enjoyment of the latter was always lessened by the fact that the career you get right at the beginning largely dictates the remainder of the game, Payday takes that specific random element out, and ends up being a better game because of it. Add to that the cool effect of the game being measured in real time—the board itself is a 31-day calendar—and you can play for six months, a year, or an entire adult lifetime, if you want. Of course, if you have the time for that, you probably aren’t all that familiar with the concept of a payday itself.
9. Yahtzee
A pretty simple dice game that’s still pretty fun to play. But really? It’s good that they dropped the professor from the box over the years, because seriously, no one was buying it. “The fun game that makes thinking…fun!” That’s not just a vast exaggeration; it’s also too bad that they couldn’t sneak the word “fun” in there a few more times.
8. Battleship
Aside from the kitschy charm of being able to say “You sank my battleship!” in faux-outrage, the real challenge of this game as an adult comes in thinking up new ways to distract your opponent so that you can move your sub over to the other corner of the pegboard. Better yet, it’s something that according to the game box, a father and son can enjoy together while Mom and sis can wash the damn dishes like they’re supposed to.
7. Candyland
No, not really. At least not as you originally played it. But turn it into a drinking game, in which you chug a Guinness when you land in the Molasses Swamp, or shoot some chilled vodka when you meet Queen Frostine? And you’ve got yourself a game worth playing. And the more drunk you get, the more brilliant the whole color-matching system of movement becomes.
6. Monopoly
Was this ever really a kids game at all? Once you got past the thrill of getting to choose whether you were the race car or the Scottie dog, was there really all that much fun left for a seven-year-old? Not so much. But playing with adults is like the boardgame equivalent of a Rorschach test. If you ever wanted to see what capitalist evil lurks in the hearts of your friends? Set aside fourteen hours or so and play Monopoly with them.
5. Boggle
Does this count as a board game? Close enough. And pretty addictive—actually, more addictive now that your vocabulary is (one would hope) larger than it was back in the 4th grade. And the cacophonous sound made when you shake the boggle cube? Still sublime.
4. Backgammon
Chances are that Backgammon was one of those games your grandparents had, and that you never bothered to learn how to play, even though it was pretty rad, what with the whole thing coming in its own leather briefcase, and boasting those felt-lined dice cups. And really, it’s an excellent and long-lived game of strategy, chance, and…you know, awesome felt-lined cups.
3. Risk
Face it—kids don’t actually play risk. Teen boys play Risk, and even then only until someone gets pissed off for lacking the foresight to start in North America or Europe. This game can be very long, and pretty brutal, so remember to play with friends you don’t mind exterminating from the flat, cardboard planet. Another important lesson comes from The Princess Bride’s Vizzini, who reminds you of the classic blunder: “never get involved in a land war in Asia.”
2. Scrabble
Scrabble is another one of those games that kids really can’t play very well at all—which is why there are all these kids’ versions all over the place that don’t require little ones to actually, you know, spell. But ultimately, it’s a pretty challenging game of spelling, and vocabulary, and other things adults are just plain better at. Like learning how to get rid of a rack full of nothing but vowels.
1. Clue
Colonel Mustard in the Billiards Room with the lead pipe! This classic detective game is still tons of fun, and remains the only pastime in which you can actually reveal yourself to be a murderer. Fun for all ages!

















Where’s the Cribbage Board?
If you ever make it this side of the pond, I have most of these. Clue(do) is a worthy #1.Alms the only one of these that is also a damn fine film.
Most of these games are terrible and involve mostly luck. I suppose if throwing dice and counting numbers (which is the entirety of Yahtzee’s “gameplay”) is fun, then you’re a lucky person, as you would also be happy watching paint dry. Why not play a game that actually requires some thought and skill, like Settlers of Catan, or Puerto Rico, or Agricola, or a million other, vastly superior board games?
Risk x 10 = Axis and Allies
Really? Clue is probably the worst game ever. I didn’t like it as a kid, and like it less now.
Are you kidding me? Battleship and Monopoly totally ROCK!
Lou
http://www.online-anonymity.us.tc
where is the “guess who”
Pokemon!
11. Mine A Million (or “The Business Game” as it was called in Blighty). Much more avaricious than Monopoly.
12. Talisman. Long-winded fantasy race to become the hardest badass. Made for those who wouldn’t touch a 12 sided die with a bargepole but think shooting someone with fireballs from your fingers is funny.
13. Ludo. ‘Nuff said.
Clue instead of Sorry! as the #1? Have you played Clue recently? It’s not nearly as fun as you remember and a lot harder than you think. Sorry! on the other hand can destroy friendships, ruin marriages and ensure at least 3 rounds of play as the loser tries to get back at everyone that kicked their butt.
Sorry! rules! Clue is for fools.
Nancy, cribbage isn’t really just a kid’s game.
Good list, but… You should never start dominating the world of RISK! in Europe. That’s foolish. It has like 6 or 7 borders to defend. Australia and South America, that’s where it’s at. Hell, Asia can be held easier than Europe. Ask Napoleon man. Ask Hitler. No, seriously, ask them.
Kramer: Do you know what the Ukraine is? It’s a sitting
duck. A road apple, Newman. The Ukraine is weak. It’s feeble. I think it’s
time to put the hurt on the Ukraine.
Ukrainian: I come from Ukraine. You not say Ukraine weak.
Kramer: Yeah, well we’re playing a game here, pal.
Ukrainian: Ukraine is game to you?! How about I take your little board and smash it!!
What about, “Hungry Hungry Hippos?!?!”
These are all examples of common mass produced games… The past 40 years have produced much better games:
The following website is THE top resource on the web for boardgames:
http://boardgamegeek.com/
I agree with Neil. These are pretty bad games. This list is the board game equivalent of posting a list of the “best” movies and only including stuff like Plan 9 From Outer Space, Transformers 2, Catwoman, Gigli, Glitter, The Postman etc. Unfortunately a lot of people today simply aren’t aware of any games made during the last 10-20 years, despite the fact that the majority of modern board games outclass outdated crap like Monopoly like a Lamborghini would outclass a Trabant.
No offense meant, but it just makes me so sad that people still waste their time on games like these just because they don’t know any better. Check out http://www.boardgamegeek.com instead (it’s a bit like IMDB only for board games).
Monopoly and Scrabble are my least favorite games. I’ve refused to play either for about 10 years. I agree about Payday though. And also, I learned the basics of poker from Yahtzee, which was a definite plus.
You forgot Stratego. Now that was a game.
My god! That battleship box cracks me up. Im still laughing thinking about it.
RE: Candyland variations – I have a friend who has created a version of Candyland where the object is to escape from the game, while trying to slow down/destroy the other players (by blowing limbs off of them).
And my wife and I still play Scrabble on a regular basis – mostly to try and prepare ourselves for getting creamed at it by my mother-in-law when we visit them!
[...] Like Me//Daily [...]