For many families across the UK, settling down for a cosy afternoon of board games is a cherished Christmas tradition, ranking alongside decorating the tree and hanging the wreath. Yet, the festive spirit can quickly sour when a heated Monopoly dispute erupts or Scrabble tiles go missing. To help you avoid these pitfalls, our expert reviewers have spent weeks testing dozens of games to curate the definitive list of the best board games to bring everyone together this Christmas.
Expert-Tested Picks for Every Family
Whether your clan craves a simple, laugh-out-loud party game or a deep strategic challenge, our comprehensive buying guide has you covered. We've evaluated modern classics like Wingspan and Azul alongside perennial favourites such as Catan, ensuring options for all budgets and interests. Our testing process involved playing each game for several weeks with multiple groups, assessing not just fun but also accessibility and ease of learning.
Our Top Game Recommendations
1. Best Buy Overall: Wingspan
With a price of £45 from Amazon or £39.99 from Zatu Games, Wingspan is a stunning strategy-puzzle hybrid where players build avian habitats. Our reviewer, a long-time enthusiast, calls it an "absolute joy" with simple-to-learn rules that hide immense strategic depth. The gorgeous artwork and premium components make it a standout. While the £59.99 RRP is a premium, the endless replayability and option for solo or up to five-player games offer superb value.
2. Best Party Game: Herd Mentality
Priced at £22 from Amazon, this game is guaranteed to get the whole room shouting. The goal is to blend in with the crowd by matching the majority's answer to quirky questions. It supports up to 20 players and can be learned in minutes, though the small tokens can be easily lost.
3. Best Board Game for Kids: Oh My Pigeons!
At £15.99 from John Lewis, this is a frenetic, simple card game where players race to fill a bench with plastic pigeons. Rounds last under 15 minutes, making it perfect for short attention spans. It's akin to "the best bits of UNO" but beware of small, flyaway pieces.
4. Best Strategy Board Game: Catan
This timeless classic, available for £35.99 from Amazon, tasks players with building settlements and trading resources on a modular hex board. Its enduring popularity stems from tense negotiations and strategic depth, though new players may find the learning curve steep.
5. Best Puzzle Game: Azul
A beautifully designed tile-drafting game, Azul costs £42.99 from Zatu Games. Players compete to create the most stunning mosaic, offering satisfying, strategic puzzle gameplay that demands careful planning and fosters that "one more round" feeling.
6. Best Co-operative Board Game: Mysterium
For £31 from Amazon, this game combines Cluedo with charades. One player, as a ghost, uses surreal vision cards to guide other players in solving a murder. It promotes creative teamwork and features stunning artwork, though the rulebook can be confusing initially.
7. Best Two-Player Game: The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle Earth
Priced at £21.98 from Zatu Games, this head-to-head battle offers multiple paths to victory, capturing the epic feel of Tolkien's world. It's perfect for fans but engaging for all, despite being limited to two competitors.
8. Best Stocking Filler: Tinderblox
This compact, £11.99 game from Amazon is a dexterity challenge mixing Jenga and Operation. Players use tweezers to stack wooden blocks into a campfire. Its portable tin and low price make it an ideal small gift or travel game.
Final Verdict and Practical Advice
If you buy only one game, our expert's unequivocal choice is Wingspan. It offers unparalleled depth, replayability, and premium quality, making it a fantastic gift and a family favourite. For guaranteed group laughter, Herd Mentality is the top pick.
Board game prices vary widely. Expect to pay £15-£25 for party games, £40-£50 for larger strategy games like Catan, and over £60 for premium titles. To try before you buy, visit a local board game café. If you lose pieces, many publishers like Asmodee offer free replacement parts, or you can search on eBay or Etsy.
This Christmas, swap the traditional arguments for engaging, shared fun with a board game perfectly suited to your family's dynamic.
