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The Best Games For Adults

Last updated on July 21, 2020

We looked at the top 10 Games For Adults and dug through the reviews from 35 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Games For Adults.

Best Games For Adults

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Our Picks For The Top Games For Adults

Show Contents
Our Take
Experts Included
Pros
Cons
  Best Overall

Off Topic Group Party Games For Adults

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

Off Topic

Adult Group Party Game

Overall Take

Stir Up Hilarious ConversationsWrite down answers for each topic that begin with the letter rolled.

Experts Included
DWYM Entertainment Experts plus US Weekly, Live Bold & Bloom, SVM Learning, CNN underscored. Along with user reviews from Amazon.
Pros
" This competitive game will have everyone filling out their cards to beat the hourglass timer, listing out answers they can think of to the prompts on the topic cards. This is “a game for those slightly off,” so don’t expect..."
  Runner Up

Exploding Kittens Family-Friendly Adult Card Game

Exploding Kittens

Family-Friendly Adult Card Game

Overall Take

Ideal for Adults, Teens and KidsLike a strategic Russian roulette, but with kittens.

Experts Included
DWYM Entertainment Experts plus BestReviews, Engaged Family Gaming, New York Mag, The Spruce. Along with user reviews from Amazon.
Pros
" Can be played with two to five players and is easy to learn. Once everyone knows the rules, play goes quickly. A nice mix of strategy and luck in tandem with adorable card illustrations. For adults, there's also a NSFW..."
Cons
"It probably couldn’t support a game night on its own."
  Also Great

Hasbro Gaming RISK 60th Anniversary Adult Board Game

Hasbro Gaming

RISK 60th Anniversary Adult Board Game

Overall Take

A Beloved ClassicThis classic strategic combat game is filled with betrayal, alliances and surprise attacks.

Experts Included
DWYM Entertainment Experts plus Simply Fun Games, Heavy, Screen Rant. Along with user reviews from Amazon.
Pros
" This edition also features exclusive artwork and figures, and they are all packed in a gorgeous box that looks like a vintage travel suitcase."
  Honorable Mention

Catan Studio The Adult Board Game

Catan Studio

The Adult Board Game

Overall Take

Cooperate and Negotiate to Build a Civilization Players compete to build the biggest settlement.

Experts Included
DWYM Entertainment Experts plus BestReviews, The New York Times, The Spruce, New York Mag. Along with user reviews from Amazon.
Pros
" Allows for 3 to 4 players. Games usually take 1-2 hours of playing time. Board recently redesigned with new artwork. Extremely interactive game that requires cooperation from other players."
Cons
"The only drawback is that sometimes you end up in a game where you have no chance of winning, and that can be less than fun."
Don't just take for granted what one reviewer says. Along with our own experts, DWYM analyzes the top expert reviews of the leading products and generates a score you can actually trust.
17

Products Considered

We identified the majority of the games for adults available to purchase.
10

Products Analyzed

We then selected the leading and most popular products for our team to review.

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35

Expert Reviews Included

In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources including: BestReviews, The Spruce, Board Games Wizard, Simply Fun Games, Heavy.

118,167

User Opinions Analyzed

We also incorporate user reviews from the leading retailers including

Our experts reviewed the top 10 Games For Adults and also dug through the reviews from 35 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Games For Adults.

DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.

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Look for the DWYM seal for products that are the best in their category.

The Best Overall

Off Topic Group Party Games For Adults


Our Expert Score

9.7
4 expert reviews

User Summarized Score

9.2
350 user reviews

Our Take

This game is sure to elicit some laughter. Players draw cards to set topics and roll a dice to pick a letter that all answers must start with. Plus, you get to debate your answers with your friends and family.

What other experts liked

This competitive game will have everyone filling out their cards to beat the hourglass timer, listing out answers they can think of to the prompts on the topic cards. This is “a game for those slightly off,” so don’t expect...
- US Weekly
The fun conversations happen when you have to defend your answers when one of the players contests it. Some of the topics include adult subject matter. The dry erase boards and markers make it easy to get your ideas down...
- Live Bold & Bloom
If you have a short attention span, this one’s for you. You draw a card and set the topic of the round. You roll the die and it picks the letter. Now, you must race against one another to come...
- CNN underscored

The Best Bang For Your Buck

Exploding Kittens Family-Friendly Adult Card Game

Our Expert Score

10.0
4 expert reviews

User Summarized Score

9.2
26,105 user reviews

Our Take

In this game, players draw cards. If they get an exploding kitten, they’re out unless they can diffuse the situation. This game is perfect for kids and adults of all ages.

What other experts liked

Can be played with two to five players and is easy to learn. Once everyone knows the rules, play goes quickly. A nice mix of strategy and luck in tandem with adorable card illustrations. For adults, there's also a NSFW version available.
- BestReviews
This game is more fun than one might think it would be. It plays quickly and is easy to learn. Pick it up for something additional to do during a night of gaming. It is a fine addition to throw in while someone is running to set up something else.
- Engaged Family Gaming
Lots of reviewers appreciate that the cards are “random” but family-friendly. A mother brings this game on family camping and hiking trips. And another parent who bought it for their teenage daughter calls it “a quirky, funny, and flexible game that provides actual interaction in a light and funny way.”
- New York Mag
There’s luck involved in Exploding Kittens, but you can also get strategic about sabotaging your opponents. The whole family will love Exploding Kittens, as it’s unlike any other game. While the game may seem complicated, it’s quick and easy to learn. Many parents say children were able to keep up!
- The Spruce

What other experts didn't like

The cards wear out quickly.
- BestReviews
It probably couldn’t support a game night on its own.
- Engaged Family Gaming

Overall Product Rankings

1. Off Topic Group Party Games For Adults

Overall Score: 9.8
Reviews Included: 5

2. Exploding Kittens Family-Friendly Adult Card Game

Overall Score: 9.7
Reviews Included: 5

3. Hasbro Gaming RISK 60th Anniversary Adult Board Game

Overall Score: 9.5
Reviews Included: 5

4. Catan Studio The Adult Board Game

Overall Score: 9.5
Reviews Included: 5

5. Z-Man Games Pandemic Adult Board Game

Overall Score: 9.4
Reviews Included: 5

6. Jax Sequence Original Sequence Adult Game

Overall Score: 9.3
Reviews Included: 5

8. Cards Against Humanity LLC. Adult Card Game

Overall Score: 9.0
Reviews Included: 5

9. Hasbro Gaming Classic Trivial Pursuit Adult Game

Overall Score: 8.7
Reviews Included: 5

Our Game For Adults Findings


Off Topic Group Party Games For Adults

What We Liked: This game is sure to elicit some laughter. Players draw cards to set topics and roll a dice to pick a letter that all answers must start with. Plus, you get to debate your answers with your friends and family.


Exploding Kittens Family-Friendly Adult Card Game

What We Liked: In this game, players draw cards. If they get an exploding kitten, they’re out unless they can diffuse the situation. This game is perfect for kids and adults of all ages.


Hasbro Gaming RISK 60th Anniversary Adult Board Game

What We Liked: This 60th anniversary edition is the ultimate board game for Risk fans. This classic strategic combat game is filled with betrayal, alliances and surprise attacks.


Catan Studio The Adult Board Game

What We Liked: In this strategic game, players have to gather resources and trade them in order to build a civilization. Beware of the robber, who can steal your resources and thwart your plans. This game has a playing time of one hour.


Z-Man Games Pandemic Adult Board Game

What We Liked: Players have to team up to stop the spread of deadly diseases. Each character has a special role to play with unique skills. This game has a playing time for 45 minutes.


Hygge Games …I should have known that! Trivia Games For Adults

What We Liked: You can create teams or have people play this game individually. Instead of obscure facts, it asks everyday common questions. This game is ideal for people over 14.

Our Game For Adults Buying Guide

While children get to enjoy lots of different types of games, these days there are also many games specifically made for adults. A structured form of play, a game typically involves a competitive or teamwork element; in some games, you work against the other players to win, while in others you have to work together in order to defeat the game. Many games for adults are played using a board, while other games involve cards. The goal of most adult games is to accumulate the highest number of points in order to win.

There are many different reasons to play games that go far beyond just entertainment and having fun. One of the key advantages is that games help to increase your brain function. Essentially, playing games is like exercise for your mind, so it’s important to do it regularly to stay healthy. Through the rules and strategy of the game, you stimulate memory formation and thought process functions. Essential cognitive skills like problem-solving, communication and decision making are used when playing games, so they are a great way to stay sharp.

As an adult, there are many stressful events in our lives that can take over and cause us to feel down. Playing games is a way to decrease this amount of stress through laughter and companionship. Many games have surprising elements that often elicit a laugh. Plus, games of all kinds encourage creativity, which helps many adults think outside of their regular lives. For a few hours, it’s easy to forget about bills, work and other stresses of being an adult. In fact, games actually trigger a release of endorphins, which help people feel more compassionate, happy and cheerful while they are playing.

Most games require two or more people to play. This is a great way to build relationships and foster friendships. In many games, there is an element of teamwork, which is a good way to strengthen bonds with your friends. Even competitive games foster a sense of camaraderie because you are playing with each other. Games help to bring people together over a shared interest. Plus, they open the gateway for natural conversation to flow, where people can learn more about each other. While playing games, it’s easy to chat about other elements of your life, such as kids, work, family, interests and hobbies.

DWYM Fun Fact

Games for adults have a long history. In fact, games are actually pre-historic, which means that they were around even before humans had developed a written language. The first game was actually based on dice. These small playing pieces, which are the foundation of so many games today, were a game all on their own thousands of years ago. In the Başur Höyük burial mound in Turkey, 49 small carved stones were found. These are believed to be the oldest gaming pieces in existence, from 5,000 years ago. Dice in Mesopotamia were made from knucklebones, stones, turtle shells or wood. Sticks could also be used in a similar way to dice. One side of each stick would be painted, and people would throw a group of sticks up in the air. The number of painted sides that were showing would be the number of the “roll.”

The Game For Adults Tips and Advice

  • If you’re looking for the perfect game for adults for game night, start by considering what everyone’s interests are. Many games for adults involve complex strategy and require you to think a few moves ahead. If the people you’re playing with love figuring out complex problems, then a strategy game may be a good choice. Other people prefer hilarious conversations and unique topics. Some adult games provide great punchlines that let laughter flow. If your friends and family prefer conversation-based games, then this is a good option.
  • Consider whether your friends prefer competitive or teamwork games. If they love working against each other to show off their skills and get more points than one another, then a competitive game is a great choice. Some people prefer games where everyone has to work together to achieve a single goal. If this is more up your alley, go for a teamwork game.
  • Most games require two to four players, while some can be played individually or with a larger group. Consider how many people you expect to play with most often, and get a game that accommodates those needs. Keep in mind that some games work better with a larger group, even though they can still be played with just two or three people. Conversely, some games are more fun with a tight-knit group of friends rather than a large crowd.
  • The length of time you have to play is something that will affect the type of game you choose. You cannot fit a six-hour game into thirty minutes no matter how fast you play. If you typically have just an hour or two, then it’s best to stay away from complex strategy games which can take several hours. In this case, opt for a game with a short playing time.
  • If you sometimes involve older children and teenagers in your game nights, consider whether the game is appropriate for their age. While many games are based on themes and topics that are friendly for all ages, some games have sensitive or adult topics that may not be suitable for children.
  • For some shoppers, complexity is a buying factor. How difficult is the game to learn and how long will it take you to figure out the rules? If you don’t mind spending an hour or two looking through the rule book, then you’ll be happy with almost any type of game. If you’re not interested in wasting time learning complex rules, stay away from long strategy games or games with multiple components.

About The Author

Anam Ahmed 

Anam Ahmed is a copywriter and essayist based in Toronto. She has been writing on technology, travel, parenting, and business for over 10 years, and works with a number of high-profile organizations. She values finding the best products to make people's lives easier. Anam earned an M.A. from the University of Toronto and a B.A.H. from Queen's University. Learn more at www.anamahmed.ca.