Now, back to the list.  As you know we like to diversify our lists because we understand board gamers come from all walks of life and have their personal preferences. That being said, we found this list to be slightly more difficult to diversify because of the lack of reviews and or information on games recently produced.  We found most of the games receiving a lot of praise were typically for more advanced board gamers.  And quite frankly, we here at bestboardgameslist.com have not had enough time to play them all.

So, I turn to you.  Following our list, I would love to hear feedback from YOU! What was the best new board game(s) you played in 2013? What board games released in 2013 would you recommend for Families, Parties, etc?  What do you think of the games on our list?

Please leave your comment at the end of this post – I know our readers and fellow board gamers will greatly appreciate it.

As always, we separated our list of the Best Board Games of 2013 into the following most popular categories;

• Family
• Party
• Strategy
• Fantasy
• Kids

BEST BOARD GAMES 2013 List

Best Board Games 2013	Category	Age	Players	Playtime	Rating (1-5) Stars
Forbidden Desert Board Game	Family	10+	2~5	45 min	4.5
Eldritch Horror	Fantasy	14+	1~8	2~4 hrs	5
Rampage Board Game	Family/Kids	8+	2~4	30 min	4.5
Caverna: The Cave Farmers	Strategy	12+	1~7	120 min	4.5
DrunkQuest	Party/Adult	21+	3~6	20 min	4.5
Duel of Ages II Basic Set	Fantasy	12+	2~8	60 min	5
Jungle Ascent	Family	8+	2~4	30 min	5
Zombicide Season 2: Prison Outbreak	Fantasy	13+	1~6	60 min	4.5
Star Trek Attack Wing: Starter Set	Strategy	14+	2+	30 min	4.5
Bang!: The Dice Game	Party	8+	3~8	15 min	4.5
Ghooost Card Game	Family	8+	2~6	20 min	4
Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords Base Set	Fantasy	13+	1~4	90 min	4.5
Nations Board Game	Strategy	13+	1~5	2 hrs	5
Corporate America	Party	13+	3~6	90~120 min	5
Firefly: the Game	Strategy	12+	1~4	2 hrs+	4.5
Warhammer 40k Relic Boardgame	Fantasy	14+	2~4	2 hrs+	5
Space Cadets: Dice Duel	Party	14+	4~8	30 min	4
Blood Bound Game	Party	14+	6~12	30 min	4.5
Carcassonne: South Seas	Family	8+	3~5	30 min	4.5
Level 7 [Omega Protocol]	Fantasy	14+	2~6	60 min	4.5
HeroClix DC - Batman Gotham City Strategy Game	Strategy	14+	2~4	60 min	5

Even if the game is just silly, it’s getting both people interested in what the other is doing, and can create a little friendly competition between the two of you. And, if it’s more than just the two of you that need to be entertained, we have you covered here too.  There seems to be one couple in every network of friends that is hosting a night for everyone else to see each other. Well, with the help of this list, maybe you can be that couple and get all your friends together for a game night.

I’ve broken down my recommendations for the best board games for couples into two different categories: games that are best in larger groups of couples, and games that are a bit more intimate and should be played between just you and your partner. To help you in your search for quality games for adult couples, I’ve provided my favorite game from each category.

Best Board Games For Couples List

Best Couples Games	Age	Players	Best For	Playtime	Rating 1-5 (stars)
XXXopoly - Adult Board Games	18+	2	Just for 2	45 min	4
Loaded Questions	13+	3~6	Group	45 min	4.5
Battle Of The Sexes Board Game	16+	2~8	Just for 2/Group	45 min	4
SEXXXtions - The Hilarious NEW Adult Party Game that turns TMI into Too Much Fun!	18+	5~8	Group	30 min	4.5
Wackee Six Card Game	6+	2~6	Just for 2/Group	15 min	5
Monogamy A Hot Affair Game - EDO-6252-01	18+	2	Just for 2	30 min	4.5
'Table Topics - Couples, Blue'	18+	2	Just for 2	15 min	4.5
Blokus Duo Game	5+	2	Just for 2	20 min	4.5
Pocket Ungame Couples Version	16+	2	Just for 2	20 min	4.5
I've Never Board Game Adult Version	21+	2~8	Just for 2/Group	45 min	4.5

Board Games for Groups Of Couples – Loaded Questions

Loaded Questions is a very popular game and for good reason. It can be very revealing of who people really are deep down, and it’s just as good at showcasing how well you know your group of friends. And before I start in on the details, I would advise that this game be played between a group of friends that are at least acquaintances with everyone in the group. I will explain this further in a moment.

How the game works is there is a neutral question that is asked of all the players except the judge. Who gets to play the role of the judge changes every turn. The question is not trivia, it most often asks the opinion of the player, or puts out a hypothetical like “if your house was burning down, what would be the first thing you grabbed before running out?” That one is a bit generic, but the questions provided in the game can bring out some enlightening answers from players, and some are just so completely whacky, that there’s no way not to get a laugh out of your answer.

It’s for this reason that the game shouldn’t be played with unfamiliar people to the group. Because once all the answers have been turned in, the judge gets them read to him/her and they have to guess who said each answer. If the judge doesn’t know anyone in the group, then it will be difficult and uncomfortable for them to start assigning answers to people. So, if you’ve got a new girlfriend/boyfriend that you want to meet your friends, this game would not be ideal.

This is often the fault of the answers, because if you play like I do, I am the only one that should be held accountable for the terrible things that I say. And, trust me, terrible things will, and should be said in this game in order to maximize your fun. To me, no game is complete until at least half of the people in the room have gasped in shock. Loaded Questions provides ample opportunities for just such reactions.
Click for More Loaded Questions Info, Pricing and Reviews!

Just for 2 Board Games- Table Topics: couples

See our review of Best Just for 2 Adult Board Games here

In researching which of the best party board games to add to our list, I found that there are basically 4 categories within the party game genre. These sub categories should meet every audience’s needs and help narrow down the best choices for you.  Here they are in no particular order…

• Family - For a family get together (Holidays, Birthdays, etc). Diverse age group and genders.  Basically, a game you can play with Grandma and still have a good time.
• Office -For adult men and women ages 16+.  Politically correct and non-offensive.  Typically for 8+ players
• Adults – A get together with 4 or more people, possibly some alcohol involved, ages 17+, men and women, college dorm.
• Kids - Kids only, maybe a parent or two to teach and monitor the game

What makes a great party board game

The best party board games should be – simple to learn, interactive, fun and FUNNY.  It should not be extra competitive nor have to rely on complex strategies or tactics to win.  Social interaction between the players is usually what creates the best experience for all involved.  Laughing and having a good time should be more important than actually winning the game.  If your chosen game meets these criteria, then you and your guests are in for a great time.

What can ruin a great party board game

Difficulty level – There are many party board games out there that are rated highly and are overall great games.  However, one important thing to look for when choosing the best is – How long does it take to learn?  If a game does not have simple rules and you have to spend ample amounts of time explaining them, this can greatly effect the flow and fun of the game.

Learn the game -  To help keep the game flowing and fun I recommend you learn the game well before you bust it out for your party.  For best experience there should always be a moderator who knows the game well and can answer any questions quickly to keep the game moving.  If you have not played the game, find someone who has and ask them to help moderate.

Theme specific games – Games like Duck Dynasty, or Scene It -Twilight Saga for example, are games which are considered great fun to those who are familiar with the theme.  But, may not be fun to someone who has never watched the show, movie, etc.

Best Party Board Games List

Best Party Games	Age yrs	Players	Best For	Playtime	Rating 1-5 (stars)
Telestrations 12 Player Party Pack	8+	4~12	All	30 min	5
Cards Against Humanity	17+	4~8	Adult	30 min	5
Reverse Charades	6+	6~99	All	30 min	4.5
Guesstures	8+	4~99	All	10 min	4.5
Werewolves of Millers Hollow	10+	8~18	Family, Office, Adult	30 min	4.5
Spot It	7+	2~8	Family, Kids	15 min	5
Say Anything	13+	3~8	Adult	30 min	4.5
Wits and Wagers Party	10+	4~20	Office, Adult	20 min	4.5
Apples to Apples Party Box - The Game of Hilarious Comparisons (Family Edition)	13+	4~10	Family	30 min	4.5
Smarty Party	10+	3~8	Family, Adult	45 min	4.5
Word On The Street - The Hilarious Tug Of Words	12+	2~8	Family	20 min	4.5
Smart Ass	12+	2~8	Family	30 min	4.5
Time's Up - Deluxe	13+	3~8	Family, Adult	60 min	4.5
Spontuneous ® Party Board Game - The Game Where Lyrics Come to Life®!	9+	4~10	All	30 min	4.5
Rollick	10+	6~99	All	25 min	4.5

Best Party Board Games – Our Favorites!

 Best Family Party Board Game – Smart Ass

See Best Family Board Games  for our review

Click Here For Reviews, Ratings and More from Amazon.com

Best Office Party Board Game – Time’s Up!

Time’s Up is a very simple game that works great for a mixed crowd, or even a non-gaming crowd. That’s what makes it perfect for the office. If you’re playing a game at the office, you’re bound to end up with a few clueless people.

Teams can be divided up however you like, but there must be enough people on each team for a describer and a guesser. The cards that the describer is reading contain names of people; these people could be from a book, a movie, or a real person. The describer has to give clues to get the rest of the team to guess who is on the card. But, that’s just the first round.

In the second round, clues must consist only of one word, and the team only has one guess before the card cannot be scored. What ends up happening is there are often names in the deck that people do not know, so they end up giving clues that have nothing to do with who the person actually is, but rather just ways to get them to say the name.  This always influences the hilarious outcomes of the second round. The third round is charades.

Click Here for Amazon Ratings and Reviews

Best Adults Only Party Board Game – Cards Against Humanity

At this point, most people are aware of this game, but if you haven’t played it, then you do not realize its greatness. If you don’t know, that’s fine. Cards Against Humanity is almost exactly the same in concept to Apples to Apples: the judge picks the top card off the deck of adjectives, and everyone else in the game has noun cards. Non-judge players throw in the noun card that they feel best suits the definition of the adjective, the judge decides the most fitting card and the owner of that card wins the round.

I remember playing Apples to Apples for the first time and thinking that the game was fun, but the cards lacked a little life at times. The best moments in Apples to Apples always seemed to be when somebody would say something terribly inappropriate. For example: the adjective for the round is “comfortable” and someone plays the noun “electric chair,” or something really offensive like the adjective being “compassionate” and someone plays “Adolf Hitler.”

Well, Cards Against Humanity is a game built entirely on that kind of humor. This game is not for the faint of heart. If you get uncomfortable around the topics of race, religion, risky sex acts, and the debasement of political pundits, then perhaps Cards Against Humanity isn’t for you. But, if you can let loose and embrace the absurdity of the game, it’s difficult to find a game that creates more belly laughs.

It’s best to play this game in moderately mixed company. If you play with five standup comedians, no one is offended, no one is shocked, it’s just people saying terrible things. But, if you have two of those comedians and someone’s girlfriend that still collects Disney Princess dolls, you’ll get the perfect combination of gasps and hoots that will entertain everyone for an entire evening.  Amazon.com’s #1 selling game for all of 2013, with a 5 star rating and over 5000 reviews.

Click Here for Ratings, Reviews and Pricing

Best Kid’s Party Board Game – King of Tokyo

See Best Board Games For Kids for our review

Click Here for more info and pricing

That being said, when it comes to searching for the best adult board games on the webby web, like most categories you will get varied results.  Most often you will probably find games that are sexual in nature.  While these may be the type of adult games you are searching for, we here at bestboardgameslist.com realize that there are also other types of adult games people may want.

During our research we found that there are generally a few different categories of adult board games that people are looking for.  To help you find the right one for your needs, we’ve broken them down into three major subcategories,

Best Adult Board Games Subcategories

Games for couples, or rather, groups of couples. These games are great for small get togethers where everybody may not necessarily know each other.
Just for 2 adult games made just for an individual couple. These games can often be a bit sexual in nature, but not all of them (as you’ll see below).
Adult party games, these games are usually played by groups of friends that don’t mind getting a little rowdy. Some vulgarity may be involved, but that’s okay, it’s a party!

Our list of the best adult board games is  broken down by each subcategory and as always  we will be providing our personal favorites from each below.

Best Adult Games	Age yrs	Players	Best For	Playtime	Rating 1-5 (stars)
Cards Against Humanity	17+	4~30	Party	30 min	5
The Settlers of Catan	10+	3~4	Party	90 min	4.5
Smart Ass	12+	2~8	Couples/Party	30 min	4.5
Loaded Questions	13+	3~6	Party	45 min	4.5
Adult HedBanz Game	13+	2~6	Couples/Party	30 min	4.5
Wits & Wagers	10+	3~7	Party	25 min	4.5
Battle Of The Sexes Board Game	16+	2~8	Couples	45 min	4
SEXXXtions - The Hilarious NEW Adult Party Game that turns TMI into Too Much Fun!	18+	5~8	Couples, Party	30 min	4.5
WHAT'S THE LINK? Board Game	13+	2~10	Couples, Party	30 min	4.5
Cranium	16+	4~16	Couples/Party	60 min	4.5
What's Yours Like? - The Game That Tells it Like it Is	12+	4	Party	30min	4.5
5 Second Rule - Just Spit it Out!	10+	3~99	Party	15 min	4.5
XXXopoly - Adult Board Games	18+	2	Just for 2	45 min	4
'Table Topics - Couples, Blue'	18+	2	Just for 2	15 min	4.5
Adult Loaded Questions	18+	4~6	Party	45 min	4
Taboo	12+	4~10	Party	20 min	4.5
Shot Glass Roulette - Drinking Game Set (Comes With 2 Balls and 16 Shot Glasses)	21+	2~16	Couples, Party	15 min	4
Curses	12+	3~6	Couples, Party	30 min	4.5
I've Never Board Game Adult Version	21+	2~8	Couples, Party	45 min	4.5

Our Favorite Adult Board Games!

Best Adult Board Game For Couples - Wits and Wagers: Party Edition

This is a game based on numbers, which can be intimidating to some, but this game is much friendlier than it first appears. In Wits and Wagers, you are asked trivia questions that will always have an answer with a numeric value. So, the question will be something along the lines of “How long is the Great Wall of China?” Now, there are a handful of people in the world that will know the exact answer to that question. But, for most of us, we just know that the number is big.

Everyone writes their guess on a card which is then revealed. Players will then bet on which answer they believe is closest to correct. So, the game isn’t about who knows the answers to these questions, if anything it’s about who places the smartest bets and has the best instincts.

It’s for this reason that Wits and Wagers is completely non-exclusionary. Sure, you don’t know the answer to that trivia question, no one does. We’re all just guessing, betting, and making fun of everyone else’ guesses and bets. This game plays anywhere from 4-20 players, and is easily customized to be played in teams. So if you’ve got 10 couples, you may want to try and pair everybody up and play around of 10 teams.

This game is also extremely family friendly, so don’t be afraid to have it out at your next family get together. boardgamegeek.com rated 7 of 10.

Click Here To See Pricing, Ratings and Reviews of Wits and Wagers Party

Best Just for 2 Adult Board Game - Table Topics: couples

This is an interesting couples game in that it isn’t a game by traditional standards. Table Topics is non-competitive, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun. The game is simple, but unique. Meant to be played just between partners, Table Topics is a stack of cards with questions on them. These questions revolve around trying to get a conversation started, with some of them being a bit more invasive than others. The questions can range from silly to interesting to surprisingly illuminating.

There is a bit of a caveot here: this game seems to be built primarily for established couples that are already in a very intimate relationship. With questions like “have you ever cheated on a lover” or “Which sexual activity would you like to try if there were no negative consequences” there is opportunity here for conflict if the couple is not extremely comfortable with each other. When playing this with my longtime girlfriend, I was able to avoid any frightening amount of tension from the questions, but the concern is there.

The most interesting thing I noticed happening when playing this game was that there were some cards that started us on a conversation that ends somewhere that looks nothing like the beginning. You’ll notice that one of you just ends up on a tangent, the other starts asking more questions, and soon enough you’ve forgotten that you’re playing a game at all. You’re just jabbering.

If you’re in a relationship that feels like it may be getting a bit stale, these questions ought to spark an interesting conversation. If you’ve just started dating someone and feel like this would be a great way to start an interrogation, then this game may not be for you, especially if you’re not ready for a few honest answers. I recommend this game to couples that feel like they’ve talked about everything and aren’t afraid of hearing about what may end up being some of the messier details of someone’s past.

See Pricing, Ratings and Reviews here

Best Board Game For Adult Parties - Cards Against Humanity

See our previous review of Cards Against Humanity Here.

Click Here For Ratings and Reviews at Amazon.com