27 Stupendous Board Games For Adults That'll Take Game Night To New Heights

Avast, ye swashbuckler, are you brave enough to join the fleet, or maybe even captain one, and traverse the high seas waging war against other pirates? Find out in Plunder, A Pirate's Life, a game of wits, wonder, waves, and of course, treasure. The rules are easy to master but the strategy required is what you'll have to pracitce.

If you don't recognize the Batman Who Laughs, that's good, he's one of the DC Universe's most sinister characters. It's up to you and your friends to bring him down. Assume the identity of your favorite super- and anti-heroes as you make your way through the game.

It's Clue, but more murdery. This murder mystery involves death on the high seas and is built in an escape room format. It's incredibly dynamic, with a gameboard that builds and changes as you progress and puzzles that unlock as you reach new levels. Up to 10 can play at once, so it's a good fit for a dinner party.

You're a secret agent and you're tasked with contacting all of your agents before your other players do. The only problem is that they're trying to do the same thing. Engage in secrecy, deception, and mystery with the game, which only takes 15 minutes to play.

A game that turns you into an artisan is a particularly entertaining jaunt. Azul has subtle depth, a lot of beauty, and a simple strategy that all will enjoy. The play is totally randomized, so you'll never play the same game two times over.

If you haven't played Sequence before, you're missing out. The game is one of simple strategy and a little luck and is played with nothing more than a deck of cards and a mat. Try and match 5 in a row, but watch out for the Jacks, they cause trouble.

The Game of Scattergories is almost 40 years old and in those 4 decades, it's evolved to become one of the most beloved. This special edition comes with a special die and a rolling surface that makes playing easier. A throwback timer is included, too, for even more fun.

Spend game night on the edge of your seat by seeing if you can survive Resident Evil 2: The Board Game. In this co-operative horror game you and three of your friends will see if you all can survive the nightmarish zombie-riddled streets of Raccoon City.

Try your hand at drafting gameplay and see if you've got what it takes to please the nobility with Splendor Duel. You'll compete against your fellow player in the Renaissance-era game, which is ideal for two. It's got a compact setup that's great for traveling and has a high-paced feel that's always exciting.

Do you get bonus points by starting this game at 4:20? Only you can find out as you make your way through a magical mystical world of green. The adventure game is all about friendship, good vibes, and having a good time together.

Do a little misbehavin' on game night with your buddies by playing through Firefly. The massive board game has expansion packs available to introduce more characters, challenges, and objectives to the cooperative or competitive mode (yes, there are two modes of play!). You're a captain at the edge of the 'Verse, have some fun with it!

Immerse yourself in incredible imagery and an extraordinary story as you fulfill wildlife goals, create habitat corridors and expand your ecosystems in Cascadia. The game is a fun spatial puzzle with an enchanting story that will entertain one player or all the way up to four.

You'll plot your moves in secret, making small advances to grow the Galactic Empire or the Rebel Alliance so you don't tip off your fellow players to your plans. The minute moves are in stark contrast to the massive game, which has you adventure through the galaxy on two boards with 150 miniatures.

Your next Downton Abbey watch party could use a little party in a box, why not try this board game? While competing against your friends and vying for the prize, you'll make your way around a blueprint of the Abbey and learn trivia about the show.

Pour yourself a glass of wine, grab the girls and sit down to play an intriguing game of wit, wonder, and wine-making. Viticulture challenges you and your fellow players to successfully create their own Tuscan crop of grapes. It's a fabulously relaxing game that you'll want to play over and over again.

Science nerds, this one is for you. Take a trip to Gregor Mendel's lab and explore heredity, Punnett squares, and genetics through the lens of Mendel and his studies of genetics. What sounds super nerdy is a cunning game of action, resource retrieval, and racing fellow players to the finish line.

Test your hand at leading a cult with an award-winning game of charisma, cheeky humor, and lots of player interaction. Talk and play your way through the satirical game, which has some retro vibes and a simple premise that relies on your stellar strategy.

Depending on when the polls close, you and the people at your election party could have a lot of time to kill before the official winner is announced. Declare your own winner playing a game of political glory with the aptly named Election Night!