54 Best New Board Games of 2017 for Every Person on Your List

Board games are great to play whether you’re young or old. They’re perfect for bringing family and friends together and adding a little dash of healthy competition. Within this list, you’ll find the best board games of 2017. Buy a few and find your family’s new favorite.

Pie Face Sky High Game

The hit board game from 2015 is returning for 2017, bigger and better! Standing at over 3 feet tall, players pit their strength against their friends to avoid getting pied. Working like a classic carnival game, players must hit the plate with all their might and try to splat their friends.

$17.94

Rio Grande Dominion Nocturne Board Game

Nocturne is the 11th expansion for the Dominion series. Try and gain the most victory points to win the game. With 33 new Kingdom cards, this expansion will make the game feel new and fresh again. It’s designed for 2-6 players and an average playing time of 30 minutes, making it ideal for after Christmas lunch.

Prices Vary

Arcane Wonders Viral Board Game

Ever wondered what it would be like to spread a deadly virus? Well now you can…just without all the death and destruction! Mutation cards can change the behavior of your viruses making this game full of surprises! In order to win, you must infect an entire body with your virus.

$38.95

Fantasy Flight Games Cities of Splendor Expansion Board Games

Cities of Splendor is the first ever expansion for the board game, Splendor. There are 4 expansion packs within a single box and each expansion pack is different from the next. This keep the game feeling unique and with varying approaches, there’s options for everyone.

$39.99

Jim Henson's Labyrinth Board Game

The perfect board game for fans of the 80’s hit movie, Labyrinth starring the late and great David Bowie. Featuring 5 highly collectible figurines of the film’s characters including Sarah and Sir Didymus, you must navigate your way around the board and save Toby from the goblin king!

$48.99

Maze Racers Game

Compete with your friends to build the most complicated and creative maze you can think of. Once you’ve designed your maze using the magnetic strips, it’s time to swap! It’s a race to the finish line. Get your little ball to the finish line first to win.

$34.95

Bob Ross The Art of Chill Board Game

In order to win this game, you have to gain chill status by earning chill points. The way you do that is by finishing one of Bob Ross’ painting before he does. Paint features like Happy Little Trees and Almighty Mountains all while keeping an eye on your opponent’s painting strategy.

$24.56

Renegade Game Studios Dragon's Hoard Board Game

Collect colorful sheep and exchange them for treasure. As a Dragon, you’re drawn to shiny treasure but be warned! The other players can stop you acquiring the treasure by sending angry mobs and magical wizards after you. Fight to keep your treasure and stop your opponent’s keeping theirs.

Prices Vary

Thames & Kosmos Word Slam Game

Is charades getting tiresome? The old favorite has been given a new spin with this new board game. Split into two teams and appoint a storyteller. Each storyteller has the same term they have to tell their team, but no speaking is allowed! It’s a race against the clock to be the first team to guess.

Prices Vary

Learning Resources Code & Go Robot Mouse Activity Set

Build a maze and then input up to 40 coding commands into Colby the mouse. Help him navigate his way around the maze you’ve created to find the cheese. Colby has interactive sound effects and features 2 speed settings, meaning he can be used on smooth surfaces or the carpet.

$59.99

SKYJO by Magilano Board Game

Try and earn the least amount of points to win this game. Trade and collect numbered cards to try and get the lowest score possible while ensuring your opponent’s get a higher one! This game is also educational as it teaches math skills as you play!

$14.95

Imagine The Animated Guessing Game

This board game tests your imagination as you race to guess what the icon on the card is. With 61 unique icons and over 1000 prompts, the possibilities really are endless with this game. This looks set to be one of the best board games of 2017.

Prices Vary

Trouble Game Retro Series

Play this classic retro board game in a throwback to 1986 and instantly feel like your younger self again. Be the first person to get your pegs around the board and over the finish line to win. The Pop-O-Matic die roller is a nostalgic sound and will take you right back to the 80’s.

$49.99

Star Wars Rebellion: Rise of the Empire Expansion

Rise of the Empire is an expansion pack for the board game Star Wars Rebellion which was inspired by the 2016 film, Rogue One. With 8 new leaders, 36 plastic minifigures and more than 100 new cards, you’ll create a whole new episode in your ongoing Galactic War.

$40.49

Gamewright Qwingo Rank & Roll Dice Game

Grab your friends and gather around to play Qwingo, the quick-thinking game of luck. There is no strategy involved in this game, just good old-fashioned luck. Roll the custom die and call out a number. The numbers on your sheet must be in ascending order for you to win so plot them carefully!

Prices Vary

Simon Optix Game

Connect the headsets and get repetitive! Simon Optix is an interactive game where the player wears the headset and copies the patterns shown in lights using their hands. Don’t mess it up though…because if you do, you’re out! Players can also choose to play solo. Get that practice in so you can beat your friends!

Prices Vary

Avalon Hill Betrayal at Baldur's Gate Board Game

Fancy a new twist on the board game Dungeons and Dragons? Then this game is for you! This mash up of two D&D games will take you on an adventure like never before! Return to this game again and again to discover mystery, murder and 50 new scenarios to make no 2 games the same.

$46.81

Monopoly Gamer

This is Monopoly like you’ve never seen it before. Play as your favorite Super Mario characters such as Yoshi and Princess Peach and battle legendary bosses. The classic Monopoly money has been replaced with coins and the power-up die can activate special abilities to help you win!

$20.44

Gamewright Loot Deluxe Tin Plundering Pirate Card Game

Put on your pirate’s hat and take to the high seas with this game of strategy. Attack your opponent’s ships and take their treasure but remember to keep your ships safe, they’ll be a potential target! The player with the most treasure at the end of the game wins.

Prices Vary

Chomp

Remember that phrase from Finding Nemo, “fish are friends, not food?” That’s definitely not the case in this board game. Try and tackle the food chain of the deep and chomp the lowest links first. This is a great game to teach children about the food chain, as well as developing hand-eye coordination.

Prices Vary

Z-Man Games Pandemic: Legacy Season 2 Black Edition

The follow up to the hit board game Pandemic Legacy: season 1, season 2 follows a deadly virus taking over the world and you are humanity’s last hope. Get the supplies to the cities who need them while trying to cure the plague. Be careful though, every decision you make can affect future games.

$67.28

ThinkFun Cat Crimes Logic Game Brainteaser Challenge

Expand your child’s logic and solve the kitty crime! From tangling the yarn and a missing bird, one of the 6 felines are responsible. Use the clues and little kitty pawprints to figure out which cat was where when the crime took place and solve the mystery!

$14.99

Watch Ya Mouth Throwdown Edition Card Game

This board game is on the 2017 Amazon Holiday Toy List so you definitely need this for the upcoming holiday season. Players have to wear mouth pieces while trying to say phrases for the other players to guess but the phrases might sound a little funnier than first anticipated!

Prices Vary

Gamewright Think 'N Sync Great Minds Think Alike Game Card Game

Play this game with your family or your very best friend. These people have to think like you because the aim of this game is to shout out the same answer at the same time. Can you both name an ice cream flavor? Whatever answer you shout, has to be the same as your partner’s!

$10.00

Pandamonium Game by Gamewright

Mimic the Panda Philharmonic orchestra and brush up on your memory and reflex skills. But if you make one wrong move, you collect every single member of the orchestra and the aim of the game is to get rid of all your cards! Become a musical maestro with this board game of 2017.

Prices Vary

Super Tooth A Dino Mite Card Game

Race to capture matching sets of your favorite dinosaurs. Teach your child the names of dinosaurs such as Triceratops and Stegosaurus all while improving their recognition skills. But beware! There’s enemies such as Velociraptors and the big ol’ T-Rex just waiting for their lunch! Collect the most sets to win.

Prices Vary

Z-Man Games Pandemic: Legacy Season 2 Yellow Edition

Embark across the globe and try and solve the mystery of the plague which has ravaged the world as you know it. Try and get supplies to the last few cities who need them but be careful. Every decision you make is carried over to the next game. You’re humanity’s last hope.

$47.99

Tortuga 1667 Board Game

Tortuga 1667 is a strategy game where you have to take to the high seas and gain as much treasure before the Spanish Armada arrives. Each player has a secret loyalty to the English or the French and your job is to take out the enemy and steal their treasure.

$24.99

Brain Games Ice Cool Family Board Game

Play the first flicking board game with pieces that curve and jump! Take on the roles of Runners and Catchers. Runners have to catch fish. When this happens, you get a fish card. But watch out for the Catchers. They catch Runners and take their ID cards! Get the most victory points to win the game!

$25.51

IELLO Mountains of Madness Strategy Board Game

Inspired by the novel written by H.P Lovecraft, in this board game players must get to the top of the mountain by plane and then escape safely again. But as the plane gets higher, your fellow teammates get crazier! Can you stick together when things get weird?

$39.99

Flashlights & Fireflies Board Game

Race through your backyard in the dark in this board game. Catch fireflies to power up your flashlight and then race back to the house to win. Shine your bright light on the other players before they make it back home and also watch out for other nighttime critters who could trip you up!

Prices Vary

Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization

Start with a small tribe and the dream to create a great civilization. Farm and mine to build up the resources needed for your cities, make huge technological advancements and appoint wise leaders who will lead you to victory. You’ll need things like a strong economy and happy citizens to drive your civilization to greatness.

$64.41

The Chameleon Board Game

There is a chameleon among you in this board game. But who is it? Everyone knows the secret word apart from the chameleon and it’s your job to figure out who they are. Using carefully selected words, it’s the chameleon’s job to blend in and remain undiscovered to win the game.

Prices Vary

Dude Games Magic Maze Board Game

You play as a group of adventurers with rotten luck in this board game. With just a copper piece between you all, your job is to get back the supplies you need to carry on dungeon diving. But you’re not allowed to speak or look at each other. This is a game of trust and cooperation.

Prices Vary

Thames & Kosmos Lagoonies Game

It’s your job to find the sea sprites hidden by the grumpy sea octopus. But when the octopus creates a whirlpool, all the sea sprites get muddled up and it’s difficult to spot them! Bubble lenses on the board can make all the creatures look the same but you must try and find them.

$12.73

Passport Game Studios Tokaido Matsuri Miniatures

This is a must have board game for any Tokaido fan. With 16 never before offered miniatures and travelers from the previous Tokaido expansion pack, you can carry on travelling down the East sea road. The miniatures will also fit into the reserved space in the Tokaido Deluxe Edition box.

Prices Vary

Roller Coaster Challenge Logic & Building Game

Reckon you could design a successful rollercoaster? Well now you can put your design (and logic) skills to the test in this board game. Solve over 40 roller coaster challenges and then put them to the test. If you think you can handle it, free-form play will allow you to create crazy rollercoasters without limits!

$28.99

Renegade Game Studios Clank! In! Space! Board Game

You must defeat Lord Eradikus and stop him taking over the whole galaxy. Sneak pass the security bots and the force field to hack his security module and steal his artifacts. But be careful, any noise will draw Eradikus’ attention and stop you getting to an escape pod!

Prices Vary

Ravensburger the Quest for El Dorado Family Game

Go on an expedition through South America and search for the Golden City in this deck building board game. You will need to have a good plan and an even better team if you want to find El Dorado. You can play this game over and over as each new game needs a new strategy.

$39.99

Blue Orange Games Photosynthesis Strategy Board Game

Grow your own forest from seedling to fully fledged tree in this green fingered board game. Cultivate seeds, see them through blooming and watch their life cycle. Earn points for sun rays collected by the leaves but watch carefully for where the shadows are. Your trees need the sunlight.

$45.99

Gamewright Go Nuts for Donuts Card Game

Get them while they’re hot! This board game will have you and your family fighting over baked goods. Each sweet treat is worth points and your job is to collect the card with the most points on to be the winner. But if two of you go for the same card, no one gets it!

$17.95

Games by Bright of Sweden Geometry Strategy Board Game

Strategy is the answer in this game, but will your strategy have to change? In a game where the conditions are constantly changing, you’ll need to be on the ball to win this one. Your aim is to get your sphere to the bullseye while protecting it from your opponent.

Prices Vary

Hatchimals Hatchy Matchy Game

Test your memory with the Hatchimals Hatchy Matchy board game. Inside 24 plastic eggs are cardboard cut outs of your favorite Hatchimals. Your job is to remember where they are and pair up as many as you can. You’ll also find 2 exclusive CollEggtibles for you to hatch and look after.

$25.60

DropMix Music Gaming System

Are you bored of the same soundtracks being played at parties? Bring along DropMix and make beats all of your own. With 60 DropMix cards featuring your favorite artists, every track mixes seamlessly with the next, letting you create your own fresh sounds. Download the DropMix app which can also record the tracks you create.

$169.99

University Games Scholastic Brainiac Game

Make learning fun with the Brainiac board game. Spin the SMART Spinner to choose a subject category, such as reading, math and the world and then answer a question based on your grade level. The first person to fill their brain with SMART tokens wins!

$23.00

Pressman Toys Shark Bite Game

Load the colorful fish into the game and get fishing! Take turns with your friends and family to roll the die and then cast your rod and see what fun sea creatures you catch. But beware! An angry shark is lurking, just waiting to bite!

$15.89

Pokemon Hedbanz Game

This is the perfect board game for any Pokémon fan. Gather your friends and play “What Am I?” with Hedbanz. Strap a Pokémon card to the headband on your head and take turns asking yes or no questions to guess which Pokémon you are. The first person to correctly guess wins the game.

$69.95

Soggy Doggy Board Game

Soggy Doggy is sure to bring a lot of laughs to your family! Take it in turns to give Soggy Doggy a bath and be the first to make it around the bathtub to win. But Soggy Doggy likes to shake himself dry. If you get soaked, you must head back to the start!

$19.99

Blue Orange Games Kingdomino

Pretend you’re a Lord and build your own kingdom with this fresh take on Dominoes. Much like Dominoes, the card you play must match the tiles that have already been played and only the tiles with crowns on will win you points. Pay close attention though because each decision can affect future rounds.

$19.99

Circus Train

Bring the circus to town with this colorful and enchanting story book about the circus. Read this with your children and the circus will come to life right before your child’s eyes. The Big Top will fill with clowns, dancing elephants and trapeze artists, all for your little one.

$10.77

Dan and Phil's Truth Bombs Party Game

Play this board game from YouTubers Dan and Phil and prepare to learn more about your friends and family. Truth Bomb is a hilarious party game where it is sure to get explosive! Admissions and revelations will come to light – this is a board game you definitely need this year.

Prices Vary

Think Fun Safari Rushhour Game

Try and escape the African wilderness in this safari escape game. Your safari rover has been overturned and it’s your job to get to safety before the wild animals get to you! This game has 2 levels, beginner and expert, so all of the family can get involved.

Prices Vary

Ghost Fightin' Treasure Hunters Board Game

This award-winning board game is perfect for all the family. Players have to work together as a team to escape from the house with all 8 of the Treasure Jewels before 6 of the rooms become haunted. This game requires skill and strategy – you’re all in it together.

Prices Vary

The Legend Of Zelda Chess Board Game

Perfect for any Zelda fan, this 32-piece chess set features the prominent characters of this iconic video game series. The pieces are made from vinyl and come in a magnetic closure box. Link is the Light King with Zelda as his Queen. Ganandorf is the Dark King and the sorceress sisters serve as the Dark Queen.

Prices Vary

11 DIY Game Ideas

Diy Guess Who

If you want to put a new spin on an old game, make your own Guess Who with this DIY tutorial. Follow the steps and put a personalized touch on this classic board game. It’ll be more fun with photos of your family and friends, maybe even the odd celebrity crush.

Don't Wake The Shark Memory Game

The aim of this game is to find the only pair of clownfish in a sea of blue fish. But lurking in the sea of cards are a couple of sharks. If you turn over a matching pair of blue fish, keep that pair to the side. But if you find a shark, you have to miss a turn!

Make A Game For Number Learning

Simple and educational games aren’t always easy to come by, especially if you have children of different ages. This DIY numbers game will teach your kids about number recognition. They must roll a die and move their piece to the matching number. The first one to reach the finish circle wins.

Diy Personalised Monopoly Board Game

Monopoly is such an iconic board game and there are so many versions available now. But what happens if you wanted a completely personalized one? Then you need to follow this DIY tutorial! Making one from scratch means you can choose locations, colors and even game pieces to suit someone’s personality and taste.

Homemade Settlers Of Catan

Take on the role of settlers trying to establish colonies on the island of Catan. Craft your own version of this role play game by following this DIY tutorial. Build all the pieces from scratch, sculpt them, paint them and then get stuck in and create your own civilizations.

Popsicle Memory Game

Make these for a summer party to liven things up and get everyone involved, from young children to the older generations. Print out popsicle designs from this DIY tutorial and stick them to lolly sticks. Turn them over and then take it in turns to find the matching pairs. The prize however is down to you!

Play On Tuesday

Paint some wooden blocks with chalkboard paint and let your children doodle all over them and then build their own mini town. Their imaginations can go wild, the possibilities are endless. Houses, castles and even mini shops, they could get lost for hours in their pretend town.

Festive Fun Diy Christmas Board Game

Christmas is a time for playing board games and if you’re bored of the traditional ones, this DIY one might be perfect for you. This game has many versions across the world but the basic rule is that you must get your pieces across the board while avoiding all the obstacles in your way.

Diy Cereal Box Board Game

A great way to recycle and get your children’s creative juices flowing, this DIY cereal box game might just become their favorite board game. Simply take an old cereal box, cut it open and let your children design their own board game and make up the rules. You could discover the next big hit!

Rain and Rainbow Board Game

If you want something a bit different to the traditional Snakes and Ladders, why not make this Rain and Rainbows version? If you land on a raincloud, follow the raindrops down but if you land on a rainbow, follow it upwards to the higher numbers. The first one to the end wins.

Diy Checkerboard Game

Playing a good game of checkers is a great pastime and now you can make your own. This DIY tutorial is a patriotic example, with the tokens being blue and red but you could make them any color you fancy. Mount the board on some chalkboard and keep score there and then.

Despicable Me Diy Tic Tac Toe

Everyone loves a Despicable Me movie and the minions are just adorable (if a little mischievous!) This DIY tutorial will show you how you can make a minion themed Tic-Tac-Toe game with painted rocks as the tokens. Perfect to play at home, in the car or even when you’re eating out.