Ever sit down for a game night and thing, “Okay…what are we in the mood for?” Some nights you want to outwit your friends and family with sneaky moves. Other nights you want to laugh till your face hurts. Choosing a game based on the vibe of you and your party is a huge part of making sure game night is a success and make the whole experience more fun. Even a good game can turn sour if it just doesn’t fit the mood.
Whether your group is feeling competitive, cooperative, low-key, or loud, here are some of the best board games to match the mood and keep everyone at the table happy!
Best Board Games for Every Mood and Game Night Vibe
Games for When You’re Feeling Silly
These are the board games to reach for when you want to laugh, joke, and be a little ridiculous.
Just One
This is a cooperative word association game with silly guesses and fun moments. It’s silly without being over the top.
Telestrations
A classic drawing game that’s great for young and old alike. Play telephone with pictures and laugh and the ridiculous turns your images take as they make their way around the table.
Codenames
It’s the party game for people who think they don’t like party games. At once thoughtful and clever, while leaving the door open for lots of laughter and silliness.
Check out this post for more Party Game ideas for large groups!
Games for When You’re Feeling Quiet
When the energy is calm, chill, and no one wants to talk too much, these games have your back.
Patchwork
A calm, two player puzzling game all about purchasing fabric pieces to arrange onto your quilt. Put on some calming background music and you’re set for the night!
Next Station London
A quiet and chill game all about building routes through the city of London. Want more of a Paris vibe, there’s a version for that and Tokyo, too!
Evergreen
A family friendly game all about planting and growing trees. It’s beautiful components will hook you as you use them to build a lush ecosystem.
Games for When You’re Feeling Sneaky
These are the games to choose when you’re in the mood to bluff, plot, and make clever moves.
Love Letter
A quick deduction game with hidden roles that’s perfect to play almost anywhere.
There are multiple themes to try as well if royalty isn’t the vibe, give these a go:
Power Hungry Pets, Cthulu, Marvel,
Coup
Fast paced and tricky. Lie about your powers, but don’t get caught! Coup feels high energy with delicious strategy.
For Sale
A quick bidding and bluffing game all about buying the best properties low, and selling them for the highest price. One of our all time favorite games!
More of our favorite deduction games can be found in this post!
If you love games with hidden traitors and lots of lying, this post on social deduction games will be up your alley!
Games for when you’re feeling Cooperative
Tried and true cooperative games to turn to when you want to play on the same team and work together.
Forbidden Island
A classic introduction to cooperative games that stands the test of time! A long time favorite!
The Lord of the Rings The Fellowship of the Ring Trick Taking Game
A fun, cooperative jaunt through the first Lord of the Rings novel. Each chapter presents you with new challenges you’ll need to work together to solve by playing your hand of cards in the right way.
Pandemic
Work together to save the world from an outbreak of diseases. You and your team will need to plan your moves carefully.
More cooperative game recommendations for families!
Cooperative game recommendations specifically for kids!
Games for When You’re Short on Time
You aren’t feeling like overcommitting to anything, you just want something fast and fun to play.
Qwixx
This fast and addicting little dice game is going to become your next favorite! Perfect for playing at home or on the go!
No Thanks!
A go to card game you can truly play with anyone! Simple, tense, and fast!
Sushi Go
You can never go wrong with a play of this classic! Quick, simple drafting and easy scoring!
More games for when you’re short on time.
Games for When You’re Feeling Mentally Sharp
You’re dialed in and ready to crunch some numbers, strategize moves, and dive into a crunchier game.
Wingspan
As tricky as it is beautiful, you’ll draft birds, lay eggs, and crunch points all the way to victory.
It’s a Wonderful World
One of the best engine building games around with tight pacing and exceptional tension. Can you generate the resources you need to build your empire?
Cascadia
A beautiful and crunchy ecosystem building game that’s perfectly puzzly!
Games for When You’re Feeling Cozy
You want something low pressure with soft vibes and there may be a blanket and tea involved.
Flowers
A beautiful game that invites you to turn on some soft music, and enjoy some mild competition as you try to win the best flowers.
Planted
No game makes me want to light a candle, grab a charcuterie board, and water my house plants quite like Planted. It’s a simple draft and pass game that is just delightful.
Want a puzzlier house plant game? Don’t worry, Verdant is here for you!
Meadow
Meadow toes the line between a crunchy strategy game and a cozy relaxing game better than most. Each of the beautiful watercolor cards could be framed and displayed in the home.
Games for When You’re Feeling Dramatic
You’re ready to perform like the theater kid you are at heart, so you need a game with flair.
Snake Oil
Think up a sales pitch on the fly in this hilarious, improv heavy game that will have you cry laughing.
Dixit
The best part about Dixit is that you can perform as much or as little as you like. Give clues using beautiful poetry like language, or perhaps hum a tune to describe how the image makes you feel. It’s up to you!
Psst, the Disney version is a sleeper hit with everyone!
Monikers
A progressive game of charades that builds in difficulty each round. Perfect for large groups who love to get up and get their friends laughing.
Games for When You’re in Me-Time Mode (Solo-Games)
You’ve got a slice of solo time and want something fun, thoughtful, and just for you!
A Gentle Rain
My personal go-to solo game. I can physically feel my brain relaxing as I connect tiles to form lily flowers.
Dorf Romantik
While you can technically play this game with more, I just love it solo. (okay, and with two for date night.) If you’ve played the video game, you’ll love how they’ve reimagined it for the table!
Warp’s Edge
This game feels like playing through an exciting movie battle between the good guys and the bad guys in the best way. Designed for solo play it has a wonderfully unique feel to the gameplay.
Games for When You’re Feeling Unsure
You don’t know what everyone’s into, you just need a dependable game that works.
Ticket to Ride
It’s impossible to go wrong with this classic! One of the best, tried and true gateway games into the board gaming hobby. If I don’t know what anyone in my party likes to play, I know I can count on this one.
Carcassonne
Carcassonne perfectly blends in a cozy puzzle feel with a cutthroat strategy challenge. This game has inspire so many tile placement games and there’s a reason it’s still one of the best!
Azul
The combination of beautifully simple drafting game play with equally beautiful components keeps Azul a fresh favorite year after year.
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