Board Games to Gift for Every Budget: A Gift Giving Guide for Board Games
If you’re looking for a gift for birthdays, special occasions, or the upcoming holidays then board games are a solid bet. With so many options, you’re sure to find a board game or a card game that’s just right for the player you’re shopping for.
And with so much variation in play style and complexity comes a wide variation in cost as well. Whether you’ve got money to spend or you’re on a tight budget, you can find something players will enjoy. You just need to know where to look.
You’re Gifting More than a Board Game
Keep in mind, when you’re wrapping up that little box of cards or the box with a board and a million tiny game pieces, you aren’t just gifting the physical game. Hidden in the empty space in that box are potential memories, time with friends or loved ones, practice of life skills, and pure enjoyment. When you give a board game as a gift, you’re giving a whole collection of experiences.
Best Games to Gift on a Budget
Sometimes you just need one last little gift for someone and it can’t break the bank, but it also needs to be something the recipient will actually enjoy. Not everyone wants to unwrap Go Fish cards. If you’re looking for games worth playing that don’t cost a fortune, this list is the place to look.
Uno is simple fun, but very versatile. With 2-10 players, the group size lends itself well to both large, boisterous groups and easy one-on-one time. The simplicity works well for groups with mixed ages or mixed experience levels. That makes Uno a great gift for kids or grandparents, or any player likely to play in families. It’s also a great starting game for new players, so if you know the recipient is at the beginning of their gaming journey, Uno is a staple worth gifting.
If you’re looking for a game for kids or players likely to play with kids, Sleeping Queens is worth a second look. It’s 2-5 players so it works well in families or smaller groups. Players will enjoy the race to gather the most queens as they flex their addition skills and do their best to prevent the other players from winning first. If you’re hunting for the perfect gift for kids, teachers, or others who work with children, give Sleeping Queens a try.
3. Dead Man’s Draw
Take a chance on Dead Man’s Draw, where drawing the next card can land you points or cause you to lose them all. This risk assessment game works for 2-4 players, making it a solid choice for a tight-knit group of teens or college students. It’s still simple enough to be played in families and starting at 2 players makes it a solid option for date night, too.
4. Rat a Tat Cat
Though designed for kids, the memory element of this game makes it challenging enough for a wide range of ages. And with a player count of 2-6 players, you can play it one-on-one or in small groups. This is another great one for families, kids, or grandparents looking to put their memory to the test.
5. Spot It
Spot It aims to please with its kid-friendly design and multiple variations included in the rulebook. Though the fast pace can be tough for the youngest players, it’s a solid option for families, especially with a player count of 2-8. Families large and small can play all together or split into smaller groups to accommodate players still working up to speed.
6. We Didn’t Playtest This at All
This chaotic game is the perfect gift for teens, college students, or adults looking for a quick game that’ll end with everyone laughing. It’s short, fast-paced, and either rewards the players noticing the details or trolls everyone with chaotic fun. For groups of 2-10 players, you’ll want to invite all your friends for the maximum laughter level.
7. Hanabi
This cooperative card game will put any player to the test as they work with the group to build several colored stacks of fireworks in the correct order without the ability to see their own cards. For 2-5 players, it’ll challenge any game group, make a great date night challenge, or test any family’s ability to communicate well enough to accomplish the goal.
8. Honeylock
Don’t be deceived. Honeylock doesn’t look like much and the rulebook’s grammar is a little suspect, but the game is simple and fun. 1-6 players work together to close off each honey stream with the cards in their hands. If you can close off each stream before the deck runs out, you win! It’s great for families, puzzle lovers, and simple enough for kids. With the ability to play alone, it makes a great boredom buster.
9. Poetry for Neanderthals
Put your best single-syllable vocabulary to the test in Poetry for Neanderthals, where you must help your team guess the word or phrase on your card. For 2-12 players, you’ll enjoy stretching your vocabulary to the limit or hitting the other players with the air-filled club. It’s perfect for large families, family reunions, or parties.
10. Sushi Go
2-5 players try to get the most points by picking a card out of different hands in each round. You’ll have to remember the contents of each hand as they’re passed around, try to guess what the other players will take, and cobble together the best sets of sushi to win the most points. It’s great for families and small groups.
11. Exploding Kittens
If you’re the only player to avoid an exploding kitten card, you’ll win this hilarious game for 2-5 players. Families and small groups in search of laughter and chaos will enjoy the unpredictable nature of this game.
Best Games to Gift When You’ve Got a Little Spending Room
Maybe you need a gift for a family so you’ve got a little more set aside, but nothing crazy. Or you’ve got an individual to shop for, but you want to get them something a little bigger. If you’re looking for the perfect gift and you’ve got a little wiggle room in your budget, this list has your back.
1. Splendor
Groups of 2-4 will enjoy this light strategy game where players gather gems to buy development cards to reach 15 points. Its simplicity makes it a strong contender for families, mixed ages, and beginners.
Race to complete destinations in this kid’s version of Ticket to Ride. It’s simplified without the original game’s point system, but that doesn’t decrease the enjoyment. For small groups and families at 2-4 players, it’s the perfect pick for a strategist growing into their abilities.
3. Outfoxed
This cooperative kid’s game tests a player’s ability to reason using clues scattered across the board. Work together to find which fox stole the pie before it escapes. It’s great for kids, families, and young beginning players. It’s played in groups of 2-4.
4. Munchkin
If you’re looking for a chaotic dungeon experience with all of the ribbing and none of the role-playing, Munchkin hits the mark. Fight monsters, gang up on the player in the lead, and gather treasure on a journey to level 10. Great for groups of teens, college students, or groups of 3-6 players looking for the chaos and laughter of a large party game.
5. Dixit
Describe the picture in minimal terms so that everyone can add their own. Too many votes won’t win you the game, but if other players can draw enough votes with their images, they’ll move ahead. With 3-8 players, Dixit makes a great game for families, creatives, and players looking to stretch their description skills.
6. Snake Oil
Market a product made from 2 random words off the cards in your hand and the player with the role card will pick the product most useful to them. If your 3-10 players go all in, you’re sure to laugh until you cry at some of the creative suggestions and marketing skills. A hidden gem for groups of teens, college students, or adults.
7. Oceanos
Earn the most points as you dive under the sea and upgrade your submarine. This strategy game for 2-5 players works well for families and small groups looking to test their ability to juggle the cards they’re given, submarine upgrades, and do it all better than the other players.
Work together to save the castle and defeat the monsters in this cooperative game for 1-6 players. Great for families, mixed age groups, or mixed experience groups. It’s simple to learn but includes enough variation in the rulebook to keep each game interesting for any group.
9. 5 Minute Dungeon
Chaos personified will test your communication and teamwork skills as you use your cards to defeat monsters and advance through the levels with a 5 minute time limit each round. You can play with 2 players for the maximum challenge or up to 5 for the maximum chaos. It’s great for groups of mixed experience.
Best Games to Gift When You Don’t Have a Spending Limit
Sometimes the budget isn’t what matters most. Whether you’re choosing a standout gift for an individual or a gift the whole family can use, sometimes it’s worth investing a little bit more. When you’re not worried about the price as long as you wrap the perfect present, you’ll want to give this list a look.
1. Stardew Valley: The Board Game
This cooperative game for 1-4 players offers the experience of playing the cozy farming video game Stardew Valley. In the board game, restore the community center and make grandpa proud by completing several goals. It’s perfect for fans of the video game or strategists up for a complex, lengthy game.
2. Settlers of Catan
This settlement game for 3-4 players offers the opportunity to acquire resources, trade with other players, and expand their position on the board. It’s great for families with more experienced players, strategy-focused game groups, or teens looking for a challenge.
3. Castles of Burgundy
Each player chooses buildings, technologies, animals, boats, and more from the shared board to place onto their individual board to gain the most points. This strategy game for 2-4 players works well for small groups of teens or adults looking for a challenge. It plays well for 2 players, making it a great contender for date nights for strategy-focused players.
4. Honey Buzz
Collect pollen, build your hive, and produce honey in this bee-themed spring game for 1-5 players. If you can earn the most points through your efforts, you’ll win! Great for groups of adult or teen strategists, themed game nights, or players who love beautiful spring aesthetics.
5. Flamecraft
Fill the shops with dragons and complete orders to earn the most points in this adorable strategic game for 1-5 players. Great for strategy-focused players, fantasy lovers, or small groups of adults or teens in search of their next challenge. It’s also playable solo, for the strategist looking to stretch themselves through individual practice.
6. Wingspan
This beautiful bird-themed game for 1-4 players is full of strategy, bird facts, and gorgeous pastel aesthetics that would fit any spring-themed game night. The game is complex, perfect for groups of teens or adults looking for a strategic challenge. With the gorgeous artwork and facts about the birds on the cards, it’ll also delight any bird or nature lover.
7. Betrayal at House on the Hill
Explore a strange house with 3-6 players until the haunt starts. The game picks from a list of haunts based on game conditions, changing each game as players fight to defeat monsters, the paranormal, or each other. With so many different haunts and the tile board coming together differently in each game, the variation will delight strategists or groups of teens or adults looking for the creepiest challenges.
8. Puerto Rico
Build up your plantation and sell your goods to make the most points in this game for 3-5 players. Another strategic gem, this one would fit right in on a nautical or farming themed game night. For small groups of strategy-minded teens or adults, Puerto Rico is a delightful option.
Place train pieces to connect the destinations on your cards in this strategic game for 2-5 players. It’s simpler than the average strategy-focused game, making it a great choice for families or beginners hoping to move into the more complex games.
Before You Buy
Remember to check on a few practical considerations before you fully commit to the game you’ve chosen. If you’re buying for players who already own a bunch of games, make sure to check in with them to see what they already own.
Then you’ll want to make sure you know what kind of games your player or group enjoys. If you’re buying for a family who loves simple, kid-friendly games then investing in a complex strategy game might be the wrong fit. And if you’re buying for a teen who plays only complex strategy games, the simpler chaotic party games might not appeal to them.
And you’ll want to check player count, age recommendations, and game length to make sure it’ll suit the player or group you’re buying it for.
Feel free to check out my full reviews if you’re looking for more information about the games above. I wish you the very best in your gift-giving endeavors!