12 Holiday Must-Have Board Games

If you’re looking for something for your board game-loving friend, foe, or family member, we've got you covered. In this guide, we’ll showcase our twelve board game favorites.

Note: BoardGameGeek weight refers to each game’s relative complexity, five being the most complex and involved and one being the easiest to grasp on the first playthrough. These ratings come from BGG’s forums of people who have played the game.

1.Wyrmspan

• Number of Players: 1-5
• Game Length: 90 minutes
• Age: 14+
• Publisher: Stonemeier Games
• BoardGameGeek Weight: 2.80/5

In Wyrmspan, you are an adventuring dracologist who has unearthed a secret cave on your land, a twisting labyrinth of cubbies and coves. With this discovery, you wish to build a sanctuary for dragons and curry favor with the almighty Dragon Guild.

Wyrmspan is a standalone strategy game based on Wingspan, where you build your network of caves and entice dragons to live there. First, you excavate your cave to gain places for your dragons and benefits in gameplay. Next, you entice dragons to come live there, granting you special abilities. Finally, you explore to activate abilities within your sanctuary. Gain victory points by being in good standing with the Dragon Guild, beating other players to end-game goals, and having the most resources and dragons.

This game is perfect for strategy lovers. It’s a complex game with fun mechanics and beautiful artwork. The theme departs from the classic Wingspan, and the removal of the dice leaves less up to chance.

2.boop the Halls!

• Number of Players: 2
• Game Length: 20-30 minutes
• Age: 10+
• Publisher: Smirk & Dagger Games
• BoardGameGeek Weight: 2.00/5

In boop the Halls!, you are a sweet, innocent, adorable kitty cat – but are you Naughty or Nice? Your humans are just trying to hang ornaments on their Christmas tree, and the cats keep knocking them off! Line up three cats or knock off your opponent’s ornaments to win the game.

Boop the Halls! is a holiday sequel to the award-winning game boop and is an abstract game with a three-dimensional board. The board has four tiers and is shaped like a tree for a cerebral challenge. It sounds relatively easy – just line up your cats and win the game! However, placing a piece “boops” the other pieces (ornaments or cats), pushing them a square away. You start with kittens that can become adult cats if lined up in a row. In a new twist from the original game, you also must place an ornament on the tree if you do not have one. Be careful, though! Three boops to your ornaments, and you’ve lost!

This is an excellent holiday-themed game for families. Have boop tournaments and see who is the naughtiest or nicest cat around! It’s deceptively challenging and mind-bending.

3.SpellBook

• Number of Players: 1-4
• Game Length: 45 minutes
• Age: 12+
• Publisher: Space Cowboys
• BoardGameGeek Weight: 2.00/5

In SpellBook, you have been summoned to the Annual Grand Rite, a competition for wizards working to fill their grimoires with new spells. You have gathered around the Vortex that produces spell components called Materia. You can cast your spells as soon as you learn them… or wait for an even more powerful effect!

SpellBook is a strategy-heavy game consisting of three phases: Morning, Midday, and Night. You start your day by gathering Materia from your pool for your altar or from the Vortex pouch. Next, you feed your familiar Materia from your pool. Finally, in the Evening, you learn a spell. Some spells have instant effects, some are permanent, and others build up and become more powerful as the game progresses. The game ends when a familiar is fully fed, or a player learns seven spells. Victory points depend on your spells and how well-fed your familiar is.

This family-friendly game includes a solo mode that can help you learn the game more easily, even if it is more challenging. With over 2,100 spell combinations possible, SpellBook has a high replay value and offers rewards for playing your spells off each other. Magic the Gathering fans will love this one.

4.Frosthaven

• Number of Players: 1-4
• Game Length: 90-180 minutes
• Age: 14+
• Publisher: Cephalofair Games
• BoardGameGeek Weight: 4.38/5

In Frosthaven, you are in a band of mercenaries sent to help a small outpost in the icy north, fighting both the elements and dangerous creatures. Can you help the settlement avoid certain destruction? Watch out for Algox in the mountains, Lurkers in the sea, and Machines from the wastes.

Frosthaven is a thematic legacy game from the makers of Gloomhaven. It has many similar mechanics and resources, even to the point that you can play resources from Gloomhaven for a hefty price. There are 100 unique scenarios that you can play through, each with a different goal and story. Frosthaven is very similar to Dungeons and Dragons in that you are playing a campaign with an initiative tracker, quests, items, and classes. Instead of dice, the game uses cards and a board. There are two phases: Scenario and Outpost. Scenarios are missions your team goes out on, and the Outpost phase is downtime during which you can build buildings and craft items.

This is not a simple game for one setting but a whole adventure lasting multiple days. It challenges you much like a complex tabletop RPG, with personal quests and character building, while having the familiar legacy board game aspect. This game is an investment.

5.Let's Hit Each Other With Fake Swords

• Number of Players: 3-6
• Game Length: 15 minutes
• Age: 7+
• Publisher: Exploding Kittens
• BoardGameGeek Weight: --

In Let's Hit Each Other With Fake Swords, you… well, you hit other players with a fake sword! A fight boss determines who is battling whom and who wins the fight. When you win a fight, you get to keep your cards. Collect enough cards to win!

Let’s Hit Each Other With Fake Swords is a kid-friendly party game from the makers of Throw Throw Burrito and Exploding Kittens. First, pick a fight boss to judge the round. Next, deal out piles of cards face-up for the players to choose from. The fight boss gets to decide how the cards are placed. If two or more players pick that pile, they must fight! Whoever wins gets to keep the pile of cards. You lose the fight if you break the rules on the cards or hit your opponent on the arm or head. Place three cards of the same color in your collection. Collect three sets of cards, and you win the game.

This fun, physical game is perfect for parties and acting silly. It’s easy to learn and has mechanics similar to Exploding Kittens. Whether you’re pitting your dad against your niece or your best friend against your girlfriend, this game is a party-pleaser.

6.The Gang

• Number of Players: 3-6
• Game Length: 20 minutes
• Age: 10+
• Publisher: Thames & Kosmos
• BoardGameGeek Weight: 1.71/5

In The Gang, you are playing a cooperative game of Texas Hold 'em aimed at helping you and your gang pull off a series of heists. If your gang wins the betting, you get to open a vault. Open enough vaults and win the game!

The Gang is a cooperative bidding game based on the classic poker game Texas Hold 'em. It involves four rounds of betting determined by the cards in your hand (pocket cards) and how they interact with the cards on the table (community cards). Each round, you and your gang bet on how well you think your cards will do against each other. If you feel you have a lousy hand, take the lowest chip of the round. If you think you’re doing well, take a higher-value chip. The object of the game is not to win at poker – it’s to make sure you know how good your hand is. The twist is that you can’t communicate what your hand is aside from taking chips. Therefore, you don’t want to bluff! You can open a vault if your gang successfully evaluates who will win. Open three vaults and win! Fail to open three vaults, and you lose.

This game is a fun introduction to the actual poker game but brings in the aspect of being a team player. Being unable to communicate with your gang brings an exciting challenge to the game, and who doesn’t love a bank heist?

7.Disney Villainous: Introduction to Evil

• Number of Players: 2-4
• Game Length: 40-60 minutes
• Age: 10+
• Publisher: Ravensburger
• BoardGameGeek Weight: 2.75/5

In Disney Villainous: Introduction to Evil, you play a classic Disney villain fighting other villains for control of the Realm. You may already be familiar with Disney Villainous, but this version is for first-time players and only accommodates four players.

Disney Villainous: Introduction to Evil is a card management game designed to help ease beginners into the franchise. Instead of six villains, there are only four: Ursula, Maleficent, Captain Hook, and Prince John. First, move your villain from the current position to a new one. Next, perform an action as defined on the location on your mat. Finally, draw cards to replenish your hand. Watch out for heroes! You can attack your opponents by having them draw fate cards that contain heroes they must vanquish and items they can use. Each villain has a different goal to complete. When that happens, that player wins the game!

This game is perfect for Disney fans and card players alike. The strategy depends solely on your character choice, making each game different as you try new villains. Fans of Lorcana will also love this game.

8.Gnome Hollow

• Number of Players: 2-4
• Game Length: 45-60 minutes
• Age: 12+
• Publisher: Levity Games
• BoardGameGeek Weight: 2.12/5

In Gnome Hollow, you are a gnome cultivating fairy rings of mushrooms. Collect flowers and harvest mushrooms for sale at the market for shinies and points. Compete to win the Red Cap and win the game!

Gnome Hollow is a tile- and worker-placement game similar to Tsuro in that you are completing paths. Each tile has different rewards that appear when you create a fairy ring of mushrooms. Pick two tiles from the tile board and place them in the garden area. All sides must match when you place the tile. Once you complete a ring, count the tiles in the ring and move your marker on your board. Resolve your rewards and any cascading effects. Finally, move a gnome to take an action, such as reserving a path or selling at the market. The game ends when a player gains an eighth flower token, a player moves an eighth ring marker, or the bag runs out of tiles. Whoever has the most points wins!

This game is relaxing, artistically pleasing, and heartwarming while also being complex enough to engage more experienced players. Fans of traditional Euro-style games will enjoy it.

9.Coffee Rush

• Number of Players: 2-4
• Game Length: 30 minutes
• Age: 8+
• Publisher: Korea Boardgames
• BoardGameGeek Weight: 1.81/5

In Coffee Rush, you are a barista working in a coffee shop during peak hours. The customers are rushing in, and the orders are piling up! Can you collect the ingredients for each drink fast enough and fulfill all orders? Get the highest rating and win the game!

Coffee Rush is a resource-gathering game where you collect ingredients for each coffee order (such as chocolate for a mocha or milk for a latte). Move through squares on the board to gather ingredients – little plastic tokens in the shape of each ingredient. Once you have all your ingredients, place them in the miniature plastic coffee cups and complete the order. Fulfilling an order gains you social media Likes and generates orders for your opponents. Unfulfilled orders slip off the board and give you negative points. The game ends when a player has five unfulfilled orders or all order cards have run out. The barista with the most Likes wins!

This fast-paced game is great for the gaming family looking to introduce young ones to more complex games.

10.The Fox Experiment

• Number of Players: 1-4
• Game Length: 60 minutes
• Age: 14+
• Publisher: Pandasaurus Games
• BoardGameGeek Weight: 2.53/5

In The Fox Experiment, you are a domesticator of foxes that you breed according to different traits such as friendliness or floppy ears. Breed the friendliest foxes, complete the most studies, and attract the best patrons to become the winning scientist!

The Fox Experiment is a strategy game that combines cardplay with dice. The game has turn-order tokens to determine who goes first, second, and on. There are four phases in each generation of fox breeding. The Selection phase begins with players choosing the fox parents to breed and gathering supplies. In the Breeding phase, players roll dice to try to complete traits. The Research phase involves completing studies and gaining more trait tokens to unlock upgrades. Finally, in the Administration phase, the newborn kits are judged according to overall friendliness and then moved to the kennel to become the next generation’s breeding pair. The game ends after five generations, and the player with the most points wins!

This adorable game is complex enough to satisfy more advanced gamers, particularly fans of strategy games like Splendor or 7 Wonders. The artwork is gorgeous, and the story behind the game is interesting and engaging. This game is perfect for history and science buffs.

11.Sky Team

• Number of Players: 2
• Game Length: 15 minutes
• Age: 12+
• Publisher: Scorpion Masqué
• BoardGameGeek Weight: 2.06/5

In Sky Team, you are a pilot and co-pilot of an airliner. Working together as a team, you land your plane in airports worldwide. Talk to the control tower and drink some coffee to make sure you land safely. Tilt your plane too much, miss the airport, or even hit another plane, and you lose!

Sky Team is a cooperative dice game where you discuss your strategy openly but roll your dice covertly. After you roll your dice, you and your co-pilot cannot speak. After rolling your dice, assign them to each slot on the control panel. The dice next to the axis disc decide how far the plane is tilted to one side. If the plane tilts too much, it goes into a spin, and you lose the game. The dice under the engines tell you how fast the plane is going. If you go too fast, you’ll collide with another plane and immediately lose the game. You can, however, remove potential collisions by using the radio. The dice under the brakes turn on switches to end the game. Coffee tokens allow you to increase or decrease your die value by one. Safely land the plane and win the game!

This award-winning thematic game is fun for dice lovers and has dice mechanics similar to Elder Sign. You must work together and concentrate to land the plane safely. The game includes different airports for different playthroughs and a book of scenarios for maximum replayability. It is a good game for team players and strategic thinkers.

12.Faraway

• Number of Players: 2-6
• Game Length: 15-30 minutes
• Age: 10+
• Publisher: Catch Up Games
• BoardGameGeek Weight: 1.86/5

In Faraway, you play as an explorer in the mysterious continent of Alula. Navigate the twisting and reforming regions and sanctuaries while gaining fame. Meet all of your objectives and win the game!

Faraway is an objective-based card game where you travel to different regions on the strange continent of Alula. All players simultaneously choose a card from their hands to add to their paths. The cards are color-coded and indicate how long it will take to visit the entire region. You will encounter uddus, okikos, goldlogs, and other indigenous travelers in each area. Other travelers unlock scoring conditions, some of which have associated costs. Sanctuaries count as bonus regions that give you scoring conditions or features needed to complete your journey. The game ends after eight rounds. Score your objectives working backward and see who won the most points!

This game is a quick brainteaser that encourages you to think ahead to the end as you complete objectives. Play lower-cost cards before your higher-cost cards to make your journey easier. Perfect for fantasy lovers!

We hope this guide has inspired you to think about some gift ideas for the board gamer in your life. Happy holidays from our family to yours, and keep the dice rolling!