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Board games to give, by who is playingNovember 2026 edition
Board Game Gifts

Board game gift guides by players, age and play time: gateway, strategy, party, family and kids games, with facts from publishers and live listings.

Friends laughing around a table during a tile-laying board game with drinks

Cover storyGift guides

Board games to give, by who is playing

Families, couples, big groups, kids and the friend who owns every game. Player counts, ages and play times come from each publisher, with the Spiel des Jahres awards marked.

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Read the gift guideOpen the gift finder

The sections

All guides →
Wooden letter tiles spelling Merry Xmas among game pawns and gold ornaments on a green tableGift guides
Overhead view of players placing colored tiles on their boards during a gameAdults and groups
A small hand turning over square memory tiles on a white tableFamily and kids
Wooden backgammon board with a cup of Greek coffee on a white tableClassic boards and chess
Red, blue and yellow wooden meeples standing on a game boardBuying advice

The checklist

Read the box before you buy

  1. Player count. A four-player game is no use to a couple; two-player games are built for exactly two.
  2. Youngest player. Go by the publisher's age; kids' games by age sorts picks into 3 to 5, 6 to 8 and 9 to 12.
  3. Play time. Under 30 minutes suits weeknights; the gift finder sorts games by time.
  4. A real copy. Check the publisher's logo on the box front before you pay; see how to spot a counterfeit.

Shop the issue: gateway games

Shop gateway board games

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Gifts by person

The full gift guide →

Four starting points for the people on your list.

Two players holding playing cards across a dark tableFor a coupleGames built for exactly two, from calm puzzles to head-to-head duels.
Four women playing mahjong at a red table at homeFor the whole familyShort turns and a bit of luck, so kids and grandparents share one table.
A pile of red, green and yellow wooden meeples on a white tableFor what they loveBirds, dragons, detectives, trains and space: games matched to a hobby.
Assorted dice stored in an old metal tin with compartmentsFor the collectorSleeves, organizers and dice trays for someone who owns every game.

Who is it for?

Full gift finder →

A few starting points from the finder tables. Each game's player count, age and time come from its publisher.

Two playersSky Team, 7 Wonders Duel and PatchworkYoung kidsDragomino, Ticket to Ride: First Journey and Outfoxed!Five or moreDorfromantik: The Board Game, The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine and WingspanUnder 30 minutesSky Team, Dragomino and The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine
Cards and colored tokens laid out on a green table between cups of coffee

Game night

Playing with a crowd, or as a team

For five or more people, word and guessing games work best: rules take a minute and nobody sits out for long. When competition ends in sulking, a cooperative game puts the whole table against the game instead.

Party gamesCo-op gamesGames for adults

Spiel des Jahres

Award winners worth giving

The German game of the year jury picks one family winner, one Kennerspiel for experienced players and one Kinderspiel each year. Winners in our finder, newest first.

What the badges mean →

  1. 2024Sky TeamSpiel des Jahres2 to 2 players, ages 10+
  2. 2023Dorfromantik: The Board GameSpiel des Jahres1 to 6 players, ages 8+
  3. 2022CascadiaSpiel des Jahres1 to 4 players, ages 10+
  4. 2021DragominoKinderspiel des Jahres2 to 4 players, ages 5+
  5. 2021MicroMacro: Crime CitySpiel des Jahres1 to 4 players, ages 12+
  6. 2020The Crew: The Quest for Planet NineKennerspiel des Jahres3 to 5 players, ages 10+

For a crowd: party games

Shop party games

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Wooden chess pieces on a board in front of a bookshelf

Family and kids

The games everyone grew up with

Scrabble, Clue and Risk come in deluxe and bookshelf editions that make a familiar game feel like a keepsake. For a younger table, pick by the age on the box and a game with short turns.

Classic gamesFamily gamesKids by age

Every guide

Contents →
  1. 01

    Board Game Gifts 2026: The Best Games to Give, by Who's Playing

    Guide

    Board game gift ideas sorted by who is playing: families, couples, big groups, kids and seasoned gamers, with player counts, ages and award winners.

  2. 02

    Chess Gifts: Sets, Travel Boards, Electronic Boards and Themes

    Guide

    Chess gift ideas by player: tournament-size wooden sets, magnetic travel boards, electronic boards that play online, and themed sets for fans.

  3. 03

    Classic Board Game Gifts: Cribbage, Backgammon, Clue and Monopoly

    Guide

    Gift ideas for classic board games: cribbage boards for two to four, backgammon sets in wood or leather, Clue editions and Monopoly versions by age.

  4. 04

    Black Friday Board Game Deals 2026: What to Compare Before You Buy

    How to

    Black Friday is November 27, 2026. Compare board games by player count, play time, age rating, edition and sealed condition, and check expansions first.

  5. 05

    Backgammon Board Gifts: Wooden, Leather and Monogrammed Sets

    Compare

    Choose a backgammon set gift by board size, case material and checker size, from wooden travel boards to leather tournament sets and personalized cases.

  6. 06

    Board Game Storage: Shelves, Cabinets, Boxes and Inserts

    How to

    How to store a growing board game collection: cube shelves sized for game boxes, cabinets with doors, wooden boxes and inserts that keep pieces sorted.

  7. 07

    Board Game Tables: Dining, Topper and Chess Table Options

    Compare

    Choose a board game table for the home: a dining table with a recessed vault and toppers, a topper for the table you own, or a dedicated chess table.

  8. 08

    Cribbage Board Gifts: 2 Track, 3 Track and 4 Player Boards

    Compare

    Pick a cribbage board by how many people play: 2 track for couples, 3 track for three players, and 4 player boards for partners, plus the 121-hole standard.

    Photo: Andrew Malone / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

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