Short answer: for families, Ticket to Ride: Europe or Azul; for two, Splendor Duel; for big groups, The Werewolves of Millers Hollow; and for kids from 6, Dobble. Below are four or five games per type, with players, age, playing time and price.
Family board games
Ticket to Ride: Europe
2–5 players · ages 8+ · 30–60 min · €47.90
Claim train routes across Europe, with tunnels, ferries and stations. You can teach it in 15 minutes and it works for every age. The series won the Spiel des Jahres in 2004.
Azul
2–4 players · ages 8+ · 30–45 min · €44.90
Draft colourful tiles to decorate the walls of a Portuguese palace. Simple rules, gorgeous pieces and real strategy. Spiel des Jahres 2018.
Cozy Stickerville
1–6 players · ages 8+ · 30–45 min · €39.90
Every game adds stickers to your board, so the village keeps changing from one session to the next.
Harmonies
1–4 players · ages 10+ · 30 min · €34.90
Build landscapes from coloured tokens so the animals on your cards can live there. Calm, beautiful and with a solo mode. Swiss Gamers Award 2025.
Two-player board games
Splendor Duel
2 players · ages 10+ · 30 min · €24.90
The two-player take on Splendor by Marc André and Bruno Cathala: collect gems, buy cards and keep an eye on your rival every turn.
Jaipur
2 players · ages 10+ · 30 min · €19.90
A traders' duel in the Jaipur market: buy and sell goods, and whoever has the most camels at the end earns a bonus. You learn it in five minutes.
Tag Team
2 players · ages 10+ · 10 min · €24.90
Pick two fighters and battle your rival in about 10 minutes. Perfect for back-to-back rematches.
Toy Battle
2 players · ages 8+ · 15 min · €24.90
A 15-minute toy battle for two, with 48 troops and double-sided boards offering 8 different terrains.
Party games for big groups
The Werewolves of Millers Hollow
8–18 players · ages 10+ · 30 min · €10.90
A hidden-role game: villagers try to unmask the werewolves before they get eaten. One narrator runs the game. The classic for big gatherings.
Dixit Classic
3–8 players · ages 8+ · 30 min · €32.90
One storyteller gives a clue about an illustrated card and everyone else tries to guess it. No reading needed, just imagination. Spiel des Jahres 2010.
Quick Stop
2–7 players · ages 10+ · 15–45 min · €19.90
240 situations and one letter: say something that fits before anyone else. A Spanish-language word game, so you need Spanish speakers.
Throw Throw Burrito
2–6 players · ages 7+ · 15 min · €24.90
A card-matching game… where you also throw squishy burritos at each other. Ideal for players who can't sit still.
Board games for kids
Dobble
2–8 players · ages 6+ · 15 min · €15.90
Any two cards share exactly one symbol: spot it first and you win. Five mini-games in a metal tin.
Jungle Speed: Donkey Kong
2–8 players · ages 7+ · 15 min · €25.90
Classic Jungle Speed with Donkey Kong: when two cards match, grab the totem before anyone else.
Pickle Grab
2–6 players · ages 7+ · 15 min · €19.90
A reflex game with a pickle, its jar and a plate: watch the cards and be the fastest hand at the table.
Cortex Challenge
2–6 players · ages 8+ · 15 min · €15.90
Quick tests of memory, logic, perception and touch. Win challenges to collect brain pieces; complete yours first to win.
A cooperative game: everyone against the game
5-Minute Dungeon
2–5 players · ages 8+ · 5 min · €29.90
Cooperative and against the clock: you have five minutes to clear the dungeon together, playing cards as fast as you can.
Want a safe bet? See our Spiel des Jahres winners. For something quick at the Christmas table, try our family card games.
These are Spanish editions, with Spanish rules. Games with little or no text on the components (Azul, Dobble, Splendor Duel, Jaipur, Harmonies, Jungle Speed, Happy Mochi) are easy to play in any language once you know the rules; word games such as Quick Stop need Spanish speakers.
Shipping for Christmas
Board games ship from Segovia, Spain, with tracking. We ship worldwide; outside the EU, import taxes are paid by the customer according to their country. For Christmas, order early: we confirm the delivery time when you place your order.
More gift guides
- Board game gift guide for Christmas
- Award-winning board games that make great gifts
- Quick card games for Christmas Eve and family meals
- Board game gifts by budget: under €20, €20–40 and €40+
- All board games
FAQ
What is the best family board game?
Ticket to Ride: Europe and Azul are two of the most popular family games: easy to teach, and adults enjoy them as much as kids.
What are the best 2-player board games?
Splendor Duel and Jaipur are made for two; Tag Team and Toy Battle are 10 to 15-minute duels.
Which game works for groups of 8 or more?
The Werewolves of Millers Hollow plays 8 to 18. Dixit, Dobble and Jungle Speed Donkey Kong take up to 8.
What board game suits a 6-year-old?
Dobble is rated 6+. From 7, Jungle Speed Donkey Kong, Pickle Grab and Throw Throw Burrito.
What is a cooperative game?
A game where everyone wins or loses together against the game itself. 5-Minute Dungeon is a good example: you have five minutes to clear the dungeon as a team.
