Board Games for Teens for Group Game Nights

Game nights changed a lot once my son was a teenager.

Instead of quick kids’ games, we started reaching for ones that made everyone laugh, argue (in a fun way), and actually want to keep playing. Some became instant favorites with friends, others turned into our go-to family games.

Everything on this list is something we’ve played more than once and enjoyed enough to keep around.

Popular board games for teens including Risk, Taboo, Wordle, Ransom Notes, and Trekking the World

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Favorite Board Games for Teenagers

These are the games we keep coming back to for teen game nights, whether friends are over or it’s just family around the table.

Some are quick and silly, others more strategic, but all of them are fun enough to keep everyone playing.

Taboo Party Board Game With Buzzer

This one always gets loud in our house, in the best way. The second someone hits the buzzer, everyone freezes and forgets the easiest clues. We’ve had so many rounds where someone blurts out something completely wrong and the whole room loses it laughing. It’s fast, silly, and great when teens just want to joke around without thinking too hard.

Smart Ass

What I like about this one is that no one has to wait their turn. Everyone shouts answers at the same time, which somehow makes it way more fun (and chaotic). There’s always one person who answers with total confidence and is completely wrong, and that usually becomes the highlight of the night. It’s quick, competitive, and perfect for teens who love trivia without the slow pace.

Here to Slay Base Game

We expected this to be a light card game. It turned into full-on plotting within about five minutes. Alliances formed, feelings were fake-hurt (in a fun way), and someone always managed to pull off a surprise win. It’s playful but still strategic, and great for teens who like games where choices actually matter without dragging on for hours.

Outrageous

This one works best when everyone’s in a goofy mood. The answers people come up with are usually ridiculous, and half the time you’re laughing before the round even ends. There’s no pressure to be “good” at it, the fun is in being creative and a little absurd. It’s become one of our easy picks when friends are over.

Wordle The Party Game

I wasn’t sure how the app would translate into a group game, but it ended up being surprisingly fun. Racing to solve the word while everyone else is guessing at the same time adds just enough stress to make it exciting. Some rounds you feel brilliant, the next you’re totally stuck. It’s great for teens who like word puzzles but still want competition.

Mansions of Madness

This one feels more like an experience than a quick game. We played it on a weekend when everyone had time, and it completely pulled us in. Solving puzzles, exploring rooms, and watching the story unfold made it easy to lose track of time. It’s not something you grab for a short round, but when teens want something immersive, this one really delivers.

Herd Mentality

Every time we play this, it starts calm and somehow turns into arguing over the “obvious” answer. Someone always overthinks it and ends up way off, which becomes the joke for the rest of the night. It’s simple to learn, moves fast, and works especially well with a group that likes teasing each other (in a fun way).

This is one of the top card games for teens.

Plunder

This one gets dramatic fast. You start out building your little pirate empire, and before long people are making deals, breaking them, and stealing from each other. There’s always that moment when someone realizes they trusted the wrong person. Teens who like strategy mixed with a bit of chaos usually love this one.

The Chameleon

This is one of those games where watching people panic is half the fun. Someone never knows the secret word and has to fake their way through the clues, hoping no one catches on. We’ve had rounds where it was obvious immediately and others where the chameleon somehow fooled everyone. It’s quick, clever, and great for groups.

Ransom Notes

This one surprised me with how funny it gets. You’re handed random words and have to make them work for a prompt, even when they make absolutely no sense together. The explanations people give for their answers are often funnier than the words themselves. It’s silly, creative, and perfect when teens just want to laugh.

Spoof

This one always turns into confident nonsense. Everyone writes fake answers trying to sound believable, and there’s usually at least one that people fully fall for. The best part is hearing someone defend a completely made-up fact like it’s real. It’s quick to play and works really well when teens are in a competitive, joking mood.

Muffin Time

Nothing about this game is predictable, and that’s exactly why teens love it. Someone will be winning one second and suddenly lose because of a ridiculous rule card. We’ve had rounds where everyone groaned and then immediately asked to play again. It’s fast, chaotic, and great when no one wants to take things too seriously.

Catan Board Game

This one always brings out everyone’s strategy side. Trades get intense, someone always refuses to help anyone else, and there’s usually a surprise winner who slowly built up resources while everyone wasn’t paying attention. It’s longer than most games on this list, but when teens are up for a deeper game, this one keeps everyone locked in.

Trekking The World

We really liked this one for slower, relaxed game nights. Planning routes, collecting souvenirs, and racing to different landmarks feels competitive without being stressful. It sparked lots of conversations about places we’d love to visit someday, which made it feel different from a typical board game.

Risk Game

This is the game that turns friendly competition into full strategy mode. Alliances form, someone always breaks one, and there’s usually a dramatic moment where everything changes. It’s definitely a longer play, but teens who like big, competitive games tend to get completely pulled into it.

If you're interested in similar games, check out our list of the best history board games for more options.

Last Updated on 6 February 2026 by Clare Brown

Board Games for Teens for Group Game Nights

Favorite Board Games for Teenagers

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