Since their invention 5,000 years ago, few forms of play have been  longer-lasting than board games. Many of us grew up with games like Monopoly, Risk, Trivial Pursuit, Sorry and Axis and Allies. Not solely the purview of children, board games have so much to offer in the way of fun in midlife too, inviting us into new worlds to explore with every sitting.

Gaming has never been more popular than it is today. If you’re reading this, you may already be a game aficionado, or maybe you’re curious about getting into it again, but crave something different than those 80s classics. If that’s you, you’re in luck. We’re experiencing a renaissance of modern board games. Thirty years ago, roughly 1,500 games would be published annually. This year, that number will top 5,000. With thousands of games published every year, it can be daunting to know where to start, but don’t fret. I’ve done the legwork and I’m here to share some amazing games I think you’ll enjoy! 

I’ve made recommendations here to meet you right where you’re at - playing solo or with others, looking for something simple or a game with a bit more complexity. These games are all light on rules, readily accessible in the US and Canada, and playable within an hour. Though you may end up wanting to play longer!

Two-player cooperative play: Sky Team

More often than not, it’s my wife and me in our home. When the rest of our day has involved competing with others for time, space, and attention, a fantastic way to reconnect with each other is to play a cooperative game.

Our current favourite is Sky Team. In Sky Team, you and your partner assume the roles of pilot and co-pilot, attempting to land your airplane at airports all over the world. Except for the fact that you’re only allowed to talk in between rounds of play, it’s amazing to me how well this game approximates the real process of landing a plane. You each take turns rolling dice and then placing them on your shared cockpit to pilot your plane, lower the flaps and the landing gear, navigate traffic, adjust your speed and ultimately safely land. Or crash! The first time that we played it, we looked at each other and laughed out loud, amazed that it even worked. You can play in as little as 20 minutes, though we rarely want to stop.

‍Bonus recommendation: If you want more talking in your game, or want to try to think like your partner, check out Codenames Duet. Its parent game, Codenames, is a widely popular party game, and among the best you can find. This two-player only version of it actually is my favourite way to play it. Give your partner clues to guess correct words while avoiding others: inside jokes and secret-knowledge welcome!  

Party game for good conversation: Just One

Though Codenames is a can’t-miss recommendation for this category—especially if you’re looking for some light competition—my favourite game to get my brain thinking alongside others is Just One. It’s also the rare game that plays better at higher numbers of people: up to 7 is supported in the box. Each round, one player needs to guess a word from the clues given by the others. The catch: if any clues match another, they’re both eliminated. Clues that are too on-the-nose risk being removed; clues that are too vague aren’t helpful. It’s a bit of a brain-burn and a blast when your group succeeds.

Solo game with your morning coffee: Food Chain Island

One incredible contribution in modern games is the development of games designed to play alone.

Button Shy Games publishes dozens of wallet-sized games, many of which are designed for solo play. For an introduction to your day (or to wind down at the end of it), break out Food Chain Island. Starting with a grid of 16 animal cards, your goal is for larger animals to eat smaller animals until only one remains. Each animal has a trick up its sleeve to help you out or make your task a bit more difficult. It’s also very cute despite all of the eating!
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Pure fun for all ages (including kids and grandkids): Klask

No list of game recommendations is complete without a dexterity game! I’ve never not had an amazing 10 minutes playing Klask. What may be best described as air hockey without the air, in Klask you compete with one other player to score a goal while avoiding pesky obstacles (that look so much like marshmallows it’s all we call them now). You get one point for scoring a goal; your opponent gets one point if two of the marshmallows stick to you. First person to 6 points wins!

A beautiful hour with friends and birds: Wingspan

If you’re up for diving into games with a little more complexity, you’ll be rewarded with some wonderful shared experiences.

Not since Ticket to Ride has a game introduced so many people to modern board games as Wingspan. The game is gorgeous, smooth to play, and is an introduction to the world of birding as much as it is to modern game design. In Wingspan, you are a bird enthusiast attracting birds to live in your wildlife preserve and discovering new species of birds along the way. The birds you attract have abilities that are unique to them, and that help you attract more to your growing habitats. This is the most complex game in this list, but the rulebook is clear and excellent. If you prefer the theme of diving in the ocean for fish, or want a more beginner-friendly game with similar play, then look into Finspan as well.

Pack your bag with a card game: Sea Salt & Paper

Maybe it’s because I bought a copy of Sea Salt & Paper while on vacation, but I’ll forever associate this small card game with days by the ocean. Collect sets of cards or play them for their special abilities to make your hand even better. The game plays equally well with 2-4 players, plays quickly, and has incredibly charming art: origami sea creatures both real and fantastic.

Bonus recommendation: Scout is another small card game that is quick to learn and also reveals deeper levels of strategy the more you play it. It’s trick-taking like standard card games like Spades and Hearts, with a bit of push-your-luck thrown in there too. It also happens to be the newest game in our personal collection and we can’t stop playing it.
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Happy gaming!

Game play creates space for imagination, invites self-discovery, and opens worlds of possibilities. Above all, it’s fun! If this is a re-introduction to the world of board games, then welcome! While all of these games can all be found online, the best recommendation I can make is to head to your local board game store with this list in hand and strike up a conversation. Bring one home with you, or ask them to point you to the closest board game cafe. Many worlds await!