As such, this is an option we're more than happy to break out if things can get heated on game night.

How it works: Much like the Redwall novels, each player commands a tribe of anthropomorphic creatures that must fight to control the forest's clearings (in practical terms, that means collecting 30 'Victory Points'). What you need to know: The odds are against you from the start in Pandemic, but that's the beauty of it. New expansions are appearing all the time as well, so every corner of the fandom will find something to suit them. The bottom line: Monopoly and Risk may be better known, but this classic board game is arguably more praiseworthy. It's a great fit for fans of crossword, word connect and word anagram games, combining word find games and crossword puzzles.

Seeing as you'll have to balance helping your allies with hunting loot that can improve your hero, there's also a sizzling unease to keep you on the edge of your seat. Is it better to keep disease levels down so that they don't spread from city to city in the short term, or should you play the long game and go all-in on developing cures? Gameplay: Once you've gotten your head around your villain's special rules, you'll be cooking with gas. You're expecting something for families or kids: Despite being based on the iconic, family-friendly movies of our childhoods, Villainous is actually a competitive strategy game with oodles of depth. You want a complex strategy game: Although this game has more than enough strategic back and forth, it's not the crunchiest tactical experience on offer.

You want something you can really get your teeth into: This is the sort of game that gets better after repeat sessions - you'll only truly grasp what your faction can do after using them a few times.

Trying to figure out the best combination of actions to use at any one time is a compelling mini-game in itself, and juggling your limited resources (you'll lose cards as you progress) makes for a challenging puzzle. Board Games Battleship War Mahjong Deluxe Ancient Egypt Mahjong Pupper Mahjong Master Checkers Backgammon Onet Connect Classic Mahjong Dimensions: 900 second. Challenge your brain and vocabulary – this crossword puzzle starts easy and becomes challenging fast! You don't like randomness: This game relies on randomly-drawn board tiles and cards that'll dictate what happens next.

Despite being tasked with curing a clutch of super-diseases, good communication (not to mention the ability to think on your feet) will see you through. But if you're hunting down something more mature in terms of both narrative and gameplay, this is one of the top board games for adults. Trying to convince other players to join your cause can mean the difference between winning an encounter and losing. If you can guess where someone's trying to go, you can cut off their route by building there instead, thus denying them those valuable points. But there's something cathartic about giving a pandemic the boot… even if it's only in this tabletop world of tokens and cards.If you ask us, these recommendations should be in everyone's collection; long gone are the days when Monopoly was the most interesting thing on the menu. More than half a dozen add-ons are available if you want to shake things up, so there's plenty to keep you busy here should you grow tired of the base game. The bottom line: If you can get to grips with the game's rules, you'll discover one of the most rewarding picks on this list.