Best Award Winning Board Games of 2025

"I picked this up for game nights with my wife, and it's quickly become a favorite. Beautiful art, simple to learn, and surprisingly strategic. It plays great with two players—tons of fun balancing habitat tiles and animals. Cascadia delivers quality time with a partner."

"We absolutely love Cascadia! It has just the right amount of strategy without overwhelming our kids. The rules are straightforward, making it a staple of our game nights."

"This game is so relaxing! Building little ecosystems feels enjoyable, and the artwork is stunning. There's enough strategy to keep it interesting, making it perfect for casual game nights."

"As a board game enthusiast, I must say this game is beautiful. The gorgeous bird artwork on the cards and the box is stunning. The game oozes theme; you place birds in their specific habitats. Even though I’m not a bird person, it really drew me in. Each new bird card I drew was exciting, making strategic moves equally thrilling. The gameplay is smooth, with each turn being quick as long as you plan ahead. The variety of strategies and scoring options keeps it fresh every game. Overall, it’s a fantastic value and a must-have for board game lovers."

"Wingspan has quickly become a favorite in our home! The 170 unique bird cards are beautifully illustrated and packed with facts. It’s a game of earning points by placing birds in habitats, laying eggs, and drawing new cards. While it does have a bit of a learning curve, the detailed instructions help a lot. We usually take about 60-75 minutes to play, but it’s worth it. It's a great game for teens and adults, and I highly recommend adding it to your collection."

"This expansion for Wingspan has me hooked! I wouldn't want to play the base game without it. It enhances the gameplay experience, offering new strategies and beautiful bird cards. I also suggest trying the Asia expansion for a two-player game. Overall, it's a great addition!"

"I think this game is a fantastic way for my first grader to learn about geography while also practicing reading. I love that it incorporates strategy and math, making it enjoyable for the whole family. My daughter really enjoys using the bear game piece, although she often pretends it attacks and eats me during play!"

"I was a bit hesitant at first due to the mixed reviews about complexity, but I decided to give it a try. To my surprise, the instructions were clear, and my husband and I had a great time playing a practice round. There are various elements to the game, but it’s easy to grasp, and we’re excited to share it with our friends who love board games."

"This game is a great conversation starter and easy to play. Although I found the instructions a bit vague, we managed to have fun regardless. The quality of the board and accessories is impressive, and the educational content about national parks is engaging!"

"I think Terraforming Mars is absolutely fantastic. I'd give it 6 stars if I could; it's that good. While it has a bit of a learning curve, it's definitely worth the effort. The solo variant is a major plus for me, and now I can't wait to try it in multiplayer."

"I've played with all the expansions except Turmoil, and I still love it. This game has become my favorite of all time. With the expansions, it offers so much replayability that I can't get enough!"

"I played with a group of 30-somethings, and everyone wanted to play another round. It's quick to learn, and the cards have pictures that can be interpreted in many ways. We had lots of laughs and it’s a fun way to get to know others."

"I really like this game! It's easy to figure out, which is important to me because who has time to spend forever learning a board game? I would definitely recommend it."

"We love this sweet little game! It can be as simple or complicated as the group wants. It’s great to play with people you don’t know well. The artwork is beautiful and inspires great conversations. I’d have loved to have this when I was teaching!"

“I bought this game for my husband for Christmas, but it arrived late in January. Despite that, the game is genuinely fun! I played with my husband and brother-in-law, and while my brother-in-law wasn’t too interested, I found myself really enjoying it. The rules were a bit lengthy, but after watching a short video, I got the hang of it quickly. It’s a strategy game that requires planning, and I’m excited to keep playing!”

“We decided to purchase this game after trying it at a board game cafe and I’m glad we did! It’s easy to learn but still has enough complexity to keep us engaged. The quality of the pieces is excellent and adds to the overall experience.”

“I absolutely love AZUL! It's a quality game suitable for a wide age range, from 10 to 68 years. The level of strategy is just right, making it highly addictive. It’s a game I can see us playing repeatedly!”

"I got this for my wife for Christmas, and we had such a great time playing after dinner. My daughter loved it so much that she bought her own to play with friends. It's easy to learn and perfect for all ages. The best part? It really gets people talking and laughing, even pulling my 14-year-old nephews away from their phones!"

"I purchased this game for our family gathering, and it became the crowd favorite! It's not only easy to learn, but it also had everyone in stitches. The age range from 21 to 64 didn’t matter; we all had a blast!"

"I got The Chameleon for my 9-year-old grandson, and we played it that afternoon. It was a hit with everyone, from him to the grandparents. I love that we can still enjoy board games together. I totally recommend this!"

"This game is a blast for my family! It's complex yet easy to learn, and my kids adore the cute cats!"

"I highly recommend this deceptively cute but challenging tile-laying game. I even found it engaging to play solo, which is rare for me!"

"Calico is one of my favorites! The solo scenarios offer a nice challenge, and the cats and colors are delightful!"

"As a self-proclaimed board game fanatic, Ticket to Ride quickly became one of my all-time favorites! It's deceptively simple—just build train routes—but trust me, the competition heats up faster than you can say “choo-choo.” My family and I started off polite, quietly connecting cities, but before long, we were gleefully sabotaging each other's routes. The best part? It's easy enough for beginners yet still strategic enough for seasoned gamers. If you like a mix of plotting, blocking, and a bit of luck, this game is a must-have!"

"Ticket to Ride has become a staple in our family game nights, and for good reason – it's an absolute delight for players of all ages! The game's premise is simple yet engaging, making it easy for both kids and adults to grasp. Assembling train routes across the U.S. not only sparks a healthy sense of competition but also provides an entertaining way for kids to learn and reinforce their geography skills. In conclusion, Ticket to Ride is a board game masterpiece that seamlessly combines entertainment and education!"

"I love this game! It's super fun, easy to play, and I can enjoy it with just 2 people."

"I definitely recommend this game! It's fun, easy to grasp for a toddler, and very engaging. My 3.5-year-old was laughing quite a bit. A must buy for family activities."

"I got this for my granddaughter's birthday, and it was a big hit! She loved it. It does need a little help to set up, but we had so much fun playing together. Definitely recommend for family game night!"

"My son is obsessed with this game! It's fun for everyone, and he laughs when the bees fall down. The only downside is how long it takes to set back up, but I would definitely recommend it."