Best Carcassonne Board Games of 2026

Carcassonne is a strategy board game that requires players to develop the landscape of a medieval fortress city. With one-step-at-a-time tile-placement, players can add followers and plan carefully to make the best use of their knights, monks, farmers, or thieves to score points. The game offers high replayability with 84 tiles that can be configured into numerous combinations, and appeals to beginners and veteran gamers alike. Average Playtime: 45 minutes.

Join the herd with this hilarious family strategy board game. Players answer questions and try to figure out what everyone else would write to win cows. Avoid being the odd one out and receiving the dreaded Pink Cow. Herd Mentality is a social deduction game that is great for ages 10+ and 4-20 players. Plus, the game is eco-friendly, with one tree planted for every game sold.

Big Potato's The Chameleon is a social deduction board game that is perfect for families and friends. In this game, players must race to catch the chameleon before it's too late. Everyone knows the secret word except for the player with the chameleon card. The goal is to use hidden codes, carefully chosen words, and a bit of finger-pointing to track down the guilty player before they blend in and escape. It only takes 2 minutes to learn and 15 minutes to play, making it a quick and easy game that is recommended for 3-8 players and ages 14+. With the additional 80 secret words, this game is even more exciting and challenging. The travel-friendly version comes with 20 extra questions and takes up less shelf space at home too!

The CGE Codenames Party Game is a fun and engaging word association game for friends and family. You and your team will race to find your secret agents on a 5×5 grid, guided by a spymaster who knows the hidden identities. The spymaster gives clever one-word clues and a number to connect several words, encouraging you to think creatively and strategically. As you guess, you must avoid selecting the other team’s agents, innocent bystanders, or the assassin, which ends the game immediately—adding excitement and tension to every round. This makes the game both challenging and a great way to sharpen your teamwork and communication skills.

Azul is a tile placement game in which players become artisans tasked with creating the most beautiful tiled mosaics. It is a strategy board game that is competitive and challenging, yet easy to learn. It is suitable for 2 to 4 players aged 8 and up and the average playtime is 30 - 45 minutes. It is a great game for adults and family to spend time together, and is visually appealing with the multicolored tiles. It is a simple game with a lot of depth, and is a great gateway game for gamers new to board gaming.

The Retro Series Clue 1986 Edition Game by Hasbro Gaming is a great way to bring family and friends together for a fun night in. This nostalgic tabletop game combines classic gameplay with digital content for an immersive experience. It's perfect for any age and occasion, and is sure to get everyone laughing and having a good time.