5 Great Board Games to Play with Friends (That Won’t Start a Fight)

Game nights are something everyone should enjoy from time to time. Snacks, laughter, and just enough chaos to make things interesting. However, picking the right game for you and your friends is key. So I’ve put together five faves that help to bring the fun, remove the drama, and are perfect for everything from chilled hangouts to full-on game marathons.

1. Horrified

Best for: Cooperative monster-slaying fun
Players: 1–5
Vibe: Save the town from classic horrors… together!

Horrified is a brilliant co-op game where you and your crew team up to defeat classic movie monsters like Dracula, the Mummy, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon. It’s tense in the best way, and nobody gets left out or knocked out, it’s team victory or bust.

Not into Universal Monsters? Try other editions like:

Horrified: American Monsters – creepy cryptids like Mothman and the Jersey Devil
Horrified: Greek Monsters – mythological mayhem with Medusa and Cerberus

Pick your type of spooky and get strategising.

2. Codenames

Best for: Word nerds and clue givers
Players: 2–8 (4+ ideal)
Vibe: Spymaster chaos with a side of “HOW did you not guess that?!”

Split into teams and give clever one-word clues to help your mates guess the right words from a grid. It’s fast, funny, and full of moments where your logic completely derails your team (in the best way).

Bonus: There’s a free online version of Codenames—perfect for long-distance friends or when everyone’s in fluffy socks and not leaving the sofa.

3. Exploding Kittens

Best for: Fans of silly chaos
Players: 2–5
Vibe: Cats, cards, and complete madness.

Draw cards, avoid exploding, and use bizarre abilities to sabotage your mates. The artwork is ridiculous, the gameplay is quick, and the laughs are guaranteed.

Expansions & Editions Galore:

Imploding Kittens, Streaking Kittens, Barking Kittens
UK Edition, Good vs Evil, Deluxe Party Pack
AND it’s now a Netflix animated series, yes, it got that big.

4. Mysterium

Best for: Intuitive thinkers and drama queens (the fun kind)
Players: 2–7
Vibe: A ghost gives clues. Psychics guess the killer. Everyone gasps.

One player is a ghost who can’t speak. The rest are psychic investigators trying to solve the murder. The ghost sends dreamlike visions to help you work out the who, where, and what of the crime. The art is stunning, the atmosphere is pure moody magic, and the teamwork is top-tier.

Great for players who love mystery, storytelling, and big “AHA!” moments. It’s Cluedo on an espresso and painted by a surrealist.

5. Monopoly (but make it personal)

Best for: Fans of themes, nostalgia, and long-haul battles
Players: 2–6+
Vibe: Classic game, but now with donkeys, aliens, or Oxford colleges.

Let’s be honest, Monopoly can cause chaos. But with so many themed editions, it’s more about personal flair and less about rage-quitting over rent.

Some of my faves from my shelf:

Stitch Edition – super cute chaos
Doctor Who Edition – timey-wimey property battles
Oxford Edition – local love
Donkey Sanctuary Edition – yes, it exists and it’s adorable

With versions for every fandom, place, and passion, it’s the ultimate in customisable game night nostalgia.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re solving a ghostly mystery, avoiding an exploding furball, or battling Dracula in a foggy village, these board games bring people together (and only occasionally test your friendships).

Have a favourite edition of Monopoly? Or a go-to party game that always wins the crowd? Drop it in the comments, I’m always up for new board game ideas.

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