Best Board Games Under $20

One of the most common misconceptions about modern board games is that you need to spend $50-80 to get a good experience. That is simply not true. Some of the best-designed, most-played, most-beloved games in the hobby cost less than a large pizza. Here are 10 games under $20 that punch far above their price tag.

Card Games (Under $15)

The Crew: Mission Deep Sea (~$12). The best cooperative card game ever made, and it fits in your pocket. 50 escalating trick-taking missions that require teamwork and clever communication. I have logged more plays of The Crew than games that cost four times as much. Plays 2-5.

Sushi Go! (~$10). A card-drafting game about building the best sushi meal. Pick a card, pass the rest. Adorable art, simple rules, surprising strategy. The perfect game for families and the ideal family game night starter. Plays 2-5.

Love Letter (~$10). A micro-game with just 16 cards, but every single play produces dramatic moments. Deduce which card your opponents hold, and be the last player standing. Games take 10 minutes, which means you will play five rounds before you even think about stopping. Plays 2-6.

Coup (~$12). Bluff, manipulate, and assassinate your way to being the last player with influence. The joy of Coup is lying directly to your friends' faces and watching them try to figure out if you really have the Duke. Pure social deduction in 15 minutes. Plays 2-6.

Strategy Games (Under $20)

Splendor (~$18 on sale). Engine building perfection. Collect gem tokens, buy cards, build a purchasing engine. The weighted poker chips alone are worth the price. This is the game I have gifted most often. Plays 2-4. Read our full review.

Kingdomino (~$17). Domino-style tile placement where you build a kingdom. Draft tiles in a clever priority system where choosing a weaker tile gives you first pick next round. Five-minute teach, 15-minute games, and legitimately engaging puzzle for adults. Spiel des Jahres winner for good reason. Plays 2-4.

Codenames (~$16). The party game that actually works. Two teams compete to identify their agents using one-word clues. Codenames has sold millions of copies because it appeals to literally everyone, gamers, non-gamers, families, friends, coworkers. The word associations people come up with are endlessly entertaining. Plays 4-8. See our party games guide.

Solo-Friendly Options Under $20

Friday (~$15). A deck-building solitaire game where you help Robinson Crusoe survive on an island. Challenging, addictive, and perfectly designed for one player. If you enjoy solo gaming, this is an essential purchase.

Palm Island (~$15). A card game you play entirely in your hand, no table required. Build your island village by cycling through cards and upgrading them. Perfect for travel, waiting rooms, or any time you have 15 minutes and no table space. Pairs well with our travel games guide.

Sprawlopolis (~$12). An 18-card cooperative city-building game where the scoring conditions change every game. Fits in a wallet, provides endless puzzle variety, and is deceptively difficult to master. One of the best value propositions in all of tabletop gaming.