Best Board Games for Adults in the UK

The Z-Man Games company is very popular among board game aficionados thanks to its wide selection of fascinating games that fit all tastes. One of their most popular products is the Pandemic.

This game came out back in 2008 and got the second edition in 2013. Since then, it got multiple expansions and spin-offs. You may extend the world and add more and more interesting details and twists to the story, which makes this board game replayable and allows you to spend multiple evenings without getting bored. So what makes it so interesting?

The game is cooperative and makes you team up with your friends to find the viruses that are spreading all over the world and to stop the pandemic. When purchasing the set, you get a board with a world map. The cities on the map are connected with lines that show the ways the disease may spread. Apart from that, you get 4 sets of cubes of different colours that symbolise the disease. Plus, you get 7 pawns for players. There are also two decks of cards: one deck for players and the other one is for the pandemic. And lastly, the set includes 6 research stations - when you get a card that allows you to build a research laboratory in your city, you can put it on the map, and thus, boost up the curing.

If you thought everything is so simple, don’t be so happy yet. Remember that there is always a possibility you can lose the game. Setting the lab doesn’t mean you will be able to find a cure. You need to get 5 player cards that match the city the lab is situated in. To do so, the players need to thoroughly coordinate their moves, which requires concentration and attention. That way, the game helps you improve your strategic skills.

The next product in our list is created by Z-Man Games as well. But this time, it is not a cooperative game but a competitive one. The Carcassonne Board Game is a tile-based game that allows you to build your own city, which requires an understanding of strategy and attention.

When purchasing the set, you get a chance to build a completely new world. The game was actually named after an old city in France, so the map has a medieval setting - there are 72 tiles included in a box. When you start the game, you get only 1 tile (all the others are facing down). With each move, the person can get a new tile to set near the corresponding piece. For example, you should place the piece with a road near the already existing road, a city piece should expand the city and so on. The game we review here is a new edition, so you also get tiles with a river and an abbey (there are 12 river tiles and 5 abbey tiles).

The next thing that is included in the set is a scoreboard. To understand the scoring system, you need to thoroughly read a rulebook. But to put it briefly, you get a different amount of points for each tile your get. For example, a tile with a road equals 1 point, but a tile with a city piece can bring you up to 4 points. Do note that the number of points can vary depending on where you place the tile. Hence, choose the position wisely. The winner is the person who will manage to create the most well-developed city and gain the most points when there will be no tiles left. The whole gaming process can last from 30 to 45 minutes.

The Drumond Park is the best party game on our list. Once you and your friends start to feel bored, take out this game and shake everybody up! It is fun, interesting and allows you to boost your imagination. So, let's check the reasons why this game is considered to be such a great choice for parties.

First things first, it has very clear rules and is easy to play. The set of this modern board game includes 500 cards with 3000 entries. Plus, there are 4 playing pieces that represent each player or a team. There is also a board with categories and a spinner that helps you determine what category you get. When you select a category, you get a card with a few words but you need to describe only one that suits your category. You need to explain as many words as you can in 30 seconds (your teammates should guess them). To measure the time, you don’t have to use a separate stop-watch or smartphone since there is an hourglass included in a set.

Yet, there is a twist - you can't use words that sound alike or have the same root. For example, if you get the word “cowboy”, you can’t use the words “cow” or “boy in your description. It will be considered cheating and even if your teammates will get the word right, you won’t get a point. Hence, you will need to get a little bit more creative with your words and use your imagination.

The next thing that makes this game so great for parties is that you can play it with a crowd of up to 20 people, or even more if you want to. And there can be no less than 4 people playing (to make 2 teams). If you split up in 4 teams, the gameplay will last for about 45 minutes. Yet, you can continue playing until you get bored or stop at any moment since there is no storytelling or progress that needs to be saved.

To make your creative juices flowing, you don’t need any special exercises. You can stimulate your imagination by having a good time with the Libellud Dixit Board Game. It can bring great entertainment for the whole family.

The Dixit is a competitive game with a scoring system that will help you determine the best storyteller. When purchasing this set, you get 84 cards with beautiful illustrations. The game is suitable for 3 to 6 people.

To start playing, each person should get 6 cards. The first person to go (aka a storyteller) looks at his/her deck and selects one random card. Then, he or she should describe what’s going on in the picture and other players should try to guess what card from their deck the storyteller is describing. You need to make your description not very clear and obvious since if everybody makes a right guess, you get no point and all the other players get 2 points each. On the other hand, if you make your description way too confusing and no one gets it right, you will get no points as well. The trick is to find a perfect balance in your story so at least one person would figure out your card. In that case, you and the guesser will get 3 points. Also, other players can vote for each card offered by their rivals. If you vote for the right card, you get 1 point.

The players should take turns and tell stories based on the picture they like the most. Thus, everyone will be a storyteller and fantasise about the cards. The set also includes score markers. The person that gets the most points becomes a winner. On average, the game lasts for about 30 minutes.

If you really love TV shows and especially adore funny sitcoms, you most definitely have heard about Friends. The TV show became a huge hit not only in the UK but all over the world. In 2019, it was 25 years since the release of the first episode. However, the show doesn’t lose its popularity and is still deeply loved by different generations.

If you are one of the hardcore fans who have rewatched the show multiple times and share your passion with friends or family members, we have a treat for you. The Winning Moves offers the Friends Quiz Game that allows you to check your knowledge.

This entertainment game is very fun and doesn’t have any tricky rules. The game includes 600 cards with questions that are based on the key moments from season 1 to 10. On each card, there are 6 questions and each of them applies to a different season. To play the game, you need at least 2 players who are older than 12 years (the number of participants is not limited). There are also coloured dice that will determine the question you need to answer. To play this game, you need to take turns and answer questions. One person asks and another one answers. If you answer the first question correctly, the card goes back to the deck, and you get a chance to throw the dice again and answer the second, WEDGE question. If you answer correctly, you can keep the card. If you fail, it is the end of your turn and the card goes back to the deck too. To win this game, you need to collect 6 cards before your friends do.