A Definitive Ranking of The Most Popular Board Games

I can't name anyone who doesn't have at least one board game they feel passionately about. 

Some classic board games leave you feeling relaxed, while in others, mayhem ensues. But that means there's something for everyone to enjoy, which is why it would be a feat in itself to not have one you cherish.

From Monopoly to Loaded Questions, I ranked the most beloved and popular board games I've played. Keep scrolling to see where your favorite landed.

9. Monopoly

I've never understood the hype for Monopoly. Maybe it's because I avoid thinking about the economy and money as much as possible, but I don't find joy in the concept of real estate and finance. Besides, this game takes forever to finish, which makes it hard for it to feel exhilaratingly competitive.

However, I will say I like to see special editions of board games, and there are so many different versions of Monopoly that every fandom you can think of probably has one.

 

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8. Candy Land

Candy Land is the most basic board game: roll the dice and race to the end. It's a good game, and I enjoyed it a lot as a kid, but now I crave something more advanced.

(via Shutterstock)

 

7. Operation

Operation was another game that I preferred as a kid. I loved the games where it'd "scare" you with loud noises or jumpscares. However, I'm now just annoyed by the loud noises, but I can still appreciate the creative concept of a surgical board game.

 

6. The Game of Life

The Game of Life used to be my favorite board game in the world, so I surprised myself when I ranked it at six.

The objective of Life is to retire with the most money. Along the way, you go to college, get a job, get married, have kids, and whatever else gets thrown at you. It can be a bit slow, and there's not much competition, so it's a game I prefer to play when I'm feeling mellow.

I have to credit this game, though. I've always loved having the ability to assemble "my dream life," so I think Life was what prompted me to become a lover of other life simulation games like The Sims.

 

Also read about: A Definitive Ranking of Every The Sims 4 Expansion Pack

 

5. Trivial Pursuit

I've never played Trivial Pursuit on the board, but I have the Nintendo Switch version of the game and can't get enough of it. Essentially, you answer trivia questions and try to accumulate the most points.

I rank it low because I think the board game wouldn't be as fun—it'd probably have more challenging questions and take more time to complete. And the Nintendo Switch has an easy mode for when you want lighthearted fun.

(via Shutterstock)

 

4. Scattergories

Out of every game on this list, Scattergories requires the most brain power, and I enjoy it when I actually want to think.

Basically, you get a list of categories, one player rolls the alphabet dice, and you find a word in the respective category that starts with the letter selected. When I'm not feeling my most intelligent, this game can go south fast and give me a headache. If I found myself in the mood for it more often, it would definitely rank higher.

 

3. Trouble

This game makes me livid whenever I play, but there's something very addictive about it. 

You and up to four players traverse the entire board and go to your "home" as fast as possible, but another player can eliminate you and force you to start from the beginning. My strategy is to be as peaceful as possible so others will feel guilty and avoid sending me back—somehow, it works.

Like Scattergories, I'm not often in the mood for Trouble because it can be chaotic, but when I am, it's amazing.

 

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2. Loaded Questions

Loaded Questions is a newer board game (compared to others on this list) and still has the timeless creativity of the classics.

Each round, one player asks everyone a question about themselves, the other players write down their answers, and then the person who asked will guess which player says what. For every person the player gets correct, they get to move a space, and the game's objective is to make it to the end of the board the quickest.

I've always loved this game because it's a great way to get to know the people around you. Even if it's someone you're close to, you'll probably learn something new because the questions can be unexpected. I don't spend much time thinking about my interests and who I am, so it's always fun to reflect on my personality with people I love. And unlike other games, I never feel competitive—honestly, I usually don't want the game to end.

(via Shutterstock)

 

1. Clue

I cannot rave about Clue enough. It's a murder mystery game where you subtly have to work with the other players to figure out who committed the crime, with what weapon, and where. The first person to solve it wins the game.

I've always loved puzzle games, and this game showed me how exciting it was to figure out something by reading body language and determining other people's logic. No two games will be alike: sometimes, you'll find the answer within minutes, and other times it will take over an hour. But because of that, the game never gets old.

Clue has an understated competitiveness, perfect for someone like me who can get overwhelmed when the game gets too intense. You never know exactly how far someone is in solving the case, which slightly lowers the pressure.

Overall, Clue is my ideal balance of chaos and intelligence. And as I said earlier, I love a game with multiple editions, and Clue satisfies that itch since it has so many versions.

 

Curious about our other game opinions? Read HERE for our definitive ranking of the best-selling Mario video games on the Nintendo Switch.