Top Party Board Games for Large Groups in 2025

When it comes to hosting a lively gathering, the best board games for parties and large groups are essential to keep everyone entertained. These games are designed to accommodate larger numbers, often scaling up to 10 or more players, ensuring that everyone at your event can join in the fun. Whether you're hosting a casual get-together or a festive party, these games are perfect for creating memorable moments with friends and family.

If you're looking for a fun board game to bring out at your next event, here are the top picks for party board games in 2025. For family-friendly options, don't forget to check out our list of the best family board games.

TL;DR: The Best Party Board Games

• Link City (2-6 players)
• Caution Signs (3-9 players)
• Ready Set Bet (2-9 players)
• Challengers! (1-8 players)
• That's Not a Hat (3-8 players)
• Wits and Wagers: Party (4-18 players)
• Codenames (2-8 players)
• Time's Up – Title Recall (3+ players)
• The Resistance: Avalon (5-10 players)
• Telestrations (4-8 players)
• Dixit Odyssey (3-12 players)
• Wavelength (2-12 players)
• One Night Ultimate Werewolf (4-10 players)
• Monikers (4-20 players)
• Decrypto (3-8 players)

Link City

Link City

Players: 2-6
Playtime: 30 minutes

Link City is a unique, fully cooperative party game where players work together to build the most bizarre town possible. Each turn, one player acts as the mayor, secretly deciding where three randomly-drawn location tiles should go. The mayor shows the other players the tiles but not their intended placements, challenging the group to guess correctly. Every correct guess earns a point, but the real fun comes from the hilarious and unexpected combinations that emerge, like placing an alien abduction site next to a cattle ranch and a daycare center.

Caution Signs

Caution Signs

Players: 3-9
Playtime: 45-60 minutes

Inspired by the quirky world of roadside warning signs, Caution Signs challenges players to create their own. Each player receives cards with unusual noun and verb combinations, like "rolling rabbits" or "pretty crocodiles," and must draw a caution sign to depict these scenarios. One player, the guesser, tries to decipher the signs without drawing one themselves. The game's charm lies in the creative drawings and the humorous misinterpretations that arise during play.

Ready Set Bet

Ready Set Bet

Players: 2-9
Playtime: 45-60 minutes

Ready Set Bet is a thrilling horse-racing game where the earlier you bet, the higher the potential payout. The race can be managed by a player or an app, using dice odds to determine horse performance. Players place bets on individual horses or color groups, aiming for various race positions. The game also includes prop bets and exotic finish bets, adding variety to each race. It's fast-paced and engaging, with players shouting and cheering as they back their chosen horses.

Challengers!

Challengers! Card Game

Players: 1-8
Playtime: 45 minutes

Challengers! is an innovative party game that won the 2023 Kennerspiel award for its unique auto-battler format. Players build decks and engage in head-to-head battles, keeping the winning cards and discarding the losers until they're strong enough to win. It's fast, addictive, and strategic, with plenty of room for skillful play. Yet, it's also full of fun and unexpected matchups, perfect for a relaxed gaming session.

That's Not A Hat

That's Not a Hat

Players: 3-8
Playtime: 15 minutes

Combining bluffing and memory, That's Not A Hat is a compact yet engaging party game. Players start with face-up cards showing everyday objects, then flip them down and pass them around the table according to arrows on the back, stating what the card is. The challenge is to remember the objects and call out any bluffs. Three incorrect accusations and you're out, leading to a mix of fun and psychological strategy.

Wits and Wagers

Wits & Wagers Party

Players: 4-18
Playtime: 25 minutes

Wits and Wagers is a trivia game with a twist: instead of answering questions, you bet on the accuracy of your friends' answers. This makes it accessible for everyone, regardless of their trivia knowledge. With different versions tailored for standard, party, and family play, it's a versatile choice that can accommodate large groups and provide endless entertainment.

Codenames

Codenames

Players: 2-8
Playtime: 15 minutes

Codenames transforms players into spies, divided into teams with a spymaster on each side. The spymasters give clues to help their team identify codewords on a grid, aiming to claim their team's words without touching the opponent's or the assassin's. It's a game of quick thinking and clever clues, with expansions available to enhance replay value. For couples, consider trying Codenames: Duet.

Time’s Up – Title Recall

Time's Up - Title Recall

Players: 3+
Playtime: 60 minutes

Time's Up combines pop culture trivia with charades, using 40 cards featuring famous titles. Over three rounds, clues become increasingly restricted—from full sentences to single words, and finally to pantomime. This progression leads to hilarious and creative associations, making it a fun and engaging party game.

The Resistance: Avalon

The Resistance: Avalon

Players: 5-10
Playtime: 30 minutes

Set in King Arthur's court, The Resistance: Avalon is a bluffing game where players must identify and outsmart the traitors among them. With secret roles and special abilities like Merlin's knowledge of loyalties, the game creates an atmosphere of escalating paranoia. It's a quick and thrilling experience that often leads to immediate replays.

Telestrations

Telestrations

Players: 4-8
Playtime: 30-60 minutes

Telestrations is a party game based on the concept of image-based Chinese whispers. Players draw and guess phrases, passing their creations around the table until the original phrase is hilariously transformed. An expansion pack and an adults-only version are available for larger groups and more daring play.

Dixit Odyssey

Dixit Odyssey

Players: 3-12
Playtime: 30 minutes

Dixit Odyssey, a winner of the Spiel des Jahres, is a storytelling game where one player, the storyteller, describes a card in their hand. Other players choose cards from their hands that match the description, and everyone tries to guess the storyteller's card. It's a balance of creativity and strategy, enhanced by beautiful artwork that sparks conversation and imagination.

Wavelength

Wavelength

Players: 2-12
Playtime: 30-45 minutes

Wavelength introduces a fresh twist to guessing games by focusing on opinions rather than trivia. Players give clues to guide their team to a point on a dial between two extremes, such as "straight" and "curvy." It's a subjective challenge that encourages lively discussion and is suitable for cooperative or competitive play.

One Night Ultimate Werewolf

One Night Ultimate Werewolf

Players: 4-10
Playtime: 10 minutes

One Night Ultimate Werewolf is a fast-paced party game where players receive secret roles and must identify the werewolves among them. With special abilities and no sure way to discern the truth, it's a game of bluffing and reading people. Various themed versions are available, but be warned: it might test your friendships!

Monikers

Monikers

Players: 4-20
Playtime: 60 minutes

Monikers is a modern twist on charades, featuring a wide range of characters from celebrities to viral memes. Rounds become increasingly challenging, moving from full clues to one-word hints and finally to silent gestures. The repeated use of cards fosters in-jokes and laughter, making it a standout choice for parties.

Decrypto

Decrypto

Players: 3-8
Playtime: 15-45 minutes

In Decrypto, teams work to crack a numeric code using clues from their encryptor. The encryptor gives hints about words associated with numbers, while the opposing team tries to intercept and guess the code. It's a strategic game that makes players feel like spies, balancing the need to give useful clues without revealing too much.

What's the Difference Between a Party Game and a Board Game?

Not all board games are party games, and vice versa. Board games are typically designed for smaller groups, often two to six players, with structured rules and goals like reaching the end of a board or accumulating points. They can be strategic or luck-based.

Party games, on the other hand, are designed for larger groups and focus on entertainment and social interaction. They are easy to learn, quick to play, and often involve activities like charades or trivia that encourage laughter and engagement.

Tips for Hosting Party Games

Hosting party games with a large group requires some preparation to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience. Protect your games from wear and tear by sleeving cards, laminating player aids, and using generic pieces. Consider the space you have, as some games need ample table space, and be mindful of snacks that might affect gameplay.

Choose simple, intuitive games that can be taught quickly, and be flexible if your guests prefer different activities. If group control becomes an issue, consider splitting into smaller groups or teams. Most importantly, go with the flow and focus on having a great time together.