21 best Black Friday board games deals — up to 55% off on our favorites

Who doesn't love a hilariously fun card game, right? Exploding Kittens might sound off-putting, but it's actually a wildly popular, family-friendly card game where strategy and humor collide! Perfect for game nights, it’s quick to learn and entertaining. Protect your kittens, avoid explosions and outsmart your opponents. What's even better is that it's 50% off for Black Friday!

I have very fond memories of playing Battleship as a child, so this is the perfect game to keep the young ones occupied — or you can join in on the fun, of course! The goal is simple: two players battle it out to sink their opponent's ships. This strategy game is the ultimate search-and-destroy mission: call a shot and fire.

Granted this isn't a board game per se, You Can't Say Umm is one of the most fun card games I've played. My friends and I laughed to the point we had tears in our eyes. The goal is simple: you have to describe an object to your teammate without saying "Umm" or "Err." The opposing team can catch you out and penalize you. And there's a twist: opponents can add "rules" to your turn, such as, "Swap seats with a teammate after every correct guess." It's harder than it sounds, and it's a barrel of laughs.

For every heavy box or Monopoly game there needs to be a family friendly game with like So Clover! a clever word association game that packs a big punch in a small box. In this one you work together to discover everyone's keywords based on clues that you provide each other. It's a more cooperative version of Codenames or Password and each session should only last you 30 minutes if you want a quick bite.

Not every board game has this, but Splendor brings tactility to the table with chunky, poker-style chips that represent gems. The game is an engine-builder where you collect gems to pay for cards that let you buy more cards or gems. It's a satisfying loop, and you can play with the chips while you wait for your turn. If you prefer a different theme, there is a Marvel version, a 2-player version and a hard to find Pokemon variant.

Similar to Splendor, Azul is a very tactile game about tile laying as you are laying mosaic tiles inspired by Portuguese azulejos. It's easy to learn and deceptively deep in strategy and works great at just about any player count. If you're not feeling tile laying, there is a chocolate variant and three sequels that offer different rules and shaped pieces.

OH. MY. GOD! If you aren't playing the FRIENDS edition of Monopoly this Thanksgiving, then what are you doing? This board features iconic locations from the hit TV show, and even the tokens represent the six lovable protagonists. For ages 8 and above, up to six players buy, sell, trade, and scheme to win it all. Are you ready to conquer New York?

The deal isn't astounding but it gets you a fun game for only $20. Welcome to... is a roll and write where you fill in spaces on a sheet as you're trying to build a neighborhood with parks, pools, and subdivisions. The rules are fairly easy to understand and a game doesn't take very long. If you've never played a roll and write game this is a great introduction. Plus, if you like it there are a ton of expansions that add new rules or different ways to play.

Like I said, this, to me, is arguably one of the best board games of all time. This highly addictive strategy game for three to four players turns you into hard-nosed settlers, competing to conquer an island. You need to collect resource cards to build roads, villages and cities. And acquiring these resources ain't a walk in the park — I'm talking about dice rolls and trading with other players. Oh, and there's a resource-stealing robber too. On average, one game takes up to 90 minutes. Are you up to the challenge?

I'm a huge Harry Potter fan, so I'll easily say yes to a board game inspired by the magical universe. Monopoly's Harry Potter Edition transports players into the Wizarding World, allowing them to buy, sell and trade iconic locations like Hogwarts, Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. Custom game pieces represent magical items, while themed Chance and Community Chest cards add an enchanting twist.

Sometimes you just want a game that is pretty to look at. Beyond the Disney inspired art, Dixit is about creativity and storytelling. Each round a player takes a turn being the storyteller where they think up a clue and the other players have to use their hand of cards to play one that they think matches the clue, including one from the storytell. Everyone votes on which one they think belongs to the clue giver. If you prefer a more rigid game this one might not be for you but if you want some outside the box thinking, Dixit should scratch that itch.

If Disney isn't your bag the standard edition is also on sale for $29.

Distilled places you in the role of a master distiller crafting alcoholic spirits. You purchase goods, build up the distillery and use that to produce award winning liquors. It does require planning and reacting to shifting plans. So there is a bit to keep in mind as you play. Simply its set collection and card management built on an interesting theme you don't see much in games. I'll note that it does play longer than the 30 minutes per player listed on the box, but that's true of most board games.

The discount here isn't very big, only $15 but I feel confident recommending Stuffed Fables for you and your kids. This game is a narrative adventure where you play as a little girl's toys intent on protecting her from the Lord of Nightmares. The "board" is actually a book where each page is a board in the narrative. It has beautiful art and sculpted mini figures. Stuffed Fables is friendly toward little ones and quick to learn and highly recommended for kids willing to tell a story at the table.

Is this a toy more than a board game? Yes, most definitely. Will be I crouched down on the floor shooting discs at my son's base this holiday season? Also yes!

You may recognize this game because it's a modern update on the 1983 classic Crossbows & Catapults from Restoration Classics who do a great job of modernizing nostalgic games.

Sometimes games just need to be fun and this one checks the boxes.

It may be functionally impossible to have a board game list without a Cthulu-inspired title. My pick is Death May Die where you and your crew take on the role of investigators and try to stop the summoning of Elder Gods while battling monsters and cultists. It has a heavy look and horror vibe but, trust me, this game can be surprisingly funny with heroes heavily "inspired" by pop culture icons like Indiana Jones, Lizzy Borden and Charlie McGee from Stephen King's Firestarter.
Plus, it's cooperative so you work as a team to win or lose.

At this point, the original Ticket to Ride is a modern classic with more expansions and versions than maybe even Monopoly (no one can actually beat Monopoly in that department).

This new version is legacy game, meaning that as you play over a series of games you make physical changes to the game including unlocking new cards, naming things or even sometimes destroying components all to make a bespoke version of Ticket to Ride. This is one of the better legacy games and I recommend it if you want to try a legacy game and enjoy Ticket to Ride.

Twilight Imperium is the biggest and heaviest game, both literally and figuratively, I'll recommend on this list. It is consider a 4x game where you build up your galactic empire via exploration, diplomacy, war and expansion. If you're looking for an all-day game this is a title you should consider. It has a lot of rules and nuances and like the infamous Diplomacy game you'll need to make alliances, political machinations and betrayals. This is an epic game with a high learning curve

Want to feel like everyone's favorite detective? For ages 14 and up and 1-8 players, the Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective transports you to Victorian London and you must join forces (or play solo) to crack the case. Put your deerstalker on and test your detective skills by following clue trails and making logical connections. Choose your partner wisely as two heads are better than one: who will be the Watson to your Holmes?

Good morning, Night City! This is the perfect board game for fans of CDPR's hit video game. Similar to Risk, you and up to three other players compete to conquer the ruthless streets of Night City. Choose one of four gangs to be part of, each with asymmetrical styles and customization options for diverse strategies and experiences. Like the video game, the board game features multiple replayable endings, where every choice impacts the narrative, offering a unique experience every game. Become a Netrunner if you want, and meet characters from Netflix's Edgerunners too.

The Game of Life was my introduction to the expansive and fantastic world of board games. For ages eight and over, two to four players start from the bottom to become someone. Spin the wheel to choose your career, relationships and family life. You could become a millionaire or get eliminated when you go broke. It's very much like the actual game of life. If you have never played it, now's the time to grab it.

Looking for a cozy game that takes just 45 minutes to play? I love Namiji: Tokaido Universe, where you play as fishermen from Japan of yesteryear who need a fruitful day at sea to emerge victorious. You and up to four other players will move around the board to take actions such as fishing, catching crustaceans, and viewing the vistas of the sea. Improve your equipment, make offerings to the sea gods, and even complete sets of panoramas to earn extra points. This is a chill board game for those aged eight and over.