A reviewer's board game gift guide to ease the run-up to Christmas

If high-energy dexterity games that involve potentially damaging property and/or each other is your thing, look no further than Throw Throw Burrito. I came across this game at uni, and we had a whole heap of fun ducking and diving to avoid actual bodily harm in this dodgeball-adjacent card game. What a combo, honestly. There are a few alternatives, with Zombie Burrito now down to $12.49 from the same original price as well.

Price check: Miniature Market $30 (Spanish Edition)

Here's one that's really good for larger groups, or herds if you will. With minimal pieces other than the lovely, squishy, pink stress cow for when you mess up, Herd Mentality is a great one for parties and getting to know how your compatriots think. The goal is to try to guess the same answer as everyone else, and not be the odd one out. It's simple, fun, and mildly ego-wounding.

Key specs: 4–20 players | 20–30 mins

Price check: Miniature Market $19.99

Most everyone in my household has this at the top of their favorites list. Forest Shuffle is a delightfully simple engine builder with strategies abounding. It's easy to set up and teach, and although each individual engine can be as complex as you like, it's just as satisfying coming up with little stories about how your woodland is growing each time you drop in a fox, fern, or fungus. Plus, it has some of the most adorable nature artwork known to mankind.

Key specs: 2–5 players | 60 mins

Price check: Miniature Market $23.99

Better than half price for the newest edition of this absolute classic is a steal, and if you've not got Catan in your collection already, what are you even doing telling people you're a board gamer, honestly? This version just saw an artwork refresh, but the main loop remains the same: gather resources, develop your settlement, and try to earn the most points. It's a great game for both experienced board gamers and newbies, as I laid out in my Gamesradar review.

Key specs: 3–4 players | 60-120 mins

Price check: Miniature Market $54.99

Another timeless classic, Risk is a straight-up wargame that's unapologetically simple and incredibly replayable. All you gotta do is take over the board and reduce your enemies to dust. There are a million different adaptations, but this version is set somewhere you might be familiar with: Earth. Except there's also dragons. Right now, the Lord of the Rings version is also on offer at $39.19, which is better in my opinion… if fantasy warmongering is more your thing.

Key specs: 2–5 players | 90 mins

Price check: Walmart $29.99 | Amazon $26.95

I've met masses of people who claim Ticket to Ride is their personal best board game selection, and I can understand the draw. The simplicity, the juggling of greed and fear, the trains. It's a game of pushing your luck to build the longest and most profitable train tracks across the board, and it's super easy to learn. This is the refreshed version, which contains not only larger cards, but also three new destination tickets and some new artwork, to boot.

Key specs: 2–5 players | 30–60 mins

Price check: Miniature Market $47.99 (original) / $54.99 (refresh) | Walmart $39.47

A highly rated board game for nature lovers and anyone who loves a quick and simple strategy game. It takes very little time to learn, and involves expanding an ecosystem of your own making to score points. It's super family-friendly, and at the same time kinda educational.

Key specs: 1–4 players | 15–30 mins

Price check: Miniature Market $31.99

As one of the most classically good games of all time, there's not much I can say about Carcassonne that isn't already implied by the fact that every one of your board game friends already has a copy. Frankly, it's a staple, and if you can get it at half price, you most certainly should because this dominoes-like castle building bonanza is pure spatial logic fun.

Key specs: 2–5 players | 35 mins

Price check: Miniature Market $33.99

The spooky lovechild of Dixit and Clue/Cluedo, this game of psychic murder mystery is a test of your communication skills. At this price, it's worth it for the beautiful art alone, which conjures both rich atmosphere and dream-like surrealism. It's not the best for two players, in case you're looking for a more intimate game night, but with large groups it can be a superbly fun guessing game.

Key specs: 2–7 players | 42 minutes (exactly)

Price check: Miniature Market $43.99

As the newest addition to the Wingspan family, Finspan has also been the cheapest for a bit, too. Maybe people aren't willing to pay as much for a game about fish, as opposed to dragons or birds, but for a certain oceanlife-obsessed person in your life, this may well be the perfect present. It's an engine builder with gorgeous artwork, and one that continues the Stonemaier Games legacy neatly.

Key specs: 1–5 players | 45–60 minutes

Price check: Amazon $50

This is a great price for one of the best cooperative, asymmetric mystery games around. It's quick to learn, conversation and teamwork inducing, and every single game is different with 50 unique scenarios to explore.

Key specs: 3–6 players | 60–90 minutes

Price check: Amazon $48.91

My personal pick from the trio of Span games is Wyrmspan. It's a bold dive into dragon-infested caverns as you build up your engine with winged companions that gift you gold, meat, and even milk. With awe-inspiring artwork and a competition-enhancing guild board in place of Wingspan's dice-rolling, it's less random and far more skill-based. Definitely worth it even for a minimal 15% discount.

Key specs: 1–5 players | 120 minutes

Price check: Miniature Market $55 | Walmart $65

If there were any game I'd get out to usher in a newbie Eurogame player, this would be it. From the simple tableau building mechanics, to the lovely artwork, and an absolute gem of a board design (complete with 3D tree), there's not much bad to say about Everdell. It's cozy, well-balanced, and you can form some real tight strategies if you get a good hand.

Key specs: 1–4 players | 40–80 minutes

Price check: GameNerdz $79.99