The best board games for exactly four players 2024

Time's Up! is a lively and entertaining charades-based party game, ideal for playing in teams of two or more. It's particularly engaging when played with teams of two. The game revolves around guessing famous historical or fictional characters, with each player contributing to a communal deck of names used across three distinct rounds.

Witness is a unique cooperative board game designed for exactly four players, based on the intriguing universe of the Belgian comic series Blake and Mortimer by Edgar P. Jacobs. The game revolves around solving mysteries through a clever yet challenging communication system where players can only share information in a very restricted manner.

Tichu is an intriguing partnership card game that combines elements of Zheng Fen with traditional card play. It stands out as a strategic and competitive game, requiring players to be both tactically astute and keenly aware of their partner's actions. Typically played by four players in partnerships, the game is a race to get rid of all cards in hand, while aiming to score points.

Hearts is a classic trick-taking card game played with a standard deck, beloved for generations and known for its simple yet strategic gameplay. The primary objective is to avoid collecting hearts, each worth one point, and the queen of spades, a pivotal card worth thirteen points. However, the game has a twist – players can attempt to "shoot the moon" by capturing all the hearts and the queen of spades. This daring move either adds 26 points to each opponent's score or reduces the player's own score by 26, depending on the variation played.

Space Cadets: Dice Duel throws you into the midst of a frenetic space battle where teamwork and quick decision-making are key to victory. In this real-time, dice-rolling game, players split into two teams, each operating a spaceship aiming to outmaneuver and outgun their opponents. The game captures the chaos of space combat as you and your crew rush to man your stations, from generating power to firing torpedoes, all in a bid to land the crippling blow on the enemy ship.

Mahjong, known as 麻將/麻将 (Májiàng) in Chinese, is a traditional game that utilizes illustrated tiles and shares similarities with rummy. While it's a popular gambling game, it's important to note that playing for real stakes is not a requirement to enjoy the game.

Meuterer is a compelling role selection and card game where players navigate the treacherous waters of mutiny aboard a merchant ship. Each player assumes the role of a crew member, each with their own agenda and goods to sell. The game unfolds over several rounds, with players revealing goods they wish to sell. However, as the ship visits ports that specialize in only one type of good, the captain's role becomes crucial as only they can decide the ship's course.