The best board games from the 20th century🏛 2024

Are you looking for a really good party game? In the last century🏛 many really good games have appeared. We have listed the best games that were published between 1900 and 2000 for you.

Not almost exclusively card, dice & skill games.

Until the 20th century, more card, dice or skill games have been published. On the one hand, this is due to the simple production of these games - but also the richness of variants or the compact dimensions. In addition, the new production methods of the 20th century eliminated the limitation to easily produced game elements (e.g. Loopin Louie).

Many smart new game concepts

But that doesn't automatically mean that good games will result. In contrast to the 19th century, more and more companies and game developers were formed, who dedicated themselves purely to the invention and production of social games. This resulted in great games like Reiner Knizias Ra, Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective or Loopin Louie.

List with the best games of the 20th century🏛

Enclosed is the list of what we think are the best board games of the 20th century that you can still buy in the year 2024:

This list was last updated on February 25, 2024. We compared 3021 board games for this list and selected the top 30. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. PitchCar

    All details for the board game PitchCar and similar games

    PitchCar and its earlier version Carabande are dexterity-based board games that create a fun and competitive racing experience. Players use finger flicks to propel small discs (representing cars) around a track constructed from wooden pieces.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 2.

    ⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 1996

    More details for PitchCar
    • 2 - 8 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 6+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  2. For Sale

    All details for the board game For Sale and similar games

    For Sale is a fast-paced, engaging game about buying and selling real estate, involving strategic bidding and sales to maximize profits.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for For Sale
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  3. Time's Up!

    All details for the board game Time's Up! and similar games

    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.

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 2.

    More details for Time's Up!
    • 4 - 18 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  4. Lost Cities

    All details for the board game Lost Cities and similar games

    Lost Cities is a two-player card game focused on building profitable archaeological expeditions. Part of the Kosmos two-player series, it features a deck with cards ranked 2–10 in various colors, including a new sixth color added in 2019. The game also employs "handshake" cards as multipliers for scoring.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 2.

    More details for Lost Cities
    • 2 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    👍 Good price!15€ atAmazon.de*
  5. Take 5

    All details for the board game Take 5 and similar games

    6 nimmt!, also known as Take 5, Category 5 and other names, is a card game focused on scoring as few points as possible. It combines elements of strategy, prediction, and a bit of luck.

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 3.

    More details for Take 5
    • 2 - 10 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    👍 Good price!7€ atAmazon.de*
  6. Can't Stop

    All details for the board game Can't Stop and similar games

    Can't Stop is a classic dice game designed by Sid Sackson, renowned for its blend of luck, risk-taking, and tactical decision-making. It's a game that challenges players to wisely balance their boldness and caution as they aim to complete columns on the game board.

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    More details for Can't Stop
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 9+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  7. Survive: Escape from Atlantis!

    All details for the board game Survive: Escape from Atlantis! and similar games

    Survive: Escape from Atlantis! is a thrilling and competitive board game where players aim to evacuate their pieces from a sinking island. The game is known for its intense gameplay and strategic decisions.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Survive: Escape from Atlantis!
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  8. High Society

    All details for the board game High Society and similar games

    High Society is a competitive auction-style card game designed by Reiner Knizia, where players vie to acquire wealth and status while avoiding financial pitfalls. The game focuses on strategic bidding and careful money management.

    More details for High Society
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 15 - 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  9. Schotten Totten

    All details for the board game Schotten Totten and similar games

    Schotten Totten is a strategic card game that combines elements of poker with a battle for territory. Players compete to capture boundary stones by creating powerful card formations, with a clever twist on using logic to claim victory.

    More details for Schotten Totten
    • 2 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  10. Loopin' Louie

    All details for the board game Loopin' Louie and similar games

    Loopin' Louie is a light-hearted, action-packed board game that is as silly as it is addictive. Designed for players of all ages, this game centers around protecting your chickens from a looping airplane piloted by Louie.

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 3.

    ⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 1994

    ⭐️ Kinderspiel des Jahres 2006

    More details for Loopin' Louie
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 10 Minutes
    • 4+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  11. Ra

    All details for the board game Ra and similar games

    Ra is an engaging board game that combines elements of auction and set-collection within an Ancient Egyptian theme. Players are immersed in a competition of power and fame across 1500 years of Egyptian history, condensed into an intense gaming experience.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Ra
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  12. Bohnanza

    All details for the board game Bohnanza and similar games

    Bohnanza is a unique card game about planting, trading, and harvesting beans. Unlike typical card games, you can't rearrange your hand, adding a strategic twist. The core of the game lies in trading beans with others to manage your hand effectively.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

    More details for Bohnanza
    • 2 - 7 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!8€ atAmazon.de*
  13. Unanimo

    All details for the board game Unanimo and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Unanimo
    • 3 - 8 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Unanimo

    • YouTube Review for the game "Unanimo" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  14. Modern Art

    All details for the board game Modern Art and similar games

    Engage in the captivating world of art commerce with Modern Art. As both buyer and seller, players navigate the vibrant art market, aiming to turn their transactions into lucrative endeavors. Five unique artists have contributed a plethora of paintings, and it's your task to strategically auction them for maximum profit. Each turn, players auction a painting from their hand, gaining wealth if others purchase it or incurring costs if they buy it themselves. The key lies in shrewd decision-making.

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 3.

    More details for Modern Art
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  15. Tichu

    All details for the board game Tichu and similar games

    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.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Tichu
    • 4 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  16. Bandu

    All details for the board game Bandu and similar games

    Bausack is a unique and engaging game that combines elements of strategy, dexterity, and auctioning. Players challenge each other to build precarious structures using a variety of uniquely shaped wooden blocks. The game tests your architectural skills and your ability to make strategic decisions under pressure. Players must balance the risk and reward of accepting or refusing blocks, using 'beans' as currency in auctions to influence decisions. The game ends when a player's structure collapses, leaving the last player standing as the winner.

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 2.

    More details for Bandu
    • 2 - 8 Players
    • 15 - 45 Minutes
    • 7+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  17. Chinatown

    All details for the board game Chinatown and similar games

    Chinatown is a dynamic negotiation board game where players engage in the strategic acquisition and development of city blocks to establish profitable businesses. It emphasizes trading and deal-making to succeed in a competitive urban landscape.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Chinatown
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Chinatown

    • YouTube Review for the game "Chinatown" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  18. Zopp

    All details for the board game Zopp and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 40 Minutes
    • 6+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  19. Dutch Blitz

    All details for the board game Dutch Blitz and similar games

    Dutch Blitz is a fast-paced card game that combines elements of speed, strategy, and quick thinking, where each player uses a unique deck of forty cards divided into four colors. The game's objective is to be the first to empty your blitz pile by playing cards onto the center Dutch piles in ascending order by color or onto your post piles in descending order with alternating Pennsylvania Dutch boy and girl images.

    More details for Dutch Blitz
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 1 - 15 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  20. Wizard

    All details for the board game Wizard and similar games

    Wizard is a captivating trick-taking card game that adds a twist to the traditional deck by including Wizards and Jesters. It's a game of prediction, strategy, and adaptability, where players must accurately gauge their chances of winning tricks.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Wizard
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  21. Jungle Speed

    All details for the board game Jungle Speed and similar games

    Jungle Speed is a lively and fast-paced game that tests players' observation skills and quick reflexes. It's a game filled with excitement and often leads to bursts of laughter due to its frantic and fun nature.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kinderspiel des Jahres 2003

    More details for Jungle Speed
    • 2 - 10 Players
    • 10 Minutes
    • 7+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  22. Guillotine

    All details for the board game Guillotine and similar games

    Kingdom Builder is a strategic board game where players shape their domains by building settlements, with the ultimate goal of earning the most gold by the end of the game.

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    More details for Guillotine
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  23. Chicken Cha Cha Cha

    All details for the board game Chicken Cha Cha Cha and similar games

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 4.

    ⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 1998

    More details for Chicken Cha Cha Cha
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 15 - 20 Minutes
    • 4+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    🔥 Great price!21€ atAmazon.de*
  24. Wildlife Safari

    All details for the board game Wildlife Safari and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Wildlife Safari
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 20 - 30 Minutes
    • 7+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  25. Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders & Other Cases

    All details for the board game Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders & Other Cases and similar games

    Embark on a captivating journey through Victorian London alongside the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders & Other Cases. This immersive and challenging game allows you to step into the shoes of a detective, matching wits with Holmes himself.

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 3.

    ⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 1985

    More details for Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders & Other Cases
    • 1 - 8 Players
    • 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    👍 Good price!50€ atAmazon.de*

    Video reviews for Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders & Other Cases

    • YouTube Review for the game "Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders & Other Cases" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  26. The Great Dalmuti

    All details for the board game The Great Dalmuti and similar games

    The Great Dalmuti is a light and engaging card game that revolves around players striving to improve their social status by being the first to discard all their cards. The game is a commercial adaptation of the traditional card game President, and it offers a fun, fast-paced experience.

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    More details for The Great Dalmuti
    • 4 - 8 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    🔥 Great price!7€ atAmazon.de*
  27. Circus Flohcati

    All details for the board game Circus Flohcati and similar games
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 6+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  28. Samurai

    All details for the board game Samurai and similar games

    Samurai is a strategic board game set in medieval Japan. It immerses players in a contest of influence and power among three key factions of the era: samurai, peasants, and priests.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Samurai
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Samurai

    • YouTube Review for the game "Samurai" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  29. Ave Caesar

    All details for the board game Ave Caesar and similar games

    Ave Caesar is a race game set in ancient Rome, where players maneuver chariots around the Circus Maximus using cards. The track design includes challenging elements like bottlenecks and lane restrictions, reminiscent of modern racing games like Detroit-Cleveland Grand Prix and Daytona 500. Players must complete three laps and make a strategic stop to 'Hail Caesar' before crossing the finish line. The game balances light strategy with the need for careful planning, especially when navigating corners.

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 2.

    More details for Ave Caesar
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  30. Turn the Tide

    All details for the board game Turn the Tide and similar games

    Turn the Tide is a clever card game that combines strategy, prediction, and a bit of luck. Players start with a hand of 12 cards from a deck numbered 1-60, with the remainder set aside for the entire game. Each round involves choosing a card secretly and then revealing them simultaneously. Scoring involves collecting cards from a separate deck, with the highest card played taking the lower scoring card and the second-highest taking the other. A unique aspect is the rotation of hands, as players pass their entire hand to the next player after each round, challenging them to score well with the same cards their neighbor previously used.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Turn the Tide
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    🔥 Great price!40€ atAmazon.de*

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