The best board games of the 50s 2025

Looking for a board game classic from the 50s? We have compared the best board games from the 1950s and listed them in an overview.

More lists from similar periods

If you are looking for classic games from other decades, you can find a list of the best games from other decades at the bottom of the page.

Additionally, we have created several more lists of card & board game awards:

The best board game classics from the 50s

In this overview, we've listed the best board games from the 1950s that you can 2025 still buy on Amazon:

This list was last updated on March 19, 2025. We compared 16 board games for this list and selected the top 14. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. Wembley

    All details for the board game Wembley and similar games

    Players take on the role of English football teams competing for the FA Cup. They receive cards representing each club and navigate through a series of knockout rounds, earning money for victories. This currency can be spent on game tokens representing star players, and match outcomes are determined by a dice roll reflecting goals scored and adjusted by the number of star players.

    More details for Wembley
    • 3 - 8 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  2. Rack-O

    All details for the board game Rack-O and similar games

    Rack-O is a classic card game that combines strategy, luck, and a bit of skill as players work to organize their cards in ascending numerical order. The simplicity of the rules, paired with the strategic depth of play, makes it an enduring favorite among families and groups of friends.

    More details for Rack-O
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  3. Carla Cat

    All details for the board game Carla Cat and similar games

    "Spitz paß auf!" is a children's game for 2-6 players. One player rolls the dice while others place their pieces on the game board. When a 1 or 6 is rolled, the dice roller must cover the pieces with a cup, while the other players try to pull their pieces off the board quickly. If they fail to do so, they must give the roller a game piece as a penalty. The game ends when a player collects a set number of game pieces or loses them all.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Carla Cat
    • 2 - 8 Players
    • 15 - 20 Minutes
    • 5+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  4. Mille Bornes

    All details for the board game Mille Bornes and similar games

    Mille Bornes is a classic French card game that simulates a car race where players strive to travel 1000 kilometers (the titular "One Thousand Milestones") on the roads of France. The game is a fun blend of strategy and luck, as players navigate through various road hazards and challenges to reach their destination first.

    More details for Mille Bornes
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  5. Contraband

    All details for the board game Contraband and similar games

    One player acts as the customs agent, while the others are travelers declaring items truthfully or falsely, drawing cards from a pile of objects like wine or cameras. If the customs agent doubts a declaration, they can "search" the player's luggage, leading to potential penalties for false declarations or compensation for defamation if the declaration is correct. Other players can also act as informants, and a special briefcase card grants a player diplomatic immunity, allowing them to pass through customs without inspection or fees.

    More details for Contraband
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 7+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  6. Bali

    All details for the board game Bali and similar games

    This word game incorporates elements of a solitaire card game. Players can move multiple columns to the back of an existing column to create a new word, filling any gaps with drawn cards. Words are scored based on the consonants' values and the length, with completed words set aside for scoring. Achieving a game-ending word with all letters doubles your score.

    More details for Bali
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  7. Careers

    All details for the board game Careers and similar games

    Players set their own victory conditions in the game. They can choose to pursue fame, happiness, money, or a combination of these. The total number of points earned across the three categories must equal 60, and various career paths must be navigated to reach their goals. Different professions cater to different strategies, with some paths being more advantageous when revisited. The first player or team to reach their specified target wins the game and fulfills their lifelong dreams.

    More details for Careers
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  8. Yahtzee

    All details for the board game Yahtzee and similar games

    Yahtzee is a well-known and beloved classic dice game that involves both luck and strategy. The game is straightforward but offers engaging gameplay as players try to score in various categories using five dice.

    πŸ”₯ Deal: 52% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!

    More details for Yahtzee
    • 2 - 10 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 6+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  9. Diplomacy

    All details for the board game Diplomacy and similar games

    Diplomacy is a renowned board game known for its intense negotiation and strategy elements, set in the turbulent period before World War I. This classic game, which has seen various editions and forms over the years, is famous for its pure player-driven diplomacy and strategy.

    More details for Diplomacy
    • 2 - 7 Players
    • 360 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  10. Explore Europe

    All details for the board game Explore Europe and similar games

    A game for on-the-go play. Each player has a home city and draws 6 cards for other cities they must visit through a combination of land, sea, and air travel. Players use a die to draw, but they choose their own routes. The limitation of using only one mode of transportation per turn adds to the analysis and decision-making. The first player to visit all their cities and return home wins.

    More details for Explore Europe
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 9+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  11. Afrikan tΓ€hti

    All details for the board game Afrikan tΓ€hti and similar games

    Afrikanisches TΓ€hti is the most significant Finnish board game. Players start in either Cairo or Tangier, exploring Africa and searching for gemstones, with the main goal of discovering the legendary Star of Africa diamond. Once someone finds the diamond, a race begins, as they attempt to return it to Cairo or Tangier while other players look for a previously discarded horseshoe that is now key to victory.

    More details for Afrikan tΓ€hti
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 6+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  12. Memory

    All details for the board game Memory and similar games

    Memory is a classic game of concentration and recall, where players turn over pairs of tiles to find matching images. First solidified in its modern form by Ravensburger in 1959, the game has historical roots extending back to Japan in the 16th century. Known by various names worldwide such as Pairs, Pelmanism, Concentration, and Pexeso in the Czech Republic, the game challenges players to remember the locations of different tiles.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Memory
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 3+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  13. Scrabble Junior

    All details for the board game Scrabble Junior and similar games

    This is a version of Scrabble for players aged 5 to 12, featuring a double-sided board. The introductory side resembles a crossword puzzle with pre-spelled words to aid in learning spelling. Players earn points by filling in words, while the reverse side is a completely blank grid for players to create their own words, earning one point for each placed letter.

    More details for Scrabble Junior
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 5+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  14. Risk

    All details for the board game Risk and similar games

    Risk is a classic board game known for its global war theme and mass appeal. It offers a blend of strategy, luck, and diplomacy, making it one of the most popular war games in the world.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Risk
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 120 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn

Didn't find the game you were looking for?

We're positive that you'll find it in one of our other lists! To make the search easier for you, we split our website into different categories. The following board game categories will help you find the right list: