The best board games of the 70s 2024

Looking for a board game classic from the 70s? We have compared the best board games from the 1970s 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 70s

In this overview, we've listed the best board games from the 1970s that you can 2024 still buy on Amazon:

This list was last updated on November 6, 2024. We compared 240 board games for this list and selected the top 30. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. Big Boggle

    All details for the board game Big Boggle and similar games
    • 2 - 8 Players
    • 10 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  2. Mahé

    All details for the board game Mahé and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    More details for Mahé
    • 2 - 7 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 6+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  3. Rummikub

    All details for the board game Rummikub and similar games

    Rummikub is a classic tile-based game that shares similarities with several European card games, including Machiavelli and Vatikan. It's a game that combines elements of strategy and luck, appealing to both casual and strategic players.

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 2.

    ⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 1980

    🔥 Deal: 9% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!

    More details for Rummikub
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  4. The Magnificent Race

    All details for the board game The Magnificent Race and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  5. Figure It

    All details for the board game Figure It and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Figure It
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  6. Boggle

    All details for the board game Boggle and similar games

    Boggle is a fast-paced, timed word search game that challenges players to find as many words as possible within a three-minute time limit. The game uses a 16-cube grid filled with letters, and players must quickly form words by connecting adjacent letters.

    More details for Boggle
    • 1 - 8 Players
    • 10 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  7. Pathfinder

    All details for the board game Pathfinder and similar games
    • 2 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  8. Um Reifenbreite

    All details for the board game Um Reifenbreite and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    ⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 1992

    More details for Um Reifenbreite
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  9. Hare & Tortoise

    All details for the board game Hare & Tortoise and similar games

    Hare & Tortoise is a classic board game and the first recipient of the prestigious Spiel des Jahres award in 1979. This game ingeniously combines strategy and arithmetic in a race format. Players must carefully manage their 'fuel' – represented by carrots – to ensure they practically run out (but not completely) as they cross the finish line. Adding to the strategic depth, players also need to spend three lettuce cards during the race. Movement costs carrots, and various spots on the track offer opportunities to gain or lose carrots, making each decision crucial.

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    ⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 1979

    More details for Hare & Tortoise
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  10. Cathedral

    All details for the board game Cathedral and similar games

    Cathedral is a strategic board game where two players battle over territory within a medieval city. The game uniquely combines puzzle-like spatial reasoning with competitive strategy elements.

    More details for Cathedral
    • 2 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  11. Tally Ho!

    All details for the board game Tally Ho! and similar games

    Tally Ho! turns the tables on the traditional hunter-prey narrative, offering a two-player game where one participant controls hunters and lumberjacks, and the other manages foxes and bears. The game begins with a serene forest, represented by face-down tiles. As the game progresses, these tiles are flipped and moved, simulating the chaotic disruption of hunting.

    More details for Tally Ho!
    • 2 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  12. Ninety-Nine

    All details for the board game Ninety-Nine and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  13. Napoléon: The Waterloo Campaign, 1815

    All details for the board game Napoléon: The Waterloo Campaign, 1815 and similar games
    • 2 - 3 Players
    • 120 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  14. Mad Magazine Card Game

    All details for the board game Mad Magazine Card Game and similar games
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  15. Jockey

    All details for the board game Jockey and similar games
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  16. Ogre

    All details for the board game Ogre and similar games

    Ogre is a classic of tactical ground combat gaming, catapulting players into the year 2085 where warfare has evolved with the times. This game pits hovercraft, tanks, and infantry against each other in a fast-paced, deadly conflict where tactical nuclear devices are just another tool in the arsenal. Above all these, the OGRE, a massive cybernetic tank, stands as the pinnacle of warfare, a single unit that can match the force of an entire enemy battalion.

    More details for Ogre
    • 1 - 3 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  17. Rebound

    All details for the board game Rebound and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 10 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  18. Pente

    All details for the board game Pente and similar games

    Pente is a game of strategy that challenges players to either align five of their markers in a row on a 19-by-19 grid or capture five pairs of their opponent's pieces. With simple rules but deep strategy, it's a compelling game for two players or more, with adjustments made for games with more than two players. The capture mechanic adds an extra layer of tactical depth, making every move significant.

    More details for Pente
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Pente

    • YouTube Review for the game "Pente" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  19. Sleuth

    All details for the board game Sleuth and similar games

    Sleuth is a riveting deduction game from the acclaimed designer Sid Sackson, originally part of the 3M Gamette Series. This game puts players in the shoes of detectives on the hunt for a single, hidden gem among 36 possibilities. The game cleverly distributes partial information at the start, leaving players with the task of piecing together what they know, what they learn, and what they can deduce about the missing gem through clever questioning and keen observation.

    More details for Sleuth
    • 3 - 7 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  20. Up the Creek

    All details for the board game Up the Creek and similar games
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 5+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  21. Escape from Colditz

    All details for the board game Escape from Colditz and similar games

    Escape from Colditz is a captivating board game based on the historical events of World War II, where players engage in a tense and strategic battle of wits between imprisoned Allied officers and German security forces. The game offers a unique blend of cooperation and competition, as players either collaborate to outmaneuver the German forces or take on the role of the Security Officer to maintain control and prevent escapes.

    More details for Escape from Colditz
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 180 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Escape from Colditz

    • YouTube Review for the game "Escape from Colditz" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  22. This Game is Bonkers!

    All details for the board game This Game is Bonkers! and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 10 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  23. Dungeon!

    All details for the board game Dungeon! and similar games

    Dungeon! is a board game that captures the essence of dungeon exploration, reminiscent of the classic Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game but in a more streamlined and accessible format. Players delve into a multi-level dungeon, each level presenting increasing challenges and more valuable treasures. The game features a variety of character classes, each with unique combat abilities, with the wizard being notable for his spellcasting capabilities.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Dungeon!
    • 1 - 8 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Dungeon!

    • YouTube Review for the game "Dungeon!" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Dungeon!" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Dungeon!" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  24. Bermuda Triangle

    All details for the board game Bermuda Triangle and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  25. Pass the Pigs

    All details for the board game Pass the Pigs and similar games

    Pass the Pigs is a light-hearted, portable game that combines elements of chance and risk-taking, making it a perfect "beer & pretzels" game. The game is unique in its use of pig miniatures as dice, which players toss to accumulate points based on how the pigs land. The game's blend of simplicity and unpredictability makes it an excellent choice for casual gaming sessions and parties.

    More details for Pass the Pigs
    • 2 - 10 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  26. Downspin

    All details for the board game Downspin and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    More details for Downspin
    • 2 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 7+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  27. Family Feud

    All details for the board game Family Feud and similar games
    • 2 - 9 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  28. Waterworks

    All details for the board game Waterworks and similar games
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  29. Ghost Castle

    All details for the board game Ghost Castle and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 6+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Ghost Castle

    • YouTube Review for the game "Ghost Castle" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English

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: