The best games released in 2021๐ 2025
Looking for a really good game from the year 2021? Then we have just the thing for you: our recommendation list with the best board games that were newly released in 2020.
More lists from similar periods
A list with the best games from other years can be found at the end of the page.
In addition, we have created several more lists of card & board game awards:
- The Best Games by Decade.
- The best board game awards
- The best current games-new releases
- The best classic games
List of the best new games releases in 2020
So Clover!
So Clover! is a cooperative word-association game that challenges players to think creatively and work together. The essence of the game is to generate and guess keywords based on shared features, aiming to achieve the highest possible team score.
Nominated for 7 awards and won 2.
More details for So Clover!- 3 - 6 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Immediately playable
MicroMacro: Crime City โ Full House
MicroMacro: Crime City โ Full House is a captivating detective game that expands upon the original MicroMacro: Crime City. Players become sleuths, examining a giant city map (75 x 110 cm) filled with intricate details to solve various crimes. This edition includes 16 new cases, each offering a unique story and set of challenges that require players to scrutinize the map to uncover hidden information and trace suspects' movements.
Nominated for 5 awards.
More details for MicroMacro: Crime City โ Full House- 1 - 4 Players
- 15 - 45 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Immediately playable
Cascadia
Cascadia is a tile-laying and token-drafting board game that features the rich habitats and diverse wildlife of the Pacific Northwest. It combines strategic tile placement with wildlife conservation themes.
Nominated for 26 awards and won 15.
โญ๏ธ Spiel des Jahres 2022
More details for Cascadia- 1 - 4 Players
- 30 - 45 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
The Crew: Mission Deep Sea
The Crew: Mission Deep Sea is a cooperative trick-taking card game that embarks players on an underwater expedition to discover the lost continent of Mu. Building on the foundations of its predecessor, The Crew, this game combines the familiar mechanics of trick-taking with unique cooperative elements and a compelling thematic narrative.
Nominated for 4 awards and won 3.
More details for The Crew: Mission Deep Sea- 2 - 5 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Trio
Trio is a card game where players search for triplets. The deck consists of 36 cards, numbered from 1 to 12 three times. Players sort their hands from low to high and take turns revealing cards, aiming to collect sets of three matching cards.
Nominated for 7 awards and won 2.
More details for Trio- 3 - 6 Players
- 15 Minutes
- 6+ years old
- Immediately playable
Stella: Dixit Universe
Stella: Dixit Universe offers a fresh and competitive twist to the beloved Dixit game, inviting players to dive into a world where interpretation and intuition meet under the stars. As Starseekers, players will explore thematic imagery on Dixit cards, using a shared clue to guide their choices and strategically score points by aligning their interpretations with those of others.
Nominated for 8 awards and won 1.
More details for Stella: Dixit Universe- 3 - 6 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
Grove: 9 card solitaire game
More details for Grove: 9 card solitaire gameGrove is a citrus-themed sequel to the award-winning 9-card solitaire game Orchard. It features orange, lemon, and lime trees, as well as a new "wildcard" elementโgladesโthat enhance gameplay by offering more opportunities to boost your harvest. The game also includes recipe challenges on the back of the cards, providing alternative winning conditions for added variety.
- 1 Players
- 5 - 10 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
Marvel United: X-Men
Marvel United: X-Men is an expansion to the cooperative board game Marvel United, focusing on the beloved X-Men universe. This game invites players to embody iconic Marvel heroes, joining forces to thwart the nefarious schemes of a villain who is orchestrating their master plan behind the scenes. With a mix of strategy, collaboration, and superhero flair, this game brings the X-Men's battles and stories to life on the tabletop.
Nominated for 2 awards.
More details for Marvel United: X-Men- 1 - 5 Players
- 40 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Easy to learn
Carcassonne: 20th Anniversary Edition
More details for Carcassonne: 20th Anniversary EditionCarcassonne: 20th Anniversary Edition celebrates two decades since the beloved tile-placement game Carcassonne won the prestigious Spiel des Jahres award. This special edition not only commemorates the game's lasting appeal but also enhances the classic experience with new and exclusive content. Players continue to draw and place tiles depicting the picturesque landscapes of southern France, aiming to strategically deploy their meeplesโbe it as knights, robbers, monks, or farmersโto score points by completing cities, roads, cloisters, and fields.
- 2 - 5 Players
- 35 Minutes
- 7+ years old
- Easy to learn
King of Tokyo: Monster Box
More details for King of Tokyo: Monster BoxAll the King of Tokyo fun comes in a Monster Box. The battle for dominance in Tokyo has never been more intense, packed with excitement and adrenaline! It includes the essential Power Up! and Halloween expansions, evolution cards to enhance your monsters, and even a new version of Gigazaur with exclusive cards and a new dice tray for stylishly wreaking havoc in Tokyo.
- 2 - 6 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
Destinies
Destinies is a unique blend of board gaming and digital app integration, offering a rich, competitive, story-driven experience set in a dark medieval-fantasy universe. It is the first game in a series utilizing the innovative Destinies system.
Nominated for 9 awards and won 3.
More details for Destinies- 1 - 3 Players
- 90 - 150 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Easy to learn
7 Wonders: Architects
7 Wonders: Architects invites 2-7 players into a fast-paced race to leave a lasting legacy in the ancient world by constructing an architectural marvel. Each player starts with an unconstructed wonder and embarks on a journey to gather resources, develop their society, and achieve greatness.
Nominated for 15 awards and won 5.
More details for 7 Wonders: Architects- 2 - 7 Players
- 25 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
Cartographers Heroes
More details for Cartographers HeroesCartographers Heroes embarks players on a new voyage through the storied Western Lands, enhancing the acclaimed formula of its predecessor with fresh challenges and dynamic elements. As royal cartographers, players are tasked with mapping these perilous territories, their efforts now intertwined with the valorous acts of heroes who stand against the encroaching Dragul forces. This sequel not only retains the beloved core mechanics of drawing and mapping but enriches the experience with innovative map sheets, scoring cards, and explore cards, all while introducing ambush cards that bring unique abilities into play.
- 1 - 100 Players
- 30 - 45 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Radlands
Radlands is a competitive and tactical dueling card game set in a post-apocalyptic world. Players lead groups of survivors, each fighting to protect their camps from a rival tribe. The game emphasizes the importance of strategic card synergy and resource management, with water being a crucial element in gameplay.
Nominated for 5 awards and won 4.
More details for Radlands- 2 Players
- 20 - 40 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Easy to learn
Super Mega Lucky Box
The goal is to score as many points as possible by marking off the nine numbers printed on the cards in front of you on a 3x3 grid. In each of the four rounds, you shuffle 18 cards and reveal nine, marking off the corresponding numbers on your selected cards. Bonuses are awarded for completing rows or columns, and players score points at the end based on their completed cards, stars, and moons.
Nominated for 7 awards.
More details for Super Mega Lucky Box- 1 - 6 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
Unlock! Kids: Detective Stories
Unlock! Kids: Detective Stories brings the beloved Unlock! game system to younger audiences, allowing families to enjoy the thrill of escape rooms from the comfort of their homes. This edition is tailored for children aged 6 and up, offering a simplified experience that encourages teamwork, problem-solving, and imaginative play without the need for an app.
Nominated for 4 awards and won 2.
More details for Unlock! Kids: Detective Stories- 1 - 4 Players
- 20 - 60 Minutes
- 6+ years old
- Immediately playable
Meadow
Meadow is a beautifully illustrated set collection game where players become explorers, immersing themselves in nature observation. The game, suitable for 1-4 players, features over two hundred unique cards adorned with hand-painted watercolor illustrations. Players compete to become the most skilled nature observer by collecting valuable species, landscapes, and discovery cards.
Nominated for 7 awards and won 1.
More details for Meadow- 1 - 4 Players
- 60 - 90 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Canvas
Canvas is a creative and visually-driven board game where players take on the roles of painters competing in an art competition. The game combines elements of strategy and puzzle-solving, focused on creating and scoring paintings.
Nominated for 14 awards and won 2.
More details for Canvas- 1 - 5 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Top Ten 18+
More details for Top Ten 18+A fun cooperative game! Each player must come up with a response to a topic, ensuring the intensity matches their secret number. If the captain arranges the answers in the correct order, the team wins!
- 4 - 9 Players
- 20 - 40 Minutes
- 18+ years old
- Immediately playable
Final Girl
Final Girl is a unique solitaire-only board game that puts you in the heart of a classic horror movie scenario. You play as the "final girl," the last woman standing, who must face off against a menacing slasher to survive.
Nominated for 5 awards and won 1.
More details for Final Girl- 1 Players
- 20 - 60 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Catapult Feud
Build your castles, assemble your troops, load your catapults, and employ clever tactics to emerge victorious! The battle for territory has begun again, as players aim to eliminate all opposing troops and be the last standing.
Nominated for 2 awards.
More details for Catapult Feud- 2 Players
- 20 - 30 Minutes
- 7+ years old
- Immediately playable
Kids Chronicles: Quest for the Moon Stones
Players take on the role of young wizards in a cooperative family game filled with adventure and mysterious investigations. They explore the fairyland of the Summer and Winter Kingdoms with Nils, the Moon Cat, while searching for four magical moon stones. Using unique QR codes for each game component, players engage with the game through their mobile device to uncover clues and experiences in a virtual world. Each session lasts around 30 to 45 minutes and comes with a tutorial and five unique stories.
Nominated for 1 award.
๐ฅ Deal: 22% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!
More details for Kids Chronicles: Quest for the Moon Stones- 1 - 4 Players
- 30 - 45 Minutes
- 7+ years old
- Immediately playable
Chronicles of Crime: 1900
More details for Chronicles of Crime: 1900You play as Victor Lavel, an ambitious journalist in 1900 Paris, during the vibrant Belle รpoque. While others report on events like the Exposition Universelle and the Olympics, Lavel is drawn to solving crimes, including murders and kidnappings. The standalone game challenges players to gather evidence, interrogate suspects, and solve puzzles reminiscent of escape rooms.
- 1 - 4 Players
- 60 - 90 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Easy to learn
Botanik
Develop the most effective network of Mecha-Botanik, a blend of plants and science. The game features a simple mechanic with one action per turn and an intricate exchange system involving tiles of different groups and colors. Earn points by creating groups of three or more matching tiles and by having flowers on your tiles.
Nominated for 2 awards.
More details for Botanik- 2 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Easy to learn
Welcome to the Moon
More details for Welcome to the MoonWelcome to the Moon is an innovative flip-and-write game that evolves the gameplay of its predecessors, Welcome To... and Welcome To New Las Vegas. It takes players on a space colonization adventure, combining familiar mechanisms with new twists and a campaign mode that spans eight unique adventure sheets.
- 1 - 6 Players
- 25 - 30 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
The Adventures of Robin Hood
The Adventures of Robin Hood offers a refreshing and innovative approach to board gaming, immersing players in the legendary tales of Robin Hood and his merry band in 1193 England. This game distinguishes itself with a dynamic game board that evolves and changes, reflecting the players' actions and choices throughout their quest against the tyranny of Prince John and his minions. With a unique movement mechanism and a story-driven gameplay that forgoes traditional cards for a narrative-driven hardcover book, players will find themselves deeply engaged in the forests and villages of Nottinghamshire.
Nominated for 10 awards and won 1.
โญ๏ธ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2021
More details for The Adventures of Robin Hood- 2 - 4 Players
- 60 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Six Second Scribbles
More details for Six Second ScribblesPlayers draw up to ten items from their category card within a minute. Not every drawing is sufficient for scoring; others must guess what was drawn to earn points. At the end of three rounds, the player with the most points wins.
- 2 - 8 Players
- 20 - 60 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
Tyrants of the Underdark: Board Game
More details for Tyrants of the Underdark: Board GamePlayers lead a Drow house in a territory control game that incorporates deck-building elements set in the Underdark beneath the Sword Coast. Each player's house is represented by a deck of cards, where each card signifies a servant belonging to one of five aspects of Drow society, each associated with different strategies. As players recruit new servants and expand their influence, they earn points by controlling locations, promoting servants to an inner circle, and eliminating opposing troops, aiming to finish with the highest score.
- 2 - 4 Players
- 90 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Easy to learn
My Gold Mine
Diamonds, gemstones, and gold are hidden deep in the cave of My Gold Mine, and every dwarf player is eager to dig for gold nuggets. However, the mountain guardian, a fire-breathing dragon, is on your tail. Players must find the most nuggets while avoiding being too greedy and getting caught by the dragon.
Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.
More details for My Gold Mine- 2 - 6 Players
- 25 Minutes
- 7+ years old
- Immediately playable
Yummy Yummy Monster Tummy
More details for Yummy Yummy Monster TummyStrange noises come from the attic of your grandfather's summer house. When you climb the stairs, you see colorful, furry monsters that seem friendly but are very hungry! Players must feed them with items that match their fur colors in this cooperative card game for 2-4 players, completing levels to unlock new stories and creatures. Choose item cards from your hand and scan them to feed the monsters, but be carefulโfeeding them with the wrong color combination means starting over!
- 2 - 4 Players
- 15 - 30 Minutes
- 6+ years old
- Immediately playable
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