The best games where you can take notes with pencil and paper 2023

Looking for a really good game where you can take notes with paper and pen? Then we have just the thing for you: The list with the best paper & pen games 2023.

What are paper & pen games?

The games in this list use paper and pen to mark and record answers or attributes. These notes are used to calculate points and determine the winner.

A game that merely keeps score on a piece of paper is not part of this paper-and-pen mechanism.

Examples of games where you can record notes with paper and pencil:

A good example of a paper & pencil game is Telestrations or the many Roll/Flip & Write Games.

list of the best paper & pen games 2023

This list was last updated on February 21, 2023. We compared 1900 board games for this list and selected the top 30. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. Telestrations

    All details for the board game Telestrations and similar games

    Nominated for 9 awards and won 7.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kinderspiel des Jahres 2013

    More details for Telestrations
    • 4 - 8 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Telestrations

    • YouTube Review for the game "Telestrations" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  2. Trails of Tucana

    All details for the board game Trails of Tucana and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    More details for Trails of Tucana
    • 1 - 8 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  3. Silver & Gold

    All details for the board game Silver & Gold and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    More details for Silver & Gold
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  4. Cartographers

    All details for the board game Cartographers and similar games

    Nominated for 8 awards.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2020

    More details for Cartographers
    • 1 - 100 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!18€ atAmazon.de
  5. Welcome To...

    All details for the board game Welcome To... and similar games

    Nominated for 11 awards and won 2.

    More details for Welcome To...
    • 1 - 100 Players
    • 25 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!20€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Welcome To...

    • YouTube Review for the game "Welcome To..." by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Welcome To..." by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  6. That's Pretty Clever!

    All details for the board game That's Pretty Clever! and similar games

    Nominated for 8 awards and won 1.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2018

    More details for That's Pretty Clever!
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  7. Railroad Ink: Deep Blue Edition

    All details for the board game Railroad Ink: Deep Blue Edition and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    More details for Railroad Ink: Deep Blue Edition
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 20 - 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  8. Qwixx

    All details for the board game Qwixx and similar games

    Nominated for 9 awards and won 3.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kinderspiel des Jahres 2013

    ⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2013

    More details for Qwixx
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  9. Wits & Wagers

    All details for the board game Wits & Wagers and similar games

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 3.

    More details for Wits & Wagers
    • 3 - 7 Players
    • 25 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  10. Encore!

    All details for the board game Encore! and similar games
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    👍 Good price!10€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Encore!

    • YouTube Review for the game "Encore!" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  11. Telestrations After Dark

    All details for the board game Telestrations After Dark and similar games
    • 4 - 8 Players
    • 20 - 30 Minutes
    • 17+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  12. Mutabo

    All details for the board game Mutabo and similar games
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 25 - 45 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    👍 Good price!19€ atAmazon.de
  13. Railroad Ink: Blazing Red Edition

    All details for the board game Railroad Ink: Blazing Red Edition and similar games
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 20 - 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  14. Telestrations: 6 Player Family Pack

    All details for the board game Telestrations: 6 Player Family Pack and similar games
    • 4 - 6 Players
    • 15 - 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  15. Cartographers Heroes

    All details for the board game Cartographers Heroes and similar games
    • 1 - 100 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  16. Welcome to the Moon

    All details for the board game Welcome to the Moon and similar games
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 25 - 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  17. Qwinto

    All details for the board game Qwinto and similar games
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  18. Mini-Mutabo

    All details for the board game Mini-Mutabo and similar games
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 25 - 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  19. Hive Mind

    All details for the board game Hive Mind and similar games
    • 3 - 12 Players
    • 30 - 90 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  20. Railroad Ink Challenge: Lush Green Edition

    All details for the board game Railroad Ink Challenge: Lush Green Edition and similar games
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 15 - 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
    👍 Good price!18€ atAmazon.de
  21. 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
  22. Dizzle

    All details for the board game Dizzle and similar games
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  23. Second Chance

    All details for the board game Second Chance and similar games

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

    More details for Second Chance
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 10 - 15 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Second Chance

    • YouTube Review for the game "Second Chance" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Second Chance" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  24. Calavera

    All details for the board game Calavera and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    👍 Good price!10€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Calavera

    • YouTube Review for the game "Calavera" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  25. Twice as Clever!

    All details for the board game Twice as Clever! and similar games

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    More details for Twice as Clever!
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  26. What's Missing?

    All details for the board game What's Missing? and similar games
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 7+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  27. Fleet: The Dice Game (Second Edition)

    All details for the board game Fleet: The Dice Game (Second Edition) and similar games
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  28. Roll Through the Ages: The Bronze Age

    All details for the board game Roll Through the Ages: The Bronze Age and similar games
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  29. Patchwork Doodle

    All details for the board game Patchwork Doodle and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Patchwork Doodle
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Patchwork Doodle

    • YouTube Review for the game "Patchwork Doodle" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  30. Knapp Daneben!

    All details for the board game Knapp Daneben! and similar games
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Knapp Daneben!

    • YouTube Review for the game "Knapp Daneben!" 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: