The best Real-Time board games ⏳ 2023

Looking for a game that really gets you going? Then we have just the thing: a list of the best 31 real-time social games ⏳.

What does "real-time" mean in dice, card & board games?

Real-time social games often allow players to complete their turns (or part of their turns) simultaneously. This is in contrast to turn-based games. There are also some real-time games where there are consequences if a player does not make their move in a certain amount of time.

Real-time means: constantly making decisions

So you have to overcome both the challenge of making decisions under pressure and the fact that there is almost no waiting or downtime. Some of the real-time board games destroy any kind of relaxed and casual atmosphere for some players - you should definitely be in the right mood for real-time games.

Exit games are mostly "real time games" as well

Escape room, escape room, or exit room games almost all also run in real time, both temporally and technically. But since they feel like their own distinct game genre, we've additionally created another list for you for exit games: The Best Escape Room Board Games - and yet another category: The Best Crime Dinner Games for Home.

List of the best real-time ⏳ board games 2023

This list was last updated on December 4, 2023. We compared 2159 board games for this list and selected the top 31. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. KLASK

    All details for the board game KLASK and similar games

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 3.

    More details for KLASK
    • 2 Players
    • 10 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  2. 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
  3. Ready Set Bet

    All details for the board game Ready Set Bet and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    More details for Ready Set Bet
    • 2 - 9 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  4. Werewords

    All details for the board game Werewords and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2019

    More details for Werewords
    • 4 - 10 Players
    • 10 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    👍 Good price!11€ atAmazon.de
  5. 5-Minute Dungeon

    All details for the board game 5-Minute Dungeon and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for 5-Minute Dungeon
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 5 - 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  6. Mutabo

    All details for the board game Mutabo and similar games
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 25 - 45 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  7. When I Dream

    All details for the board game When I Dream and similar games

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 2.

    More details for When I Dream
    • 4 - 10 Players
    • 20 - 40 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for When I Dream

    • YouTube Review for the game "When I Dream" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  8. Escape: The Curse of the Temple – Big Box

    All details for the board game Escape: The Curse of the Temple – Big Box and similar games
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 10 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Escape: The Curse of the Temple – Big Box

    • YouTube Review for the game "Escape: The Curse of the Temple – Big Box" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  9. 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
  10. Loopin' Louie

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

    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. Loony Quest

    All details for the board game Loony Quest and similar games

    Nominated for 5 awards.

    More details for Loony Quest
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 20 - 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Loony Quest

    • YouTube Review for the game "Loony Quest" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  12. Pictomania

    All details for the board game Pictomania and similar games

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    More details for Pictomania
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 25 Minutes
    • 9+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  13. 5-Minute Mystery

    All details for the board game 5-Minute Mystery and similar games
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 5 - 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
    🔥 Great price!22€ atAmazon.de
  14. Escape: The Curse of the Temple

    All details for the board game Escape: The Curse of the Temple and similar games

    Nominated for 9 awards and won 1.

    More details for Escape: The Curse of the Temple
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 10 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Escape: The Curse of the Temple

    • YouTube Review for the game "Escape: The Curse of the Temple" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  15. Captain Sonar

    All details for the board game Captain Sonar and similar games

    Nominated for 8 awards and won 3.

    More details for Captain Sonar
    • 2 - 8 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Captain Sonar

    • YouTube Review for the game "Captain Sonar" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Captain Sonar" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  16. Ghost Blitz

    All details for the board game Ghost Blitz and similar games

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 1.

    More details for Ghost Blitz
    • 2 - 8 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  17. Happy Salmon

    All details for the board game Happy Salmon and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    More details for Happy Salmon
    • 3 - 8 Players
    • 2 Minutes
    • 6+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  18. Spot it!

    All details for the board game Spot it! and similar games

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 2.

    More details for Spot it!
    • 2 - 8 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 7+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  19. Anomia

    All details for the board game Anomia and similar games

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 3.

    More details for Anomia
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  20. Unlock!: Timeless Adventures

    All details for the board game Unlock!: Timeless Adventures and similar games
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  21. Unlock! Kids: Detective Stories

    All details for the board game Unlock! Kids: Detective Stories and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    More details for Unlock! Kids: Detective Stories
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 20 - 60 Minutes
    • 6+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  22. 5-Minute Marvel

    All details for the board game 5-Minute Marvel and similar games
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 5 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  23. Mini-Mutabo

    All details for the board game Mini-Mutabo and similar games
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 25 - 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  24. Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza

    All details for the board game Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza and similar games
    • 2 - 8 Players
    • 10 - 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  25. Farm & Furious

    All details for the board game Farm & Furious and similar games
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 10 Minutes
    • 7+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  26. Groundhog Day: The Game

    All details for the board game Groundhog Day: The Game and similar games
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 15 - 25 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  27. WeyKick

    All details for the board game WeyKick and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 10 Minutes
    • 3+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  28. Dr. Eureka

    All details for the board game Dr. Eureka and similar games

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 2.

    More details for Dr. Eureka
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  29. FUSE

    All details for the board game FUSE and similar games
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 10 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  30. La Boca

    All details for the board game La Boca and similar games

    Nominated for 10 awards and won 3.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kinderspiel des Jahres 2013

    More details for La Boca
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 40 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  31. Space Alert

    All details for the board game Space Alert and similar games

    Nominated for 7 awards and won 2.

    ⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 2009

    More details for Space Alert
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    👍 Good price!42€ atAmazon.de

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