The 59 favourite games of Matt from SU&SD 2026
Looking for really good board games? We've listed the favourite games of board game expert Matt from SU&SD.
What is Shut Up & Sit Down?
Shut Up & Sit Down (or "SU&SD" for short) is a team of board game enthusiasts. Alongside their SU&SD website, their podcast, and various social profiles (e.g. Twitch, Twitter), they also run a very successful SU&SD YouTube channel with nearly 300,000 subscribers — even though they only uploaded their first video there in November 2016. Originally, they had been uploading their videos on Vimeo since mid-2011.
Regular, humorous board game content for 15 years
As of July 2021, that's already 10 years of steady, in-depth coverage of board games of every kind — and always with a great sense of humour. Alongside Matt there's another team member at "Shut Up & Sit Down": Quinn. You can find his list here: The favourite games of Quinn from SU&SD.
Favourite games of Matt from SU&SD 2026
In one of the videos on their YouTube channel, Matt presented his 59 favourite games. All the games are listed below for easy reference:
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Love Letter
All details & ratingIn Love Letter, you must compete with other suitors to deliver a romantic letter to Princess Annette, who has secluded herself in the palace.
2–4 20 min 10+ Immediately playable -
Skull
All details & ratingSkull is a pure bluffing game: players lay face-down cards of roses and skulls, then bid on how many they can flip without hitting a skull. Two successful challenges win the game — a steady poker face does the rest.
3–6 15–45 min 10+ Immediately playableVideo reviews 2 -
The Quack of Quedlinburg
All details & ratingBecome a cunning charlatan or a quack doctor in the whimsical world of The Quacks of Quedlinburg. In this quirky board game, each player concocts their own secret brew, one ingredient at a time. But beware, for a careless addition could spoil the entire mixture!
2–4 45 min 10+ Easy to learn+ 2 € above the best price26 € at Amazon* -
Insider
All details & ratingInsider is a unique board game that offers a fresh and engaging experience for players. With its distinctive gameplay and innovative mechanics, it stands out in the world of board games.
4–8 15 min 9+ Immediately playableVideo reviews 2 -
Monikers
All details & ratingMonikers is a lively and entertaining party game inspired by the classic public domain game Celebrities. It is designed for players who enjoy guessing games and offers a fun challenge through a series of rounds where the methods of clue-giving evolve and become more restrictive.
4–16 30–60 min 17+ Immediately playableVideo reviews 1 -
Railroad Ink: Deep Blue Edition
All details & ratingRailroad Ink: Deep Blue Edition is a captivating multiplayer puzzle game that combines strategy and luck to create a unique gaming experience.
1–6 20–30 min 8+ Immediately playable+ 2 € above the best price18 € at Amazon* -
One Night Ultimate Werewolf
All details & ratingOne Night Ultimate Werewolf is a dynamic and fast-paced game for 3-10 players that brings the excitement and deduction of werewolf stories to your tabletop. This game is all about quick thinking, bluffing, and trying to outsmart your friends.
3–10 10 min 8+ Immediately playable -
Coup
All details & ratingCoup is a strategic bluffing game set in an Italian city-state. Players, as heads of rival families, seek to outmaneuver and eliminate others to be the last one standing. Influence is key, represented by face-down character cards, each offering unique powers.
2–6 15 min 13+ Immediately playable+ 4 € above the best price17 € at Amazon*Video reviews 1 -
Pictomania
All details & ratingPictomania turns the conventional drawing game on its head by combining drawing and guessing into simultaneous, frenetic action. This game, perfect for those who pride themselves on either their quick sketching or sharp guessing skills, ensures a level playing field and promises high energy from start to finish. Over five rounds, players are challenged to draw a word or phrase indicated by randomly assigned cards while also guessing what their opponents are drawing to earn points. Missteps can lead to becoming the round's "black sheep," affecting scores negatively, making each stroke and guess a calculated risk.
3–6 25 min 9+ Easy to learn+ 17 € above the best price30 € at Amazon* -
Railroad Ink: Blazing Red Edition
All details & ratingRailroad Ink: Blazing Red Edition is a dynamic and engaging multiplayer puzzle game where players aim to build the most efficient transportation network. The game revolves around connecting as many exits as possible on individual erasable boards using routes determined by dice rolls. Strategic planning is key, as players must balance the desire to expand their network with the risk of leaving routes incomplete.
1–6 20–30 min 8+ Immediately playable+ 1 € above the best price18 € at Amazon* -
THE GAME card game
All details & ratingThe Game is a cooperative card game that challenges players to strategically discard all 98 cards onto four piles. It requires careful planning and teamwork, with a hint of luck, to achieve victory.
1–5 20 min 8+ Immediately playable+ 1 € above the best price8 € at Amazon* -
Mysterium
All details & ratingMysterium is a cooperative mystery-solving game set in the 1920s, where players take on the roles of mediums trying to solve a murder at a Scottish mansion, guided by a ghost who communicates through visions.
2–7 42 min 10+ Easy to learn+ 12 € above the best price35 € at Amazon* -
Pandemic
All details & ratingPandemic is a highly acclaimed cooperative board game where players take on the roles of disease-fighting specialists. Their mission is to contain and cure four deadly diseases that have broken out across the globe. The game is set on a board depicting major world population centers and requires players to strategize and work together to manage the outbreaks and develop cures before the diseases spiral out of control.
2–4 45 min 8+ Easy to learn7 € below the next retailer36 € at Amazon* -
Machi Koro
All details & ratingMachi Koro is a light and fast-paced city-building board game, where players take on the role of mayor of a small town, striving to develop it into a thriving city.
2–4 30 min 10+ Easy to learn2 € below the next retailer13 € at Amazon*Video reviews 1 -
Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders & Other Cases
All details & ratingEmbark on a captivating journey through Victorian London alongside the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders & Other Cases. This immersive and challenging game allows you to step into the shoes of a detective, matching wits with Holmes himself.
1–8 60–120 min 13+ Medium complexityVideo reviews 1 -
Mascarade
All details & ratingMascarade is a bluffing and strategy card game that revolves around hidden identities and tactical actions. Players engage in a masquerade, taking on various roles to gain coins and outwit their opponents.
2–13 30 min 10+ Easy to learnVideo reviews 1 -
Inis
All details & ratingInis invites players to immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of Celtic history and lore, vying for the esteemed title of King of the Island. Rooted in strategic depth and Celtic mythology, the game offers a unique blend of victory conditions and gameplay dynamics.
2–4 60–90 min 14+ Medium complexityVideo reviews 2 -
Not Alone
All details & ratingNot Alone is an immersive, asymmetrical card game set in the 25th century on the mysterious planet Artemia. It features a thrilling chase between one player, the Creature, and the rest of the players, known as the Hunted, who are shipwrecked explorers.
2–7 30–45 min 10+ Easy to learnVideo reviews 3 -
The Taverns of Tiefenthal
All details & ratingThe Taverns of Tiefenthal is a strategic and immersive board game that transports players to a bustling village tavern, where they must attract guests and manage resources to become the most successful establishment in Tiefenthal.
2–4 60 min 12+ Medium complexity2 € below the next retailer37 € at Amazon*Video reviews 2 -
Pandemic Legacy: Season 2
All details & ratingPandemic Legacy: Season 2 is an epic, cooperative board game that continues the narrative and innovative gameplay of its predecessor. This game is set in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity struggles to survive after a devastating plague. It offers a unique gaming experience, where players' decisions and actions have long-lasting consequences, making each playthrough distinct.
2–4 60 min 14+ Medium complexityVideo reviews 1 -
Funemployed
All details & ratingFunemployed is a card-based party game where players compete to land jobs. They apply for real positions like astronaut, lawyer, or priest while claiming absurd qualifications, such as being able to talk to pandas. Players must creatively present their qualifications in a role-playing manner, aiming to convince others that they are the best fit for the job.
3–20 30 min 13+ Immediately playable -
Gloomhaven
All details & ratingGloomhaven is a Euro-inspired tactical combat game set in a persistent and evolving world. Players assume the roles of adventurers, each with unique skills and motives, as they explore dungeons, ruins, and engage in cooperative battles against automated monsters.
1–4 60–120 min 14+ For connoisseursVideo reviews 2 -
Star Wars: Imperial Assault
All details & ratingStar Wars: Imperial Assault is a captivating strategy board game that brings the iconic Star Wars universe to life through tactical combat and missions. Designed for two to five players, the game offers a dual experience: a campaign game and a skirmish game.
2–5 60–120 min 14+ Medium complexity+ 8 € above the best price117 € at Amazon*Video reviews 1 -
Bargain Quest
All details & ratingBargain Quest offers a unique blend of adventure and economics where 2-6 players become shopkeepers in a fantasy town teeming with monsters and brave heroes. Your goal is to entice heroes into your shop, outfit them for battle, and then reap the rewards as they defeat threats to the town. This game cleverly combines strategy, draft mechanics, and player interaction in a competitive quest for wealth and prestige.
2–6 30–60 min 8+ Easy to learnVideo reviews 2 -
Keyflower
All details & ratingKeyflower is a strategic board game designed for 2-6 players that spans over four rounds, each representing a different season: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The game combines elements of auction, tile placement, and resource management set in a medieval world. Players start with a "home" tile and a team of workers, using them to bid for new tiles, gather resources, and build their village.
2–6 90–120 min 12+ Medium complexity+ 3 € above the best price47 € at Amazon* -
Arctic Scavengers - Survival in the Year 2097
All details & ratingArctic Scavengers plunges players into a frozen post-apocalyptic future where survival is the only goal. As the leader of a tribe of survivors, you are tasked with gathering resources, recruiting mercenaries, and expanding your tribe amidst the harsh realities of a new ice age. This deck-building game for up to five players emphasizes strategic resource management, player interaction, and direct conflict, offering a unique blend of tactics and bluffing to outmaneuver your opponents and ensure the prosperity of your tribe.
2–5 45–60 min 12+ Easy to learn+ 1 € above the best price19 € at Amazon*Video reviews 1 -
Alchemists
All details & ratingIn the enchanting world of Alchemists, two to four aspiring alchemists engage in a spirited competition to unearth the secrets of their mystical art. Points, the coveted currency of success, can be acquired through various means, but the pinnacle lies in the publication of accurate theories—a challenge that adds a layer of complexity to the pursuit.
2–4 120 min 12+ For connoisseurs+ 4 € above the best price42 € at Amazon*Video reviews 1 -
Arkham Horror: The Card Game
All details & ratingArkham Horror: The Card Game is a Lovecraftian horror card game that blends role-playing and card game elements. Set in the eerie town of Arkham, players face mysterious, monstrous, and maddening challenges.
1–2 60–120 min 14+ For connoisseursVideo reviews 1
Frequently asked questions
Which game ranks first on this list?
Love Letter currently tops our list. The ranking is derived from player community ratings and is recalculated continuously.
How many players do the games on this list support?
Most games on this list support 2 to 6 players. The exact player count is listed with each game.
What age are these games suitable for?
Publisher age recommendations on this list start at 8 years. Each game carries its own age rating.
How long does a game take?
A typical game takes about 30 to 45 minutes. Each game's playing time is listed individually.
Didn't find the game you were looking for?
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