8 Player Board Games – Top 6 Picks for 2023

Board games are a fun way to spend time with loved ones and compete against your friends and family. With countless different board games out there, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. When you have a large group, you will need to find games that will satisfy the amount of people you have. We have found the best 8 player board games that you can play for your next game night.

When looking at game night ideas for larger groups, it can be hard to find a board game that works for everybody. Most board games are designed to support a certain number of players, so finding a good board game for 8 players might seem like an impossible task.

Luckily, we’ve done all the work for you. We have found 6 of the best board games for 8 players! These board games come in a range of different play styles and designs, so you’re sure to find something that everyone will love.

So let’s get right into it, and take a look at the best board games for 8 players!

Best 8 Player Board Games

Check out our list of the best 8 player board games:

1. Ultimate Werewolf

Ultimate Werewolf is the social deduction game that defines all social deduction games. Players are each given a secret role that is kept hidden from the other players. There are 12 roles in total, each with a unique feature.

Players fall into one of three categories: the titular werewolves (who try to convince other players that they’re innocent while simultaneously attacking them between rounds), villagers (who need to figure out who are the werewolves), and vampires (who need to eliminate both werewolves and villager in order to win).

One player also needs to take on the role of the moderator, a neutral outsider who walks the other players through the script and keeps track of the score.

Ultimate Werewolf is a fun and fast-paced game of deception, deceit, and quick-thinking. It’s suitable for players of all ages, as well as for groups even larger than 8 players. The short rounds and simple rules make it a great game for parties and board game nights.

If you want a more streamlined experience, One Night Ultimate Werewolf is a shorter version of the game where players have to make their deductions in a single round.

A session of Ultimate Werewolf typically takes between 15-20 minutes for a group of 8 players, while One Night Ultimate Werewolf has rounds that take around 10 minutes or less.

What We Like

• The short rounds make it great for keeping large groups engaged and entertained
• With 12 different roles, the game stays fresh even over consecutive rounds
• Each role requires a different type of strategy to come out on top, so learning the best strategies pays off

What Could Be Better

• Sometimes the game can feel unbalanced, with some roles having a disadvantage depending on the distribution
• Bad liars can have a hard time winning, especially as a werewolf

You can also find Ultimate Werewolf directly from Bezier Games here.

2. A Fake Artist Goes To New York

A Fake Artist Goes To New York is another social deduction game, but one that introduces art into the mix.

One player acts as the owner of an art gallery. They give the other players their roles (either ‘artist’ or ‘imposter’), and decide on the name and theme of a painting. The other players are tasked with drawing the prompt.

Meanwhile, one player is a fake who doesn’t know the prompt and has to play along.
The catch? Each player can only draw a single line at a time.

After each player has drawn two lines, they have to vote on who the imposter is.

If the fake gets the most votes, the other players win. However, if the fake goes unnoticed then they win. Additionally, a caught imposter still has the chance to win if they can guess the name and prompt for the drawing.

Rounds take approximately 20 minutes for 8 players, but more players can be added.

What We Like

• Seeing the product of everyone’s drawing is half the fun, often producing hilarious results
• The voting system works on a majority rule, making decisions clear and simple
• The imposter is given a better chance by having the chance to win even if found out

What Could Be Better

• With the limitations of two lines each, it can be difficult to make a coherent drawing
• The drawing paper is quite small, making 8+ people’s drawings quite cramped

You can also find it directly from Oink Games here.

3. Cockroach Poker

Cockroach Poker is a bluffing game at its finest. Players are dealt a hand of various creature cards. There are 8 types of cards in total, each represented by a different creepy crawly.

The rules are simple. You give another player a card from their hand, face down. When you give it to them, you state which kind of card it is.

However, you can also lie about what type of card it is – for example, with a cockroach card you could either say “this is a cockroach”, or “this is a toad”. The other player then turns over the card, either agreeing with you or calling you out on a lie.

If the other player is correct with their call, the card is placed in front of you. If they’re wrong, it is put in front of them.

The other player also has the option to look at the card without passing judgment, then pass it to someone else with a statement of their own.

Once a player has 4 cards of the same type, the game ends. That player loses the game, and everyone else wins. You can expect a game of Cockroach Poker to last 15-20 minutes.

Simple, but great fun.

What We Like

• Each card has a unique design, with each creature having multiple variations in a charming art style
• While the rules are simple, good strategy and a straight face will improve your chances
• Without a large board, Cockroach Poker is great if you’re low short on space

What Could Be Better

• With larger groups, it’s easy for some players to feel left out
• Cockroach Poker’s simple gameplay means it can get repetitive over consecutive rounds

You can also find Cockroach Poker directly from Schmidt here.

4. The King’s Dilemma

Looking for something a bit more serious? The scale and detail of this role-playing board game definitely make The King’s Dilemma stand above the rest.

The King’s Dilemma is set in a fictional kingdom where players take the role of various nobles vying for influence over the nation’s puppet king.

The game has a long extended narrative, and is intended to be played over several sessions by a dedicated group of players. Throughout the game, players have to vote for or against various plot-related decisions, with votes affected by the player’s limited political strength and money.

While the game is best-suited for 5 players, there are 12 ‘Houses’ that the players can control. Playing as teams is also a great alternative, leading to even more strategy and decision-making.

The King’s Dilemma is an hours-long continuous campaign, and the total game-time depends on the players.

What We Like

• Its long and twisting RPG-style narrative sets The King’s Dilemma apart from other board games
• The players control the story, with each decision influencing the campaign’s outcome
• Each ‘House’ has their own story-based quests and achievements that give them special bonuses when completed

What Could Be Better

• The game’s extended story means that the same players are necessary for each session
• Because the game involves single-use physical elements, you can only play one campaign

You can also find The King’s Dilemma directly from Horrible Guild here.

5. Captain Sonar

Captain Sonar is Battleships on steroids. Two dueling submarines are fighting to blow each other out of the water in this tense team-based game.

Players are sorted into two teams, one for each submarine. The members of each team are then assigned different roles on their submarine – Captain, Chief Mate, Engineer, and Radio Operator. These roles all have different goals, strategies, and functions that contribute to their team.

Communication and teamwork are key to victory, and everyone needs to work together for their team to survive. If one player fails, the whole team pays.

The game has two different play modes: turn-by-turn gameplay sees each crew member taking turns to complete actions, while simultaneous play has the whole crew playing at once.

A round of Captain Sonar lasts anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour.

What We Like

• The two different game modes give different options for each player
• Communication and teamwork are the keys to success, so Captain Sonar makes for a great team-building game
• The game features 5 different maps, with unique environments and scenarios to keep things interesting

What Could Be Better

• Turn-by-turn sessions can feel sluggish, especially with players who take a while to make decisions
• The importance of strategy and communication means that good teammates are a must, as one person’s mistake can have dire consequences for the entire crew

You can also find Captain Sonar directly from Matagot here.

6. Tsuro

If you want a simple game that the whole family can enjoy, look no further than Tsuro. Tsuro is a tile-placing game where players move their dragons around an increasingly intricate board.

Each tile is decorated with a different path for the player’s dragon to take. If a player’s path leads them off the board or is cut off by another dragon, they are out. The last player standing wins.

While the gameplay itself is fairly simple, players can gain an advantage by planning out their dragon’s path in advance. Paying attention to other dragons will help you avoid your path being cut short as the board becomes more and more crowded.

Tsuro is a simple game that anyone can easily learn to play. If the attractive board and tiles aren’t enough to make you want it, the fun and quick gameplay will. A game of Tsuro takes less than 20 minutes for 8 players.

What We Like

• The board and tiles are beautifully decorated
• Tsuro can be played by people of all ages and skill levels, making it accessible for anyone
• Keep an eye on other player’s dragons as well as your own to work out the best path

What Could Be Better

• Because of Tsuro’s simplicity, the game can start feeling old fairly quickly
• Luck can be a deciding factor in the complicated board, and sometimes losing can feel unfair

You can also find Tsuro directly from Board Game Geek here.

8 Player Board Games Buyer’s Guide

There are a couple of things you should consider before choosing a board game. If you and your friends are playing a board game that isn’t a good fit for you, you won’t be able to get the most out of it.

This is even more important when playing with such a large group, as finding the right game for everyone can be tricky.

Here are some things to bear in mind when picking to help you make the best choice for you.

Playtime

When it comes to playing a board game with a group of 8 people, the length of a game is important. If a game takes too long then it can be easy to lose focus over time. Similarly, if a game is too short then it can feel repetitive and stale quickly.

Picking a game with the right duration comes down to who you’re playing with and the situation you’re playing in.

For a great party game with quick rounds, Ultimate Werewolf (and One Night Ultimate Werewolf) or A Fake Artist Goes To New York are great choices. Meanwhile, if you’re part of a group of dedicated players looking for a more serious game, the multi-session campaign of The King’s Dilemma may suit you better.

Team Vs Individual

Larger groups mean that sometimes team games can be the best choice. 8 players can be split into even teams pretty easily, which works well for some games. Captain Sonar is a great team game for 8 players, with a heavy reliance on communication and teamwork.

If you prefer individual teams with more all-on-all competition, a game like Tsuro or Cockroach Poker is right up your alley.

Size

The games on this list range from small cards to large boards, so it’s important to consider how much space you have available before making your choice.

Games like The King’s Dilemma and Tsuro use large boards with plenty of pieces, and need plenty of space to play comfortably. If you don’t have much room to work with, you might not be able to fit all 8 players at the table.

Other games, such as Ultimate Werewolf and A Fake Artist Goes To New York, have very few pieces that are mostly confined to each individual player. This makes them much better if you’re short on space.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

So there you have it: 6 of the best board games that are suitable for 8 players. We hope you’ve enjoyed looking at these great games, and that you pick some of them up if you’re interested.

Just because you’re playing in a larger group, it doesn’t mean that a board game can’t be great fun that includes everybody. All of these games are great choices for large groups of 8 players.

So no matter which of these games you choose to play, you’re sure to have a hit at your next board game night. Have fun!