Board games are one of the most enjoyable ways to spend your free time, especially in the company of friends and family. So we’ve put together a comprehensive list of the best 6 player board games that are perfect for those game nights where your specific group of peers equals six.
Many of the popular board games you find tucked away on your board game shelf only cater to a small handful of players, and there’s nothing more frustrating than having too many players turn up to play The Game Of Life.
If you’re hosting a larger family gathering or have friends over for beer and cocktails, you need something that is going to get everybody involved.
We’ve scoured the internet (as well as our own shelves) and have found 10 of the best board games that cater to six players. So get the party started and have a great afternoon or evening with these best 6 player board games.
Best 6 Player Board Games for Game Night
Check out our top 10 picks for the best 6 player board games currently on the market.
1. Codenames
We are starting off our list of 6 player board games with a fun party game from Czech Games Edition. Codenames is a game where you need to work together in a team of three and contact all of your agents before the other team has the chance to do the same.
Two rival spymasters know the secret identity of the 25 agents, and it’s the field operative’s job to decipher the codenames! Spymasters will give verbal hints about the words on the respective cards. Field operatives will make guesses based on these hints and whether they guess right or wrong, they will either work their way to revealing all of their color coded agents or help the other team reveal theirs if they choose the wrong one. The games ends when all of the agents belonging to one team are identified.
Codenames is a simple game that will be easy to explain to a larger group of people. You’ll be up and runni within two minutes of playing, therefore, there is no need to worry about laborious setup times. However, one downside is that you do need patience between turns and this may not be suitable for younger kids who could get easily bored.
Pros:
- An easy-to-set-up game that doesn’t take all evening to finish.
- Surprisingly fun and it will have you gripped from start to finish.
- Will only take a couple of minutes to learn the rules and get going.
Cons:
- May take time between teams and is probably not suitable for kids who could lose interest.
2. Colt Express
The next 6 player board game that we adore is Colt Express. The aim of Colt Express is to make it out of the train with all the dough and use your special abilities to outsmart your other competitors, as they try to do the same to become the last bandit standing.
This is suitable for ages 8 and older and every round the final carriage is removed from the game, along with anyone still on it!
We loved the originality of this board game and found the different elements fun and entertaining. The good news is that eliminated players won’t be sitting around as this game is quite fast-paced.
Reviewers have noted a printing error on some of the cards (which has been fixed by adding in a separate pack) so bear this in mind if you see a mistake.
Pros:
- Fast-paced and fun for people of all ages.
- Even with an elimination-style board game like this, eliminated players won’t be sitting around for long.
- Doesn’t take a long time to set up.
Cons:
- There is a notable printing error on some of the cards, which has been fixed by adding in an expansion pack.
Get Colt Express Super Express Here
3. King of Tokyo: New Edition Board Game
King Of Tokyo is for the monster-loving geek where you play as mutant monsters, or rampaging robots, or abominable aliens.
You have the choice to battle, heal wounds, upgrade your monster or strategize as you stomp your way to victory. Each game takes around 30 minutes to complete and is suitable for ages eight and above.
This is a great game to play in small doses and is a must for those with young kids. Kids and adults alike will get a lot out of this and would make a great time filler.
We did find the fun wears out if you play several rounds in a row, and we feel this would be an ideal board game starter if you have an evening planned.
Pros:
- A fun concept using monsters and it is easy to pick up.
- Kids and adults will enjoy this game and everyone can play-act if they are up to the challenge!
- Each game takes roughly 30 minutes to complete and you won’t be sitting around for a long time waiting for your turn.
Cons:
- This may lose its charm after several rounds in a row, so we recommend using this as a starter to your board game session.
Get King of Tokyo: New Edition Here
4. Betrayal At House On The Hill Second Edition
Another favorite 6 player board game is Betrayal at House on the Hill. This award-winning experience takes a fresh angle on the horror genre. You’re either a monster or survivor as you build a haunted house to escape from it alive.
With over 50 scenarios to choose from, this board game features a lot of replayability with new and fresh horrors awaiting you with up to 44 tiles.
We found the concept original and the game was engaging throughout. There’s even a cooperative element if you want to be even more strategic with your playthrough, and each game can be customized for a bespoke length of time.
Just be wary that some of the themes can be quite graphic and may not be suitable for younger kids.
Pros:
- An award-winning horror experience that is fun and engaging.
- There’s plenty of replayability with over 44 tiles and 20 scenarios to choose from.
- Every game is different and there is a strategic element that will excite beginner and expert gamers.
Cons:
- Some of the themes might not be suitable for young children.
Get Betrayal at House on the Hill Here
5. 7 Wonders Board Game New Edition
Time to jump back in time as you take over one of the seven greatest cities of the ancient world. Gather resources, develop trade and consolidate your military might in this gripping game of empire-building.
The winner is determined by points on their cards and how many military conflicts they have won. The ultimate board game that is both fun and educational!
We loved 7 Wonders and found that our nerdy side was entertained throughout our time spent playing it. It’s easy to set up, the boards are well constructed and the cards are a nice size.
It did take a while to get used to the rules of the game, so make sure you thoroughly read the instructions before jumping in.
Pros:
- A fun and educational game that explores ancient civilizations.
- It’s easy to set up and the design is fantastic.
- The board itself is well constructed and the cards are a decent size.
Cons:
- The instructions are not the easiest to follow and may take a few run-throughs before fully understanding how the game works.
6. Twilight Imperium 4th Edition Board Game
Fantasy Flight Games have developed a marathon board game experience and this one is not for the faint-hearted. The fourth edition was released in 2017 and features a lot of changes and updates to the races and planets.
This game is all about strategy and with over 40 pages of rules, prepare to hunker down and take a Saturday afternoon to enjoy this.
If you love the thought of taking part in a galactic conquest and love sci-fi, this is the board game for you.
A typical game can take anywhere from 4 to 8 hours to finish, which will either appeal to those with the time to escape into the board game world or turn off those that are looking for a quick game to fill some time.
Pros:
- Massive replayability with over 17 factions to choose from.
- Ideal for the space lover, and for those that love strategy games.
- A standard game can take up to 8 hours to complete which will excite a lot of board games fanatics.
Cons:
- The time element is also a turn-off for some and if you don’t have that much time dedicated to playing, will need to look elsewhere for a more casual gaming experience.
7. A Game of Thrones Boardgame Second Edition
If you love the Game Of Thrones book series or television show, you need to add this to your collection.
Diplomacy and warfare are the aims of the game, as the lands are up for grabs, and your objective is to lead a house of Westeros to take the Iron Throne.
Build up alliances, break them, and ultimately conquer all in this enthralling board game based on the world created by George R.R. Martin.
Once you get into this, you can literally make or break friendships as alliances are broken and battles are fought. It’s super fun and may take up to 4 hours to finish on your first playthrough.
We would recommend that you pick a group of people that are determined to learn a new game, as the learning curve can be quite steep with this board game.
Pros:
- A great option for fans of the Game Of Thrones series or fantasy enthusiasts.
- Lots of strategies are involved and you’ll feel like you’re part of the universe.
- Despite its long run time, it stays fun throughout.
Cons:
- This game requires a lot of patience so make sure to play with a keen set of gamers.
Get A Game of Thrones Board Game Here
8. Between Two Cities
Here’s another historical game set in the 1800s before the world was industrialized and constructed in its current modern form.
You take on the role of a city planner that has to design two different cities and make sure each city is liveable as you’ll be scored on both.
What makes this unique is that it can be played solo, but we still recommend cooperatively with a group.
With six players, and three on each team we loved the dynamic of planning out who was the chief designer and who would run each city.
It’s also a short game so you won’t be stuck on the same team for hours. Though, we wouldn’t recommend this option for expert gamers who might get disinterested in simple game mechanics.
Pros:
- A great cooperative game with interesting teamwork dynamics.
- A great board game night opener or finisher as it only lasts around 20 minutes per game.
- There are plenty of ways to play the game and assigning roles can be a fun experience.
Cons:
- Not the most suitable for expert gamers looking to sink their teeth into something with lots of in-depth strategies.
9. Mysterium Park Board Game
Welcome to Mysterium Park; the place of cotton candy, crazy circus thrills, and many dark secrets. If that doesn’t excite you, then nothing will!
The story revolves around a director that has gone missing, and the investigation begins as you unravel the mystery of this haunted fair.
One player takes the role of the ghost, whilst the others take on the role of physics as you figure out what really happened.
This is a fun cooperative game, and we love the 1-versus-all style. Each game will take roughly 30 minutes and there are fun moments both playing as the ghost and psychic.
We also liked the multiple solutions to beating the game that keeps it fresh and entertaining. We do recommend you play with six people as any less can make the experience drag.
Pros:
- An interesting story that is entertaining for all players.
- Play as either a ghost or team up with your friends to unravel the mystery.
- It doesn’t take long to set up and each game only lasts 30 minutes.
Cons:
- Make sure to play with a full roster as less than six can make the game feel less thrilling.
10. Dixit Board Game
Time to let your imagination run wild, with Dixit; the ultimate storytelling game. Each round a player will take a card and will need to think of a clue inspired by the card.
The player that matches up to the story the best wins. If you’re creative, be prepared to spend hours playing this as there are 84 cards with original artwork.
This one is great for the kids and anyone that is a beginner to board games. It’s simple to learn, easy to navigate, and fun to execute.
It’s also great for non-native English speakers as there aren’t heavy uses of slang that you get in games like Cards Against Humanity. However, those that are seeking something with strategy will likely get bored quickly.
Pros:
- Fun for all ages and a great way to flex your imagination muscle.
- Lots of fun to be had with the 84 original artwork cards.
- Easy to pick up and play and doesn’t require lots of assemblies.
Cons:
- Will likely put off those that enjoy strategy-based board games.
Best 6 Player Board Games Buyer’s Guide
So those are the 10 best board games that are great for six players. Now comes the challenging part: picking one of them and testing them out. Whilst we would love you to try out all of them, we know that is an unrealistic expectation. So how do you know which one(s) to buy?
Fear not, as we’re going to help you in the purchasing process with our in-depth buying guide. We’ll break down the fundamental steps to help you pick the best board game and remove all of the confusion that comes with too much choice.
We’ll show you how to pick the best type of board game for your players dynamic, make considerations on whether you want to play individually or as a team, and how much lifespan the game will have once you’ve played it over a dozen times.
Type of Board Game
The most important aspect to take into consideration is what type of board game you are going to need for the occasion you have planned.
Everyone enjoys a different board game because they are enjoyed by a different target audience and no one board game is going to be perfect for every group.
For example, you’re not going to want to purchase a heavy turn-based strategy game for 8-year-olds, and you wouldn’t want a 6-hour epic board game for a casual party. Picking the right context is always important.
The best way to break down the above is into the following categories:
- Strategy board games
- Family board games
- Kids board games
- Party games
- Genre board games
We’d recommend a strategy board game for groups of friends that have more time to spare and are willing to commit to an in-depth game of strategy and tactics. This type of board game isn’t for the faint of heart and will require a lot of skills and patience to navigate.
Family board games are fairly self-explanatory and would be a great option for all ages. Get the family together and enjoy this experience on road trips, vacations, or around the holiday season.
Kids’ board games should be reserved for kids only, as adults will likely be put off by the simple rules. This type of game is typically going to involve imagination, being creative, or possibly involve some form of drawing or sculpting.
If you’re babysitting or looking after the kids whilst your partner is away, picking a kids board game can help keep the kids engaged and help them develop skills at the same time.
Party games should be reserved for adult occasions where alcohol could be flowing and you want a simple game with minimal rules that can be played with minimal hassle. You can even add in a rule where the loser has to drink or do a forfeit!
Lastly, we have genre board games, which are not as easy to group, as they could feature in any of the other categories.
For example, if you want a board game for all the family to play, but want to educate your kids on history, then picking a suitable option is your best bet.
Solo versus Cooperative
Another option to consider is whether the board game in question is a solo endeavor or whether it requires teamwork to win. Our best picks feature both solo and cooperative style gameplay, as well as one-versus-all games that pit one against the rest.
If you prefer to figure out things on your own and don’t want to share the responsibility of victory, choosing either a solo game or one with an option to play individually is going to be best for you.
However, if you love the thrill of working as a team and want to join forces to win, picking a team-up board game would be your best choice.
Looking for more co-op board games? Check out some of the best co-op board games that we love playing with friends.
Expansions and Updated Versions
Have you ever played a board game and ran out of enjoyment because you’d done everything? If so, it’s worth considering the replayability factor and whether you would want to extend the fun of a board game once it’s past its prime.
What we mean is that some games are played to death and they run out of fun because you’ve played as every character, or run every scenario, or completed every map.
By purchasing an expansion, or going with an updated version with more options can help to increase its shelf-life as you’ll get more chances to play as different characters and get more cards.
Purchase a Backup Option
One final note is that we recommend you purchase more than one option. This is because by purchasing one board game, you could be at risk of board game boredom, i.e. you pick a game you don’t connect well with and you have nothing to fall back on.
This is made worse if you invite a whole bunch of your friends over to play the board game you bought, only for you not to enjoy it and possibly have nothing else to try. At least with a backup option, you can keep the party going!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you still play 6+ player games with only 3 players?
You will need to check on the packaging, but the answer is most likely yes as many board games have a range of player options. You will see that the range will say something like ‘suitable for 4-6 players.’
