The real gamers and the game aficionados were born not when videos games were created, but they were born even before gaming technology showed its face. Board games have created this wonderful race of gamers and game enthusiasts. Board games have entertained people for centuries. They were the best highlights of a get-together or a party and even today continue to be so.

Board games have evolved with time. With the advent of fascinating fiction and change in designing trends and expectations of players, boards games today have drifted towards story driven experiences which have thinned the boundaries between fiction and reality.

Below is a list of 10 board games that will surely get you hooked

1. Catan 5^th edition

Settlers of Catan has been updated with a new name and a revised rule book. The name has been shortened to just “Catan” and the revised rule book features clarified rules that make sense of edge cases and ease the entry of new players into the game. Catan has been a gamers’ favorite for 20 years and in these 20 years, it has been sold in 30 different languages! In Catan, the strategy is to be the dominant force of Catan (a fictional place) by building your own settlement, roads, and armed force. It is like Age of Empires but only better. This game of strategy, tactics, warfare and luck, will blow your mind.

2. Codenames

Codenames is an instant crowd-pleaser. It is a team based word game with a simple premise. It includes words but it is nowhere close to the mainstream word games. Its challenging game play creates an atmosphere of mystery and competition, almost making you feel like real life agents. In the game, two teams compete to see who can make contact with all their agents first. Spymasters give clues and their team mates try to guess the words on the board while avoiding those that belong to the opposing team.

3. Arkham Horror LCG

Arkham Horror LCG will make you feel like you’re living in the world of your favorite TV show (consider stranger things). The story is mind blowing and it is filled with twists. Once you start playing Arkham Horror, you will find yourself slipping much deeper into its grip. The story goes like this – The year is 1926 and people are celebrating the end of all wars. But just then, there’s an alien invasion. The aliens are writhing at the gates between the worlds and it is upon us to save our world against the invasion.

4. Eldritch Horror

Eldritch Horror LCG is a cooperative game of adventure and terror. One to eight players play this game but the best feature about this Fantasy Flight Game is that, each player in the game is an individual investigator. Every player is a globetrotting investigator working to solve mysteries, finding clues, fighting ghoulies and protecting the world against the alien invasion.

5. Betrayal

Betrayal at House on the Hill is a game of suspense, horror, surprises, excitement and heroism. Here, players explore a haunted mansion of their own design, encountering spirits and other horrors and overcoming them at every step. Horror is a sweet thing. Even though you risk your heart beat, you still like experiencing horror. This is exactly how the game is, once you have experienced Betrayal at House on the Hill, your eyes will dilate with excitement even at the idea of running back to the haunting mansion. Verdict? Must play, must own!

6. Ticket to ride

Ticket to ride is one of the few games which can be played at family parties involving children. It is easy to learn and has a simple game play. The game is fast paced and engaging. Each turn goes pretty quickly and requires fact responses from the players, which is why it is the best game for parties. The gameplay goes like this- each player tries to build the most well-rounded network of railroads that connect various cities together. The longer the routes, the more points you earn. Elegant, quick and super fun!

7. Star Wars Rebellion

Star Wars Rebellion is board game of the epic conflict between the Galactic Empire and Rebel Alliances. It is one of those conflicts which we actually enjoy and want them to happen again and again. And unlike other war games, Star Wars rebellion doesn’t make you in charge of a few war heroes, but puts you in command of the whole galactic war! Both the parties – the rebels and empire have different missions, and different strengths and weaknesses but the same aim – to be victorious!

8. Terraforming Mars

No other game is as progressive and futuristic than Terraforming Mars. The strategy is simple – make Mars habitable! The game takes place in the future and ends with Mars having vegetation, oceans and people. The gameplay goes like this – There are many organization in the future, trying to make Mars habitable and you are one such organization. You work together for the terraforming process but compete to win victory points or terraforming ratings. The organization with the highest terraforming ratings wins! This is your chance to be a Martian!

9. Scythe

Scythe is set in an alternate history 1920s period. The underlying theme is – it’s the 1920s and the great war has just ended. The capitalist city known as “the factory” has shut its doors. Players represent countries who are trying to earn fortune by attempting to establish themselves around the mysterious factory. It is not a war game, while combat does feature, Scythe is a game of building and establishing. Players conquer territory, enlist new recruits, reap resources, gain villagers, build structures, and activate monstrous mechs.

10. Charterstone

Charterstone is a competitive legacy game with multitude or secrets, twists and surprises. The game makes you feel like you are the characters of a mythical fable and you have great responsibilities on your shoulders. Charterstone is a series of 12 games and each game is a cliffhanger right up to the final game. The theme is what makes the game so intertwined – The forever king has chosen six citizens of Greengully to start a new village away from the eternal village. Your task is to build the village from the ground up and bring glory to the king. Thus, you start off with simple choices and few workers, but soon you have a bustling village with dozens of possible actions.

Gameology is one of the most popular online game stores in Australia. You will find the best board games here, from the classics to the most recent international sensations. The aforementioned best board games are available at great prices on Gameology. Visit Gameology and make them yours!