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Board to Death? Not Anymore – Best Games to Liven Things Up

We've rounded up a mix of clever, chaotic and downright addictive board games to shake up your game nights. Whether you're into strategic showdowns, laugh-out-loud party games, or something the whole family can enjoy, there's something here to get everyone off their phones and around the table.

San Mateo County Libraries

12 items

  • A cooperative murder mystery game where one player, as a ghost, sends illustrated vision cards to help others solve the truth before sunrise.
    3D Object, SMCL MYSTERIUM 03
  • Create elaborate and lush habitats for wildlife in the Pacific Northwest in this innovative drafting game.
    3D Object, SMCL CASCADIA 03
  • Groovy Buttons – Collect and lose buttons until none remain. Whoever has the most buttons in their jar wins!
    3D Object, SMCL PETE THE CAT GROOVY BUTTONS 10
  • Buy, trade and develop properties in this economics based multiplayer game.
    3D Object, SMCL MONOPOLY 08
  • A two-player board game where opponents alternate turns, moving their pieces diagonally across the board.
    3D Object, SMCL CHECKERS 09
  • Players construct railroad routes across different maps, linking cities and fulfilling destination tickets to earn points.
    3D Object, SMCL TICKET TO RIDE 08
  • Players use cards with surreal, dreamlike images to tell a story, while others try to guess which card the storyteller selected.
    3D Object, SMCL DIXIT 07
  • Attract a diverse collection of birds for your preserve in this beautiful engine-building game.
    3D Object, SMCL WINGSPAN 03
  • Reach the winner's square before your opponents in this competitively fun board game for the whole family.
    3D Object, SMCL CHUTES AND LADDERS 10
  • Race against your opponents to figure out the who, when and where of a murder based on the powers of deduction.
    3D Object, SMCL CLUE 03
  • In this fast-paced card game, pick the best sushi combos as they pass by—score for maki rolls, sashimi sets, wasabi-boosted nigiri and don’t forget dessert or you’ll lose points!
    3D Object, SMCL SUSHI GO! 13
  • Avoid or defuse exploding kittens’ cards and be the last player standing in this fun, fast-paced 2-5 player game.
    3D Object, SMCL EXPLODING KITTENS 11