Different game types—such as strategy, trivia, and cooperative—work better with different groups, but one seems to trump all the others. “Generally, luck and chance-based games work great because they’re fast-paced,” toy expert Amanda Gummer of The Genius of Play says. We spent hours researching the best board games for every college student, considering the game type, portability, and duration of each. We rounded up all of our favorite picks, including a deception card game from Stellar Factory, a trivia-based game from Buffalo Games, and a strategy game from Bicycle. The game moderator then instructs everyone to close their eyes except the Werewolf, who chooses a player to “kill.” Then, through lies and deceit, the rest of the characters must come together to determine who the werewolf is before any other casualties occur. Players will get a new character to embody and play every round, making for a high replay value. You can also try new strategies and deceptions as you work to uncover the werewolf. Price at time of publish: $14 Price at time of publish: $14 This game earned a nearly perfect review from our tester, saying “Catan is an awesome, absorbing game, and vying to build the biggest settlements is as exciting as it gets.” They did note, however, that the rules do take a bit of time to understand and it may be difficult for young players. However, there’s tons of tutorials and supplemental material online to help you during your first few rounds. Price at time of publish: $48 Price at time of publish: $30 Price at time of publish: $13 Price at time of publish: $18 Our tester loved the fun spy game and high-energy gameplay, fitting for multiple age ranges. They also noted that it’s better with more than two players. “While it’s nice to have the option to play as a duo, we found that this version eliminates the competitive component,” they shared. Price at time of publish: $16 Price at time of publish: $30 Our tester loved the wide range of topics, saying “With topics ranging from history and geography to literature, pop culture, and food, Smart Ass will make the most of your collective brain power.” However, the short rounds can feel a bit rushed, leaving players wanting more. Luckily, with so many cards, you can play this game again and again. Price at time of publish: $15 Price at time of publish: $45 Price at time of publish: $27 Price at time of publish: $25 Price at time of publish: $61 Price at time of publish: $40 Price at time of publish: $13 Price at time of publish: $16 Price at time of publish: $40
Duration of Game Play
Board games are often one of the main events at college board games, and Gummer says that games that last around 15 minutes are likely to work best at these events because you can quickly switch to another game or play multiple rounds. But if you’re planning to stay up all night with a group of friends, longer games like Escape Room The Game can fit the bill.
Portability
Some board games are easily folded up and fit into a smaller box, but others aren’t as easy to tote around. And, keep in mind that if a game takes a while to set up, it could be a pain to have to take it on the go. College students often live in small dorms without much storage space, so games that easily pack away and store in a small box, like Werewolf, are ideal. Also, games with multiple pieces risk getting lost, so the simpler the better.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was written by Julia Fields, a lifestyle writer for The Spruce covering all things surrounding toys, gifts, and the holidays. She’s also covered similar topics in other roles, including toy reviews, product roundups, expert-focused articles, and more. Additional reporting was done by Katie Pittman, who has more than five years of experience in lifestyle and digital media and is an expert writer for MyDomaine. Additional reporting and research was done by Stacy Fisher, a writer with nearly two decades of experience covering crafting, freebies, and other fun pastimes.
