What you need to know: If you have a soft spot for fantasy and love nothing more than poring over ye-olde maps while dreaming of adventure, Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion should be on your radar. This dungeon-crawling epic taps into all that with branching storylines more commonly seen in the best tabletop RPGs, and it makes skilful use of 'Legacy' mechanics where the consequences of your actions carry across from one session to the next. You're turned off by dense rules: There's no way to sugarcoat this - the rules of Root are intimidating. Due to each faction having its own mechanics on top of an already-complex system, you'll need to spend time swotting up on how to play before you place your first meeple on the board. Naturally, that won't appeal to everyone. The multiplayer board games showdown starts here. Keep up your brain training by challenging your friends and family members who love the scramble of classic crossword puzzle games, or use Smart Match to find your perfect opponent. Unscramble letters and search for the highest scoring words on the board and fill in the classic crossword style puzzle! Prove you have what it takes to become the word king or queen in this classic game. Pictionary is one of the best online board games for kids. This drawing game is an artsier version of charades, and tends to be family friendly. Drawize is one of the best platforms for multiplayer online Pictionary. You can create a private room for yourself and other players, then take turns scribbling and guessing at drawings that appear in real time.

What you need to know: Ever wonder how long you'd last in a horror movie? Betrayal at House on the Hill lets you find out. Setting players loose in a haunted mansion that's quite literally out to get them, it's drenched with tension. It's also unpredictable enough that you're never sure what's going to happen next. Sure, not all of the scenarios are created equal. But if you're hunting down something more mature in terms of both narrative and gameplay, this is one of the top board games for adults.

Not that this is only for kids, of course. It'll be a hit with all ages, and is a great warm-up game before moving on to something with more depth. Words with Friends is a multiplayer word game where players take turns creating words, similar to the way done in Scrabble. While Scrabble and Words with Friends follow similar rules, they are two separate games. Players on Words with Friends can simultaneously play up to 40 different games at any given time. These games are done electronically either on Facebook, the app, or various other web platforms. Players can either choose to play with their friends or family by searching for their username, be randomly assigned a player through “Smart Match,” or find potential opponents using the community match feature. There is also a chat feature included in the game so opponents can catch up while playing a fun game of Words with Friends! In fact, the chat feature has led to a number of romantic relationships and marriages after players have been randomly assigned together. Or, you can also play virtual Pictionary by using the digital whiteboard feature in your video conferencing platform.

However, if by 'popular' you mean "something we think is really awesome", our vote goes to Frosthaven. This Gloomhaven follow-up takes everything that was great about the RPG and improves it, leaving us with a strong game of the year contender that the community has been very excited about. You can read more in our Frosthaven first impressions guide. You want a game for very young kids: Most will be able to get a grip on Sushi Go without much fuss, but younger children may struggle to think ahead enough. It relies on a basic understanding of math as well, so keep that in mind before buying for very small members of the family. How it works: As the name would suggest, Villainous revolves around classic baddies getting their way - Jafar wants to control Genie, Prince John is trying to amass a fortune, and so on. Think of it like a 'what if' scenario, where the antagonists finally get their way. Taboo is a word game that involves players describing a term for their team to guess without using any of the listed similar words. There is a digital version of the game called eTABU that is available in PC version and smartphone apps which includes a social component. For best results, participants should play the game together on video meeting software. Gamemasters can also create a DIY version of the game by using a free slideshow template. Sagrada is a puzzle and art-based board game that challenges players to design the most beautiful stained glass window in Spain’s famed La Sagrada Familia. The rules of the game dictate which dice players can use, because only certain numbers will fit in the slots without penalty. The digital version of the game includes vibrant colors and calming sounds, and has a co-op mode that accommodates multiple “drafters” on the same game.Naturally, all this is pretty fluid and changes regularly. For instance, the recently-announced Undaunted 2200: Callisto has everyone talking right now. This futuristic spin on the classic wargame (which focused on WW2 conflicts before, as seen in Undaunted: Battle of Britain) asks you to choose between blue-collar miners and the mega-corporations that are trying to snuff out their rebellion. It looks set to shake up the formula with that sci-fi setting, a lunar battlefield, and the addition of new units like mechs. How it works: Jaws of the Lion casts you as a mercenary looking for work in the grungy metropolis of Gloomhaven (imagine the world of The Witcher and you won't be far off). As is only right for fantasy RPGs, said 'work' involves swords and/or sorcery. These jobs lead you through a grand narrative where your choices matter, so tread carefully - decisions can, and will, have consequences.

You don't like lots of talking: There are no two ways about it - Cosmic Encounter is a 'talky' game. If the idea of having to negotiate each round is a turn-off for you, best steer clear. Clue, also known as Cluedo, is a classic whodunit game that challenges players to hunt down the details of a crime. The online multiplayer version of the game is available via Google Play, App Store, Nintendo Switch, or Steam. In addition to the classic setting of Mr. Body’s mansion, players can solve mysteries in new locales such as Dracula’s Castle or Hollywood. The digital version of Cluedo employs the classic card-flipping and note-taking mechanisms of the board game and adds vibrant graphics and the ability to play with friends across the world. Playing board games is one of the simplest group activities, yet the logistics of playing together while far apart can make the task seem challenging or impossible. Thanks to technology and the dedication of developers who love board games, there are a variety of unique and classic online board games to play with friends, family, and remote coworkers.

Final Thoughts

You don't have patience for complex rules: Villainous takes a hot minute to get your head around, and if you aren't willing to invest time in learning how it works, you won't enjoy it. Stay away if strategy games aren't your jam. Sure, its theme hits closer to home nowadays. But there's something cathartic about giving a pandemic the boot… even if it's only in this tabletop world of tokens and cards. The answer to this sort of question comes down to personal preference, but we'd say board games like Gloomhaven (which often feature customizable characters or branching storylines that react to your choices) would come up trumps. Besides keeping you busy for months on end with consequences that follow you from session to session, they allow you to take ownership of things in a way few competitors do. They're often a bit deeper too, with more layered gameplay that'll provide a satisfying challenge.