Best Group Board Games for 6-8+ Players
Strategic and party games that actually work for larger gatherings. Maintain engagement and depth from small groups to big parties.
Most board games are designed for 2-5 players, leaving larger groups struggling to find games that accommodate everyone without sacrificing quality. This guide focuses on games that genuinely shine at higher player counts—whether through simultaneous play, team structures, or mechanics designed for crowds.
What Makes a Great Group Game
Not all games that "support" 6-8 players actually deliver quality experiences at those counts. Look for these essential qualities.
Flexible Player Count
Works well from minimum to maximum players without compromising gameplay quality or strategic depth
The best group games maintain engagement whether you have 4 players or 10. Look for games designed with scalability in mind, not just games that technically support variable counts.
Manageable Length
Long enough for substance and meaningful decisions, short enough to hold attention across the group
Sweet spot is typically 45-90 minutes. Longer games risk losing casual players; shorter games may feel unsatisfying. Consider how playtime scales with player count.
Minimal Downtime
Everyone stays engaged throughout, with simultaneous play or quick turn resolution
With 6+ players, games with lengthy individual turns become tedious. Look for simultaneous decision-making, team-based play, or mechanics that keep all players involved even during others' turns.
Small Groups: 3-5 Players
Strategic depth with intimate player interaction
Azul
Plan B Games
Players draft colorful tiles from factory displays to complete patterns on their boards. Simple rules conceal surprisingly deep spatial strategy and timing decisions. The tactile tiles and beautiful aesthetic make this accessible to non-gamers while offering enough depth for strategic players.
Group Dynamics
Players remain engaged throughout because turn decisions are quick but meaningful. Watching opponents' board patterns helps inform your drafting strategy, keeping everyone mentally involved even between turns.
Strengths
- Beautiful, tactile components create table presence
- Learns in 5 minutes but offers genuine strategic depth
- Quick turns keep all players engaged
- Perfect length for multiple plays in one session
- Scales perfectly from 2-4 players
Considerations
- −Limited to 4 players maximum
- −Abstract theme may not appeal to narrative-focused players
- −Slight analysis paralysis possible for new players
Best For: Small groups (2-4) who want accessible strategy with beautiful production. Excellent gateway game for non-gamers.
Splendor
Space Cowboys
Gem merchants collect tokens to purchase development cards, building economic engines that generate resources and prestige points. The engine-building creates satisfying progression as your purchasing power grows throughout the game.
Group Dynamics
Fast turns mean minimal waiting. The visible card market keeps all players engaged in planning future purchases even during opponents' turns. Reserving cards adds subtle player interaction without confrontation.
Strengths
- Incredibly smooth gameplay with minimal rules overhead
- Engine-building creates satisfying progression arc
- Weighted poker chips feel premium
- Quick setup and teardown
- Strategic without being overwhelming
Considerations
- −Maximum 4 players
- −Minimal theme integration (abstract economic)
- −Limited player interaction beyond resource competition
Best For: Groups of 2-4 who appreciate elegant economic design and smooth gameplay flow. Perfect for café or pub gaming.
7 Wonders
Repos Production
Players simultaneously draft cards to build ancient civilizations across three ages, balancing military, science, commerce, and cultural development. The simultaneous drafting means virtually no downtime regardless of player count.
Group Dynamics
Simultaneous card drafting eliminates downtime entirely. Everyone makes decisions together, creating natural conversation and friendly competition. The game accommodates 7 players in 30 minutes—a rare achievement.
Strengths
- Simultaneous play means 3-7 players finish in same time
- Rich strategic decisions despite quick gameplay
- High replayability with varied civilization powers
- Scales beautifully from 3-7 players
- Multiple paths to victory
Considerations
- −Iconography learning curve for first-time players
- −Limited direct player interaction
- −Requires exactly 3+ players (doesn't work for 2 without variant)
Best For: Groups of 3-7 who want strategic depth without long playtime. Exceptional choice when you have exactly 7 players.
Medium Groups: 6-8 Players
Strategic games that maintain depth at higher player counts
Smoothie Wars
Dr Thom Van Every
Players compete as smoothie vendors on a tropical island, simultaneously choosing locations and setting prices while market dynamics shift based on collective decisions. The game teaches genuine economic principles through authentic supply-demand competition.
Group Dynamics
The simultaneous decision-making creates dramatic reveal moments when 8 players show their locations and prices at once. More players mean more complex market dynamics and harder-to-predict pricing strategies. Psychological reads become crucial with larger groups.
Strengths
- Specifically designed for 3-8 players with simultaneous play
- Zero downtime—everyone decides location and price together
- Psychological gameplay intensifies with more players
- Educational value: real business and economic concepts
- Market complexity scales perfectly with player count
- Quick rounds maintain engagement across 8 players
Considerations
- −Requires minimum 3 players
- −Economic theme may appeal less to casual party gamers
- −New game with less brand recognition than established titles
Best For: Groups of 3-8 who want strategic, competitive gameplay with educational value. Perfect for family gatherings and friend groups.
"At a family gathering this August, Smoothie Wars ended up being the one game everyone - from the youngest kids to the grandparents - wanted to play. Each generation approached it differently ... It was great fun watching all these styles clash and blend, and even better that we could all enjoy the same game together."
— Ben, Board Game Fan
Between Two Cities
Stonemaier Games
Players build cities cooperatively with neighbors on either side while competing for the highest score from their lowest-scoring city. The unique partnership dynamic creates interesting strategic tensions and natural conversation.
Group Dynamics
The partnership mechanic forces players to balance helping neighbors (who are also competitors) with their own scoring. Creates natural conversation about tile placement and strategy.
Strengths
- Accommodates up to 7 players in just 20 minutes
- Simultaneous tile drafting eliminates downtime
- Cooperative-competitive dynamic encourages interaction
- Beautiful city-building creates satisfying visual result
- Accessible to families and casual gamers
Considerations
- −Limited strategic depth for experienced gamers
- −Luck of tile draws can overshadow skill
- −Theme is generic city-building
Best For: Groups of 4-7 who want quick, accessible gameplay with social interaction. Excellent filler or warm-up game.
Sushi Go Party!
Gamewright
The expandable version of Sushi Go with customizable menu boards. Players draft sushi cards to create the highest-scoring combination while denying opponents valuable picks. Fast, accessible, and works brilliantly at all player counts.
Group Dynamics
Simultaneous card selection keeps everyone engaged. The passing mechanic creates natural interaction as players see what cards opponents are keeping or passing.
Strengths
- Plays up to 8 players in 20 minutes
- Customizable menu keeps game fresh
- Adorable artwork appeals across age ranges
- Card drafting is intuitive for new players
- Extremely affordable and portable
Considerations
- −Light strategic weight—not for serious strategy gamers
- −Can feel repetitive without menu variety
- −Minimal theme integration beyond artwork
Best For: Large groups of 5-8 including children or non-gamers. Perfect party filler or family game night opener.
Large Groups: 8-10+ Players
Party games and social deduction for big gatherings
Wavelength
CMYK
Teams try to guess where their clue-giver has placed a target on a spectrum between two opposing concepts. The rotating dial mechanism and hilarious debates about subjective placement create memorable social moments.
Group Dynamics
Team-based structure naturally handles large player counts. The debates about where concepts fall on spectrums create organic conversation and laughter. Non-competitive players enjoy the creative challenge as much as competitive ones.
Strengths
- Accommodates virtually unlimited players in teams
- Creates hilarious discussions and disagreements
- Unique dial mechanism is satisfying and elegant
- No elimination—everyone plays the whole game
- Works brilliantly with mixed groups (gamers + non-gamers)
Considerations
- −Requires creative, quick-thinking clue-givers
- −Cultural context affects spectrum interpretation
- −Can drag if players overthink clues
Best For: Large groups of 8-12+ who want creative, discussion-based gameplay. Exceptional icebreaker for mixed groups.
Codenames
Czech Games Edition
Two spymasters give one-word clues to help teammates identify their agents among a grid of codenames. The word association challenge creates satisfying moments of connection when teams make brilliant multi-word links.
Group Dynamics
Team discussion during guessing creates natural engagement. Watching opponents' spymaster gives clues keeps both teams mentally active throughout.
Strengths
- Scales to large groups via team play
- Quick rounds enable multiple games in one session
- Extremely affordable
- Simple rules accessible to anyone
- Highly portable and quick setup
Considerations
- −Requires strong language and association skills
- −Passive players can hide on teams
- −Experienced spymasters dominate over newcomers
Best For: Large groups of 6-12+ split into teams. Perfect for parties, pubs, or anywhere you need quick setup.
Just One
Repos Production
Cooperative word-guessing game where players write one-word clues to help the guesser identify a mystery word—but duplicate clues are eliminated. The duplicate-elimination twist creates hilarious moments and forces creative thinking.
Group Dynamics
The cooperative nature makes this less intimidating for non-gamers. The duplicate rule forces players to think about what others might write, creating natural meta-gaming discussion.
Strengths
- Cooperative play reduces social tension
- Spiel des Jahres 2019 winner
- Incredibly simple to teach
- Creates funny moments when obvious clues duplicate
- Accommodates up to 7 players
Considerations
- −Maximum 7 players (smaller than some party games)
- −Slight language/vocabulary advantage for native speakers
- −Can feel repetitive after many plays
Best For: Groups of 4-7 who prefer cooperative gameplay to competitive. Excellent choice for families with varied ages.
Decrypto
Scorpion Masqué
Two teams try to intercept each other's coded messages while successfully communicating with their own teammates. The escalating tension as clues accumulate creates brilliant "aha!" moments when teams crack the code.
Group Dynamics
The interception mechanic keeps both teams constantly engaged. Trying to crack opponents' code while hiding your own creates satisfying mental challenge and frequent "eureka" moments.
Strengths
- Accommodates up to 8 players in teams
- Escalating tension as more clues are revealed
- Requires creativity, memory, and deduction
- More strategic depth than typical party games
- High replayability with different word sets
Considerations
- −Steeper learning curve than Codenames
- −Requires active engagement—no casual players
- −Language-dependent (harder for non-native speakers)
Best For: Groups of 4-8 who want party game accessibility with strategic depth. Best when all players are engaged and competitive.
Quick Party Games: Any Group Size
Fast, accessible games for flexible group sizes
Skull
Lui-même
Players take turns placing cards face-down (either roses or a skull) and bidding on how many roses they can flip without revealing a skull. Pure bluffing distilled to its essence with gorgeous artwork.
Group Dynamics
The bluffing creates intense eye contact and reading of opponent behavior. Quick rounds mean eliminated players rejoin fast. Works best when players commit to theatrics and trash talk.
Strengths
- Teaches in 30 seconds
- Pure psychological gameplay—reading opponents is everything
- Beautiful disc components feel premium
- Plays quickly enough for many rounds
- Eliminates complexity to focus on bluffing
Considerations
- −Maximum 6 players
- −Very light—not for players wanting strategic depth
- −Player elimination (though rounds are quick)
Best For: Groups of 3-6 who appreciate bluffing and psychological gameplay. Perfect pub or café game.
Buying Criteria for Group Games
How Player Count Affects Quality
- Beware the "2-8 players" trap—many games technically support wide ranges but only shine at specific counts
- Look for games designed for your typical group size, not just compatible with it
- Consider "sweet spot" player counts mentioned in reviews
- Games with simultaneous play generally scale better than turn-based games
- Party games with team structures can accommodate virtually unlimited players
Playtime Considerations
- Account for how playtime scales with players—some games add 15+ minutes per additional player
- Your group's tolerance varies: casual friends (30-60 min), dedicated gamers (60-120 min), families (45-75 min)
- Consider setup and teardown time—complex games may add 20 minutes to advertised playtime
- Look for "plays in same time regardless of player count" for large groups
- Quick party games (15-30 min) allow multiple plays and accommodate late arrivals
Engagement and Downtime
- Simultaneous decision-making eliminates downtime completely (e.g., 7 Wonders, Smoothie Wars)
- Team-based games keep multiple players engaged during each turn
- Look for mechanics that involve all players even during others' turns (e.g., drafting, trading)
- Avoid analysis-paralysis-prone games for large groups—one slow player derails everyone
- Player elimination is death for group games—eliminated players are bored spectators
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a group game and a party game?
The distinction is subtle but meaningful. Party games typically prioritize social interaction, laughter, and accessibility over strategic depth—think Codenames, Wavelength, or Charades. They accommodate large player counts (often 8-12+), feature simple rules, and create memorable moments through humor or creativity. Group games, by contrast, maintain strategic substance while accommodating more than the typical 2-4 players. Games like Smoothie Wars, 7 Wonders, or Between Two Cities offer genuine decisions and competitive gameplay for 6-8 players without sacrificing depth. The best group games create engaging experiences for both serious strategy gamers and casual players, whereas party games deliberately choose accessibility over complexity. Your choice depends on your group: mixed casual friends lean toward party games; dedicated board gamers appreciate group games with strategic weight.
How do I choose games for groups with mixed experience levels?
Successfully gaming with mixed-experience groups requires careful game selection and smart teaching strategies. Choose games with simple core rules but emergent complexity—games you can teach in under 10 minutes but that offer depth for experienced players (examples: Azul, Sushi Go Party, Wavelength). Avoid games with heavy iconography or extensive rule exceptions that create knowledge advantages for experienced players. Look for simultaneous play or team structures that naturally pair experienced players with newcomers. When teaching, use a "learning game" approach: play one practice round where everyone shares their thinking aloud, then restart for the "real" game. Consider games with multiple paths to victory so newer players can choose simpler strategies while experienced players optimize complex combos. Most importantly, choose games where fun moments emerge regardless of skill level—psychological reads in Smoothie Wars, creative clues in Just One, or hilarious debates in Wavelength work for everyone.
What are the best group games for families with varied ages (kids to grandparents)?
Multi-generational gaming requires games that engage both 8-year-olds and 80-year-olds without patronizing anyone. The sweet spot combines simple rules, minimal reading requirements, visual clarity, and strategic decisions that reward both youthful energy and life experience. Smoothie Wars excels here because kids grasp competitive pricing instinctively while adults appreciate the economic education; the simultaneous play keeps everyone engaged regardless of processing speed. Azul's tactile tiles and pattern-building appeal across ages—children enjoy the colors while adults optimize spatial efficiency. Sushi Go Party's adorable artwork attracts kids while the drafting offers just enough strategy for adults. For larger gatherings (8-10+ people), Wavelength creates hilarious generational debates about where concepts fall on spectrums—grandparents and grandchildren have equally valid (and hilariously different) perspectives on "underrated movie" or "guilty pleasure food." Avoid games with heavy text, tiny components, or cultural references that favor specific age groups. The best multi-generational games create moments where different ages contribute unique strengths rather than revealing generational gaps.
How important is simultaneous play for group games?
Simultaneous play becomes increasingly critical as player count rises. With 3-4 players, turn-based games work fine if individual turns are quick (under 60 seconds). With 5-6 players, you need either simultaneous play or extremely fast turns—otherwise players spend 80% of the game waiting. With 7-8+ players, simultaneous play is virtually mandatory unless you're doing team-based gameplay. Consider the math: in a turn-based game with 8 players where each turn takes 2 minutes, you wait 14 minutes between your turns. That's unsustainable for engagement. Games like 7 Wonders, Smoothie Wars, and Between Two Cities solve this through simultaneous decision-making—all players act at once, meaning playtime doesn't increase with player count. The hidden benefit: simultaneous play creates dramatic reveal moments when everyone shows their choices together, generating natural excitement and conversation. The tradeoff: simultaneous games typically limit interaction to indirect competition (market dynamics, resource scarcity) rather than direct negotiation or trading. For groups prioritizing fast-paced engagement over deep interaction, simultaneous play is non-negotiable.
Are there good strategic games for 8+ players, or should I just stick to party games?
The board game industry has historically struggled to deliver strategic depth at 8+ players—most "serious" games max out at 5-6 players while party games sacrifice strategy for accessibility. However, a few exceptional games bridge this gap. Smoothie Wars was specifically designed for 3-8 players with genuine economic strategy; the market complexity actually increases with more players, making 8-player games more psychologically interesting than 4-player games. 7 Wonders accommodates 7 players (8 with expansion) in 30 minutes while maintaining rich civilization-building decisions. For 8+ players, you typically need to shift to team-based structures: Wavelength, Decrypto, and Codenames offer strategic thinking in team contexts. The alternative is splitting into two groups of 4-5 for games with deeper strategy (Wingspan, Brass, Terraforming Mars), though this fragments your gathering. Ultimately, the answer depends on your group's priorities: if everyone is a dedicated strategy gamer, two simultaneous 4-player games of Brass may satisfy more than one 8-player game of Wavelength. But if social cohesion and shared experience matter more than strategic depth, the rare 8-player strategic games or team-based party games are your best bet.
How do I avoid the "dominant player" problem in group games?
The "dominant player" problem—where one experienced or assertive player controls decisions for others—ruins group games, especially cooperative ones and team-based party games. Choose games with simultaneous hidden decisions where players commit to choices independently before revealing (Smoothie Wars, 7 Wonders, Skull). This makes table talk irrelevant since you can't change decisions after hearing others' reasoning. In cooperative games, prefer real-time pressure (Escape: The Curse of the Temple) or restricted communication rules (Hanabi, The Crew) that prevent one player from quarterbacking. For team games, rotate team compositions each round so dominant players don't consistently lead the same group. Establish social norms: when teaching games, explicitly encourage independent thinking with phrases like "part of the fun is making mistakes and learning." If you have a known dominant player, assign them roles that channel their knowledge helpfully: let them teach rules but enforce that they can't give strategic advice during play. Consider games where luck or creativity matter more than optimization—Wavelength, Just One, and Decrypto reward different thinking styles rather than "correct" strategies. Ultimately, game selection and group culture both matter; the best solution combines mechanics that resist dominance with explicit social encouragement of independent decision-making.
What are the best group games under £25 for budget-conscious buyers?
Exceptional group gaming doesn't require premium prices. Several outstanding games deliver 8+ player experiences for under £25: Codenames (£15-20) accommodates unlimited players in teams with simple word association that anyone can learn in 60 seconds; it's the best pound-per-hour-of-entertainment ratio in modern board gaming. Just One (£18-22) won the Spiel des Jahres with cooperative word-guessing that handles up to 7 players beautifully. Sushi Go Party! (£20-24) plays 8 players in 20 minutes with adorable artwork and accessible card-drafting. Skull (£20-25) distills bluffing to its pure essence for 3-6 players with gorgeous disc components that feel premium. For exactly £25, Between Two Cities offers unique partnership dynamics for 3-7 players in just 20 minutes. If you can stretch slightly above £25, Wavelength (£30-35) delivers unlimited hilarity for 2-12+ players—the cost-per-player becomes negligible for large groups. The budget sweet spot often comes from party games rather than strategic games because simpler components (cards, tokens) cost less than elaborate boards and miniatures. Consider that a £20 party game that entertains 10 people for 3 hours costs £0.67 per person-hour, making it cheaper than cinema, escape rooms, or virtually any other group entertainment. Prioritize replayability and player count over production luxury when shopping on a budget.
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Smoothie Wars: Perfect for Groups
Designed specifically for 3-8 players with simultaneous decision-making. Zero downtime, maximum engagement, genuine strategic depth.
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