Handling mismatched player expectations

When the holidays roll around, many of us romanticize the idea of a cozy game night—only to remember the part where someone has to read the rules, explain them, and keep the vibes going while everyone tries not to flip a table. If you’ve ever sighed at the sight of a board game box (or struggled through a four-hour strategy game you didn’t sign up for), this episode is for you.

James Austin, Wirecutter’s staff writer covering games and hobbies, shares how to host a game night that actually stays fun, how to pick games that match your group’s vibe, and which games work best for kids, adults, mixed-age families, multilingual gatherings, or friends who are already a few drinks in.

If you crosswords and other NYT games, check out Puzzle Mania! from The New York Times Games editor Joel Fagliano.

James’s favorite resources to learn new games: 

• If you don’t want to read the rules, Watch It Played and Good Time Society have videos explaining how to play many board games
• BoardGameGeek can tell you how to play a game your interested in
• Board Game Arena is a great resource for playing digital versions of board games
• Pagat.com explains the rules to every card game

Games for kids

• Rhino Hero (age 5+) and Rhino Hero: Super Battle (age 5+)
• First Orchard (age 2+)
   

Games for mixed-age groups or families

• A Fake Artist Goes to New York - especially good for avoiding awkward conversations
• The Gang - cooperative but silent play
• The Crew - no talking!
• Sushi Go! - adorable and easy to play
• Monikers - great for big groups
• Anomia - a great starter game
• Dixit - a visual game without reading, good for kids and non-english speakers
• Carcassonne - interactive and easy to understand
• Coup - quick to play

Party Games for adults (including boozy groups)

• Codenames - match words by meaning
• Wavelength - opinion-based fun
• Anomia - lots of shouting!

Strategy games

• Catan - the original “Euro” style game
• Bohnanza - if you like the interactive trading of Catan
• Brass: Birmingham - if you want a complex strategy game with a lot going on

Games you can play with just a deck of cards

• Oh Hell! - James’ family-favorite, trick-taking game

Two-player favorites

• Splendor - can be played with more than two as well
• Star Realms - build decks of cards that become more powerful as you play 
   

Games for solo play

• Final Girl - a horror-movie themed game
• Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective - solve challenging mysteries just like a famous detective

James loves: 

• The Stormlight Ring by Thorum (his wedding ring)

Additional reading:

• 18 Best Board Games of 2025
• Board Games We Love for Kids and Families
• The 8 Best Two-Player Board Games of 2025
• The 4 Best Solo Board Games of 2025
• The 5 Best Party Games of 2025
• The 6 Best Card Games of 2025

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The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel.Engineering support from Maddy Masiello and Nick Pitman. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Efim Shapiro, Rowan Niemisto, Sophia Lanman, and Sonia Herrero. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset.

Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast