Do you love board games? Because we think they’re pretty darn cool!

Growing up, you’d probably have seen every family have their personal collection of board games. It makes for great family time, doesn’t it? You might even remember calling your friends over for special gaming sessions – except they looked nothing like they do today.

The Pandemic did one good thing last year: bored people to the point that they just had to pull out those board games and spend some time as a family. As a result, the popularity of board games rose anew. People wondered why they’d stopped playing them in the first place.

Deposit Photos | Who wants to play the same old boring games over and over again?

We understand that going for the same games repetitively can be pretty boring so, we're bringing you some fresh popular board games for 2021.

Let’s get right into it.

5. Pandemic

We don't know about you guys, but we were absolutely not surprised to see such a game exist – especially after last year. In this board game, a massive outbreak threatens to wipe out all of humanity, and players must work together to prevent that from happening. We know what you're thinking: a cooperative game? Yup, Pandemic is often credited for starting the trend of cooperative games in the industry. Fair warning, though, it can be quite complex, so better go in prepared.

4. Codenames

Codenames is a great word game, out of which over ten different variations and sequels have been created. It starts with opposing teams aiming to discover their secret agents' codenames to gain contact with them. The Spymaster assigned to each team holds the key card, which reveals their agent and can help their team discover the agent by providing only one-word clues.

Deposit Photos | Even seniors love entertaining themselves with board games

3. Spirit Island

Another cooperative game of the list is Spirit Island, which comes with a particularly popular yet controversial theme: Colonialism, except in reverse. Instead of leading the colonists, you’ll be driving out the invaders from your homeland. Each player is a powerful spirit that must cooperate to win.

2. Gloomhaven

Gloomhaven uses cards to provide a euro-inspired tactical combat experience in a cooperative dungeon crawler game. Each player plays a part in an expansive campaign, all the while discovering secrets, fighting monsters, leveling up their character, and modifying Gloomhaven according to their personal touch. Its mindboggling success elevated its price to $150 but, its less-pricier, more accessible counterpart is available for about $40.

1. Scythe

Scythe’s gameplay revolves around players establishing control over different areas and resources on the map while keeping a Cold War-like tension throughout the game. Players can upgrade themselves to become more efficient, recruit new personnel to improve character abilities, improve their position by building structures, build capabilities to deter opponents from invading, all the while expanding and acquiring more resources.

Deposit Photos | Board games make for a perfect evening with friends or family

Wrapping It Up

Seeing so many new and fun board games to choose from was a breath of fresh air for us. Who knew this industry came with so much variety? And the best part is that they keep stepping up their game!

So, which of these games piqued your interest the most? Which one will you be trying out first?