20 Best 5 Player Board Games

Got five players ready for game night? Now all you need is to choose a game you'll all enjoy.

We've rounded up 20 fantastic five-player board games that'll solve your "what should we play?" problem once and for all. From family favorites like Monza and Blokus to strategically packed games like Mysterium and Puerto Rico, there's something for every crew.

Ready? Let's find your next favorite game.

20 of the Best Five-Player Games

Here are 20 of the best board games for five players, starting with family-friendly picks and wrapping up with options geared toward more experienced players:

1. Spot It! 1,2,3

• Ages: 3+

• Time: 15 minutes

Spot! 1,2,3 is a fantastic game for the whole family to enjoy. A simplified version of the classic Spot It!, this lightning-fast, number-matching game helps kids with maths and recognition skills while keeping everyone entertained. Don't let the simple concept fool you: adults have so much fun and get just as competitive as the little ones when the cards start flying!

2. Monza

• Ages: 5+

• Time: 10-15 minutes

Players, start your engines! Race your car around a three-lane track and move along according to the color of the dice you throw. Use clever combinations to reach the finish line faster! This simple racing setup is the best game to introduce little ones to strategic thinking. Do you take the longer route or risk the shortcut?

3. Blokus

• Ages: 7+

• Time: 20 minutes

Officially pronounced "Block Us", players fit Tetris-like pieces on the board while blocking other players from doing the same. Each new piece can only touch the corners of your existing pieces. One simple rule, endless possibilities, and a whole lot of fun!

4. Clue

• Ages: 7+

• Time: 45 minutes

This is one of the best board games: a classic detective game that's kept families entertained for generations. Ideal for players eight years and up, catch the culprit of a crime by identifying who did it, with what, and where. Did Colonel Mustard commit the crime with a dagger in the library? Or did Professor Plum use a revolver in the ballroom? Play to find out...

5. Ticket to Ride

• Ages: 8+

• Time: 30-60 minutes

Ticket to Ride is a great family board game, and you can learn how to play it in under 15 minutes. The aim of the game is simple: choo-choo-choose your train cars and use them to build train rides across North America. The player with the longest trip wins.

6. Trekking the National Parks

• Ages: 8+

• Time: 30-60 minutes

This board game takes players on an adventure through the U.S. National Parks in a fun, competitive way. Collect colorful stones and trek cards as you visit some of the nation's most stunning parks. But be warned: every turn calls for tactical decisions if you want to be crowned the winner.

7. Istanbul

• Ages: 10+

• Time: 40-60 minutes

Merchants must navigate 16 bustling bazaars in search of precious rubies. Send out your four assistants to gather resources across the city and complete various tasks along the way. A few gameplay actions include paying to upgrade your wheelbarrow, trading goods for rubies, or selling resource combinations to earn the money you need to use elsewhere. It's a vibrant marketplace hustle adventure, for sure!

8. Heat: Pedal to the Metal

• Ages: 10+

• Time: 30-60 minutes

Heat: Pedal to the Metal puts players in the driver's seat of high-speed races, where every turn is a battle for victory. Manage your car's speed to avoid overheating and pick the right upgrades to keep the engine cool. This adrenaline-fueled board game keeps the tensions high, with driving skill ultimately determining the winner.

9. Mysterium

• Ages: 10+

• Time: 42 minutes

There's a murder in a Scottish mansion, and things are about to get spooky. Players take on roles of psychics, mediums, and ghosthunters who unlock the clues from the restless spirit that roams its halls. The twist? The ghost has no memory of its death and can only communicate through visions shown on illustrated cards. Are you brave enough to step into the underworld and speak with the dead?

10. 7 Wonders

• Ages: 10+

• Time: 30 minutes

It's a clash of the ancient worlds to see who can become the most prosperous while building one of the Seven Wonders. Gather resources, develop commercial routes, and affirm your military supremacy with various actions/abilities from your deck of cards. The player with the most points wins.

11. El Grande

• Ages: 10+

• Time: 60-120 minutes

Medieval Spain becomes your battlefield in this award-winning game. Draft caballeros (knights) across regions, influence the King's court, and seize various territories. The more players, the better. At the end of every third round, the regions are scored, and the player with the most points after the ninth round wins.

12. Flash Point: Fire Rescue

• Ages: 10+

• Time: 45 minutes

A thrilling cooperative board game for kids, teens, and families, where everybody plays the hero. Race against the clock to save as many people from a blazing inferno. This is a game where every second counts; assess the situation, devise a plan, and work together before lives are in danger.

13. Codenames

• Ages: 10+

• Time: 15 minutes

In Codenames, two spymasters compete to uncover the secret identities of 25 agents. The twist? Agents are only known by their codenames, like "Germany", "carrot", and "disease". Each team's spymaster gives clues to help their teammates guess the right agents, and the team that identifies the most wins.

14. Power Grid

• Ages: 12+

• Time: 120 minutes

If you're new to board games, Power Grid could be the perfect place to start. The goal of the game? You're a power company in the 1950s trying to supply as many people with electricity as cheaply as possible. Strategically become an electricity mogul in this competitive game where you bid for power plants, buy resources, and power up nations to win. Easy peasy.

15. Lords of Waterdeep

• Ages: 12+

• Time: 60-120 minutes

Lords of Waterdeep is a strategic board game filled with political intrigue and shady back-alley dealings. Recruit adventurers, go on quests, earn rewards, and increase your influence over the city. At the end of eight rounds, the player with the most points wins the game.

16. Betrayal at House on the Hill

• Ages: 12+

• Time: 60 minutes

With a playtime of about an hour, this is one of the best games for five players. Explore a haunted mansion that develops room by room, creating a fresh game board every time you play. Work together as a team, at least until someone betrays the rest of the party! A strategic and spooky party game rolled into one!

17. Puerto Rico

• Ages: 12+

• Time: 90-150 minutes

Colonize the New World through clever role selections. The goal is to earn enough victory points by shipping goods to Europe or by constructing buildings on the island of Puerto Rico.

Each player chooses a role and has their own game board to play from. Together, you share three ships, a trading house, and a supply of resources and doubloons, which you strategically use to build your fortune.

18. Caverna: The Cave Farmers

• Ages: 12+

• Time: 30-120 minutes

In this game, you take on the role of a bearded dwarf clan leader, living in a mountain cave with your spouse. Your goal? Grow your family, with each member unlocking a special action to expand your village. Forge weapons, sow fields, go on expeditions, and dig through the mountains in search of water. In the end, the player with the most efficiently developed home wins.

19. Tiny Epic Galaxies

• Ages: 14+

• Time: 30-45 minutes

Expand your galactic empire using dice to move spaceships, increase energy resources, and conquer newly discovered planets. But you need to be strategic and only take actions that are most beneficial to you. Will you have enough influence to control the most powerful planets?

20. Letters from Whitechapel

• Ages: 14+

• Time: 90 minutes

Step into the shadows of the Whitechapel district of 1888 London. One player portrays Jack the Ripper, intending to murder five victims before being caught. The other players are the Police, trying to track and stop Jack before the game ends. Are you ready to play games in The Big Smoke and outwit your opponents?

Don't have five players? No stress, check out the best three-player games on our website.

How to Make Game Group Nights Unforgettable in 3 Easy Steps

The benefits of gaming go far beyond fun and friendly competition. They bring people together, sharpen your brain, and create memories that stick long after the game ends.

Here's how to turn ordinary evenings into legendary gaming sessions that everyone talks about for weeks:

1. Choose the perfect spot

Pick a dedicated space with comfy seating, plenty of room, and good lighting so every player feels comfortable and can fully enjoy the game.

Need the right gaming table? We have exactly what you're looking for:

• Our Dresden table is a popular space-saving option, converting from a dining table into a spacious recreational space in minutes.

• The Mimosa table is great for intimate gaming with family and friends, suitable for four-player games like cards, dominoes, and puzzles.

• The Firefly table transforms from an elegant coffee table to a games table, blending style and function.

2. Stock games for all group sizes

Keep a good mix of party games for groups of any size. Combine games with longer playing times, like Letters from Whitechapel, with quicker options like Spot! 1,2,3, so you're always prepared, no matter the mood or number of players.

3. Plan themed nights

Make game nights with five players unforgettable by adding a fun theme. Keep things fresh each week or month. Dress in hiking gear for Trekking the National Parks, don battle attire for Lords of Waterdeep, or throw on racing suits for Heat: Pedal to the Metal. It's bound to be great fun for everyone!

FAQs

What five-player games can kids play?

Many kid-friendly board games can accommodate five players, such as:

• Villainous

• Sheriff of Nottingham

• Oregon Trail

• Banagrams

• King of New York

Is Fury of Dracula suitable for five players?

Yes, the vampire-hunting Fury of Dracula game is suitable for five players.

What games can I play with five people?

There are many games you can play with five people, such as:

• Power Grid

• 7 Wonders

• Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition (5E)

• Cosmic Encounter

• Game of Thrones Risk

Final Thoughts

So, there it is: our quick roundup of the best five-player board games.

From Spot It! 1,2,3 for the kids to Letters from Whitechapel for older players, there's a perfect game out there for every player group.

And if you want to take your game nights up a notch, high-quality game tables can make all the difference, providing plenty of space for five players or more!

Looking for more inspiration? Explore game room ideas and custom-designed furniture at Bandpass Design today.