Lots of us will own board games, but how many of the ones that we own are for more for family play rather than a more mature game night with our friends and older family members? Well, you will be pleased to know that board games aren’t just for kids and families anymore. In fact, they’ve become the go-to solution for grown-ups looking to power down their screens, unplug and unwind, relax and have some fun with friends . So, if you’re ready to trade pixels for pawns and dad jokes for more risqué humour, here is our list of 10 fun adult games that promise a rollicking good time without the need for screens or children. But don’t put that phone down or close that laptop lid until you have finished reading this.
So let’s kick off with a friendly bit of voyeurism – no I don’t mean go out and spy on your neighbours, but a board based on a film that you may have heard of: Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window. Are you up for a bit of voyeurism? Do you have an issue with spying through your neighbour’s windows to work out if a murder has been committed or not? A game of mystery, suspense, suspicion, observation, deduction and thrills. But has a murder occurred or not? Rear Window is a fully co-operative game where all players must work together, or a game of the director against the watchers. A game of logic, reasoning and deduction. Suitable for 3-5 players, aged 13 and upwards.
We have probably all heard of, or even played, that fun family game 5 Second Rule. Players must try to name 3 things in just five seconds. It is lots of hilarious fun and laughter for the whole family. But we aren’t here to talk about family games, 5 Second Rule is hardly a grown-up only game, or is it? Did you know that there is a version for adults only? It is still the same fun game, just with adult content. This game is called 5 Second Rule Uncensored – just spit it out! Or not! In this version of the popular naming game, you will have fairly innocuous questions such as Name 3 “Things that you can cover in chocolate” or “Things in a bedside drawer” to the outright dirty such as “Things you shouldn’t do to your anus” or “Ways to have an orgasm”. Definitely not one for the kids and definitely a more mature (or immature, depending on how you look at it) fun game for an adult only grown-up game night. A party game for 3 or more players age 17+.
With our minds now firmly in the gutter, that brings us to Gutterhead – the fiendishly filthy drawing game! Described as X-rated Pictionary meets naughty Charades, it is an adult party game that is perfect for grownups that like a bit of naughty fun. To play, players MUST HAVE a wicked, dirty sense of humour! If you are easily offended or have broken your funny bone, this isn’t the game for you. An hilarious game of drawing, miming and guessing. A party game that is played in teams with up to four players per team. Players must compete head-to-head; drawing pictures, performing mimes and trying to guess what word or phrase is on the fiendishly filthy cards. On the cards there will be words such as ‘Teabagging’, ‘Wet Dream’ and ‘Camel Toe’ plus other rude, crude and filthy adult terms and phrases that players must draw or mime for others to guess. An adult party game for 4-16 players, age 17+, with a playing time of anywhere from 30 minutes to 60 minutes. A game to play with granny? Probably not, she might embarrass you!
Let’s climb out of that dirty but fun gutter, you all probably all itching to be scrolling through your socials at this point. Just so that you are not having withdrawal symptoms about having to switch you phone off for game night, what about a card game based around phones and text messages in New Phone, Who Dis? A 100% offline card-based, adult’s only, party game based on inbox messages and hilarious replies. Players must respond to an INBOX message with a REPLY card that they have in their hand and try to get the funniest response that they can. How would you reply to the INBOX message “I want something more than just casual sex with you?” Would you go with “That is no way to start a conversation with your future mother-in-law, Jefferey.”, or maybe “As much as I like having this conversation with you, you literally gave me chlamydia so bye!!!!!” or even “Not gonna lie, was expecting a better “Happy Birthday” text, but I guess this works too”. A game for 3 to 20+ players, aged 17+ (due to mature language and references) with a playing time of anywhere from 30-90 minutes (depends on the number of players).
Now that you have gathered your friends around for game night, how about having a conversation? But what to talk about; Politics? Sport? Life? No, it would be much more fun to talk a complete lots of bol…. erm… gibberish. At least when you are playing the card game Incohearent! Incohearent is a party game for adults only due to mature language and references used. A game of guessing the gibberish! As a game for adults, it comes with a Parental Advisory Explicit Content warning as some of the terms you wouldn’t want to be explaining to child, such as Netflix and Chill, and it could be an even bigger shock if they had to explain it to you! And that’s before you even get to the red “Kinky” cards. A rather unique card game where players must use their ears to try and decipher the complete gibberish being spoken by other players. Can you decipher “ken eye hell pugh”? A card game for 2-20 players, age 17+ with a playing time of anywhere from 20 minutes to 40 minutes.
We all have at least one friend or family member that thinks they are a comedian, maybe it’s you! Relative Insanity is an hilarious speaking game that even the crankiest, grouchiest and most cantankerous teenager or miserable family member will find side-splittingly funny. It might even put a smile on the face of Wednesday Addams. A game that turns players into comedians using setup and punchline cards, the funniest combination wins. A ridiculously funny game that is suitable for 4 to 12 players, aged 14 years old and upwards.
We are all guilty of strange Google searches. Who hasn’t put something weird, wonderful or outright strange into that little search bar? Don’t believe me? Here are some genuine searches ‘Can a fart … catch fire?’ or ‘Why do hipsters … wear fake glasses?’. And there are even more in Weird Things Humans Search For. A party card game where players are given the first part of a popular Google search and they must try to guess the resulting answers, the higher the answer appears on the card, the more points it is worth. A game for 3-20 players, aged 14+ with game play of around 20 minutes. You might even have searched for some of the things on the cards yourself, or they will give you some ideas for your next Google search.
Ever had a brain fart? Of course you have. Brain Fart, the game, is a quick-thinking word game where silence is deadly. It is perfect for parties and game nights. The objective of the game is to name something from any category showing on the dice, but the answer must begin with the letter you are given at random from the electronic brain game piece. Sounds easy, well it is until you have a brain fart and can’t even remember your own name. Suitable for 3 or more players aged 14+.
What’s That Smell? No, granddad hasn’t let rip (well, probably not anyway). What’s That Smell? is a party game that literally stinks! (in a good fun way – if you are not easily offended by the odd bad smell that is). A game is that challenges players nostrils to guess a smell using scratch and sniff cards. Whilst some of the smells on the cards are nice, others are outright nostril-abusing revolting! The best sniffer wins and that means that he or she gets to choose the loser who has the lovely task of sniffing one the stinky Stank Cards in The Whiff of Shame! A party game for 2-6 players, aged 14 and above.
And finally, with the bad smells, rude and filthy games out of the way, let’s get to something a bit more sedate and challenging with a trivia game – the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire Card Game. We have all seen the television show, maybe even shouted answers at the television, but now you can play it at home, hopefully without any coughing in the background. In this card game version, it is played with 3 or more players/teams, competing against each other, to race up the ladder making use of those famous lifelines if needed. Suitable for 3-4 players or teams, age 14+ with a playing time of 20-30 minutes. Just don’t be disappointed when you win that you are not given a rather large cheque!
So there you have it, ten adults only games that are sure to entertain, challenge, and occasionally frustrate fun loving grownups of all ages. Whether you’re looking to host a sophisticated soiree or just want to kick back with friends, these games are a great way to enjoy a screen-free night. Just remember, it’s all fun and games until someone loses a meeple.
All that’s left now is to get the games in, invite some fun loving friends round, grab those snacks and drinks, and have a fantastic and hilarious adults only game night. Happy gaming!