Best Games of 2021

It’s that time of year again, the one where we tell you about the best games of 2021. These are the games that we played the most and enjoyed the most over the last year. Some are brand new games and some are classic games that keep us coming back. See if your favorite made our list.

Number 10 of the Best Games of 2021: Santa’s Sleigh Dice Game

Although this is a Christmas themed game, we do play it all year round. We love dice games and this one is fun and easy but not so easy that you know who is going to win until the game is over. You can read all about how to play here.

Number 9: Relative Insanity

As a family we love Apples to Apples. Relative Insanity is the same type of play but with very different questions and answers. It’s not a game for young and you need to be okay with playing with some grown up subjects to play. You can read the review here. Or you can jump right to shopping here.

Number 8: Abandon All Artichokes

This was a new deck building card game for us this year. Veggies have never been this much fun and cute. It’s an easy to understand game that plays quickly. You can read the review here and shop here.

Number 7: Codenames

Codenames makes you use your brain and really think about the words and your team members. It’s simple but challenging in all the right ways. You can read what we liked about it here and shop here.

Number 6: Carcassonne

This year we had the pleasure of teaching some family how to play this tile placing game. The best part of this game is that it is easy to teach and play with beginners but veteran players still love it and want to play again and again. You can read how to play here and shop here.

Number 5: Jok-R-ummy

This is our go to card game. There is no better feeling than when you finish a challenging mission unless of course you do that and then go out before the other players can complete their missions. Challenging and entertaining all at the same time. You can read the review here.

Number 4: Scattergories

This game has been around for so long but it’s still just as fun as it was when I first played as a teenager. We often play this near holiday with our Scattergories lists for Christmas, Valentine’s Day and St Patrick’s Day. You can get these themes and more in our Fun Library here. Over the last two years we’ve played a lot of this game while visiting with friends over Zoom. It is one of the best games to play on video chat as all you need is paper and a pen to play. You can read the review here and shop for this classic game (if you don’t already have it) here.

Number 3: 5 Second Rule

Another game that we liked so much that we created our own versions of. We have Christmas, Halloween, camping and more in our store. You can see the whole list of our versions here. Again, this is a great game to play over Zoom. You can see why we love this game here and you can shop for the original game here.

Number 2: Ohio

I can’t tell you how many times we’ve played this game over a pizza on a Friday night. It’s easy and frustrating and is the perfect length for a dinner time game. You can learn how to play Ohio here and see what over games we play at the supper table here.

Number 1 of the Best Games of 2021: Splendor

The first time we played Splendor we were hooked. We wanted to play again and again. Splendor is the right amount of light strategy, luck and skill. The quality might be the best of any game that we’ve had with beautiful gem chips. Read the review here to see why this is our number one game of 2021. Or you can take our word and buy it here. And Canadians can get their copy of this awesome game here.

Personal Top 5 Games of 2021

Now is the time that we show you how we each personally ranked the games that we’ve played this year.

Joel:- AKA Dad’s List

Number 5 – Codenames

With one word clues and answers, Codenames makes a good game for small conversation his favorite.

Number 4 – Abandon all Artichokes

He’s maybe the family member that likes deck building games the best and this one is easy enough and certainly cute enough for the rest of us.

Number 3 – Jok-R-ummy

He thinks that he’s the best at this game, but really it’s anyone’s game to win.

Number 2 – Carcassonne

This game is perfect when you’re too tired to play in depth thinking games but it’s far from boring.

Number 1 – Splendor

I told you we were like this game.

Stephanie AKA Mom’s List

Number 5 – Cobra Paw

This game is all about speed and observation—two of favorite things in a game. It even inspired me to create Bones and Pips game. You can read the review here or shop here.

Number 4 – Can’t Stop

This is an easy dice game where you have to decide to go for it and risk scoring nothing or stop and play it safe. It’s fun and easy with just the right amount of luck and strategy. Look for the review coming to the blog in the new year.

Number 3 – Jok-R-ummy

I really do love card games and this one is a great one especially when you want to settle in and have a longer game.

Number 2 – Carcassonne

I love that this game plays just as well with two people as four. And I love that it has a predictable play time.

My Number 1 Game of 2021 – Splendor

It should come as no surprise if you’ve read the glowing review of this game that Splendor is my new favorite game.

Julia’s List

Number 5 – Apples to Apples

This classic game has been one of her favorite games from the first time we played. You can read the review here and see why the rest of us like this game too (and how we play with only three people).

Number 4 – Love Letter

With only two cards to choose from, the decision of what to play is usually an easy one—but make no mistake, this game is very well thought out. We all love this game too. See what makes it special here. And you shop here for this unique card game that will have you shaking your head to why you lost and smiling when you steal the win.

Number 3 – Go Boom

Card games are not usually her favorites but this one is different. Oh the fun when the player with only one card has to pick up eight cards before they can play! See how to play Go Boom here.

Number 2 – Splendor

You might be surprised to see our number one game listed as the number two game on her list but she just loves her number one so much it inched out Splendor.

Julia’s Number 1 Game of 2021 – Ohio

Yep, this is her favorite game. Maybe this is why we play it so much!

Carrie-Anne’s List

Number 5 – Harry Potter Spot It

She is crazy for Harry Potter and this is the Harry Potter game that she can get the other not-so-Harry-Potter-crazy people to play. We all love Spot It here and the best part of playing this version is making her cringe with our, um creative, calling out of the images. “The girl with the hair,” is usually followed by her correcting, “Bella Tricks.”  Fun fact: I sometimes know the right names but say them wrong anyways. This usually backfires though as I’m laughing and miss the next card. You can read the review of Spot It here. Or you can get your own copy of “the castle” game here.

Number 4 – Codenames

She loves to think and that’s what Codenames is all about so it’s no surprise this is on her list.

Number 3 – 13 Dead End Drive

This game is all about killing off the completion to end up with the inheritance. It is very hands on and it is fun to watch the characters fly through the air if they try to climb the stairs. We first played at Halloween—very fitting for the holiday. Check the blog in the new year for the full review.

Number 2 – Jok-R-ummy

This is the game that she always requests. And she loves when she takes the lead and leaves us with undone missions.

Number 1 – Splendor

With only ten minutes to bedtime she’ll ask to play Splendor. Although it’s a great game, it takes longer than that! But it’s no surprise that this is now her number one game of 2021.

All the Favorites

So, did you see your favorite game in our Best Games of 2021 lists? Tell us in the comments what your top games of 2021 are and if you learned of a new games to try.

There are just so many great games to make room for on your Family Game Shelf. Games are still one of the best ways to connect as a family and make incredible memories that kids and parents will remember for years to come.

If you’re looking for more of our top games, check out our Recommendations page here. You can see all our game reviews here. And if dice and cards are your favorites, we have those too.