Intro:
Whether you’re trying to pry teens away from their screens or just want a game night without eye-rolls and sighs, finding the right board or card game for teenagers is key. It’s got to be fast, funny, unpredictable—or better yet, chaotic in all the best ways.
LYRD Aurora Snowfall Candle | Avon
NOTES
• Top: Crisp Air, Lemon, Eucalyptus
• Mid: Sugar, Fluffy Snow, Fir Balsam
• Base: Cedarwood, Pine Needle, Musk
We’ve rounded up a list of teen-approved games that strike the right balance between strategy, silliness, and social sabotage. These aren’t your grandma’s board games (unless your grandma plays Gloom, in which case—amazing). Here’s your ultimate list of board and card games that teens will actually want to play.
1. King of Tokyo
Genre: Monster Battle / Dice Game
Play as mutant monsters, giant robots, or alien beasts and fight for control of Tokyo in this fast-paced, dice-chucking game. Teens love the wild powers, flashy art, and how quickly this turns into a laugh-out-loud showdown.
2. Fluxx (Zombie, Monty Python, Wonderland, Fantasy, Jumanji)
Genre: Chaotic Card Game
The rules are literally always changing. One minute you’re winning, the next someone plays a “creeper” card and it’s over. With tons of themed versions, there’s one to match every teen’s fandom or weird sense of humor.
Looney Labs Spongebob Fluxx Card Game – Bikini Bottom Adventure with Hilarious Gameplay
Steal Mr. Krab’s Money or Squidward’s Clarinet or drive off in the Invisible Boatmobile!
3. Castle Panic
Genre: Co-op Tower Defense
In this cooperative game, players work together to defend their castle from invading monsters. It’s perfect for teens who enjoy strategy—but without turning it into a head-to-head war. Ideal for building teamwork (or watching it fall apart).
Castle Panic 2nd Edition | Cooperative Board Game for Adults and Family | Ages 8+ | for 1 to 6 Players | Average Playtime 45 Minutes | Made by Fireside Games
You and your friends are in the castle desperately strategizing and playing cards to defend your towers from a charging horde of monsters.
4. We Didn’t Playtest This At All
Genre: Absurd Chaos / Party Game
Games can last 30 seconds—or 10 minutes. You might lose because you like cats or because someone declared a banana the winner. It’s weird, fast, and exactly the kind of absurd humor teens love.
Asmadi Games We Didn’t Playtest This at All – with Chaos Pack
Between rock paper scissors battles, being eaten by a random dragon or saved by a kitten ambush, there are many hazards to avoid.
5. 5-Minute Dungeon
Genre: Real-Time Card Game
This one’s all speed and no downtime. You have five frantic minutes to defeat monsters, obstacles, and bosses. Perfect for short attention spans and groups that thrive on adrenaline-fueled shouting.
Wiggles 3D 5-Minute Dungeon A Chaotic, Co-Operative, Real-time Card Game | Fast-Paced Board Game | for Families, Ages 8 & up | 2-5 Players
The most fun you can have in 5 minutes! You’ll need teamwork to defeat each dungeon in only 5 minutes, and then take on the next intense challenge. Defeat all 6 bosses to win!
6. Gloom (Munchkin, In Space, Of Thrones)
Genre: Dark Humor Storytelling
This gothic card game has you making your family members suffer the worst tragedies before they die—while making your opponents’ characters as happy as possible. It’s Addams Family energy meets high school drama.
Atlas Games Gloom
The goal of the game is sad, but simple: you want your characters to suffer the greatest tragedies possible before passing on to the well-deserved respite of death.
7. Betrayal at House on the Hill (Scooby Doo, The Evil of Pennywise Expansion)
Genre: Horror / Semi-Cooperative
Explore a haunted mansion with your friends—until one of you betrays the group. No two games are ever the same. Teens love the spooky mystery, the surprise betrayal, and the story-driven twists.
Avalon Hill Hasbro Gaming Betrayal at The House on The Hill 3rd Edition Cooperative Board Game,Ages 12 and Up,3-6 Players,50 Chilling Scenarios
Players must work together to survive the nightmare…but beware . The house turns one player against the others in this cooperative strategy game
8. Clank! (In Space)
Genre: Deck-Building / Dungeon Crawl
Sneak into a dungeon to steal artifacts—without making too much noise. The louder you are, the more you attract the dragon. A mix of strategy and suspense makes this a go-to for teens who like a challenge.
9. Unstable Unicorns (Christmas Special Expansion)
Genre: Strategy / Take-That Card Game
Build a unicorn army. Sabotage your friends. That’s the whole game, and yes—it’s as cutthroat and ridiculous as it sounds. Bright, sarcastic, and endlessly meme-able.
Unstable Games – Unstable Unicorns Base Game – Competitive Award-Winning Card Game For Kids, Teens, Adults – 2-8 Players, Easy, Quick
BUILD A UNICORN ARMY. BETRAY YOUR FRIENDS. UNICORNS ARE YOUR FRIENDS NOW.
10. Coup (Rebellion G54 Anarchy Expansion)
Genre: Bluffing / Deduction
Lie, deceive, and eliminate your opponents before they eliminate you. Coup is all about poker faces, fake confidence, and calling your friends’ bluffs. Quick, compact, and perfect for teens who love drama.
An extremely fast-paced card game that is great for parties, game nights, old friends and new acquaintances.
11. Mysterium (Secrets & Lies Expansion)
Genre: Cooperative / Visual Deduction
A ghost gives you abstract image clues to help you solve a murder. It’s like a haunted version of Dixit, with dreamy art and eerie storytelling. Ideal for teens who like puzzles with a spooky twist.
Asmodee Mysterium Board Game (Base Game) Enigmatic Cooperative Mystery Game with Ghostly Intrigue, Fun for Family Game Night, Ages 10+, 2-7 Players, 42 Minute Playtime
Assume the role of psychics and work together to interpret cryptic clues from a ghostly apparition to solve the perplexing crime in this immersive deduction and storytelling game.
12. Throw Throw Burrito (Throw Avocado, Zombie Burrito)
Genre: Dodgeball + Card Game
Match sets of cards while ducking flying foam burritos. It’s a game, it’s a workout, and it’s complete chaos. Great for teens with energy to burn and a love of organized mayhem.
Exploding Kittens Presents Throw Throw Burrito – A Dodgeball Card Game – Family Card Games for Adults, Teens & Kids – 2-6 Players – Ages 7 and Up – 120 Cards
Throw Throw Burrito is what you get when you cross a card game with burrito-shaped dodgeballs.
Final Thoughts
Teen game nights don’t have to be a chore. These games keep things light, fast, and fun—with just enough strategy or absurdity to keep everyone at the table engaged (and possibly yelling). Whether your teen crew is into monsters, mysteries, or mayhem, there’s a perfect pick on this list.
So grab a game, gather your crew, and let the chaos begin!
