23 Best Board Games Under $20

If you’ve ever been in the market for a new board game, you probably already know that the prices may vary greatly. But the good news is, board games don’t have to be expensive.

Whether you’re on a budget or you’re looking for the perfect gift this holiday season, there are many options for great games that won’t break the bank and are under $20.

In fact, some of my very favorite board games made this list.

But first, a few disclaimers. Prices are subject to change. A game that may be under $20 now may be over that budget in the future.

Also, I’m using the term “board game” loosely here. Some of these may not technically come with a board.

Still, this list was hand-picked, and I only included games that I truly believed were noteworthy, even at a low cost.

So without further ado, here are some of the best board games under $20:

1. Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza ($9.84)

Coming in with the lowest price on the list, Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza is a hilarious yet simple game. It plays between 3-8 players and only takes about 10 minutes to play.

The game consists of a simple deck of cards that have tacos, cats, etc., on them. You get the idea.

Each person plays a card while sequentially saying “Taco”, “Cat”, “Goat”, “Cheese” and “Pizza” out loud (one at a time).

When a spoken word and a played card match, all players slap the stack, hoping they are not last to do so.

The game comes with special cards that are designed to confuse players, resulting in hilarious and silly gameplay. It’s fun for the whole family … at least for a good few minutes.

Read Also: Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza rules: A quick guide on how to play

2. Coup ($11.99)

Coup accommodates 2-6 players and also has a quick playtime. The main way to win the game is to be good at bluffing.

In short, players draft different characters, and each character has a special ability. Players may lie about their abilities. But if they are caught, they lose influence, which will make them lose the game.

Overall, Coup is a fan favorite and it’s hard to go wrong with this purchase. Plus, the box is a small size, so it’s a good one to travel with if needed.

Read Also: Coup game rules: A quick guide with review and strategies

3. Ticket to Ride London ($12.99)

The base game of Ticket to Ride has been hugely popular in the board game community, which has resulted in many variations and spinoffs.

And while the base game can cost upwards of $50, Ticket to Ride London can often be found for under $20. In fact, at the time of this writing, it is only $12.99 on Amazon.

In the game, players race to build bus lines that connect districts in the United Kingdom. You may earn extra points for certain routes or for having the longest line.

It’s essentially a mini-size of the original game. It accommodates 2-4 players with a playtime of about 15 minutes.

Also, Ticket to Ride New York and San Francisco are usually under $20 as well.

4. The Crew ($9.99-14.95)

The Crew, which plays 2-5 players, has truly been my favorite game lately. It’s a trick-taking, cooperative game that works similarly to Spades, except a round will have its own special mission.

Each round, one player will operate as the crew’s captain and announce the mission.

The game comes with 50 different missions, so it has a lot of replayability. For example, one of your missions might be to avoid winning any tricks with the highest card (9).

It might be easier said than done, so the game acts a bit like a puzzle where you must work together … without talking.

This game can either be played in just 15 minutes or you could keep playing for hours.

I absolutely love this game.

5. Hanabi ($10.99-19.95)

Speaking of cooperative games that work a bit like a puzzle, Hanabi is a strategy game that also is cooperative and puzzle-like.

There are different variations of this game. I purchased the tile version (pictured above), but if you want to stay under the $20 mark, you can get the card version and it still works the same way.

In the game, players work with a hand that they themselves are blind to. Your fellow players will work to give you limited clues to guide you on which one to play.

It will test your strategy and memory skills. Overall, it’s a really fun game.

It plays 2-5 players.

6. Ultimate Werewolf ($14.29)

Ultimate Werewolf is a party game that can play up to 30 people.

This can be a great game for someone who frequently has get-togethers with large groups of people.

In the game, villagers try to determine who among them are werewolves. The game comes with other special characters as well to add some flavor.

It’s a social deduction game and it’s hard to have a lot of strategy with games like these, but it’s entertaining nonetheless.

7. Point Salad ($14.24)

This cute and simple game is bringing back the fun of cooking. Or salad … making.

All jokes aside, this game is fit for all ages.

In this card drafting game, players create salad combinations and collect types of cards and complete recipes to win the most points.

There are several strategies to score points, which makes the game interesting.

It accommodates 2-6 people.

8. Escape Rooms Games ($14.95)

There are several brands of the “escape room in a box” concept.

The downside is, they basically can’t be replayed once you have used them.

Still, it’s cheaper than going to an escape room in real life, and still kind of strikes the fancy.

These games usually accommodate 1-4 players and take about an hour to play. I have tried a couple, and they’re pretty fun. Although, I don’t necessarily go out of my way to find more.

9. Love Letter ($14.99)

Again, this is genuinely one of my favorite games. Love Letter is a simple card game that still involves some strategy, but the game moves quickly and it’s pretty easy to learn.

Basically, you try to keep the high card to win the princess’s favor.

However, holding a high card can make you vulnerable to other players. The person to make it to the end of the round with the highest card wins the round.

You can get the original Love Letter, but there are also versions that are themed for Star Wars and Marvel, as well as Lovecraft Letter (pictured above).

10. Taboo ($14.99)

When I think of the game Taboo, I picture nights with the family and lots of laughs.

In this game, the active player draws a card and describes a mystery word to their team without saying a list of related taboo words.

An opponent may watch the active player with a buzzer to make sure everyone’s playing by the rules.

This game plays four or more people.

11. Codenames ($15.89)

As one of the best party games on the market, Codenames is probably one of the best options on the list, assuming you or whoever you’re buying for doesn’t already own it.

In this game, players split up into two teams. Cards will be on the table, forming a grid, and the team leader must get their teammates to guess certain cards while only using one-word clues.

Codenames Duet is a cooperative version of the game for two players and is also under $20.

12. The Chameleon ($16.00)

In the game Chameleon, everyone gets a secret word, except for the player with the chameleon card.

But this player must “blend in” in order to win. It’s a well-designed game and easy to learn and play with a wide variety of people.

This game receives consistently high reviews. It takes only about 15 minutes to play and accommodates 3-8 players.

13. Sequence ($17.97)

Sequence is a simple game that comes with a board, chips and a deck of playing cards. Basically, use your cards and chips and try to get five in a row on the game board.

It’s fun and challenging but simple to learn.

Overall, I think strategy board games are so much fun. As a bonus, it’s one of the few on the list that actually comes with a game board, making it one of the truly cheap board games.

Read Also: Sequence board game rules, an easy step-by-step guide

14. Scrabble ($17.97)

This is a classic game doesn’t need an introduction. There are tiles and there’s a board. Players build long words and rack up points.

It’s a good game for your family of four.

15. 5 Second Rule ($18.22)

This is another party game that can be hilarious to play.

It has very simple rules. There will be a prompt with a category, and players must name five items in the category within the five-second time limit.

Younger kids will be able to join in on the fun as long as you stick with the family version.

For the adults, consider the “uncensored” version for a few extra giggles.

16. Santorini New York ($18.48)

This is another one of the best games on the list.

It works a bit like 3D Chess. In the game, workers build up a city. The first player to climb to the highest building wins.

But, it’s a consistently highly rated game because the components and rules are easy enough to understand, but it has a lot of depth. It sounds easier said than done due to the rules on how to get there.

This is a game for someone who has at least some board game experience.

It plays 2-4 players.

17. Patchwork ($19.72)

Patchwork is a game for only two players, so it can make a great gift for someone in a couple or two-person household.

In the game, players work together to create a patchwork quilt out of the available pieces by placing them on the board, avoiding any empty spaces.

It’s a fun game that consistently gets good reviews. Note that the original Patchwork game may be higher than $20, but the Americana Edition offers the same game for a little less, with the main difference being the artwork.

The main critique of the Americana version is that the buttons are harder to see.

Patchwork Express usually hovers right at the $20 mark.

18. Happy Little Dinosaurs ($19.89)

This adorable little game accommodates 2-4 players. In the game, you’ll try to dodge disasters while tuning out your inner dialog.

I love the design of this game, and it’s very cute and easy to play. It’ll likely be a win for most people.

Expansion packs are also available.

19. Exploding Kittens ($19.99)

This one reminds me of Happy Little Dinosaurs due to its quirkiness.

But this one works similarly to Hot Potato. It’s a popular option with board game novices and the perfect game to bring out and burn a quick 15-20 minutes.

20. What do you Meme ($19.99)

This party game works similarly to Cards Against Humanity. Players will take turns as a judge while the rest of the players choose a card from their hand that best fits a meme photo.

There are different versions of the game, but the What Do You Meme Family version is the safest bet if you’re gifting for the office Christmas party.

21. Skull ($19.99)

This is a bluffing and strategy game that can accommodate 3-6 players and takes only about 30 minutes to play.

For example, players bet on how many flower cards can be revealed without revealing a skull. It’s one of the best quick games out there right now and highly rated.

22. Forbidden Island ($19.99)

This strategy game plays 2-4 people and only takes about 30 minutes to play.

While the game doesn’t have a board necessarily, you basically build your own with tiles as the play progresses.

The goal of the game is to make it off the island in time and accomplish your mission before the waters rise and you become trapped on the island forever.

It’s a fun game with a puzzle aspect that makes it a lot of fun for the whole group.

23. New Phone, Who Dis ($19.99)

Finally, we have New Phone, Who Dis. It’s another party game that works just like Cards Against Humanity. Players work with a hand of response cards. Active players will take a turn as the judge and play the prompt.

It’s a fun twist to some of the similar games in this category.

It doesn’t take itself too seriously. The end of the game is determined by whenever everyone gets tired, according to the rulebook. This one does have adult themes and is not suitable for young kids.

Whichever game you decide on, each of these is likely to give you quality time with family and friends.

Do you have a favorite board game on the list?

Which games do you think are great deals? Are there any games that I missed? Let me know in the comments below.