Board games have really taken on in recent years, thanks to some genius thinkers who leveled up the gaming industry. There’s a lot more to discover with these top indie board games, and we can’t wait to share our list with you. Because social connection is so important, we invite you to host a game night at your place and invite all of your favorite people! With one of these board games on the table, everyone is sure to have a killer time.
But there is one thing that could make it that much better … we bet you know where we’re going with this. Yep. It’s Wynk. Our THC sparkling seltzers are the perfect buzz to ignite those good vibes and take your game night to the next level. Plus, you won’t end up too out of it to focus on your game, and there’s no next-day hangover. Talk about a win.
Our favorite games offer unique mechanics, interesting themes, and high replayability, so you’ll be hosting game night again and again. Seems like a great time to stock up on some Wynk!
Top 15 Indie Board Games
We’ve got strategy, we’ve got humor, we’ve got mysteries galore. Check out our favorite indie board games and get ready for game night.
Twilight Struggle
Twilight Struggle is a two-player Cold War strategy game where players take on the roles of the United States or the Soviet Union and use 55 historical event cards to complete missions and gain influence points to win over countries. The game includes counters and tokens to represent units and resources. It offers depth and strategy for experienced players while still being accessible for new players and is considered a highly-regarded board game.
Codenames
Codenames is a party game for 4-8 players where teams compete to correctly guess words based on one-word clues. Players are split into two teams, with one person from each team designated as the spymaster to give clues to their teammates. The game includes 25 cards in the deck, and teams earn points by guessing correctly and lose points for incorrect guesses.
A Game of Thrones
Finished House of Dragons, but need more GOT? Try this! A Game of Thrones is a strategy and diplomacy board game based on the popular book and TV series. Players compete to win the Iron Throne by using their decks of cards wisely, each card representing characters, locations, events, and abilities from the Game of Thrones universe. The game is designed to offer complex and engaging gameplay, with many different paths to victory, suitable for 2-6 players with an average playtime of 2-4 hours.
The Resistance: Avalon
The Resistance: Avalon is a cooperative game for 2-6 players where players work together to defeat the evil forces of Mordred. Players are spies sent back in time to save Camelot but with the presence of traitors among them. The game plays out over 7 rounds, each with 3 phases; Planning, Execution, and Results.
Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detectives
This board game is for 1-8 players that take on the role of detectives trying to solve crimes in Victorian London using non-linear gameplay. Players must gather information, interview suspects, and solve the crime before time runs out. Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detectives is challenging and highly replayable, with multiple solutions to each case.
Catan
Catan is a strategy game where players compete to be the dominant force on the island of Catan by building settlements, cities, and roads to expand their territory, and acquiring new resources to build armies or trade with other players. The game consists of three phases: roll dice, collect resources, and use resources to build or buy from other players, with special cards providing additional abilities. The first player to reach ten points wins.
Exploding Kittens: NSFW Edition
Exploding Kittens is a card game for 2-5 players, similar to Uno, where the goal is to get rid of all your cards before other players. The game can be played with friends, family, or those who don't mind occasional humor and language. The game is easy to learn, and players can start playing right away. It's a fun and fast-paced game that can be played with a group of people. Exploding Kittens was created and designed by Matthew Inman of The Oatmeal webcomic.
7 Wonders Duel
7 Wonders Duel is a two-player card drafting game where players acquire resources, technologies, and military units to build their civilization and score points. It is a mix of strategy and luck and takes around 30 minutes to play. Each turn, players take four actions to play cards and improve their civilization.
Pandemic Legacy Season 1
Pandemic Legacy is a cooperative game for 2 to 4 players in which players team up trying to save the world from a deadly virus that threatens to destroy all life on Earth. One of the key features of the game is its unique legacy system, where each time you play, your actions permanently alter the game board and rules, and your decisions carry over into future playthroughs.
Cards Against Humanity
Cards Against Humanity is a party game for 3 or more players. It's a fill-in-the-blank style game where players take turns being the Card Czar, who reads a question or statement card, and the other players fill in the blank with one of their answer cards. The Card Czar then chooses the funniest answer, and the player who played that card earns a point. The game is known for its dark and edgy humor and for those who don't mind pushing boundaries or using dirty words!
Gloomhaven
Gloomhaven is a cooperative, campaign-based dungeon crawler game perfect for a group of friends looking for an immersive experience. Players take on the roles of adventurers with unique abilities and work together to complete missions and unlock new content. It's recommended for 1-4 players and offers hours of thrilling gameplay and an intricate, interconnected story with meaningful decision-making that shape the world and characters.
Betrayal at Baldur's Gate
This horror-themed board game is set in the world of Dungeons & Dragons and offers a unique and exciting experience with its "haunt" mechanic, where one player becomes the betrayer and turns against the rest of the group. As you and your friends work together to complete missions and unravel mysteries, the game's unpredictable "haunt" mechanic adds a thrilling layer of tension and deception, keeping players on the edge of their seats. Betrayal at Baldur’s Gate is one you’ll want to play over and over.
Terraforming Mars
Terraforming Mars is a board game for 1-5 players where players take on the role of corporations working to terraform Mars. Players gather resources, build infrastructure, and research new technologies to make Mars habitable. The gameplay involves using cards to perform actions and managing funds while competing against other corporations.
Spirit Island
Spirit Island is a cooperative game for 1-4 players where players take on the roles of spirits trying to protect their island home from invading colonizers. Players must work together to build their powers and drive away the invaders. The game includes different levels of difficulty and scenarios, allowing for replayability.
Dead of Winter
Dead of Winter is a thrilling, thematic, and intense board game that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The game is set in a post-apocalyptic world where a group of survivors must work together to survive the harsh winter and fend off hordes of zombies. It is a cooperative game for 2-5 players, and each player takes on the role of a survivor, each with their own unique abilities and strengths.
Start Sipp’n
Don’t forget to stock your fridge with ice-cold Wynks for all of your guests. Grab a 4-pack in each of the three flavors and try them all! Or, check out our THC mocktail recipes and set up a cannabis bar cart full of tasty drink ingredients. Find a Wynk retailer near you.
