Hello game enthusiasts and social savants! Do you find yourself aimlessly swiping on your phone while your pals are engrossed in conversation? Why not shift the focus and delve into the captivating universe of board games for 8 people? Yes, you heard it right! These are games designed not only to entertain but also to include your whole crew. In this feature, we’ll reveal the must-have best 8 player board games to spice up your gathering.

Criteria for Selection Best 8 Player Board Games:

Before we dive into our curated list of the best board games for 8 players, let’s discuss our methodology for selecting these treasures. We focused on:

  1. Age Range: Appropriate for a broad, or at least the majority, of age groups you’ll be hosting.
  2. Difficulty Level: Intuitive to understand yet challenging to master—no one wants to spend the evening buried in a manual! (with two exceptions at the end 😉 )
  3. Playing Time: From short ones to whole day events.
  4. Game Types: We wanted to cover whole spectrum from party games to very heavy titles.

Recommended Best 8 Player Board Games:

Codenames

Codenames Board Game
  • Technical Information:
    • Gameplay Mechanics: Word association, deduction
    • Target Audience: Ages 14 and above
    • Player Count: 2-8+ players
    • Playing Time: 15-20 minutes
  • Brief Overview: Codenames pits two teams against each other in a battle to decipher words guided by their spymaster. With one-word hints that can correspond to multiple words on the board, team members strive to identify words associated with their team while steering clear of those belonging to the adversary. It’s an intellectually stimulating game requiring wit, deduction, and a sprinkle of daring.
  • Why It’s Great: It’s easy to grasp, accommodates large parties, and becomes uproariously funny as you delve into your foes’ psyches.
  • Highlighted Features: The game balances simplicity and intellectual depth, appealing to a mature crowd.
  • Insider Tips: Playing the spymaster offers a unique challenge in understanding your friends’ thought patterns, making each game distinctively enjoyable.
  • Buy: You can but it here.

Telestrations

Telestrations Board Game
  • Technical Information:
    • Gameplay Mechanics: Drawing, guessing
    • Target Audience: Ages 12 and up
    • Player Count: 4-8 players
    • Playing Time: 20-30 minutes
  • Brief Overview: Telestrations is a delightful blend of Pictionary and the classic game of Telephone. Participants sketch what they observe and then hand over their artwork to the next player for interpretation. This cycle continues until the original player receives it back, often resulting in amusingly distorted messages. The game illustrates how easily communication can go awry.
  • Why It’s Great: It accommodates 8 players effortlessly and is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
  • Highlighted Features: Think of it as Pictionary with an inventive twist that keeps everyone engaged.
  • Insider Tips: Your drawing skills (or lack thereof) only add to the fun factor.
  • Buy: You can buy it here.

Dixit

Dixit - Best 8 Player Board Games
  • Technical Information:
    • Gameplay Mechanics: Storytelling, voting
    • Target Audience: Ages 8 and up
    • Player Count: 3-8 players (up to 12 with expansions)
    • Playing Time: 30-40 minutes
  • Brief Overview: Dixit invites you into a fanciful realm of abstract visuals and narrative innovation. A designated “storyteller” selects a card and provides a hint. The rest pick cards that align with that hint and submit them anonymously. After revealing all cards, players cast their votes for the one they believe the storyteller owns.
  • Why It’s Great: Expansions allow scalability up to 12 players, and the game nurtures inventive thought.
  • Highlighted Features: Its visually stunning cards and thematic depth make it versatile for various age groups.
  • Insider Tips: Your enjoyment will increase as you decode the peculiar ways your friends think, making each game more riveting.
  • Buy: You can buy it here.

Bang! The Dice Game

Bang! The Dice Game
  • Technical Information:
    • Gameplay Mechanics: Dice rolling, player elimination
    • Target Audience: Ages 8 and up
    • Player Count: 3-8 players
    • Playing Time: 15-20 minutes
  • Brief Overview: This quick-paced game immerses players in a Wild West duel. Adopting roles like Sheriff, Outlaw, Renegade, or Deputy, each player has distinct goals. Dice rolls dictate actions like engaging in shootouts, recovering health, or even encountering Native American ambushes. The kicker? Apart from the Sheriff, roles are clandestine.
  • Why It’s Great: It’s swift, blends strategy with bluffing, and is an ideal fit for 8 players.
  • Highlighted Features: The game’s unpredictability and role-playing facets keep everyone engaged.
  • Insider Tips: The tide can turn quickly, leading to exhilarating wins or losses.
  • Buy: You can buy it here.

Deception: Murder in Hong Kong

Deception: Murder in Hong Kong Board Game
  • Technical Information:
    • Gameplay Mechanics: Deduction, social bluffing
    • Target Audience: Ages 14 and up
    • Player Count: 4-12 players
    • Playing Time: 20-30 minutes
  • Brief Overview: This game plunges players into a detective scenario where they must solve a murder. One person is the culprit, another the forensic scientist, while the others are investigators. The forensic scientist offers non-verbal clues to assist in solving the case. Players debate, scrutinize, and exchange intel to unearth the murderer among them.
  • Why It’s Great: It scales well for large groups and offers a thrilling ‘whodunnit’ experience.
  • Highlighted Features: Requires a sharp mind and keen observation, ideal for those who love mental gymnastics.
  • Insider Tips: The suspense escalates with every turn, making each game a gripping affair.
  • Buy: You can buy it here.

Saboteur

Saboteur - Best 8 Player Board Games
  • Technical Information:
    • Gameplay Mechanics: Hand management, bluffing
    • Target Audience: Ages 8 and up
    • Player Count: 3-10 players
    • Playing Time: 30 minutes
  • Brief Overview: Saboteur casts you as either a treasure-seeking dwarf or a path-blocking saboteur. Miners endeavor to construct a route to unearth gold, whereas saboteurs aim to thwart these efforts. Roles are concealed, leaving players in constant doubt about each other’s real objectives. It’s a game filled with trust issues, backstabbing, and sudden reversals.
  • Why It’s Great: A quick and strategic game that can engage up to 10 players.
  • Highlighted Features: The secrecy adds an extra layer of excitement and unpredictability.
  • Insider Tips: Trust is fragile in this game, making every decision a potential game-changer.
  • Buy: You can buy it here.

Camel Up

Camel Up Board Game
  • Technical Information:
    • Gameplay Mechanics: Betting, dice rolling
    • Target Audience: Ages 8 and up
    • Player Count: 3-8 players
    • Playing Time: 20-30 minutes
  • Brief Overview: Camel Up is a frantic camel-racing and wagering spectacle that ensures you’ll never have a dull moment. Players place bets on camels, trying to predict who will lead the pack. The twist? Camels can pile on top of one another, making for a multi-level, erratic race. The experience is as unpredictable as it is entertaining.
  • Why It’s Great: It’s a light-hearted game that’s perfect for 8 players.
  • Highlighted Features: The game’s unpredictability and betting aspects add a layer of fun chaos.
  • Insider Tips: The game can turn anyone into a betting enthusiast, adding zest to the gaming session.
  • Buy: You can buy it here.

You can find our overview of Camel Up Board Game here.

7 Wonders

7 Wonders - Best 8 Player Board Games
  • Technical Information:
    • Gameplay Mechanics: Card drafting, set collection
    • Target Audience: Ages 10 and up
    • Player Count: 2-7 players (up to 8 with expansions)
    • Playing Time: 30 minutes
  • Brief Overview: In 7 Wonders, players take on the role of a leader of one of the ancient world’s magnificent cities. Through card drafting, players gather resources and further their military or scientific advancements to grow their city. With three different ages and six rounds in each, the game demands careful resource allocation, strategic foresight, and occasional sabotage of your neighbors.
  • Why It’s Great: Accessible yet strategically rich, it caters to a broad range of players.
  • Highlighted Features: Its fast pace and diverse strategies keep every player invested.
  • Insider Tips: Strategies can adapt quickly based on others’ actions, ensuring each game is unique.
  • Buy: You can buy it here.

A Game of Thrones: The Board Game (Second Edition)

A Game of Thrones: The Board Game (Second Edition)
  • Technical Information:
    • Gameplay Mechanics: Area control, negotiation
    • Target Audience: Ages 14 and up
    • Player Count: 3-6 players (up to 8 with expansions)
    • Playing Time: 2-4 hours
  • Brief Overview: This game adaptation of the famed A Game of Thrones series lets you control a major House of Westeros as you vie for the Iron Throne. Through tactical battles, diplomatic pacts, and strategic moves, you aim to dominate key territories. Unique abilities and challenges for each House ensure that no two game sessions are alike. Expect a rollercoaster of alliances, power plays, and negotiations.
  • Why It’s Great: Ideal for fans of intricate strategy and those willing to invest time.
  • Highlighted Features: Its depth and complexity are best suited for a focused, mature audience.
  • Insider Tips: It’s not just a game, it’s a diplomatic battleground.
  • Buy: You can buy it here.

Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition

Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition
  • Technical Information:
    • Gameplay Mechanics: Strategy, diplomacy
    • Target Audience: Ages 14 and up
    • Player Count: 3-6 players (up to 8 with expansions)
    • Playing Time: 4-8 hours
  • Brief Overview: Twilight Imperium is a grandiose galactic conquest game that incorporates an array of game mechanics. Players select from various races, each offering unique abilities and tactics. Through military prowess, diplomatic savvy, and economic strategy, the goal is to accumulate victory points and claim victory. Given its sheer scope and intricacy, this is not merely a game but an epic event!
  • Why It’s Great: If you’re up for an epic, day-long gaming experience, this is your game. This is one of the best 8 player board games there are out there!
  • Highlighted Features: Its grand scale and intricate mechanics make it a must-play for serious gamers.
  • Insider Tips: This isn’t just a game; it’s an event. Clear your day for this one.
  • Buy: You can buy it here.

Additional Considerations for Best 8 Player Board Games:

When making your selection, don’t overlook factors like setup time and the attention span of your guests. Some games require little setup but offer extended playtimes, and others are the opposite.

Conclusion:

And there we have it! Our curated list of the best board games for 8 players promises hours of amusement, camaraderie, and perhaps a sprinkle of deceit (we’re looking at you, Deception: Murder in Hong Kong). So, what’s the hold-up? Choose your top picks, call up your mates, and let the gaming festivities commence!

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