Best 6-Player Board Games
Best 6-Player Board Games
Board games are one of the best ways to spend time with family and friends. Unfortunately, it sometimes seems that with larger groups, around 6 players, some complications start to arise.
Some games don’t allow for the right number of players or it just doesn’t play well with a big group. With newer or younger players, if the game doesn’t keep everyone engaged, a fun group game can devolve into herding cats. Fear not, because today we’re looking at the best 6-player board games for you and your group.
? Our Top Picks for Best 6-Player Board Games
In a hurry? Check out our favorites below.
Best Thematic
Best Party
Best Overall
We’ve taken the guesswork out of the equation and have come up with a list of our top 20 6-player games that you can try out. There’s quite a variety here, so I’m sure you’ll find something that everyone in your gaming group can agree on.
#1. Twilight Imperium
We might as well start off with the biggest game on our list. Twilight Imperium is massive in every way; massive in scope, massive in options, massive in production, and massive in fun.
I know I’m sounding repetitive but the game is that impressive.
The game is over when a player reaches 10 victory points. Okay, that may not sound as impressive, but how you get there is where the magic happens.
Players will each play a completely unique race with special abilities. The reason Twilight Imperium is such a great game is that it’s more than just a war game. You can play it that way but like in a real war, if everyone simply fires all the nukes, nobody wins and the galaxy will be left burning. This adds diplomacy to the equation, which is a huge part of the game as players create their own galactic story.
The only downside to all this incredible gameplay is that it takes a long time to play (you’re not doing anything else on the day you decide to play) and it does take a bit to learn. If you can get all the players around the table, you’ll have a game your gaming group will be talking about for a long time to come.
- THE DAWN OF A NEW AGE: Explore the latest reimagining of the...
- SCI-FI STRATEGY BOARD GAME: In this game of galactic conquest,...
- THRILLING AND COMPETITIVE: Every faction offers a completely...
#2. King of Tokyo
Become a giant monster, destroy cities, and punch other monsters in the face. What could be better?
I always used to stay up late and watch monster movie marathons and had several VHS recordings of Godzilla and King Kong from when they aired on TV. I was (and still am) a huge nerd. In King of Tokyo, I get relive those awesome moments by controlling a giant Kaiju monster.
- For 2 6 players
- 30 minute playing time
- New artwork by Regis Torres, illustrator of King of new York
King of Tokyo is a press-your-luck dice game in which players choose a giant monster inspired by pop culture Kaijus. The choice is purely aesthetic so don’t fret too much. Players roll to see if they can punch other monsters in the face, gain victory points, heal, or gain energy to buy special upgrades.
If players control Tokyo they’ll be able to hit every other player all at once and gain bonus points, but they’ll also be the target of all other players.
Ready to take on Tokyo? Make sure you read our in-depth review of King of Tokyo, plus expansions before you play!
#3. Cosmic Encounter
In Cosmic Encounter, players each pick a race (there are 50 to choose from in the base game) and make and break alliances to expand and colonize as many planets as possible. Cosmic Encounter is an outlier where the game is actually best played with at least 6 players.
With more players, there are many more options and negotiations that can take place. The social interaction and negotiating at the table is possibly the most memorable part of the game, which is why many players prefer a minimum of 6 players.
- BUILD A GALACTIC EMPIRE: In the depths of space, the aliens of...
- SCI-FI ADVENTURE GAME: This game of interstellar exploration,...
- STRATEGY GAME: Every planet is ruled by someone and the only way...
Cosmic Encounters doesn’t start out with the ability to play with 6 players. You’ll have to get at least 1 of the first three expansions. Each one will add pieces for 1 extra player bringing the total to 8 players with all three expansions.
Expansions to use with 6 players:
#4. Betrayal at House on the Hill
Step into your own personal house of horrors. Honestly, who’s dumb enough to walk into a house with an old man, a fortune teller, 2 small children, and 2 college students? People who want to have a good time, that’s who.
Everything about Betrayal reminds me of old horror movies. The game is filled with every horror film trope, can be super corny, isn’t exactly perfect or polished, but is ever so much fun. I’ve never had a bad game of Betrayal and even when I lose horribly in a scenario, everyone at the table has a blast.
- Tile by tile, terror by terror, build your own haunted mansion -...
- With 50 blood-curdling scenarios, each trip to the house on the...
- Players must work together to survive the nightmare.
For more on Betrayal, check out our in-depth review here.
Versions & Expansions
#5. Codenames
Codenames is a social word game with a simple premise and challenging gameplay. Two teams will try to identify their agents in the field. One player on each team will have to guide their team into picking the correct agents from a board. They’ll need to be clever and specific, because they may accidentally kill a civilian or reveal other agents (or an assassin).
- Work together to contact all of your agents before the other...
- A perfect party game experience for game nights
- 2-8+ player (in two teams)
Codenames is a great educational party game because it doesn’t ever eliminate players. There won’t be a situation where a player is eliminated and has to wait for the game to be over before they can rejoin. It can get very hectic and forces players to interact, which always leads to hilarity.
#6. Zombicide
Zombies in recent years have been completely overdone. There’s a zombie version of everything. Once, I even received zombie jerky for a Christmas present. It was regular beef jerky dyed green. I didn’t eat it.
Yet somehow, Zombicide, in a world of zombie outbreaks, manages to feel completely fresh. The game is a blast to play. The zombies swarm, players level up, gain abilities, and you can even hop in a car to mow them down. Each expansion has a ton of replay value packed into each box and it’s developed by CMON (Cool Mini or Not) who are known for packing games full of awesome miniatures.
- Cool Corpses - Zombicide comes loaded with incredible miniatures....
- Challenging Scenarios - Players will face off against ten...
- Limitless Potential - With modular map tiles and all the zombies...
Zombicide is one of those games that scales beautifully and with plenty of options. It works just as well with a few players or a full board. The game, especially the Prison Outbreak scenarios, are excellent with a higher number of players.
Intrigued? Check out our full review of Zombicide: Black Plague here and Zombicide: Green Horde here.
#7. Mysterium
There’s been a murder, and the only witness is the ghost of the victim. It is up to you to find the true killer, but communing with the dead isn’t as simple as asking the ghost questions. Decipher the clues and track down the murderer… before it’s too late.
- Mystery Board Game: A Horrible Crime Was Committed On The Grounds...
- Cooperative Board Game: One Player Takes On The Role Of The...
- Interpret Visions To Solve Mysteries: Each Player Investigates A...
Mysterium is a beautifully produced game with amazing components and artwork, which is 100% necessary because the player who takes the role of the ghost will not be able to speak at all throughout the game. The ghost player will be communicating through images on cards attempting to guide players to the right murderer, location, and weapon.
It’s a very thematic mashup of Clue and Dixit, which works very well with 6 players because of the cooperative nature of the game. Players will win or lose together depending on whether they correctly identify all aspects of the murder, or not.
Versions & Expansions
#8. A Game of Thrones: The Board Game
“Fear cuts deeper than swords.” ―George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones
Can’t get enough of Westeros? Then it’s time to sit down in a comfy seat, throw on Season 1 in the background, and play Game of Thrones: The Board Game. By the time Season 1 ends you might have finished your first game. Just kidding. But seriously, though, the game is long, with an average playing time of about 3 hours.
- A board game based on A Game of Thrones, a novel now adapted to...
- 3–6 players take command of the Great Houses of Westeros
- Updated second edition, incorporates elements of past expansions
The GoT board game allows players to create their own story in Westeros and allows for some amazing gaming moments.
The best part of the game isn’t necessarily the epic battles you might expect, but the ever-shifting alliances that the game promotes. An alliance may be beneficial to two players, but the moment it isn’t, players may find themselves stranded without aid. With six players the game does run quite long but it allows for many more amazing in-game moments and pivotal alliances throughout.
Can’t get enough of A Game of Thrones? Make sure to check out our Best Game of Thrones Board Games round-up!
Versions & Expansions
#9. Flash Point: Fire Rescue
Kendra and I are both former firefighters so Flash Point is always a trip down memory lane for us. Flash Point is, of course, completely inaccurate on how to fight fires but it is a fun experience and an excellent cooperative game. The gameplay scales well, even with six players, and the role cards give the game a good division of labor so that every player still feels useful.
- 2 to 6 players
- 30 minutes playtime
- No two games are ever the same - and with two rule sets and 3...
We always prioritize saving the kitty and the puppy POI’s and consider the entire game a loss if we can’t save them.
#10. Power Grid: Deluxe
Power Grid is a quintessential Euro Game, heavy on point generation and strategy. The Deluxe version is perfect for players just stepping into the world of Power Grid. If you already own the original, try adding some of the expansions to change up your game.
- 2 to 6 Players
- 90 minutes playtime
- For ages 13 and up
The Deluxe version, although nice, isn’t necessary if you already own a version of Power Grid. If you don’t own Power Grid in any form, the Deluxe version is your best bet for a good starting point. It’s been updated well and comes with a massive double-sided board that scales very well with the number of players.
Only have a few players? Then the board gets walled off and play continues as normal. With max players, the entirety of the board opens up. Power Grid is a modern-day classic and an all-around fantastic game.
#11. Caverna: The Cave Farmers
If you like Agricola, you’ll love Caverna. Both created and designed by Uwe Rosenburg, Caverna is very often called the successor of Agricola. Caverna is an engine-building game in which players control a community of dwarfs, expand their fields, go on expeditions, and mine into the mountains to develop their farms and caverns.
- FARMING GAME: Caverna is a worker-placement game at heart with a...
- STRATEGY BOARD GAME: Furnish the caves as dwellings for your...
- MULTIPLE PATHS TO VICTORY: Right in front of your cave, you can...
Caverna gives players many options and play styles to pursue and there’s no real wrong way to play it. It’s highly strategic and Lookout Games jams a ton of amazing components into one box, keeping gamers busy and smiling for many gaming sessions.
Versions & Expansions
#12. Shadows Over Camelot
“For I have promised to do the battle to the uttermost, by faith of my body, while me lasteth the life, and therefore I had liefer to die with honour than to live with shame ; and if it were possible for me to die a hundred times, I had liefer to die oft than yield me to thee; for though I lack weapon, I shall lack no worship, and if thou slay me weaponless that shall be thy shame.” ―Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte d’Arthur
Knights of the Round Table, ASSEMBLE! The kingdom is being besieged on all sides by the forces of evil and it’s up to Arthur’s loyal knights to go on quests to save the realm and destroy the evil that threatens it. Beware, not all are who they seem. One among the order may have been tempted by dark forces and a traitor may be lurking in your midst.
- A unique collaborative game featuring a malevolent twist
- Great for game nights
- Takes 60-90 minutes to play
Shadows Over Camelot has a lot going on and it can be overwhelming at first. But after a game or two, it becomes clear and tons of fun, especially with more players. There are even variants that allow for 2 traitors if you have the expansions. The game gives players a lot of decisions to make on their turn. They can fight off the Saxons and Picts, duel the black knights, face dragons, seek out Excalibur, or search for the Holy Grail.
Ready for more? Check out our in-depth review of Shadows of Camelot before you buy!
Versions & Expansions
#13. One Night Ultimate Werewolf
Werewolf is a social deduction game in which players must find the werewolves hidden among the townspeople. I personally love Werewolf, but this may be one of the more controversial games on the list because players either love it or absolutely hate it.
Many of the complaints about Werewolf are that it lasts too long (the older version) and when a player is knocked out of the game they have nothing to do until it’s over, which is especially irritating if a player is knocked out in the first round. This is all fixed in the One Night Ultimate version because it’s only one round. If you lose, the game’s already over, and you can immediately start a brand new game.
- Each player gets a unique role: A Werewolf, Seer, Troublemaker,...
- After a secret night phase that includes changing roles, players...
- Includes a free iOS/Android app that makes playing incredibly...
The game works well for six players and scales up dramatically. The more players, the more fun you’re going to have. It also works well as a social deduction teaching tool. As an eighth-grade English teacher, I was able to play a game with about 35 students.
Versions & Expansions for 6 Players
- Each player gets a new, powerful role: A Mystic Wolf, Curator,...
- After a secret night phase that includes changing roles, players...
- Includes a free iOS/Android app that makes playing incredibly...
#14. Jamaica
Crew your own pirate ship and seek out buried treasure, and if someone else beats you to it, you can always steal it back. Who doesn’t like ship-to-ship combat and searching for treasure?
- For 2-6 players
- Takes 30-60 minutes to play
- Fun strategy game
Jamaica is an excellent choice for six players. It’s lightweight, easy to learn, and most importantly, it will keep the whole table engaged. When picking turns and choosing actions, all players will be choosing at the same time, thereby eliminating the time gap when a player waits until their turn to start thinking about their move.
Its beautifully designed, cartoon-look feels very natural with the game and matches the lighthearted gameplay.
#15. 7 Wonders
7 Wonders is a card-driven game that still feels like a massive city-builder. There are no stacking tiles or tokens of sprawling cities. Instead, cities are represented by cards played from your hand. There’s no one ultimate path to victory either. Players can focus on military victories, science victories, or play cards that give bonus points at the end of the game.
- For 3 to 7 players
- 30 minute playing time
- Great strategy game
7 Wonders made the list because it’s a very simple game to learn and players have several options on how they can play. These advantages eliminate a lot of the downsides (and complaints) when playing with a larger group.
#16. Arkham Horror
In his house at R’lyeh dead Cthulhu waits dreaming.” ― H.P. Lovecraft, The Call of Cthulhu
Arkham Horror was the first really big box game that I ever played. I first played it with 8 players and it took hours, but it was still one of the most fun times I’ve had playing a game. Arkham Horror is a cooperative game that can accommodate a very large number of players, but it scales in difficulty with the number of players so that it’s never a walk in the park.
- THRILLING GAME OF COSMIC HORROR: A dark shadow grows in the city...
- SCARY STRATEGY GAME: Players take on the role of Arkham...
- COOPERATIVE MYSTERY GAME: Players work as a team to gather clues,...
You’d think with 6 players fighting monsters and closing gates it would be easier, but it offers just as much of a challenge, no matter the group size.
#17. Between Two Cities
Between Two Cities is a tile drafting game in which players are almost working together to build two cities. What the heck does that mean?
In the game, players will be building two cities, but they’ll be building cities with the players sitting to their left and their right. When scoring, players will score the city that scored the least points out of their 2 cities. This forces players to equally build up both cities. How you place buildings in the city and what building types determine their point value.
The reason Between Two Cities works so well is that it is a fun game that forces players to interact, but is also extremely quick to play. It’s probably the quickest game on this list and there’s almost no downtime between turns, keeping all players invested in the game at all times. It’s simple, it’s quick, and it’s fun.
Expansions for 6 Players
#18. Catan
Catan is normally a 3-4 player game, but the 5-6 player extension provides enough tiles, cards and wooden cities for 5-6 players to have a raucous good time. If you’re super weird, you’ll buy it just for the green-colored cities (Kendra’s favorite color).
Catan with six players still feels and plays like normal Catan. There are only a few minor rule changes. Any player can trade in between turns and the current player can trade and build as long as they have the cards to do so. It’s more of the same Catan we all love, just with more friends around the table.
- STRATEGY GAME: Trade, build and settle the Island of CATAN in...
- FUN GAME WITH COUNTLESS REPLAY OPPORTUNITIES: The completely...
- BUILD AND/OR JOIN A COMMUNITY: Whether you play as a family, a...
Catan also has some great expansions that offer the 5-6 player extensions as well. Check out our Best Catan Expansions article for more info! (The 5-6 player extensions are all sold separately, but many can be combined for a crazy fun Catan experience.)
#19. Camel Up (Second Edition)
Camel Up (not Camel Cup) is the ultimate camel racing simulator. Players actually won’t be controlling specific camels, though. Instead, they will place bets and attempt to have the most money at the end of the race. There are no jockeys, rather other camels will be riding the camels…?? (Kendra giggles endlessly throughout this game.)
Camel Up is one of the silliest games I’ve ever seen. The stacking camels are adorable and leave room for some last-minute comebacks for slower, drastically altering the outcome of the game. The dice pyramid is also very silly (and isn’t at all necessary) but it helps sum up the whole game. It’s just a fun, silly time.
Ready to race some camels? Take a peek at our full review and then you’re off to the races!
#20. Colt Express
Hop on-board for your own high-stakes game of train robbery. In Colt Express up to 6 players will fight and shoot it out on 3-D train pieces, rob passengers, and try to avoid the sheriff.
At first glance, Colt Express looks like it doubles down on the 3D train board, which I will admit is super cool, but how does it play? The game is a lighthearted and silly experience, covering just about every Old West train robbery trope that you can think of.
The gameplay and strategy, although not super heavy, are very fun and work well within the scope of the game. For every player in the game, another train car is added, and with a max of 6 players, you’re going to have a hilariously goofy time.
- German (Publication Language)
Expansions for 6+ Players
- THIS IS AN EXPANSION TO THE COLT EXPRESS BOARD GAME: This is not...
- WILD WEST STRATEGY GAME: The West just got a little wilder! The...
- NEW COMPONENTS: Horses allow you to move around the train or over...
Wrap-Up
Six players make for a slightly larger group than the norm, and that extra player or two can really change what you can play. The issue with this many players is how to effectively get everyone into the game, keep them interested and engaged, and what happens when a player is knocked out early. It’s a very balanced dance that needs careful consideration.
We chose a lot of these games based on how easy it is to teach, how much group interaction is involved, and tried to give a mix of options from quick to all day.
We hope you enjoyed this list. If you have any other recommendations, if you think I’m totally wrong, or if you just want to talk about board games, we’d love to hear from you! Please leave a comment below.
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