10 Awesome Board Games You Need To Play

1. Settlers of Catan

A game that gives even Risk a run for its money in terms of pitting friends against each other after betrayals and alliances go awry, Settlers Of Catan markets itself as being one of the most popular board games in history, and it's not difficult to see why.

Taking place on the island of Catan, the board is populated by tiles of resources that players acquire by building settlements on. Dice rolls that match the number on an adjacent resource mean players get wood, brick or other kinds of valuable goods and can expand their settlements with roads and cities. The aim of the game is to acquire the most by building more settlements, longer roads, and having a bigger army than anyone else, and while trading is often a vital way to get ahead in early rounds, bitter conflicts can arise between those for whom the power balance isn't quite equal.

Catan has myriad expansions to its name, from pirate-themed games to those with a focus on sea exploration or trading, and it's one of the most accessible and addictive games you can get your hands on.

Want more board games? Why not check out our alternative video list where Adam Blampied picks out the ten games he thinks you should play:

What's your favourite board game? Recommend any we missed down in the comments.