When it comes to board games, curiosity certainly doesn’t kill the cat. In fact, it’s the spark that gets conversation flowing when you’re playing games in a setup which includes people you don’t know.
Whether you’re planning to play board games with strangers down at the local pub as part of an organised games’ night, or, visiting a board game cafe to get to know new people, these inquisitive cooperative games are perfect for breaking the ice, promising mystery and intrigue in every round.
Dixit
Featuring dream-like cards designed to ignite the imagination, Dixit is all about creative expression. Each player gets six cards, with the first storyteller selecting one and then making up a short story about it to offer a clue.
Everyone else plays a card they think fits with the narrative, and all are laid out for the group to guess the correct one. The twist? At least one player - but not everyone - must guess correctly for the storyteller to score points. So, the clue needs to be neither too obvious nor too obscure. Success lies in how well you can navigate subtle hints and use your intuition to read the room.
Codenames
As a team-based game, Codenames is the perfect board game to play with strangers. Using clever wordplay to be deductive, two teams compete against each other as spymasters, communicating one-word clues to help teammates identify secret agents hidden among 25 codenames. The aim of the game is to avoid bystanders, enemy agents and the “deadly assassin”, the selection of which instantly ends the game. The first team to track down all its assigned agents wins.
Coup
Quick, tense, and full of surprises, coup is perfect for getting strangers scheming and reading each other’s tells in just 15 minutes. Each player secretly holds two roles that let them perform special actions, like taking extra coins or assassinating rivals. But there’s a catch. No one knows who really has what, so bluffing, and calling bluffs, is key. Gather seven coins and you can launch a Coup, eliminating a player instantly. The aim of Coup is to outwit, bluff, and eliminate your opponents until you’re the last player with influence (lives) remaining. It’s a fast-paced game of bluffing, deduction, strategy and bold moves that’s great for breaking the ice.
Pandemic
Pandemic is a cooperative game where teamwork makes all the difference, and every decision can change the outcome. As elite members of a disease control team, you and your teammates will race across the globe, treating outbreaks and gathering the cards needed to cure four deadly diseases. Every move matters in this tense, high-stakes challenge — can your team save humanity before time runs out?
Spyfall
Spyfall is a fast-paced, social game packed with clever questions, bluffing, and hidden roles, making it perfect for breaking the ice with people you don’t know well. In each round, everyone knows the secret location… except for the Spy, whose job is to figure it out without giving away the fact that they are the Spy themselves. Players take turns asking and answering witty questions, trying to catch the Spy while keeping their own knowledge of the location under wraps.
The beauty of Spyfall when playing with strangers is that it naturally sparks conversation, and unexpected moments of misdirection. Each round tests your ability to think on your feet, read body language, and improvise answers, all while creating a fun, shared experience. By the end of the game, even a group of strangers will feel like a team, bonded over clever questioning, hilarious guesses, and tense accusations.
Eldritch Horror
If you’re on the hunt for an immersive board game to play with strangers, Eldritch Horror delivers. In this cooperative game for one to eight players, you step into the roles of daring investigators racing to stop an ancient evil from awakening. Set out on a global adventure where danger and mystery await at every corner. Travel the world, uncover secrets, and battle unimaginable horrors as you and your team push your skills to the limit.
You’ll need to pool your expertise, tackle unpredictable mysteries, and communicate effectively; talk about being thrown in the deep end! It’s a thrilling way to get to know one another. With each twist and turn, players must pivot quickly, all while immersed in a spooky, atmospheric world that keeps everyone on edge. The clock is ticking, and only by working together can you hold back the arrival of the Great Old One.
So Clover!
So Clover!, is a word association game with a simple goal: work together in a group to achieve the best possible score by correctly reconstructing each player’s keyword grid from the one-word clues they provide. Each round, players create clever one-word clues to connect pairs of keywords on their board.
Once the cards are shuffled back into place, it’s up to the group to piece the puzzle together. The better your group interprets the associations, the higher the score, and the more you’ll see just how in sync your team really is. Easy to learn, So Clover! is a great board game pick for strangers, promising light-hearted fun and offering a glimpse into how your fellow players think.
If you’re looking to play board games with strangers in a social setting, we’ve rounded up the best board game cafés in the UK. We’ve also put together a handy guide to the best pub games, perfect for a fun night out or a casual afternoon with friends.
Head down to your local game store for more board game inspiration. Whether you’re a longtime player or brand new to board games, chances are there’s a game store nearby, and a community ready to share their favourites with you.
