Best Board Games for 8 Players

I love a good multi-player game, especially one that lets eight or more players join in on the fun. But finding a game that allows this many players can be a challenge.

Being a part of a board game meetup, we sometimes have dozens of people show up who want to play. So how do you pick out the best board games for 8 players, you might wonder? Read this guide to help you pick out a suitable game for your group or family today!

Bottom Line Up Front

There are various games to choose from, so it was hard to pick just one! If I had to choose, though, I’d go with Citadels.

I recently played Citadels for the first time and loved it! This is one of my favorite games to play, and believe it or not, it’s not too hard to learn either.

You’re a different person each round, which makes it fun and never stale. Each character has a distinct ability to help you make it to the top. In addition, some cards have unique traits that could help you win the game and make it more challenging for others.

My Top Picks at a Glance

1. Hands down, Citadels is my favorite game.-It’s a multi-player game that’s never stale since your character could change each round.
2. Cards Against Humanity- This is fun for adults since it’s like mad lib but for grown-ups.
3. One Night Ultimate Werewolf-It’s a bit different than the original and has plenty of unique characters to keep it fun. Plus, you can buy an expansion pack to obtain more characters.
4. Codenames-Codenames is a ton of fun to play, although it’s a bit harder to play in larger groups. You can still make it work with eight players, though.
5. Exploding Kittens Party-This expansion pack allows you to play with multiple people. It’s a game of luck and wit as you try to be the last cat standing!
6. Telestrations-Telestrations are like the game of telephone except withdrawing.

Tips for the Reader

As you go through this list, think about your budget and what sorts of games you usually like. It’s also essential to think about who you’ll be playing with and what they’ll enjoy.

I found this out from personal experience when I bought Monopoly, and no one in my group wanted to play it! Ask them what types of games they enjoy to avoid it sitting on your shelf collecting dust.

Selection Criteria

While affordability is ordinarily essential to me, I’m a bit more open to spending more when it comes to board games. I’ll try to keep as many games under $50 since you shouldn’t have to pay more than that on a board game (unless it’s incredible, like Citadels). My criteria are based on games that are a ton of fun to play, even in large groups.

Why Should I Play Board Games?

Board games are a great way to break the ice as you’re playing with your friends or even total strangers! For example, when I moved, I went to a local board game meetup and made some friendships that have lasted for years.

If you’re unsure what to talk about, you can talk about the game and focus on the task at hand. Board games allow you to destress after a long day and have an enjoyable time with your family and friends. Board games for eight players are a ton of fun, too, and never dull since there are so many people involved!

My Top Picks

Citadels

Citadels deserves to be at the top of the list. If you haven’t played it, consider trying it out.

There are two different versions on Amazon, the original and the revised. The original is much more affordable since it’s under $30 (pre-tax). The revised version is over $50.

This game is a lot of fun since the character you are will change each time. For example, you might be a merchant one round and the warlord another.

The warlord is the chaos of the game, the person who gets to shake things up. You’re trying to build your city before anyone else. Whoever has the most points wins (not who finishes first).

Each character has its own ability, and depending on who you choose (or get stuck with) will depend on who picks first. In addition, some cards shake things up by giving you an advantage. For example, I had a card that automatically gave me five points at the end of the game as long as it was my only “unique” card!

Pros

• Various characters that change each round
• Multiple ways to win
• The game doesn’t get stale since it’s unique

Cons

• If someone has a strong, unique card, all of your hard work might not be worth it
• You might get stuck with weak characters
• It’s expensive

Cards Against Humanity

I have played this game so many times. It’s mad libs.

One person will read a card out loud with 1-2 blanks. So you’ll need to place your card/cards in the middle that you think go best with what they read.

Be careful with this game since it’s not kid-friendly. However, it’s a fun game for the adults.

Pros

• It’s an excellent option for game nights with adults
• Cards Against Humanity is a hysterical game that’ll have everyone laughing
• You’ll need to think quick to beat your friends at this fun game

Cons

• It can become stale after a while unless you buy an expansion pack
• It’s not a game for children

One Night Ultimate Werewolf

I love this game when I get a character with a unique power. But, of course, being a werewolf is a ton of fun, too, because you’re trying to trick your friends into believing you’re the good one.

If you’re not a werewolf, you’re trying to figure out who the werewolf is before the time runs out. There will be two werewolves at the least, so you need to find at least one.

The werewolves want to go undetected to win. Some of the special characters have unique abilities, such as seeing the werewolves but not telling the others.

Pros

• It’s affordable
• A fun game that you can play a few times
• The character you choose can change each time that you play it

Cons

• It could get boring after a while since it’s a more straightforward game
• It could get confusing and overwhelming with eight different players

Other Fun Picks for Eight Players

Codenames

Codenames is another excellent option since you’re trying to figure out the different clues that the clue giver will give you. You have two clue givers, and then everyone is split into two groups with them.

The clue givers will look at a small card that contains their words and others that aren’t. It’ll also have their enemy’s words, the black card, and neutral cards. Neutral cards are no one’s cards, but that team’s round will end if they pick one.

The game ends once all of the words are guessed or if the black card is chosen. If your team chooses the black card, then you lose. To win, you’ll need to string together as many words with a clue for your team.

Pros

• It works well with a large number of people
• Affordable
• Changes each time since there are various words to choose from

Cons

• It can be frustrating if you have words that are nearly impossible to guess
• If you go first, it’s more challenging since you have one extra word for your team to guess

Exploding Kittens Party

Exploding kittens is one of the most fun games for kids and adults alike! I play this game with my nieces, who have learned all the strategies.

You’re each given about seven cards, including the diffuse, and want to avoid exploding. The only card to stop an exploding card is diffuse.

A diffuse card is like gold in this game. People will try to pick it up in the deck, steal it from you, etc.

The cards give you different abilities when you play them. You can only play each card that you have one time.

The non-action cards allow you to have two or three of a kind for special abilities. If you have two of the same non-action cards, you can pick a random card from another player.

Pay attention to what everyone has at all times. For example, if you have three of the same non-action cards, you can ask for a specific card.

If they have it, they must give it to you. The last person standing wins.

Pros

• Great for family game night
• Allows your children the ability to think critically and focus
• A fun game with hysterical cards that’ll have you laughing

Cons

• It can feel stale after a while since it’s the same cards over and over
• Your children might get bored since games can go on for a while
• If you’re the first person out, you have to wait for everyone else to explode

Telestrations

There are different versions of Telestrations. There are the traditional Telestrations, and there’s the Telestrations After Dark.

Telestrations After Dark is an excellent option if you’re playing with adults. Unfortunately, it’s not suitable for family game night. But the traditional Telestrations game is.

Telestrations are a lot like a telephone. First, you write down a word or phrase, and then someone has to draw what that word or phrase is. Then you need to guess what the different pictures are and draw what others write down for captions.

It’ll go around the entire table before landing back to you. Then, you can laugh and show everyone what your book becomes over time. In the end, you’ll also be able to award a point to the best drawing and then the best caption.

Pros

• It’s a lot of fun for the whole family
• A great way to show off your drawing skills
• It’s a funny game to see how the game winds up

Cons

• You’ll need to think up fun words and phrases to keep the game fun
• It could be tedious if someone just uses one word since it’s easy to guess

How To Pick the Best Board Games for 8 Players

First, take a look at your budget before deciding on a game. Then, pay attention to customer reviews too. Just be mindful as you look at customer reviews and pay attention to how many good reviews they have overall.

Think about what your entire group will enjoy playing. Consider what you like and what level of difficulty you and your board game group are comfortable with.

FAQs

Exploring the Best Board Games for 8 Players

After exploring this guide, you should have a better idea of the best board games for 8 players. Then, take your time speaking with your group or family about what games they’ll enjoy.

If you are playing with family, be sure that they meet the age requirements before you begin. If I had to choose the best board game for 8 players, though, I’d have to go with Citadels.

Citadels are so much fun since each round you become a different character. However, each round could change the difficulty since you might be able to steal someone else’s cards. It can go on for a while, especially if you’ll be playing with more people, so keep that in mind. If you’re looking for more fun articles, check out our other articles today. 

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• About
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Lindsay Washington

Lindsay brings her passion for board games and has a vast knowledge of various board games, card games, and more. She has been a part of local board game meetups, including testing out new games and helping others learn games that they’re not familiar with. Lindsay has also been writing articles online for years on various topics from digital marketing to nutrition! When Lindsay isn’t writing, you can find her engrossed in a novel, working on her books, or spending time outdoors.

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