The 10 Best Adult Board Games

Settlers of Catan (around $39) is a modern classic that has won many awards and should be included in any respectable collection. The rules are simple, but you'll need to think strategically to come out on top, especially with a group of experienced players.

Worried about competition tearing your friends apart? Then a cooperative challenge like Spaceteam Cards (around $20) might be the answer you're looking for. You and your team have 5 minutes to assemble your spaceship. But it won't be easy, as there are many wacky obstacles in your way.

Set in 1930s Germany, Secret Hitler (appx. $35) is centered around deception. A team of fascists tries to help their leader rise to power using the advantage of secrecy, while the liberals struggle to hold the current government together without knowing who they can trust.

If you and your friends enjoy the nerdy things in life, you'll love Geek Out (appx. $14). It's a trivia game with a twist. Instead of answering specific questions, you need to list a certain number of things in a particular category, like science fiction, comic books, or fantasy.

Cards Against Humanity (around $25) has become a classic in the few years since its Kickstarter-funded release. It can generate a lot of laughs, but might also be responsible for some truly awkward moments. Make sure you know your audience before bringing this one out.

Renegade Studios' Lanterns (appx. $20) is a perfect choice for a small, low key get-together. Players try to collect cards in sets, like three pairs or four of a kind, in order to earn points. The more you play, the better you get at understanding the subtle strategy.

Adult Loaded Questions (around $12) is a rousing option with queries that range from the raunchy to the ridiculous to the genuinely amusing. Each round, a judge picks their favorite answer, then tries to guess who wrote what. It's a fun way to test how well you know your friends.

Hasbro's Scrabble (appx. $10) can, of course, be played with children to help them with their vocabulary, but it's also an intellectually-stimulating activity for you and a few of your literary-minded friends to enjoy over a glass of wine or a cup of coffee.

Hot Toys Inc. Sexxxtions (about $40) is all about intimate encounters, and urges players to reveal information about themselves that is normally kept private. It's a great choice for bachelor or bachelorette parties, but probably not appropriate for family gatherings.

Featuring illustrations by The Oatmeal, Exploding Kittens: NSFW Edition (about $35) combines the tension of Russian Roulette with the card play of Uno to create an exciting amalgam of flaming felines, gestating goats, laser beams, and dynamite.