Board games can be great fun, but with some of the better ones costing close to $100, it can be difficult to get invested. These prices alone are more than enough to keep people from making the leap, but there are other options. Not all board games are priced the same, and there are plenty made with smaller budgets in mind that are still fun to play.
If you only have $20 to spend and want a new board game, here are the 10 best board games under $20. We're not excluding these board games to certain types, so there should be something for everyone on this list.
LOVE LETTER
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Love Letter is a simple yet fun game that's easy to set up and play. Don't let the box turn you away, it's much more interesting than actually sending love letters to a princess. Players get a few cards where they must essentially abide by the rules that are on them. They must then use their cards to eliminate other players while carefully managing their own.
This version of Love Letter comes in a box that's probably bigger than what most people are used to, but it allows for more players to join in on the fun at a low cost.
GLOOM
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Gloom is a one of a kind card game. In it, you'll have cards that represent a family. Each player has to make their family have the worst day possible and make other players' families have the best day possible.
As more cards get played, they get stacked on top of current ones, which is made easy through the cards being manufactured with clear plastic. Keeping track of points is made easy through this method as well. Gloom doesn't take very long to play either, with sessions usually not exceeding the one hour mark. There are also expansions for this game if you decide you want to add to it.
THE RESISTANCE
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The Resistance is a style of board game that you've probably played before. A group of players is trying to accomplish a goal, but there is a spy in their midst that threatens to destroy the operation. One player is randomly selected to be this spy, and the rest have to figure out who it could be. With all sorts of interesting roles that shake up the game, not only is The Resistance varied, but it's also very heated.
You'll constantly call your greatest friends into question, wondering if they're the ones who could jeopardize the mission. This version of the games adds The Inquisitor expansion out of the gate.
COUP
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Coup may look similar to The Resistance, but it has a lot of different gameplay mechanics to keep it fresh. Coup does have the lying element found in The Resistance, but the similarities essentially end there.
The goal this time around is to be the last player standing, which must be done through the use of cards in your hand. Each card does a different thing, and if your opponents lose their cards, they're out of the game. However, you can lie about anything your card does, at which point, players can call you on your bluff. No friendship is too great for Coup.
LOST CITIES
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Lost Cities is a game for just two players. Taking the role of daring explorers, they must venture through extreme locations in the world, whether it be a hot desert or a blistering volcano. Players will use cards to determine what path is taken, and bets can be made as to the success of each expedition. The riskier the card played, the more points a player will get.
The winner is the player who ends up with the most points at the end of all expeditions. There's more strategy involved than meets the eye, so it's important to plan ahead at all times.
ZOMBIE DICE
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Zombie Dice is about as easy as a tabletop game can get. Multiple people can play, and it's simple to add another person into the mix. Each player takes the role of a zombie and needs to eat 13 brains to win. This is accomplished by rolling dice. If they roll a brain, they set it aside. If they roll footsteps, they roll again. If they roll a shotgun blast, they set it aside as well. Roll three shotgun blasts, and their turn is finished.
It's a simple game more about luck than strategy, but sometimes, you need a break from the strategy-heavy games and just need to roll some dice.
FOR SALE: TRAVEL EDITION
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In the game of For Sale, you are someone investing in real estate. Your goal is to buy property for the lowest price possible and then sell it to make a profit. The person with the most money at the end of the game is the winner. Sounds easy enough.
However, the strategy in the game comes when you're trying to read what your opponents will do. Everyone bids for properties, so there's no telling how much money you can throw before someone attempts to raise your bid. The Travel Edition of the game is easier to take on the go and is cheaper. However, some might prefer the higher quality of the regular version.
JAIPUR
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In Jaipur, each player is a trade merchant that has to prove they are the best in the land. This is done by having a series of cards with different items on them. Players must trade with each other and with the deck in the middle to end up with the highest value items.
Players can sell their merchandise to get tokens that translate to point values, but it's the higher trades that will net you more profit. Jaipur is a fast game, so it's important to constantly be thinking on your feet. Will you end up a better trader than your friends and family?
GUILLOTINE
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Guillotine is a ridiculous game that is sure to get a lot of laughs. Each player takes the role of a guillotine operator during the French Revolution. Each round, there are twelve noble figures from the era lined up for execution. Players then take their turns changing up the order so they can chop the noblest of the bunch.
The more notorious the noble figure is the more points that a player gets. The executioner with the most points at the end of the game is the winner. Yes, the game is every bit as morbidly wacky as it sounds.
PORTAL OF HEROES
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In Portal of Heroes, the game takes place in a fantasy world consumed in darkness. There was a prophecy that a hero would come and save them all. Instead of taking the role of the potential hero, players take the role of summoners who attempt to bring the heroes to the land. Through conjuring portals, players will bring all sorts of characters that they then use to fight the darkness.
The players who effectively use their heroes gain Power Points. The first player to 12 Power Points wins the game. It's a simple setup, but the setting, artwork, and scenario make it much more enjoyable.
NEXT: The 10 Best Board Games for Adults, Ranked
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