Board game deals 2023: Save on science-themed games and family classics

A collection of board games - Board game deals 2023
(Image credit: Future)

Video games may have become the de facto way to play with friends, but they lose the intimacy of sitting around a table plotting with (or against) friends to be crowned the winner - and the best board games offer that in spades.

Whether you're solving a murder, building a civilization from scratch, or looking for something with incredibly detailed game pieces that feel like artwork, there's a board game for you. We've dug up a mixture of board games with a science-theme, alongside some old classics.

Summer is in full swing, too, so if you're looking for a great board game to play in the evenings on the patio, or something to keep the kids occupied when school is out, we've got something for you.

We've scoured the web for the best board game deals, and whether you're new to the medium or a veteran, here are some of our favorites.

If you're looking for something that blends entertainment and education for you or your kids, then you can also check out our guides to the best chemistry sets and best microscopes for kids.

Pandemic:$39.99 now $30.70 at Amazon
Save $9.99

Pandemic: Was $39.99 <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=74387&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FZ-Man-Games-ZM7101-Pandemic%2Fdp%2FB00A2HD40E%2F%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">now $30.70 at Amazon
Save $9.99
- If you’re nostalgic for empty supermarket shelves, learning TikTok dances, and clapping for absolutely no reason, then this is the game for you. Work with your teammates to stop a deadly disease from taking over the world.

Twilight Imperium 4th Edition:$122.22 at Amazon

Twilight Imperium 4th Edition: <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=74387&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FFantasy-Flight-Games-TI07-Twilight%2Fdp%2FB074YPSTRP%2Fref%3Dsr_1_2%3Fkeywords%3Dtwilight%2Bimperium%2B4th%2Bedition%26qid%3D1688572712%26s%3Dtoys-and-games%26sprefix%3Dtwilight%2Bimper%252Ctoys-and-games%252C143%26sr%3D1-2%26tag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"">$164.99 $122.22 at Amazon

Save $40 -  The latest version of Twilight Imperium, pit seventeen civilizations against one another for dominance. Each match is a long one, but it'll keep 3 to 6 players enthralled for hours.

Android Netrunner$124.99 at Amazon

Android Netrunner: <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=74387&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FFantasy-Flight-Games-ADN01-Netrunner%2Fdp%2F1616614609%2Fref%3Dsr_1_10%3Fcrid%3DPPRBQYXJCX07%26keywords%3Dandroid%2Bnetrunner%26qid%3D1688573060%26s%3Dtoys-and-games%26sprefix%3Dandroid%2Bnetrunne%252Ctoys-and-games%252C134%26sr%3D1-10%26tag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">$199.99 $124.99 at Amazon

Save $75 -  This popular card game is hard to find for less than $200, but at the time of writing, Amazon has it for $75 off of the MSRP. The game was created by Richard Garfield, famed card game developer behind Magic: The Gathering.

Betrayal at House on the Hill (2nd Edition): $37.99 $29.88 at Walmart

Betrayal at House on the Hill (2nd Edition): <a href="https://goto.walmart.com/c/1943169/565706/9383?subId1=hawk-custom-tracking&sharedId=hawk&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FAvalon-Hill-Betrayal-at-House-on-the-Hill-Second-Edition-Cooperative-Board-Game%2F140809059%3Ffrom%3D%2Fsearch" data-link-merchant="walmart.com"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">$37.99 $29.88 at Walmart

Save $8 -  The endlessly replayable, trust-breaking horror adventure that sees one player try to snuff out their comrades one by one is back in this third edition which adds even more permutations, characters, and plenty more. 

Catan: Was $55 now $47.99 at Walmart
Save $8

Catan: Was $55 <a href="https://goto.walmart.com/c/1943169/565706/9383?subId1=hawk-custom-tracking&sharedId=hawk&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FCatan-5th-Edition-Strategy-Board-Game-for-Ages-10-and-up-from-Asmodee%2F49605951%3Fathbdg%3DL1200%26from%3D%2Fsearch" data-link-merchant="walmart.com"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">now $47.99 at Walmart
Save $8
- Catan puts players in control of their very own civilization and sets them out to explore a modular board to earn victory points. One of the reasons it’s so popular, even years after release, is that no two matches tend to play out the same, plus there are expansions to add (more on those in a moment). 

Monopoly Super Mario Bros: $29$18.6t9 at Walmart
Save $6.55

Monopoly Super Mario Bros: <a href="https://goto.walmart.com/c/1943169/565706/9383?subId1=hawk-custom-tracking&sharedId=hawk&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FMonopoly-the-Super-Mario-Bros-Movie-Edition-Kids-Board-Game-Includes-Bowser-Token%2F1251395677%3Fathbdg%3DL1103%26from%3D%2Fsearch" data-link-merchant="walmart.com"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">$29 $18.6t9 at Walmart
Save $6.55
- Got Mushroom Kingdom fever from the Mario movie? Take that energy to the board, and defeat Bowser (and your friends).

Jumanji Deluxe: $54.99 $24.86 at Amazon
Save $30 -

Jumanji Deluxe: <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=74387&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2Fdp%2FB08QSMNC6F%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">$54.99 $24.86 at Amazon
Save $30 -
It seems irresponsible to recommend that you play this game, especially if you’ve watched one of the two documentaries about this legendary board game. One of them even had The Rock in it. But, if you’re brave enough to try it, this is a great price to pick up this modernized version of a classic game. 

Dark Souls The Board Game: $119.95 $98.24 at Amazon

Dark Souls The Board Game: <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=74387&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FDark-Souls-The-Board-Game%2Fdp%2FB01MXLB67B%2F%20%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">$119.95 $98.24 at Amazon

Save $22 - Prepare to buy. Dark Souls is a legendary gaming franchise known for its incredible difficulty, and the board game is no slouch. Featuring wonderfully detailed miniatures, it’s a must for any Dark Souls fan. At $120 dollars MSRP, even a 10% discount knocks a good amount off.

Dune House Secrets: $45.00 $12.93 at Amazon

Dune House Secrets: <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=74387&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FPortal-Games-DUN010421EN-Dune-Secrets%2Fdp%2FB097KC1KRR%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">$45.00 $12.93 at Amazon

Save $30: Based on the 2021 sandy film, Dune: House Secrets is a narrative-focused game that involves players making choices and completing secret missions against the other players. Sand not included.

Game of Thrones Catan: Was $79.95 now $63.99 at Amazon

Game of Thrones Catan: <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=74387&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FA-Game-of-Thrones-Catan%2Fdp%2FB07746H7R2%2Fref%3Dsr_1_2%3Fcrid%3D1PKWOP94FBT3Q%26keywords%3Dgame%2Bof%2Bthrones%2Bcatan%26qid%3D1688572652%26s%3Dtoys-and-games%26sprefix%3Dgame%2Bof%2Bthrones%2Bcatan%252Ctoys-and-games%252C153%26sr%3D1-2%26tag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Was $79.95 now $63.99 at Amazon

Save $16 -  Yes, it’s Catan again, but this time with a Westerosi twist. Join the Brotherhood of the Night’s Watch and defend the Wall from Wildlings and working your way to the rank of Lord Commander.

Ticket to Ride: Was $54.99 now $47.99 at Amazon
Save 13%:

Ticket to Ride: <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=74387&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FDays-Wonder-DO7201-Ticket-Ride%2Fdp%2F0975277324%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Was $54.99 now $47.99 at Amazon
Save 13%:
 A truly classic strategy game, Ticket To Ride sees players playing cards to claim railway routes, linking cities, and earning points for long-distance routes. It’s ideal for two to five players and is simple to learn and changes each time – making it ideal for board game novices, too.

Mysterium: Was $54.99now $43.99 at Amazon

Mysterium: Was $54.99 <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=74387&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FAsmodee-MYST01-Mysterium%2Fdp%2FB013TJ5P80%2F%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">now $43.99 at Amazon

A mansion is haunted by the ghost of a murdered servant (cheery) and it’s your job to work out who did it. The twist is, one player plays as the ghost and the rest of the players play as psychics. What difficulty is it? Medium.(we're here all week).

Funko Disney The Haunted Mansion - Call of The Spirits: Disneyland Edition Game: $11.12 at Amazon

Funko Disney The Haunted Mansion - Call of The Spirits: Disneyland Edition Game: <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=74387&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FFunko-Disney-Haunted-Mansion-Multicolor%2Fdp%2FB08636S37Z%2F%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">$24.99 $11.12 at Amazon

Save 53%: Based on the Disney ride and the… interesting Eddie Murphy film, this board game is a great way to spend a night with the big Disney fans in your life. Enlist the help of Madame Leota in the Seance Room, avoid the Hitkicking Ghosts and get the win!

Hunt A Killer - Death at The Dive Bar: Was $34.99 now $27.99 at Amazon

Hunt A Killer - Death at The Dive Bar: Was $34.99 <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=74387&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FHunt-Killer-Immersive-Independent-Detectives%2Fdp%2FB085ZNYPR3%2F%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">now $27.99 at Amazon

Like a true crime podcast come to life, Hunt A Killer sees players piece together clues, consider all the evidence, and solve the crime. It’s been described as “an escape room you can play at home”.

Disney Sorcerer's Arena: Epic Alliances Core Set: Was $39.99 now $29.98 at Amazon

Disney Sorcerer's Arena: Epic Alliances Core Set: Was $39.99 <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=74387&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FDisney-Sorcerers-Arena-Characters-Officially-Licensed%2Fdp%2FB09QS2J6HS%2F%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">now $29.98 at Amazon

You and three other members of the family can work together or betray each other in a cold-blooded game of strategy. Okay, maybe it’s not that serious.  Play as classic characters like Sorcerer's Apprentice Mickey, Gaston, Aladdin, Demona, Sulley, Dr. Facilier, Maleficent and Ariel.

Jordan Middler
Contributing writer

Jordan Middler is a Scottish journalist with a love for anything he can put on a shelf. For almost a decade he has been creating content about video games, virtual reality, and tech for websites including VGC, Overlode, Live Science & Space.com. He also spent five years as the chief voice of gaming for BBC Scotland. If he’s not reviewing the latest games, or building LEGO kits, you’ll find him dusting his shelves in the eternal war with his greatest enemy, dust.

With contributions from
  • Perras
    I love playing the tabletop game called Jenga with my friends, but recently I've also been playing a lot of Valorant. At first, I wasn't doing well, but after reading articles related to the game, I started to do better.
    Reply