There’s nothing quite like getting the gang together for a big ol’ tabletop gaming session. It’s great having a group of 5 or 6 players ready for board games but 5 players are just enough to have an awesome gaming session without waiting ages for your next turn to start.

So buckle-up, because today we’re sharing our picks for the best 5-player board games out there.

Our Top Picks for Best 5-Player Board Games

In a hurry? Check out our top picks before you dash off.

06/04/2023 01:30 am GMT

Best 5-Player Eurogames

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico may be an older game but it’s a classic and still holds its own against some of the other bigger boxes that have come after it. 

Puerto Rico is an engine-building Eurogame. Everyone starts out with the same junky plot of land and the same cheap crop but as players build up their industry, they’ll be able to cash in on the victory points by extending the production chain and shipping out the higher quality cash crops. 

What we Liked

Puerto Rico is excellent. The rules and mechanics are easy to pick up and the gameplay is very clever. It feels nice and balanced and decision-making is fun and consequential. 

What Could be Better

Puerto Rico takes quite a long time to set up. Plus the artwork leaves a lot to be desired. 

Catan 

Okay, so maybe base Catan only allows 4 players straight out of the box, but there is a handy 5-6 player extension that’s sold separately. I wouldn’t normally add games that can’t be played with 5 players without an expansion, but Catan is such a classic, I just had to do it. 

The rules for 5 players are basically unchanged, except that players get an option to build outside of their turns to accommodate the larger group of 5 to 6 players. 

What we Liked

Catan is an absolute classic – and for good reason. It’s addictive, inclusive, and accessible. There is something for everyone with Catan.

What Could be Better

While strategy does trump luck in Catan, the fact is that luck can scupper your plans. If the dice aren’t rolling your way, there’s nothing you can do except wait for better fortune. 

It’s still the Catan you know and love. The more the merrier, right?  

Power Grid

Power Grid is one of the quintessential Eurogames and one of my favorites. It’s a massive economic strategy game in which players try to connect the most cities to a viable power grid. 

To that end, players bet on what kind of power plants to build but the fancy super-powered plants won’t be available until the earlier junkier plants are purchased. There’s also the matter of byproducts like nuclear waste and what the power plants need in order to function. 

What we Liked

Power Grid is great for larger groups. With 5 players, some games can have too much downtime or the overall mechanics can become cumbersome. Not with Power Grid. The more the merrier. 

What Could be Better

Power Grid is a numbers game where more experienced players will clearly have the advantage. To keep the game competitive, you need to play with people at a similar skill level. 

It’s an incredibly impressive game that’s been around for years now and it just gets better and better with more players… like 5 players, for example. 

Shogun

There are few periods in history that have fascinated people more than Japan’s Sengoku period in which the entire country was divided by warlords attempting to unite the country under one rule. 

There have been multiple iterations of this period in pop culture that include movies, video games, and, of course, board games. 

Shogun is a majority control board game in which players take on the role of a Daimyo and attempt to wrest control of the land from their rival warlords.

It’s not easy. Players need to expand their influence and gain territory but they need to feed those territories, and then they need to pay for their military actions. It’s a lot of resources to juggle and there’s a bit of luck involved as well. 

It’s not a matter of simply rolling the dice and the higher number wins, either. There’s a tower that randomly resolves conflicts depending upon the number of resources put into it, so even the mightiest of armies have a chance of failure.

What we Liked

The tower is an excellent way to resolve conflicts as it evens out the odds between players. 

What Could be Better

The overall length of a game can be off-putting. This is especially true with less experienced players as the game requires a lot of strategic thinking.  

El Grande

El Grande is probably the best example of an area control board game. It defines the mechanic and genre. It’s very easy to learn and teach and the game itself is incredibly well-designed.

In addition to that incredible design comes fantastic scaling where El Grande plays just as well with 3 players as it does with 5.

What we Liked

You can learn the basic mechanics quickly. But there is so much more to the game so it can take much longer to truly master all aspects of it. It is also the quintessential area control game so it will always have a place in board game history.  

What Could be Better

El Grande can seem quite chaotic and random. Long-term strategies don’t always work and adapting your strategy turn by turn can be off-putting to those who would rather see well-laid plans coming to fruition. 

There’s not much else to say here. If you’re looking for an area control 5-player game, this is it. 

Best Team 5-Player Board Games

Nothing like a little competition in these 4-vs-1 games. 

Fury of Dracula

Fury of Dracula pits a team of vampire hunters in pursuit of the elusive Dracula against the lord of vampires himself. It’ll take all 4 hunters’ skills and equipment to find him and take him down. 

It may seem like ganging up on one of your buddies, but Dracula’s movements are hidden throughout the game, and they’ll have a host of supernatural powers to fight and escape into the night.

It’s great for larger groups as there’s always excitement happening around the table regardless of whose turn it is.

What we Liked

The team-based strategy is executed perfectly. There is no secrecy so even if you are playing as Dracula you are still included in the social aspect of the game. 

What Could be Better

The main con is the length of a single game. Games can go on for hours and it can feel like things are progressing far too slowly. 

Star Wars: Imperial Assault 

Imperial Assault is one of my favorite Star Wars board games. It has that RPG-like feel with multiple characters and level progression, just like a role-playing game. 

There is always going to be an odd player out that runs the game but that doesn’t mean they just get to watch. One player controls the empire’s troops and gets to duke it out with the rebel scum. 

What we Liked

The combat system is epic and engaging. Once you’ve mastered it, every battle is exciting. The campaign aspect of the game is also very immersive if you are a Star Wars fan. 

What Could be Better

One of the problems with the campaign is that some missions are poorly balanced. At times the Rebels have the advantage and at others, it’s the Empire. This might not matter, but for some gamers, this lack of balance will be frustrating.

Descent: Journeys In The Dark (Second Edition)

If you’re a fan of tabletop games and have even the slightest interest in playing Dungeons & Dragons, this is a good starter game to get a bit of dungeon-delving under your belt. 

Descent is another all-vs-1 game in which an overlord takes the place of the dungeon master, similar to D&D. They get all the nasty monster abilities to smash the other four heroes to bits. It’s a classic and one of the best dungeon-crawlers out there.

What we Liked

If you are a hero your character is very customizable. You can choose their class and equipment and then develop them as you see fit. Every game can have a totally different character. 

What Could be Better

As the Overlord your choices are quite limited so it’s not as much fun. This can mean it might be hard to find someone to even volunteer to be the Overlord as they’re basically sacrificing themselves for the good of the game. 

Best 5-Player Light Board Games

7 Wonders

I’m always impressed with Civ-Builders in board games. The intricacies of getting an entire civilization into a box is a pretty impressive feat in its own right and 7 Wonders is one of the best examples. 

7 Wonders lets players create and customize their own civilization throughout three ages. With a built-in timer and a rabbit hole of strategies to choose from, 7 Wonders is a game with a massive shelf life.

It doesn’t really work with 2 players, but there is a smaller 7 Wonders: Duel as well to accommodate a cozy date night. 

What we Liked

7 Wonders is a great introduction to more complex board games. Beginners can learn the rules in 10 minutes and a full game can be completed in 30 minutes. Decisions feel like they have consequences, so strategy is key to winning.  

What Could be Better

Player interaction is limited with a higher number of players. Indeed, it can actually be negative to interact with your immediate neighbors so the game can resemble multiplayer solitaire with larger groups.

Citadels

Card games work well with larger groups of players because they don’t necessarily need a big board for everyone to sit around. The problem is, however, that you usually sacrifice thematic flair in favor of a purely card-driven game. 

Citadels is a hidden role, selection, card drafting game that still manages to keep its flair while being extremely easy to pick up and play. Each round, players take turns choosing a role to perform actions during the game. It’s fast-paced and easy to teach, making it a nice lightweight game, especially on the go. 

What we Liked

Citadels has a lot of replayability potential. Every game is different so you need to adapt your strategy accordingly. It’s also well-balanced so strategy is all the more important. 

What Could be Better

The gameplay can take too long and there can be too much downtime for each player. The mechanics are dated by this stage and other, newer games, offer a quicker more immersive experience. 

King of Tokyo

I was a huge Godzilla fan when I was a little kid. I still am, but I used to be too. King of Tokyo lets you relive those rubber-suited monster brawls of yesteryear by picking up crazy superpowers and beating each other up for control of Tokyo. 

It’s a highly dice-based game that uses Yahtzee-type mechanics for scoring, hitting, and gaining energy (resources). It’s s relatively quick game with beautiful artwork. It is a real backstabby board game, so be prepared to get ganged up on by your friends. 

What we Liked

The artwork in King of Tokyo is really cool. It is colorful and cartoony and really adds to the atmosphere of the game. 

What Could be Better

King of Tokyo includes an elimination element. Usually, this occurs close to the end of the game so you’re not out of action for too long. But it can still be an annoying feature. Plus you could be really unlucky and get eliminated early on.

Camel Up

Camel Up, which you could rightfully mistake as Camel Cup, is a fun little racing game with adorably stupid components. Players race around the track with their camel meeples. 

As all biologists know, camels are naturally designed to stack up on top of each other and fit perfectly together vertically due to their stacking humps.

What we Liked

Camel Up is a very fast-paced and exciting game. You’re gambling on camel racing so the outcome is never certain and will keep you on the edge of your seat for the whole game. 

What Could be Better

Luck plays a huge factor in the outcome of Camel Up. You could be in the lead for the whole race just to be dragged back right at the death, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. 

It’s a really fun game that’s quick and easy to jump into, and great for kids and adults alike. 

Ethnos

Ethnos is an area control game where you need to earn the support of a host of mythological creatures in order to gain control of the land and achieve victory. In the world of Ethnos you can find giants, minotaurs and halflings, amongst other fantasy creatures. 

Ethnos is played through three different ages. The aim is to earn as many glory points as possible throughout each age. This is done through a mixture of area control and set collection. 

What we Liked

Each game has huge variability. There are 12 different tribes and only 6 are included in each game. Every game has a random mix of tribes and players need to adapt their strategy to the unique combinations present in each game. 

What Could be Better

The artwork is honestly quite dull and the components don’t really stand up to scrutiny. The cards aren’t very durable and the components are a little small and slippery. 

Best 5-Player Medium Board Games

Terraforming Mars

Terraforming Mars is one of my favorite sci-fi board games and with 5 players, it really shines. In this game, your group of 5 will learn a lot about cooperative backstabbing. 

In Terraforming Mars, players are trying to create Mars into a beautiful new oasis but they’re also playing as competing corporations trying to gain the most glory for themselves. It’s in everyone’s best interest to grow the big red planet into the happy green one, but how you go about it is entirely up to you. 

What a lovely little forest you’ve grown. It would be a shame if someone stripped it for resources. It’s that cutthroat, cooperative backstabbing combined with an entire planet’s worth of replayability that makes Terraforming Mars one of the best 5-player board games. 

What we Liked

Terraforming Mars is a great balance between simplicity and complexity. Although experience is an advantage, beginners can still compete as long as they have a rudimentary understanding of the basic mechanics. 

What Could be Better

Although the gameplay is excellent the components let the game down. When compared to other games they are of inferior quality and this can be disappointing.

Century: Spice Road

The Century Series is really cool. They take different parts of history and look at what made them special. It comes in 3 different parts and each is a standalone game with different mechanics. 

The first explores the spice trade and its complexity is boiled down to a very slick card-drafting mechanic. Players will need to pick up goods and establish trade routes in order to be the ones with the most profit and points. 

What we Liked

Century is great fun. It’s fast-paced but includes a lot of depth. There is minimal downtime so you’re always playing or planning. 

What Could be Better

The game is all about trade but player interactions are quite limited. If you were hoping for animated bartering then you may be a little disappointed. 

Century maxes out at 5 players and is a lot of fun. If the historical theme isn’t really your thing, you can always try the Golem series which is basically the same game but set in a fantasy setting with crystals instead of spices. 

Chinatown

Ever wondered what it’s like to arrive in a new country and try to strike it rich? In Chinatown, players are Chinese immigrants who have just arrived in New York. Each player starts with $50,000 and tries to make their fortune in 1960’s America.

Chinatown is a negotiation game where players establish businesses, conduct trade and make money. 

What we Liked

The trading and negotiating mechanics are really fun. They are also really important. You can’t make enemies too early on and need to interact a lot with your competition. 

What Could be Better

Apart from negotiating, there is a lot of luck involved in Chinatown. If you don’t draw the right cards, you’re at a disadvantage and there is very little you can do about that.  

Lords of Waterdeep 

For a little D&D flair, Lords of Waterdeep offers that familiar fantasy world from a different perspective. Instead of being the chump adventurers running around saving up gold for that brand new shiny sword, you play as the actual quest-givers as one of the Lords of Waterdeep. 

This worker placement game takes full advantage of the larger player count and scales really well from 3 up to 5 players. 

What we Liked

Lords of Waterdeep is very easy to learn so it’s a great introduction for beginners. That being said, there’s still a lot of strategy and a lot of ways to win, so experienced players can still enjoy it a lot. 

What Could be Better

The box could be sturdier and better at storing the components. It’s quite flimsy so it is not very portable. Also, the D&D theme is pretty weak so that could be disappointing. 

Wingspan 

Wingspan was a sleeper hit that wowed a lot of the board game community with its release. It’s always interesting to see what kind of theme can be used with a board game. It’s one of the better new engine-building games to come out in the last few years and it’s a fantastic addition to any game shelf. 

Wingspan scales excellently and even has a solo variant after your friends leave and you want to practice. The components are excellently made and the gameplay is rather intuitive, allowing newer players to get into the game quickly while still offering a fair bit of strategy. 

What we Liked

Wingspan is a unique engine-builder that is really easy to learn and great fun to play. It’s a perfect family game and will also appeal to anyone with an interest in ornithology. 

What Could be Better

Sometimes Wingspan verges on feeling like multiplayer solitaire. If you’re looking for more player interaction, you might want to look elsewhere. 

Cosmic Encounter

Cosmic Encounter is a lot of players’ first step into the larger world of board gaming, making it a great choice for the intermediate gamer looking to get into heavier titles without blowing up their bank accounts. 

With the trend of bigger box = more game (I’m looking at you Gloomhaven), Cosmic Encounter manages to smash an entire space opera into a normal-sized game box. It has dozens of races to choose from, cosmic space battles, colonization, diplomacy, awesome gameplay, and easy-to-learn rules. 

For gamers who have a big group but don’t want to spend the next 3 days playing Twilight Imperium, Cosmic Encounter delivers a punch that makes it a staple on my game shelf, and with 5 players, there are enough opponents to really make diplomacy and colonization shine. 

What we Liked

There are a lot of aliens and that is awesome. It means there is a lot of variety between games so replayability is high. 

What Could be Better

Although the aliens are great, their powers are quite unbalanced. This is totally unfair, but it might not matter to you. 

Best 5-Player Heavy Board Games

Nemesis

Nemesis is a semi-cooperative survival game for up to 5 players. It incorporates elements of sci-fi and horror and puts you on a malfunctioning spaceship. The aim of the game is to get the ship working and fly back to earth. However, an alien threat lurks onboard and crewmates cannot be trusted. 

Nemesis is quite a complex game and the average session can last from 90-180 minutes. To win, players need to achieve one of two objectives outlined at the start of the game. Manipulate crewmates and avoid the alien threat in order to escape safely back to earth. 

What we Liked

The alien theme is really immersive. Nemesis is clearly inspired by the Movie Alien and it really captures the vibe and ambiance of the classic. 

What Could be Better

Nemesis includes early game player elimination. If you’re OK with this mechanic, then no problem. But it can be frustrating to be eliminated when there is still an hour of playtime left. 

Rising Sun

From CMON Games comes another big box filled to the brim with intricate miniatures and complex gameplay. Rising Sun is a big box area control/majority game where players duke it out, competing for the favor of the gods. 

There are multiple levels of strategy in Rising Sun and simply annihilating your enemies isn’t always the optimum path to victory here. You’ll have to stare at the board and closely analyze which path will give you the most points, which is a good thing because all of the components look amazing. 

What we Liked

Rising Sun is a beautiful game. The artwork is really cool and the components are excellent. The game really immerses you in the world of the Shoguns. 

What Could be Better

Rising Sun could be more accurate. Historically, it is approximately right. But if you are a history buff you will find yourself slightly bemused at some of the history in the game. 

Concordia

Concordia is one of the few games set in the Roman Empire that doesn’t actually involve any troops or legions. Concordia takes a different approach to the empire and has players building up an economic empire using trade routes and goods. 

Concordia is a great economic game and if your friends are looking for something a little bit more advanced than Catan, this is an excellent transition to a heavier game. 

What we Liked

Concordia is not that easy, but it’s still accessible enough to be a gateway to more complex games. There is also a lot of player interaction so it’s great for groups of 5 who want to play a game and socialize. 

What Could be Better

Concordia tries to balance accessibility and complexity. If you’re looking for something more complex, Concordia’s accessibility actually holds it back. There is only so much complexity the game can offer. 

In the Year of the Dragon 

Year of the Dragon is a game that is absolutely superb with more players, and coincidentally, it caps out at 5. 

This tile-drafting game falls under the category of easy to learn, difficult to master. There’s a definite feeling of analysis paralysis the first time you play. You can easily pick up all the rules, but there are so many options for earning victory points and each one is a valid strategy in its own right.

You’ll have to find that one out yourself because every time I’ve played, Kendra and her uncle always destroy me, but I’ve never had a bad time playing it. 

What we Liked

In the Year of the Dragon involves a lot of strategy. You need to plan and predict what’s going to happen. Luck has little to do with it. 

What Could be Better

The game is ruthless. If you plan badly at the start you are definitely going to fail. Ultimately, everyone fails. You just want to fail the least so you cannot make mistakes. 

Scythe

What do you think when you imagine post-WW1 Eastern Europe?

Giant mechs of course. 

Scythe is one of the coolest-looking games I’ve seen in quite some time. It has a steampunk vibe and the first time you look at it you can imagine the Pacific Rim giant robot fights, but that’s not really what it’s about.

Each player runs their own faction, trying to gain control of a small area in this steampunk mechanized alternate history. 

Giant mechs don’t run on steam alone, however. Players need to figure out their technology, agriculture, and economics before they’re able to really get these big behemoths up and running for a power grab. 

What we Liked

Scythe is gorgeous. The artwork is exceptional and draws you right into the theme of the game. The components are of great quality and the map looks awesome. 

What Could be Better

Although combat is a feature in Scythe, a lot of games are going to have minimal player violence. It just isn’t worth it as you need to focus on other aspects of the game.

If you’ve already played Scythe, check out 5 games like Scythe to try next!

Bonus: Betrayal Legacy

Players: 3-5
Playing time: 45-90mins

Based on Betrayal at House on the Hill, Betrayal Legacy has players follow a dizzying path of madness to the root of evil. You’ll have the chance to create the iconic house’s story through decisions and actions taken in the game, uncovering its darkest secrets.

Players take on the role of a family member in campaign chapters that span from 1666 to 2004, that’ll uniquely shape the House on the Hill’s unholy origin. Players must work together to survive the horrors within until the house has players turn against each other.

Unlock mysteries in a 13-episode legacy campaign, and once they are complete, you’ll have a fully replayable customized board! Will you survive the horrifying truth or become just another corpse in the house on the hill’s history?

What we Liked

The storyline aspect of Betrayal Legacy is excellent. The mechanics of the game allow for a lot of roleplay and character development. 

What Could be Better

The haunts can be fun but some of them are uninspired. You go through the motions but they’re just not that engaging. 

Wrap-Up

We hope you enjoyed our list of the best 5-player board games. Did your favorites make the list? We’d love to hear your thoughts on these games or any good ones we may have missed. Drop a comment below.

Happy Gaming!

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