Best 6-Player Board Games

Board games are one of the best ways to spend time with family and friends. Unfortunately, it sometimes seems that with larger groups, around 6 players, some complications start to arise.

Some games don’t allow for the right number of players or it just doesn’t play well with a big group. With newer or younger players, if the game doesn’t keep everyone engaged, a fun group game can devolve into herding cats.

Fear not, because today we’re looking at the best 6-player board games for you and your group.

Our Top Picks for Best 6-Player Board Games

In a hurry? Check out our favorite 6 player games below.

06/03/2023 04:00 pm GMT

We’ve taken the guesswork out of the equation and have come up with a list of our top 20 6-player games that you can try out.

There’s quite a variety here, so I’m sure you’ll find something that everyone in your gaming group can agree on.

Twilight Imperium

We might as well start off with the biggest game on our list. Twilight Imperium is massive in every way; massive in scope, massive in options, massive in production, and massive in fun.

I know I’m sounding repetitive but the game is that impressive.

The game is over when a player reaches 10 victory points. Okay, that may not sound as impressive, but how you get there is where the magic happens.

Players will each play a completely unique race with special abilities. The reason Twilight Imperium is such a great game is that it’s more than just a war game.

You can play it that way but like in a real war, if everyone simply fires all the nukes, nobody wins and the galaxy will be left burning. This adds diplomacy to the equation, which is a huge part of the game as players create their own galactic story.

The only downside to all this incredible gameplay is that it takes a long time to play (you’re not doing anything else on the day you decide to play) and it does take a bit to learn. If you can get all the players around the table, you’ll have a game your gaming group will be talking about for a long time to come.

What we Liked

Twilight Imperium is epic and vast. It is complex and involves a lot of strategy. It’s also nicely balanced so luck doesn’t play a large role. 

What Could be Better

Not so much a criticism as a heads-up: It is long. Games can take 8 hours so just be prepared to commit, and don’t play on a work night. 

Number of Players: 3-6 people | Playing Time: 240-480 minutes | Age Range: 14 and up

Mysterium Park

Strange things are happening at Mysterium Park. The former director has been murdered and their ghost haunts the carnival. Play as either the ghost or a number of psychics as you try and discover who murdered the director. 

Mysterium Park is a cooperative murder mystery deduction game where you whittle down the list of potential suspects and murder locations in order to finally uncover the truth.

Only the ghost knows who is responsible but can only communicate through visual clues. The psychics must work together to interpret these clues and find the murderer before it’s too late.  

What we Liked

The artwork in Mysterium Park is excellent and captures the creepy theme perfectly. There are so many little details that can provide clues for the psychics. 

What Could be Better

One of the main problems with Mysterium Park is the lack of content. Once you have played through it a few times, there isn’t anything else to discover. This limits its replayability.

Number of Players: 2-6 people | Playing Time: 30-45 minutes | Age Range: 10 and up 

King of Tokyo

Become a giant monster, destroy cities, and punch other monsters in the face. What could be better?

I always used to stay up late and watch monster movie marathons and had several VHS recordings of Godzilla and King Kong from when they aired on TV. I was (and still am) a huge nerd. In King of Tokyo, I get relive those awesome moments by controlling a giant Kaiju monster.

King of Tokyo is a press-your-luck dice game in which players choose a giant monster inspired by pop culture Kaijus. The choice is purely aesthetic so don’t fret too much. Players roll to see if they can punch other monsters in the face, gain victory points, heal, or gain energy to buy special upgrades.

If players control Tokyo they’ll be able to hit every other player all at once and gain bonus points, but they’ll also be the target of all other players.

What we Liked

The overall design in King of Tokyo is exceptional. Unique artwork really immerses you in the world of cartoon Tokyo. 

What Could be Better

Games seem to end very abruptly. Sometimes you will be contemplating your strategy, totally focused on the game, and your opponent will roll the dice and win. It can be anticlimactic.

Ready to take on Tokyo? Make sure you read our in-depth review of King of Tokyo, plus expansions before you play!

Number of Players: 2-6 people | Playing Time: 30 minutes | Age Range: 8 and up

Cosmic Encounter

In Cosmic Encounter, players each pick a race (there are 50 to choose from in the base game) and make and break alliances to expand and colonize as many planets as possible. Cosmic Encounter is an outlier where the game is actually best played with at least 6 players.

With more players, there are many more options and negotiations that can take place. The social interaction and negotiating at the table is possibly the most memorable part of the game, which is why many players prefer a minimum of 6 players.

What we Liked

In-game interactions are great in Cosmic Encounter. With more players, there are way more opportunities for player interaction and negotiation.  

What Could be Better

Actually, the game really excels with more players. It’s just not as fun with fewer players. For Cosmic Encounter, the more the merrier.

Number of Players: 3-6 people | Playing Time: 60-120 minutes | Age Range: 12 and up

Cosmic Encounters doesn’t start out with the ability to play with 6 players. You’ll have to get at least 1 of the first three expansions. Each one will add pieces for 1 extra player bringing the total to 8 players with all three expansions.

Expansions to use with 6 players:

Betrayal at House on the Hill

Step into your own personal house of horrors. Honestly, who’s dumb enough to walk into a house with an old man, a fortune teller, 2 small children, and 2 college students? People who want to have a good time, that’s who.

Everything about Betrayal reminds me of old horror movies. The game is filled with every horror film trope, can be super corny, and isn’t exactly perfect or polished, but is ever so much fun.

I’ve never had a bad game of Betrayal and even when I lose horribly in a scenario, everyone at the table has a blast.

What we Liked

Betrayal is exciting and interactive. It is a game for horror enthusiasts and the theme is pitch-perfect. 

What Could be Better

Betrayal can feel quite unbalanced at times. Many of the haunts are one-sided and are more fun for one side than the other. 

For more on Betrayal, check out our in-depth review here.

Number of Players: 3-6 people | Playing Time: 60 minutes | Age Range: 12 and up

Codenames

Codenames is a social word game with a simple premise and challenging gameplay. Two teams will try to identify their agents in the field.

One player on each team will have to guide their team into picking the correct agents from a board. They’ll need to be clever and specific, because they may accidentally kill a civilian or reveal other agents (or an assassin).

Codenames is a great educational party game because it doesn’t ever eliminate players. There won’t be a situation where a player is eliminated and has to wait for the game to be over before they can rejoin. It can get very hectic and forces players to interact, which always leads to hilarity.

What we Liked

Codenames is short, educational, and hilarious. It’s perfect for parties and includes something for everyone. It’s easy to understand and very competitive. 

What Could be Better

Codenames can be frustrating if there is no obvious link between your set of words. Sometimes the words link naturally and other times there are no obvious links at all. 

Number of Players: 2-8 people | Playing Time: 15 minutes | Age Range: 14 and up

Zombicide

Zombies in recent years have been completely overdone. There’s a zombie version of everything. Once, I even received zombie jerky for a Christmas present. It was regular beef jerky dyed green. I didn’t eat it.

Yet somehow, Zombicide, in a world of zombie outbreaks, manages to feel completely fresh. The game is a blast to play. The zombies swarm, players level up, gain abilities, and you can even hop in a car to mow them down.

Each expansion has a ton of replay value packed into each box and it’s developed by CMON (Cool Mini or Not) who are known for packing games full of awesome miniatures.

Zombicide is one of those games that scales beautifully and with plenty of options. It works just as well with a few players or a full board. The game, especially the Prison Outbreak scenarios, is excellent with a higher number of players.

What we Liked

Zombicide is fast-paced and nerve-wracking. Players need to adapt and move from one moment to the next. It is tense and exciting, which also makes it really fun. 

What Could be Better

The game is unpredictable so sometimes it feels like even though you are really well prepared, you can easily be overwhelmed by a horde of zombies.

Intrigued? Check out our full reviews of Zombicide: Black Plague here and Zombicide: Green Horde here.

Number of Players: 1-6 people | Playing Time: 60 minutes | Age Range: 14 and up

Mysterium

There’s been a murder, and the only witness is the ghost of the victim. It is up to you to find the true killer, but communing with the dead isn’t as simple as asking the ghost questions. Decipher the clues and track down the murderer… before it’s too late.

Mysterium is a beautifully produced game with amazing components and artwork, which is 100% necessary because the player who takes the role of the ghost will not be able to speak at all throughout the game.

The ghost player will be communicating through images on cards attempting to guide players to the right murderer, location, and weapon.

It’s a very thematic mashup of Clue and Dixit, which works very well with 6 players because of the cooperative nature of the game. Players will win or lose together depending on whether they correctly identify all aspects of the murder, or not.

What we Liked

Mysterium is a very interactive whodunnit-themed game. This makes it great for 6 social players as everyone will be communicating and cooperating throughout. 

What Could be Better

The replayability of Mysterium isn’t great. Familiarity with the cards removes a lot of suspense and can make the game too easy and predictable. 

Number of Players: 2-7 people | Playing Time: 42 minutes | Age Range: 10 and up

A Game of Thrones: The Board Game

“Fear cuts deeper than swords.” ―George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones

Can’t get enough of Westeros? Then it’s time to sit down in a comfy seat, throw on Season 1 in the background, and play Game of Thrones: The Board Game.

By the time Season 1 ends you might have finished your first game. Just kidding. But seriously, though, the game is long, with an average playing time of about 3 hours.

The GoT board game allows players to create their own story in Westeros and allows for some amazing gaming moments.

The best part of the game isn’t necessarily the epic battles you might expect, but the ever-shifting alliances that the game promotes. An alliance may be beneficial to two players, but the moment it isn’t, players may find themselves stranded without aid.

With six players the game does run quite long but it allows for many more amazing in-game moments and pivotal alliances throughout.

What we Liked

Friendships will be made and broken. Ever-shifting alliances and backstabbing allies provide pivotal moments of power-shifting throughout the game which really captures the Westerosi theme. 

What Could be Better

It’s hard to finish this game quickly. The gameplay can be too long for some players so make sure you’ve got a bunch of committed gamers before setting up.

Can’t get enough of A Game of Thrones? Make sure to check out our Best Game of Thrones Board Games round-up!

Number of Players: 3-6 people | Playing Time: 120-240 minutes | Age Range: 14 and up

Flash Point: Fire Rescue

Kendra and I are both former firefighters so Flash Point is always a trip down memory lane for us. Flash Point is, of course, completely inaccurate on how to fight fires but it is a fun experience and an excellent cooperative game.

The gameplay scales well, even with six players, and the role cards give the game a good division of labor so that every player still feels useful.

We always prioritize saving the kitty and the puppy POI’s and consider the entire game a loss if we can’t save them.

What we Liked

The theme is excellent. If you’ve ever wanted to roleplay as a firefighter, Flash Point is pitch-perfect. The pace is quick as you race to put out fires. 

What Could be Better

Token management is quite detailed so it’s easy to make a mistake. This can have serious consequences as players may move towards incorrect targets. 

Number of Players: 2-6 people | Playing Time: 45 minutes | Age Range: 10 and up

Power Grid

Power Grid is a quintessential Euro Game, heavy on point generation and strategy. The Deluxe version is perfect for players just stepping into the world of Power Grid. If you already own the original, try adding some of the expansions to change up your game.

The Deluxe version, although nice, isn’t necessary if you already own a version of Power Grid. If you don’t own Power Grid in any form, the Recharged version is your best bet for a good starting point.

It’s been updated well and comes with a massive double-sided board that scales very well with the number of players.

Only have a few players? Then the board gets walled off and play continues as normal. With max players, the entirety of the board opens up. Power Grid is a modern-day classic and an all-around fantastic game.

What we Liked

The mechanics are simple but very versatile. You need to constantly plan and strategize even when it’s not your turn, so you are constantly on your toes. 

What Could be Better

The theme of Power Grid may be too bland for some gamers. If you’re OK with the basic premise, that’s fine. But if you are looking for a game with more depth and backstory then Power Grid might not be for you.

Number of Players: 2-6 people | Playing Time: 120 minutes | Age Range: 12 and up

Caverna: The Cave Farmers

If you like Agricola, you’ll love Caverna. Both created and designed by Uwe Rosenburg, Caverna is very often called the successor of Agricola.

Caverna is an engine-building game in which players control a community of dwarfs, expand their fields, go on expeditions, and mine into the mountains to develop their farms and caverns.

Caverna gives players many options and playing styles to pursue and there’s no real wrong way to play it. It’s highly strategic and Lookout Games jams a ton of amazing components into one box, keeping gamers busy and smiling for many gaming sessions.

What we Liked

One of the best things about Caverna is the sheer amount of choices you have throughout the game. It’s an engine-builder and you can customize your community in so many different ways. 

What Could be Better

Individual games can be very long and there are a lot of rules to learn. If you’re looking for a simple quick fix, then Caverna may be too long and convoluted for you. 

Number of Players: 1-7 people | Playing Time: 30-210 minutes | Age Range: 12 and up

Shadows Over Camelot

“For I have promised to do the battle to the uttermost, by faith of my body, while me lasteth the life, and therefore I had liefer to die with honour than to live with shame ; and if it were possible for me to die a hundred times, I had liefer to die oft than yield me to thee; for though I lack weapon, I shall lack no worship, and if thou slay me weaponless that shall be thy shame.” ―Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte d’Arthur

Knights of the Round Table, ASSEMBLE! The kingdom is being besieged on all sides by the forces of evil and it’s up to Arthur’s loyal knights to go on quests to save the realm and destroy the evil that threatens it.

Beware, not all are who they seem. One among the order may have been tempted by dark forces and a traitor may be lurking in your midst.

Shadows Over Camelot has a lot going on and it can be overwhelming at first. But after a game or two, it becomes clear and tons of fun, especially with more players. There are even variants that allow for 2 traitors if you have the expansions.

The game gives players a lot of decisions to make on their turn. They can fight off the Saxons and Picts, duel the black knights, face dragons, seek out Excalibur, or search for the Holy Grail.

What we Liked

Shadows Over Camelot is a cooperative game with an element of backstabbing and deceit. This adds a lot of suspense and tension to the game. 

What Could be Better

Player elimination is a feature of the game. If you’re OK with that, then awesome. But it just isn’t very much fun to be kicked out of the game before it’s over.

Ready for more? Check out our Shadows Over Camelot review before you buy!

Number of Players: 3-7 people | Playing Time: 60-80 minutes | Age Range: 10 and up

One Night Ultimate Werewolf

Werewolf is a social deduction game in which players must find werewolves hidden among the townspeople. I personally love Werewolf, but this may be one of the more controversial games on the list because players either love it or absolutely hate it.

Many of the complaints about Werewolf are that it lasts too long (the older version) and when a player is knocked out of the game they have nothing to do until it’s over, which is especially irritating if a player is knocked out in the first round.

This is all fixed in the One Night Ultimate version because it’s only one round. If you lose, the game’s already over, and you can immediately start a brand new game.

What we Liked

One Night Ultimate Werewolf is one of the most accessible social deduction games out there. The rules are simple and the gameplay is very quick. 

What Could be Better

What is a blessing is also a curse. One Night Ultimate Werewolf will be too easy and too simple for some gamers. 

Number of Players: 3-10 people | Playing Time: 10 minutes | Age Range: 8 and up

The game works well for six players and scales up dramatically. The more players, the more fun you’re going to have. It also works well as a social deduction teaching tool.

As an eighth-grade English teacher, I was able to play a game with about 35 students.

Versions & Expansions for 6+ Players

Jamaica

Crew your own pirate ship and seek out buried treasure, and if someone else beats you to it, you can always steal it back. Who doesn’t like ship-to-ship combat and searching for treasure?

Jamaica is an excellent choice for six players. It’s lightweight, easy to learn, and most importantly, it will keep the whole table engaged.

When picking turns and choosing actions, all players will be choosing at the same time, thereby eliminating the time gap when a player waits until their turn to start thinking about their move.

It’s beautifully designed, cartoon look feels very natural with the game and matches the lighthearted gameplay.

What we Liked

Jamaica is a great game for six players. It is immersive, easy to learn, and fast-paced. Everyone will be engaged throughout the whole game and there is barely any downtime. 

What Could be Better

There is quite a high element of luck in Jamaica. It’s not overpowering, but if you are looking for a game with minimal luck factoring into the outcome it could be a bit frustrating.

Number of Players: 2-6 people | Playing Time: 30-60 minutes | Age Range: 8 and up

7 Wonders

7 Wonders is a card-driven game that still feels like a massive city-builder. There are no stacking tiles or tokens of sprawling cities. Instead, cities are represented by cards played from your hand.

There’s no one ultimate path to victory either. Players can focus on military victories, science victories, or play cards that give bonus points at the end of the game.

7 Wonders made the list because it’s a very simple game to learn and players have several options on how they can play. These advantages eliminate a lot of the downsides (and complaints) when playing with a larger group.

What we Liked

7 Wonders is an excellent card drafting game. The mechanics really excel as you play through the different ages. 

What Could be Better

Overall the game lacks depth. Once you’ve played through a few times you’ll be very familiar with the different cards and combinations. 

Arkham Horror

“In his house at R’lyeh dead Cthulhu waits dreaming.”

― H.P. Lovecraft, The Call of Cthulhu

Arkham Horror was the first really big box game that I ever played. I first played it with 8 players and it took hours, but it was still one of the most fun times I’ve had playing a game.

Arkham Horror is a cooperative game that can accommodate a very large number of players, but it scales in difficulty with the number of players so that it’s never a walk in the park.

You’d think with 6 players fighting monsters and closing gates it would be easier, but it offers just as much of a challenge, no matter the group size.

What we Liked

Arkham Horror is an excellent cooperative strategy game that incorporates a fascinating storyline. This guarantees a lot of player engagement and interaction. 

What Could be Better

The dice rolling adds a random element to the game which can be pretty frustrating. A bad roll can scupper the best-laid plans.

Dixit

Everyone loves a good story. A funny anecdote, or an epic tale. They are the glue of our relationships.

In Dixit, the key is to tell good stories. Everyone has a turn being the storyteller. They choose a picture from their hand and spin a yarn based on that picture. Players will choose a picture from their own hand that they think best encapsulates that story.

After all these pictures are revealed, players vote on which picture best represents the story. Guesswork, psychoanalysis, logic, and wit are all needed to win at Dixit. 

What we Liked

Dixit is a great game for 6 people. It’s perfect for parties, families, and all kinds of social occasions. It’s portable, quick, and funny. 

What Could be Better

Once you’ve played a few times it gets pretty repetitive. The novelty of the cards, and so the novelty of the stories will wear off quite quickly. 

Between Two Cities

Between Two Cities is a tile drafting game in which players are almost working together to build two cities. What the heck does that mean?

In the game, players will be building two cities, but they’ll be building cities with the players sitting to their left and their right. When scoring, players will score the city that scored the least points out of their 2 cities. This forces players to equally build up both cities. How you place buildings in the city and what building types determine their point value.

The reason Between Two Cities works so well is that it is a fun game that forces players to interact, but is also extremely quick to play. It’s probably the quickest game on this list and there’s almost no downtime between turns, keeping all players invested in the game at all times. It’s simple, it’s quick, and it’s fun.

What we Liked

One of the best things about Between Two Cities is the lack of downtime. Downtime can be a drag – especially with 6 players. Here, you play simultaneously. Everyone is engaged and playing at all times. 

What Could be Better

Although Between Two Cities is very accessible, it lacks depth. This limits its replayability as it doesn’t take long to see all that the game has to offer.

Expansions for 6 Players

Catan

Catan is normally a 3-4 player game, but the 5-6 player extension provides enough tiles, cards and wooden cities for 5-6 players to have a raucous good time. If you’re super weird, you’ll buy it just for the green-colored cities (Kendra’s favorite color).

Catan with six players still feels and plays like normal Catan. There are only a few minor rule changes. Any player can trade in between turns and the current player can trade and build as long as they have the cards to do so. It’s more of the same Catan we all love, just with more friends around the table.

What we Liked

Catan may go down in history as the ultimate gateway game. For beginners, it can literally change your life. For veterans, it will always have a place in our hearts. 

What Could be Better

Though the game is legendary, it’s very simple. For a civilization builder, the mechanics are pretty limited and there are only so many choices you can take on each turn. 

Catan also has some great expansions that offer the 5-6 player extensions as well. Check out our Best Catan Expansions article for more info! (The 5-6 player extensions are all sold separately, but many can be combined for a crazy fun Catan experience.)

Extension for 5-6-Players

Camel Up (Second Edition)

Camel Up (not Camel Cup) is the ultimate camel racing simulator. Players actually won’t be controlling specific camels, though.

Instead, they will place bets and attempt to have the most money at the end of the race. There are no jockeys, rather other camels will be riding the camels…?? (Kendra giggles endlessly throughout this game.)

Camel Up is one of the silliest games I’ve ever seen. The stacking camels are adorable and leave room for some last-minute comebacks for slower, drastically altering the outcome of the game.

The dice pyramid is also very silly (and isn’t at all necessary) but it helps sum up the whole game. It’s just a fun, silly time.

What we Liked

The overall pacing of Camel Up is great. It’s a game about racing camels and the gameplay reflects the chaos that would ensue. 

What Could be Better

The most frustrating thing about this game is that one unlucky roll will make you lose. Luck is an ever-present factor in Camel Up. 

Ready to race some camels? Take a peek at our full review and then you’re off to the races!

Colt Express

Hop on board for your own high-stakes game of train robbery. In Colt Express up to 6 players will fight and shoot it out on 3-D train pieces, rob passengers, and try to avoid the sheriff.

At first glance, Colt Express looks like it doubles down on the 3D train board, which I will admit is super cool, but how does it play?

The game is a lighthearted and silly experience, covering just about every Old West train robbery trope that you can think of.

The gameplay and strategy, although not super heavy, are very fun and work well within the scope of the game. For every player in the game, another train car is added, and with a max of 6 players, you’re going to have a hilariously goofy time.

What we Liked

The 3D train is a winner in Colt Express. You get to move miniature wooden robbers from carriage to carriage as you play through the game. 

What Could be Better

The replayability of Colt Express isn’t amazing. The game is very simple so after a few run-throughs, there will be no surprises left. 

Expansions for 6+ Players

Colt SUPER Express

It’s the Wild West, and you’re a train robber. Sound familiar? Sounds a lot like Colt Express. The thing is, you’re running low on time.

Colt Super Express plays a lot like the original Colt Express, but over a much shorter time frame. The gameplay is way quicker than the original and only takes about 15 minutes.

The setup is very similar but there is no longer a 3D train. Instead of trying to win gold, you just want to stay on the train. Can you be the last robber standing?

What we Liked

The pacing is excellent. Short playtime means that even if you get eliminated, you won’t have to wait very long before you can try and rob the train again. 

What Could be Better

Part of what made the original awesome was the 3D train. While not including it makes the game more portable, it is definitely missed.

Wrap-Up

Six players make for a slightly larger group than the norm, and that extra player or two can really change what you can play.

The issue with this many players is how to effectively get everyone into the game, keep them interested and engaged, and what happens when a player is knocked out early. It’s a very balanced dance that needs careful consideration.

We chose a lot of these games based on how easy it is to teach, and how much group interaction is involved and tried to give a mix of options from quick to all-day.

We hope you enjoyed this list, why not check out our list of 4-player games? If you have any other recommendations, if you think I’m totally wrong, or if you just want to talk about board games, we’d love to hear from you! Please leave a comment below.