Macmillan coffee morning is happening soon – these are the best board games to play

A brilliantly simple yet deceptively clever party game, Codenames is great for getting brains whirring and conversations flowing. Two rival spymasters give one-word clues to help their team identify which of the codenamed cards on the board belong to them, all while avoiding the opponent’s words. It’s a tightrope walk of trying to link multiple words on the board with a single, cunning clue – get it right and everybody feels like a genius.

Easy to pick up in minutes and quick to play, Codenames scales wonderfully from small groups to larger gatherings. It's a modern classic for a reason and a fantastic icebreaker when meeting new friends.

In this cooperative board game, players take on specialist roles – like scientist, medic or researcher – and must work together against the game itself to eradicate a deadly disease that’s sweeping across the world. It’s a tense and thrilling race against time, where every decision matters and communication between players is vital to succeed.

Easy to learn but difficult to master, Pandemic is deeply satisfying to play and – as the game approaches its dramatic conclusion – an often nail-biting experience. If you want a game that fosters teamwork and strategic thinking, this classic delivers.

Dixit is a whimsical game that’s less about strategy and more about imagination and understanding your fellow players. Each round, one player (the storyteller) gives a cryptic clue – a word, phrase, or even a sound – related to one of their dreamlike, artfully illustrated cards. Everyone else secretly chooses a card from their own hand that best matches the clue. Once the cards are shuffled and revealed, players vote for which card they believe was the storyteller’s.

It’s a game of subtle hints and shared interpretations, and while it perhaps works best with players who already know each other well, it’s perfect for sparking creativity and laughter with friends old and new.

Ticket to Ride is a charming, cross-country railway adventure that’s strategic without being overwhelming for new players. The goal is simple: collect sets of coloured train cars to claim railway routes connecting iconic cities across a map, all while trying to complete secret destination tickets for bonus points.

Wonderfully accessible and easy to teach, Ticket to Ride is the perfect gateway game for families and new board gamers, and a reliable go-to for seasoned players.

King of Tokyo is a light-hearted but hilariously competitive game in which players take on the role of Godzilla and King Kong-style monsters battling for supremacy over Tokyo. It's dice-chucking with a Yahtzee-like ability to reroll any numbers you don’t like for attacks, energy, healing or victory points. Occupy the city to score points and lay the smackdown on rival monsters, but pull too far ahead, and other players will put aside their differences to gang up on you.

Power-up cards add fun new abilities and can quickly change the fortunes of losing players. A fast and frantic brawler with loads of colourful character, King of Tokyo is perfect for players who enjoy a bit of luck alongside their strategy.