Black Friday is a great time to pick up a board game deal. We’re expecting to see a wide range of discounts on involving and immersive board games in the November holiday sales, with price drops on some of the best tabletop games ever conceived. From popular strategy games like Catan and Ticket to Ride to more niche options like Gloomhaven and Twilight Imperium, there’s sure to be some outstanding Black Friday board game deals this year for all ages – and we’ll be rounding up the biggest offers here.
The best board games are not only a ton of fun, they can also be a great way for family and friends to socialize. And once we’re comfortably out of the Covid-19 pandemic, we expect board game popularity will be on the rise once more. In that case, why not get ahead of the curve and anticipate which board games will be available to buy – and what deals to expect – on Black Friday, which takes place on November 26.
This year, we’re expecting demand to continue for contemporary games like Dixit, Blood Rage and Secret Hitler, which took the spotlight during the pandemic. Of course it’s not just board games that we expect to see discounted this Black Friday period, as many of the best card games are sure to go on sale, too, if you’re looking for something a bit more compact than a potentially large board.
Card and board games have also largely been embraced online thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, with sites like Chess.com enjoying huge popularity, alongside Steam’s Tabletop Simulator and the Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics collection on Nintendo Switch.
When will the best Black Friday board game deals start in 2021?
While Black Friday officially kicks off on November 26 this year, many retailers across the US and UK are bound to start their sales periods early. In a lot of cases, this can be up to a week earlier (or more) than the official date.
And up to a week earlier is where we start to see the best board games receive their discounts, particularly on Amazon, which usually seems keen to get its deals out there before other retailers, and price matching many of them.
Where are the best places to find Black Friday board game deals?
In the US, Walmart and Amazon tend to have the best board game deals on Black Friday. Last year, for example, Walmart sold the ever-engaging Catan at half price. Amazon also saw sizeable discounts on usually expensive games like Gloomhaven, making the online retailer an ideal choice for your board game purchases on Black Friday.
Over to the UK, then, last year’s best board game deals certainly weren’t as strong, with decidedly smaller discounts across most retailers than the US. While Amazon saw some good deals with games like Ticket to Ride and Betrayal at House on the Hill, most deals certainly weren’t anything to write home about.
What Black Friday board game deals do we expect to see in 2021?
For US buyers, we expect to see a similar slew of great discounts across all manner of board games. As always, Walmart and Amazon will be the ones to watch here, as they offered the most impressive discounts last year when it comes to board games.
In the UK, it’s entirely possible that board game deals become markedly better than last year’s Black Friday. If Covid-19 restrictions continue to relax, that could generate more demand for in-person social gaming. As such, UK retailers might see fit to promote heavier discounts on some of the best board games available.
How can I get the best Black Friday board game deals on the day?
Make sure not to pass Go, and don’t collect $200.
In all seriousness, you’ll want to get a headstart on the sales, just like the sales themselves do ahead of Black Friday. As many retailers’ sales periods actually begin before November 26, keeping an eye on outlets like Amazon, Walmart, Argos and John Lewis ahead of the day will give you a better chance of scoring a deal on a board game without fear of missing out.
Today’s best board game deals where you are
Not in the US or UK? Then check out the best board game prices in your region below:
Last year’s best Black Friday board game deals in the US
To give you an idea of what to expect during this year’s Black Friday sales, we’ve put together a list of the best deals available in each region from last year’s event. Hopefully, we’ll see discounts as good as if not better than those featured below during this year’s Black Friday sales period.
Catan: $49.49 $24.72 at Walmart
Catan, or as most everyone knows it, Settlers of Catan, is a game about growing an empire through trade and resource gathering. You’ll take turns rolling dice, collecting the resource of the corresponding number, and then building towns and cities to increase the amount of resources gained. It supports from two to five players and is recommended for ages 10+. View Deal
Ticket to Ride: $54.99 $25 at Walmart
Another classic, Ticket to Ride has you creating freight train lines across the US in pursuit of railroad dominance. You score more points for completing longer routes, but your opponents will likely be building in the same direction, so you have to be strategic. For two to five players ages 8 and up.View Deal
Pandemic: $44.99 $19.97 at Walmart
This is the cheapest price we’ve seen for the, er, prescient board game. So why is everyone on board with Pandemic? It’s an excellent co-operative strategy game that requires everyone to work together to take down four different diseases. Huh, working together to beat a virus, neat concept. View Deal
Gloomhaven: $140.00 $111.99 at Amazon
This persistent world board game – that is, designed to be played over multiple sessions – is an RPG-like game with tactical combat. It’s aimed at players aged 12+, and while it’s been around this price for a little while, it’s still a lot lower than the original retail price. View Deal
Mysterium: $54.99 $35.96 at Amazon
Mysterium tasks you with solving, well, a mystery. (Duh!) Each night players work to uncover the mystery of Warwick Manor using clues provided to them by a spiritual entity. Together, they’ll have to figure out the weapon, location, and identity of the murderer which makes it like a better version of the classic Clue. It’s for two to seven players aged 10+.View Deal
Last year’s best Black Friday board game deals in the UK
Formula D: £44.81 £38.74 at Amazon
The premise of Formula D is simple (be first to cross the finish line and take the chequered flag), but gameplay is surprisingly technical, involving gear-changes determined by dice-rolls, carefully calculated pit-stops, and penalties for shoddy driving. Adding drift and track debris spices things up even more. Supports up to 10 players, recommended for ages 14+.View Deal
Monopoly: £22.99 £17.99 at Very
Everyone knows Monopoly – it’s been the cause of family arguments for many moons. This classic board game sees you making your way around the board in an effort to gather up as many properties as you can and ultimately leaving your opponents without a penny. For 2-8 players and recommended for those aged 8+.View Deal
Ticket to Ride: £39.99 £32.95 at Amazon
Another classic, Ticket to Ride has you creating freight train lines across the US in pursuit of railroad dominance. You score more points for completing longer routes, but your opponents will likely be building in the same direction, so you have to be strategic. For two to five players ages 8 and up.View Deal
Betrayal at House on the Hill: £47.16 £36.72 at Amazon
Betrayal at House on the Hill sees you making your way through a mysterious house full of monsters and dangers. The catch in this game is that one person will become a traitor, looking to sabotage the rest. Players need to defeat the traitor and survive. House on the Hill is recommended for 3-6 players and those aged 12+.View Deal
Exploding Kittens Party Pack: £19.99 £16.85 at Amazon
With original art from The Oatmeal, Exploding Kittens is like a game of Russian Roulette where you try your best not to pick up the exploding kitten. You’ll do this by using cards to see what’s coming up in the deck, and pass extra turns to your opponents. It’s fun, fast and supports up to 10 players.View Deal
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