Entertaining
17 Food-Themed Board Games to Bring You Joy (& Make You Hungry)
Break 'em out with whomever you're holed up with—or play them over video chat.
Sunset has started earlier, the number of al fresco dining options has gotten smaller, and the list of Netflix shows you haven’t watched has gotten shorter. That only means one thing to keep you occupied until it’s socially acceptable to go to bed—game nights! Namely, food-themed board games that tap into your fave foods and drinks, and maybe inspire you in the kitchen, too.
Some of these board games can be played traditionally in your household, but others can played virtually if you both have the games and others still can be played solo, like these realistic food puzzles. So we give you permission to take a break from cooking four new recipes today (although we love when you do that) and instead pass the hours away with one of these 17 food-themed board games.
1. The Wine Game, $37
Oenophiles who consider wine to be its own food group will love this on-brand board game. Made for those 21 and up, it combines their wine knowledge with a little bit o’ luck.
2. Pancake Pile-Up, $17.99 $14.39
A mix between a board game, sequence game, and relay race, kids will love making a stack of pancakes based on the order cards they’re dealt.
3. Beagle or Bagel?, $12.99
Dogs and carbs—who doesn't love that? Fun for all ages, players turn the cards over and call out if they see a beagle or bagel. Sorry in advance for all the shouting...
4. Areaware Little Food Puzzles, $45
These tiny food puzzles are a Food52 favorite, and there are so many to choose from based on your cravings. If you miss going out to dinner, try the prepared food bundle, which includes tonkotsu ramen, a New York slice of pizza, Chicago hot dog, and birthday cake. Or add to your movie night with a chocolate bar, popcorn, and gummy bear.
5. Pizza Monopoly, $42.99
Instead of buying properties and collecting rent, the goal in Pizza Monopoly is to buy the most types of pizzas. You collect slices as you go around the board—which comes in a pizza takeout box—using an array of pizza-themed pieces: cheese grater, pizza chef, cheese shaker, delivery bike, slicer, and pizza on a paddle. Fair warning, there are some questionable topping choices in the game though, like eggplant? But thankfully there is not Hawaiian—only ham and pineapple as separate spaces on the board.
6. Sushi Go! $7.39
In this fast-paced card game, you're a sushi chef trying to “make” the most maki rolls or nigiri sets as cards are passed around the table. The illustrations are kawaii (like little bits of edamame with smiling faces on them), and the goal is to rack up the most points by making the best combos and “dipping” into wasabi for triple bonuses. It can be played with two to five people.
7. Bob's Burgers-Themed Clue, $35.99
Put on a marathon of Bob’s Burgers and play a version of Clue themed around the hit animated show. A wine bottle, spatula, and burger phone are among the weapons that could have been used to kill Ned Boddy, and the score pad looks like a restaurant order sheet. For more Bob's Burgers-themed games, there’s a limited-edition version of Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit.
8. Foodie Fight, $23.15
Put the “who’s the biggest foodie?” of the group to the test with this 1,000-card trivia game. Topics include Alton Brown-approved culinary science, celebrity chefs, baking questions, global cuisine, and cooking techniques, and can be played with two to six people. This game could easily be played virtually if someone acts as quiz master and asks all the trivia, or if you share some of the questions in a document online to have others ask the group.
9. Throw Throw Burrito, $24.99
You can safely socially distance while throwing squishy burritos at a friend in this game of Go Fish meets dodgeball. The goal is to collect matching sets of cards faster than your opponents while throwing, ducking, and dodging the plush burritos. This one is great for kids, or for adults who want to feel like kids again.
10. Slamwich, $12.14
Building a sky-high sandwich is the goal of Slamwich, where you stack toppings—classics like cheese, tomato, lettuce, and bacon, and weird ones like gummy worms—and try to avoid a thief stealing your creation! The name comes from slapping the pile of cards once a certain combination is created (like two of the same ingredients in a row) to win that stack of ingredients for that round. Whoever has the most cards by the end of the game wins.
11. Stranger Things Eggo Card Game, $44.99
Although the actual game isn’t about food, there are very satisfying images of Eggo waffles on the cards. Try to escape the Upside Down while getting rid of all of your waffles. The slogan of the game is “Succeed, or be toast!” Doesn't that butter you up to want to play?
12. Ramen Fury, $9.97
Cozy up with this competitive card game that comes in packaging that looks like a packet of instant noodles. The goal is to make the ultimate bowl of ramen with soft-boiled eggs, fish cake slices, and other popular toppings for different sets of points. Anyone else hungry?
13. Truck Off: The Food Truck Frenzy, $12.99
It’s a race to find the best parking spot as you and other players duke it out to park your food truck in front of a sports game, a concert, a brewery, and more coveted locations. And of course the trucks have punny names like Sashimi Rollin’ and Fry Hard.
14. Cards Against Humanity Food Expansion Pack, $5
If you already have Cards Against Humanity, pick up the food expansion pack with 30 cards of “brekky truffles and syrupy friend chortles.” If you're wondering where those innovative dishes came from, the game was co-written by the former staff of the now-defunct food mag Lucky Peach.
15. Taco Takeover, $14.90
Every day can be Taco Tuesday when you're stuffing your favorite fillings into plastic taco shells. This silly, chaotic game is made for kids, but still fun for adults as they try to fill orders correctly and rack up the points.
16. Candy Land, $12.99
This classic could not be left off the list. Indulge your sweet tooth and nostalgia for a sweet afternoon of exploring Cookie Commons and Chocolate Mountain. King’s Kandy Castle (not spelled Kastle, which is a missed opportunity) is waiting for you. There’s also a Disney Theme Park version where you try to get to Cinderella’s castle.
17. Food Bingo, $5+
Print off some food-themed bingo games, like this kawaii food one, a hand-drawn farmers’ market game, or a baking-themed board with all your favorite confections. You can send the PDFs to friends and play virtually, too!
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