Games and puzzles

Thousands of board games are released each year. We share some staff favorites that require more strategy, have deeper narratives, or are particularly beautiful.

Card games may be the simplest kind of game, but that doesn’t mean they’re lacking fun or innovation. We’ve tested 28 card games to find the best of the best.

These games can introduce kids to new genres, help them build skills, and offer provocative and age-appropriate challenges, engaging themes, and distinctive designs.

Speed cubing turns the iconic fidget toy into a competitive challenge. We tested 14 cutting-edge cubes to find the best options for all skill levels.

Jigsaw puzzles are a great way to pass time on a rainy day, during a screen break, or at a family gathering. These are a few of our favorites.

Chess can be intimidating but buying a set doesn’t have to be. We talked to one of the last chess-shop owners in NYC to get tips on how to select one for you.

To find the best one-on-one games, we talked with experts and play-tested 36 high-rated titles.

Camping has many joys—hiking, relaxing by a fire, appreciating trees—but sometimes nature’s inherent entertainment needs an assist. We have five great games to do just that.

After surveying professionals and tossing their recommendations around ourselves, we chose the GameChanger Steady 2.0 Cornhole Bags for our own backyard games.

Even though they’re everywhere on TikTok, you still shouldn’t stick ear cameras into your ear. Use them to hunt for Lego Minifigures instead.

Crossword-solving elites don’t use any old pencil to fill out a grid. Here’s why the Pentel Twist-Erase III mechanical pencil is a go-to for scores of solvers.

The best strategy games pit you against your friends in an intense battle of wits. These are six of our favorites.

Roll-and-write games use simple tools—dice, a scoresheet, and a pencil—to create devilishly competitive and brain-twisting battles. Here are five favorites.

Break out the board games! Here’s a selection of our favorite cheap(ish) picks for players of all ages.

We played five different through-the-mail mystery subscription games to see what makes them stand out.

Part restaurant-management sim, part underwater action-adventure game, Dave the Diver is the rare video game we’d recommend to everyone.

Our resident Lego obsessive tested nine sets of the flashy, fake flora. Here’s what to know before you make (or give) your own garden of earthly delights

These are our favorite Lego sets for adults, from van Gogh to The Lord of the Rings.

Wirecutter’s favorite games of 2023 include family favorites and new adventures.

Mudpuppy makes some of the most engaging jigsaw puzzles and games we’ve tried. And they’re all on sale right now for 30% off.

Sushi Go is easy to learn but hard to master. It’s as fun at family game night as it is at a bar with friends.

Halloween can be any time of the year when you’re playing our favorite spooky games.

Our board game picks include options for new gamers, more-advanced players, and those looking for party, travel, cooperative, dexterity, or two-player games.

When the weather gets cool and you head inside, a low-key video game is the perfect way to pass the time.

Baldur’s Gate 3 takes Dungeons & Dragons video games and makes them big, exciting, and sexy—if you have the patience to learn it all.

Adult Fans of Lego, or AFOLs, are a growing number of enthusiasts who say that playing with Lego isn’t just for kids.

You have a lot of options to keep Lego bricks tidy and off the floor.

It’s lawn-game season, so you might want to brush up on your cornhole skills. These pro tips can help you throw a better game.

There are too many great video games to keep track of, but we’re here to help you find one or two we think you’ll love.

There are too many great video games to keep track of, but we’re here to help you find one or two we think you’ll love.

Whether you think of the Steam Deck as a portable PC or a handheld console, it’s become one of our favorite ways to play games.

As an autistic person, our writer finds that the right video game can boost her focus and motivation during the workday.

Framing a jigsaw puzzle is a beautiful way to show off your puzzling prowess. We share the best ways to do it, plus how to protect a puzzle in progress.

Playing games is a great way to spend time with people. But before you can play a game, you have to learn it and teach it. We have tips to make that easier.

Wordle can have a calming effect on some folks—here are a few other puzzles and projects that can mimic that feeling.

Old-school games from the sidewalks of New York are still surprisingly fun—and require not much more than chalk.