There have been a lot of positive changes in the board game industry over the past few years. Unfortunately, one of the negative side effects of games becoming more intricate and advanced has been a higher price tag for a number of games. Game pieces have become more intricate, artwork more painstaking, and boards more elaborate as a whole, causing the cost of making the games to rise and consequently the price for the consumer to rise as well. A number of the games that I have mentioned on this blog are sold in the $50+ range, and while I enjoy investing my money in good games I also realize that people on a budget are looking for better options. In response to this, I have put together a list of my favorite games that you can buy for less!

Under $10- Games in this price range are almost always compact and straightforward card games. Card games have a significantly lower production cost than board games, and the straightforward play style means less space needed for rules or additional pieces.

1) Set

• Price on Amazon: $8.27
• Average Game Time: 30 minutes
• Number of Players: 1-20

2) Hanabi

• Price on Amazon: $9.77
• Average Game Time: 25 minutes
• Number of Players: 2-5

3) Pit

• Price on Amazon: $7.73
• Average Game Time: 45 minutes
• Number of Players: 3-8

4) Rook

• Price on Amazon: $5.50
• Average Game Time: 45 minutes
• Number of Players: 2-6

5) Loot

• Price on Amazon: $8.75
• Average Game Time: 20 minutes
• Number of Players: 2-8

Under $20- These games are slightly more complex than those in the $10 range, but still are primarily card-based and do not have a large amount of additional pieces. The artwork on these games is of good quality and the gameplay is in the easy to mid-range.

1) One Night Ultimate Werewolf

• Price on Amazon: $17.99
• Average Game Time: 10 minutes
• Number of Players: 3-10

2) The Resistance

• Price on Amazon: $13.00
• Average Game Time: 30 minutes
• Number of Players: 5-10

3) Sushi Go! Board Game

• Price on Amazon: $14.39
• Average Game Time: 15 minutes
• Number of Players: 2-5 players

4) Munchkin

• Price on Amazon: $18.89
• Average Game Time: 60 minutes
• Number of Players: 3-6

5) Codenames

• Price on Amazon: $14.39
• Average Game Time: 15 minutes
• Number of Players: 2-8

Under $30- If you’re willing to pay up to $30 on a game, you can really find some impressive gems. These games can be quite complex and have a number of different moving parts and pieces, but also keep the boards they use relatively compact in comparison to other games.

1) King of Tokyo

• Price on Amazon: $28.81
• Average Game Time: 30 minutes
• Number of Players: 2-6

2) Citadels

• Price on Amazon: $24.95
• Average Game Time: 40 minutes
• Number of Players: 2-8

3) Pandemic

• Price on Amazon: $24.99
• Average Game Time: 50 minutes
• Number of Players: 2-4

4) Qwirkle

• Price on Amazon: $24.70
• Average Game Time: 45 minutes
• Number of Players: 2-4

5) Carcassonne

• Price on Amazon: $22.39
• Average Game Time: 30 minutes
• Number of Players: 2-5

Overall, while playing some of the best games on the market will cost you more, you can find some great value on the cheaper side of the gaming industry too. If you keep an eye out for good deals and understand the level of investment you want to make on board games, you will soon find yourself with an impressive collection without breaking the bank.