Beyond Monopoly:

Modern Board Games Your Family Will Actually Want to Play

It’s another family get-together and someone suggests playing a board game. Everyone gets excited — until the options are Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit, or a copy of Scrabble with half the tiles missing.

And we all start to think, is this it? Are there no other options?

Now, I’m not here to tell you I have all the answers. If you’ve found our blog, chances are you’re already aware of the big, wide world of board gaming out there — thousands of titles, each offering something different. But I’m also aware that I’m the “board gamer” of my family (though I am starting to convert my sister). That means finding games that suit what my family thinks of when they hear “board games.”

So, we’ve come up with a few suggestions for games that you — or your family — might enjoy if they like some of the classics.

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Monopoly → Raccoon Tycoon

Love making money but hate bankrupting your family? Try Raccoon Tycoon.

Monopoly is probably the first game most people think of when they hear the words board game. It’s an undeniable classic. While its mechanics aren’t exactly beloved by modern gamers, it can still be a fun experience — especially if you actually follow the rules!

At its core, Monopoly is all about buying up properties and making as much money as possible. Knock everyone else out by bankrupting them, and you win.

Our pick for Monopoly lovers doesn’t focus as heavily on money, and it doesn’t have player elimination, but it delivers that same satisfying economic feel. We’ve chosen Raccoon Tycoon.

In Raccoon Tycoon, you collect and sell resources whose prices fluctuate depending on what players buy or sell. You use those resources to build towns, earn money, and invest in railroads — all of which score points. The player with the most points wins.

We had Raccoon Tycoon sitting in our collection for ages before finally playing it, and we immediately loved it. Timing your sales for maximum profit and outbidding your opponent for that perfect railroad scratches the exact same itch as Monopoly — but with far more strategy and zero luck-based nonsense. Every turn is about making clever choices, not just rolling dice and hoping for the best.

I also love the resource mechanic: each card lets you collect certain resources, but also increases the value of others — sometimes the very ones your opponent has stockpiled. It’s a great puzzle every turn.

Best of all, no one gets knocked out. Everyone stays involved and keeps progressing until the end. If you like buying properties, earning money, and gently irritating your friends in the process, Raccoon Tycoon is a brilliant alternative.

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Cluedo → Mysterium

Like solving murders? Mysterium lets you talk to the ghost.

Cluedo was always my favourite classic game growing up. It had everything: deduction, logic, and a genuine chance to win. It felt like I had control over what was happening — and honestly, I still enjoy it today.

Our Cluedo-inspired pick is a cooperative game, so instead of competing, you’re working together to solve the mystery. We’ve chosen Mysterium.

In Mysterium, one player becomes a ghost trying to communicate with the others — psychic mediums — to reveal who killed them, where, and with what weapon. The ghost can’t speak, so they use beautifully surreal illustrated cards to guide the players’ guesses..

Each medium has their own suspect, location, and weapon to uncover. Players discuss, debate, and interpret the ghost’s clues together, because if anyone fails to solve their mystery, the group can’t move on to the final round.

Mysterium was one of the first games I ever bought, and it’s still one of my favourites to bring out. Anyone familiar with Cluedo will immediately recognise the spirit of it, even if the mechanics are totally different. It’s atmospheric, clever, and endlessly replayable.

The artwork is absolutely stunning — sometimes weird, sometimes eerie, always expressive. The joy of being the ghost is finding just the right detail in a card that will nudge someone toward the right answer… or watching them interpret it completely differently.

Mysterium is perfect for mixed groups, even non-gamers. I’ve introduced it to my family and every time, everyone walks away grinning.

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Jenga → Tinderblox

If steady hands and chaos are your thing, build a campfire instead.

Ah, Jenga. The iconic tower of blocks everyone’s had (or at least a knock-off version). It’s simple, it’s tense, and it’s often hilarious — but for me, it’s never been a go-to.

That said, Jenga is actually what inspired this whole article. Jess had been suggesting we buy a copy for ages, and I kept putting it off because I knew of another dexterity game that scratched the same itch, only better: Tinderblox.

In Tinderblox, you’re building a campfire instead of pulling blocks from a tower. Each turn, you flip a card that tells you which pieces to add — maybe one log, maybe a log with two flames stacked on top — and then you use tweezers to place them on the growing fire. Knock anything over, and you’re out. Last one standing wins.

It’s such a delight. The tin is tiny, the components are lovely, and setup takes seconds. You’re building as you play, so there’s no downtime. The cards mix things up every turn (sometimes even forcing you to use your non-dominant hand), keeping it fresh and funny.

Jenga is still a solid classic, but if you want something faster, more portable, and more chaotic in the best way, Tinderblox is the way to go.

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Chess → Hive

Enjoy strategy but want less pressure? Hive’s your perfect duel.

Chess is the classic board game. Everyone’s played it at least once, willingly or not. It’s elegant, timeless, and endlessly deep — but it’s also a game that doesn’t click for everyone.

Jess loves chess more than I do. I understand how it works, but it just never grabbed me. Hive, though — Hive absolutely did.

Hive is a two-player abstract where each piece is a different insect with unique movement abilities. There’s no board; you create the play area as you place your tiles, connecting them into a growing “hive.” The goal is simple: surround your opponent’s queen bee before they surround yours.

It’s quick, tactile, and clever. The tiles feel great in your hands, and the minimal art looks sharp on the table. It has the same strategic satisfaction as chess, but in a 10-minute package.

And maybe my favourite thing? When I lose at Hive, I never feel dumb. The game’s short enough that it’s easy to laugh it off and go again. It keeps that thinky feel without the pressure.

Hive isn’t just a fantastic chess alternative — it’s one of the best two-player games out there.

For a deeper look at this minimalistic strategy game, check out our Hive (Pocket Edition) review.

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Pictionary → Scrawl

If you like drawing but love laughing, grab Scrawl.

Our final stop: Pictionary. It’s the quintessential party drawing game — fast, frantic, and easy to understand. I didn’t play it much growing up, but it seemed to pop up everywhere else — on TV shows, in movies, at game nights.

Our pick doesn’t solve the “tiny notepad vs. big TV flipchart” issue, but it delivers buckets of laughter all the same. Say hello to Scrawl.

In Scrawl, everyone starts with a card containing a weird, abstract prompt like “duck face” or “an angry barbecue.” You draw it on a dry-wipe card, then pass it along. The next player writes a guess for what they think your picture is, then passes it on again. The next player draws that guess, and so on, until your original card comes back to you — usually in a completely unrecognisable state.

It’s part drawing game, part telephone game, and completely ridiculous. Because the prompts are so odd, things go off the rails almost immediately, and that’s where the fun really happens.

What I love most is that everyone’s always doing something — no one’s sitting around waiting their turn. You’re either drawing or guessing, laughing the whole way through. There is a scoring system, but honestly, we’ve never cared about it. Scrawl is about the chaos and the giggles, not the points.

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There’s a lot to love about the old family favourites, but if you’ve ever wished they had just a little more spark, a little more something new, these games are a great place to start. Whether you’re introducing your family to modern board gaming or just looking for a twist on a familiar feeling, there’s a whole world beyond the classics waiting to be explored.

We’d love to hear what you think — which of these modern picks are you tempted to try first? Or do you have your own favourite alternative we should check out? Drop your thoughts in the comments or tag us over on Instagram so we can see your picks too!

💡 Looking to make your games work better for your family? Check out Jess' look at House Rules and how bending the rulebook can enchance your gameplay!