Forget socks. A good board game is the present that gets opened on Christmas Day and is still coming out of the cupboard in March.
2026 has been a cracking year for the hobby. A word-guessing party game won the Spiel des Jahres, the board game world's equivalent of an Oscar. Reiner Knizia picked up the enthusiast award for a clever tile-laying game. And a sticker-covered village builder charmed just about everyone who tried it.
Below are 14 games we'd happily wrap, grouped by who they're for. Each one comes with the player count, playing time and age rating, so you can check it suits your lot before you buy. Most are on our shelves now, with UK dispatch the next working day.
Best for the whole family
Magical Athlete
2–6 players · 30 minutes · ages 6+ · £25 at MPGames (pre-order, arriving 30 October)
Our number one pick for Christmas Day, and the one we'll be playing ourselves. It's a racing game from Richard Garfield, the designer of Magic: The Gathering, and it's pure, glorious chaos. You draft a team of four ridiculous racers, from a baby to a banana to a rocket scientist, then roll a die and move. The twist is that every racer has a wildly unfair special power that bends the rules.
You play four races, alternating between the “mild” and “wild” sides of the board, and points go to whoever finishes first and second. It takes two minutes to teach, works for ages six to sixty, and shines with five or six players. It's also one of the highest-rated family games of the last few years on BoardGameGeek. Pre-order now and it'll be with you well before Christmas.
Cozy Stickerville
1–6 players · around 45–60 minutes a session · ages 8+
The surprise hit of the year. Everyone works together to build a little country village, and every tree, road and cottage you add goes on the board as a sticker. It was designed by Corey Konieczka, better known for tough sci-fi epics, and was nominated for the 2026 Spiel des Jahres.
There's no way to lose, so nobody storms off before the King's Speech. Each session covers one in-game year, the full story runs ten years, and the board is double-sided so you can play the whole thing twice. Think Stardew Valley, but round the kitchen table.
Castle Combo
2–5 players · 10–25 minutes · ages 10+ · £17 at MPGames
A quick card game where you build a medieval castle in a neat three-by-three grid of cards. Every card scores based on what's next to it, so each pick is a little puzzle. It plays in under half an hour, so it's perfect for the gap between dinner and pudding, and the price makes it an easy extra present.
Mooki Island
2 players · 10 minutes · ages 4+
The perfect stocking filler for little ones, and winner of the 2026 Kinderspiel des Jahres (children's game of the year). A grown-up and a small child take turns drawing cute creature cards and trying to collect the most of each family, while dodging a cheeky spider. Afterwards you get to name the Mookies you've collected on a big poster of the island.
Best for strategy fans
Rebirth
2–4 players · 45–60 minutes · ages 10+
The 2026 Kennerspiel des Jahres winner, the award for more experienced players. Legendary designer Reiner Knizia has made a tile-laying game set in a hopeful future Scotland, where rival clans rebuild the land and its castles. The rules fit on a postcard, but the board gets tight fast and every tile you place opens or shuts doors for your opponents. Two different board sides keep it fresh.
Heat: Pedal to the Metal
1–6 players · 30–60 minutes · ages 10+
A 1960s motor-racing game where you push your engine as hard as you dare, then pay for it when you overheat on the corners. It's quick to learn, genuinely tense and works brilliantly at six players, which is rare for a strategy game. Ideal for the petrolhead who thinks they don't like board games.
Drillers
1–4 players · 30–120 minutes · ages 12+ · £40 at MPGames
Brand new for 2026 from Czech Games Edition, the people behind Codenames. You run a mining operation, drilling down through layers of rock and fighting your rivals for control of the richest seams. Every card does several jobs, so each turn is a juicy decision: drill deeper, stake a claim, or strengthen your deck for later. It's meaty without being overwhelming, and it has a proper solo mode for quiet days after Christmas. Pair it with the Drillers insert for the gamer who likes a tidy box.
Best party games
JinxO (Dito!)
4–7 players · 30–45 minutes · ages 10+
The 2026 Spiel des Jahres winner, and the best Boxing Day game on this list. Each round gives you a category, like “things you wear on your face”, and everyone secretly writes answers on a little three-by-three grid. You score for matching other people, and score extra if exactly one other person thought the same as you. No trivia knowledge needed, just a good read on how your family's minds work. It's called Dito! in Europe and JinxO in English, so look for either name.
Hot Streak
2–8 players · 20 minutes · ages 6+ · £37.50 at MPGames, down from £49.99
From the same publisher as Magical Athlete, and just as daft. Mascots race down the track, but you don't control them. Instead you bet on who'll finish first to fourth, then secretly slip a card into the race deck to nudge things your way. Mascots sprint, swerve, run backwards and knock each other flying. It's a day at the races without leaving the living room, and Nan will win every time.
Codenames (2025 edition)
2–8 players · 15 minutes · ages 10+ · £17.50 at MPGames
The modern party classic, in a fresh new edition. Two teams, two spymasters and a grid of 25 words. Your spymaster gives one-word clues to link as many of your team's words as possible, while you try not to touch the assassin. Rounds are quick, so it's easy to play “just one more” until midnight. If someone on your list doesn't own it yet, fix that this year.
Best for two players
7 Wonders Duel
2 players · around 30 minutes · ages 10+
Still the best two-player game you can buy. You each build an ancient civilisation, and you can win by out-scoring, out-fighting or out-researching your opponent. Three different routes to victory means you're always watching what the other person is up to. If you only buy one game for a couple, make it this. Already own it? The Agora (£17) and Pantheon (£18) expansions are both in stock and add fresh ways to win.
Splendor Duel
2 players · around 30 minutes · ages 10+ · £19.50 at MPGames
A head-to-head version of the much-loved gem-trading game, rebuilt from scratch for two. Grab gems, buy cards and race your partner to one of three winning targets. Great for anyone who enjoyed the original Splendor at a family do.
Sky Team
2 players · around 15 minutes a landing · ages 12+
A cooperative game where you're pilot and co-pilot landing a passenger plane, and you're not allowed to talk about your dice. It won the Spiel des Jahres in 2024 and it's the most tense quarter of an hour you'll spend this Christmas. Perfect for couples who'd rather be on the same side.
Azul Duel
2 players · around 45 minutes · ages 10+ · £21.50 at MPGames
New in for this Christmas. Azul is one of the best-loved family games of the last decade, and this version is built from the ground up for two. You still draft beautiful tiles and fit them into your wall, but now every tile you take is one your partner can't have. It looks gorgeous on the table and makes a lovely gift for any couple who enjoyed the original.
Quick picks
| If you're buying for… | Get this | Players | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The whole family on Christmas Day | Magical Athlete | 2–6 | 30 min | £25 |
| A quick game between courses | Castle Combo | 2–5 | 10–25 min | £17 |
| A big, noisy Boxing Day crowd | Hot Streak | 2–8 | 20 min | £37.50 |
| A word-game lover | Codenames (2025) | 2–8 | 15 min | £17.50 |
| A couple | Splendor Duel or Azul Duel | 2 | 30–45 min | £19.50 / £21.50 |
| A seasoned strategist | Drillers | 1–4 | 30–120 min | £40 |
Christmas shopping tips
- Count heads first. If you regularly have six round the table, skip anything that tops out at four. Magical Athlete, Hot Streak, Codenames and Cozy Stickerville all handle bigger groups.
- Match the weight to the giftee. A meaty game like Drillers can gather dust with a casual player. When in doubt, go lighter.
- Check the age rating. It's usually about the rules, not the content. A bright eight-year-old can often manage a 10+ game with a grown-up's help.
- Order early. Popular games, and award winners especially, sell out in December. Pre-orders like Magical Athlete are worth reserving now.
- Bundle up. Spend over £50 and UK delivery is free, so pair a big box with a stocking filler. Add gift wrap for £3.99 and we'll send it ready to go under the tree.
- No stress if it's wrong. Unopened games can come back within 30 days.
Whatever your table looks like this Christmas, there's a game here that'll get everyone round it. Browse our full range or start with our gateway games under £30 if you're buying for someone new to the hobby. Stuck? Get in touch, tell us who it's for, and we'll point you to the right box. Happy gaming, and merry Christmas!