The Best Unique Board Games of 2023

Over the last few years, people have been finding new ways to have fun at home, and board games have made a comeback at the top of families’ activity lists. Whether you prefer educational or more laid-back games, there is something for everyone. Here’s a short list of some of the most popular ones for 2023.

Apiary for Deep Thinkers

If you’re a bee lover, this board game is for you. Apiary is a game where hyper-intelligent bees take to outer space to build, explore, and grow. The creator, Connie Vogelmann, was inspired by beekeeping in her backyard. Her grandfather kept bees and was surrounded by them since early childhood. Players need to build a bee civilization by creating a hive-ship, seeding resources, hibernating the bees, and dancing to trade with other bees.

This is Vogelmann’s first game, and it brings a modern twist to traditional board games since human opponents are replaced with challenging moves by an artificial opponent. Vogelmann did her best to keep the actions in the game similar to things bees actually do.

The Fox Experiment for Sciency People

The Fox Experiment is ideal for kids interested in science and animals as it offers the best of both worlds. You play by breeding your own domestic foxes and selecting a pair of fox parents with certain traits in each round. The game was created by Jeff Fraser and designer Elizabeth Hargrave, also known for her bird-collecting game Wingspan.

The Fox Experiment is one of those fun family board games game perfect for all ages. What’s even more fun is that the game comes with beautifully designed cards on which you can write the name of each fox with erasable markers.

The Fashion Game for Fashionistas

This is a Japanese game that is perfect for people interested in fashion. The instructions also come in English. Players get to create outfits and compete with each other. They have access to a variety of colorful clothes and fun accessories to choose from. Players also take turns as the “editor” of a fashion magazine who judges the looks.

The board game was created by independent designer Ryoko Yabuchi, who says that The Fashion Game can be played by both children and adults. Unfortunately, the game is only sold in stores in Japan, so you’ll have to order from Yabuchi’s website if you want to get your hands on it.