The board game Gloomhaven was the highest-rated title on Board Game Geek for several years. Its punishing difficulty was perfect for a tactical RPG.

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

Simple Rules: While board games come in all levels of difficulty and complexity, for more casual game nights, it’s best to choose a board game that is easy for most people rather than ones with ...