Best Board Games Under 90 Minutes

Why short games matter

Short games solve a real problem. They let you fit a full game into the time you actually have, play two or three games in an evening, and get non-gamers to the table without asking them to commit to 90 minutes of rules overhead. Under-90-minute games also work as warm-ups before something heavier, or as a final game when people are tired and just want one more round.

Getting the most out of short games

• Read the rules before guests arrive. A 20-minute game isn't 20 minutes if you spend 15 of them explaining it.
• Budget for two or three plays. Most short games get better on the second run when everyone knows what they're doing.
• Card games and dice games hit this time bracket more reliably than board games. Physical setup adds time that the box estimate usually doesn't include.