1. Curses

One of the best board games for college students to play is Curses. Each player has a task card they need to complete, such as explaining why cats are better than dogs or deciding who has the nicest earlobe in the group. The catch is that at the end of each turn, they get to give a “curse” card to another player. That player then needs to perform that curse at all times. The curses can start stacking up, so you may need to speak in an Irish brogue through an intercom, while swatting the invisible mosquito by your ear.

2. Apples to Apples

Another classic board game is Apples to Apples. The winner of this game depends on the sense of humor of the crowd. A word is played and the players need to submit their answer. For example, the word might be “unbelievable,” and the answers could be “My Bathroom,” “Stonehenge,” and “Infomercials.” You then need to decide which answer is funniest or most relevant, depending on how you play. For me, I’d say “My Bathroom.”

3. Catch Phrase

This game is small so when it comes to space in your dorm, it’s a no-brainer. To play Catch Phrase, you either divide into two teams or pairs. Each person needs to describe the word that appears on the screen before time runs out. They can’t say the word(s) in the answer but need to describe it until someone guesses.

4. Quelf

The first time I played Quelf was when another student brought it into a study hall of mine during high school. It’s a hilarious game. To start you choose a player, such as Mrs. Pickle Feather or Super Ninja Monkey. As you roll and move across the board, you need to complete the task that the card says. It may be trivia, a group discussion or a performance.

5. Loaded Questions

My family loves the game Loaded Questions. When I brought it to college, my roommate and I crammed 15 friends into our room and started to play. This board game for college students unleashes your creativity. When asked a question by the player, everyone writes a response. The player then needs to guess who said what. For example, if asked what book you’d want to take on vacation, you’re answer might be “The Encyclopedia of African Squirrels: Volume 3.”

6. Cards against Humanity

It is a running commentary that to play this card game, you have no soul. Cards Against Humanity is similar to Apples to Apples but is not for the faint of heart. It’s great for college students who have a twisted sense of humor or the understanding that anything goes. To give you a tame example, the card played might read “What are my parents hiding from me?” The winning answer might be, “Peanut Butter Jelly Time.”

7. (beyond) Balderdash

Both Beyond Balderdash and Balderdash are great board games for college students. Players draw a card and everyone needs to write down what they think the word means. It could be a word such as “philtrum,” an abbreviation like SLUF or a name like Henry Perky.

Board games can bring friends together and fill a dorm room with laughter in seconds. All my friends loved coming to my dorm room to play these wild and fun games. What are some other good board games to keep in your dorm?