By Lakshana N Palat
When the UAE summer heat keeps everyone indoors, boredom can quickly settle in. But don’t worry—family game night is levelling up. A dash of competition, a lot of hilarious moments, or a pinch of strategy, these five board games are guaranteed to turn your indoor evenings into unforgettable adventures. From detectives chasing clues to colorful tile-tile battles and high-stakes train journeys, there’s something here to spark laughter and drama for all ages. So, be prepared for a fun summer, and get them delivered to you as early as tomorrow with a Prime membership..1) Best Overall: Days Of Wonder Ticket to Ride Legacy.All aboard the sassiest summer adventure yet! If you’re melting indoors this UAE summer, Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends of the West is your golden ticket to escape the heat—straight into a fun 12-game railway saga across North America. It’s a full-blown epic with frontier boxes, secret surprises, and just enough rivalry to keep things spicy. Gather your game-night gang (up to 6 players), plot your route, outsmart rivals, and watch your vault (and bragging rights) grow. Easy to learn, endlessly dramatic, and wildly addictive, it’s the perfect way to stay cool and competitive when stepping outside feels like stepping into a toaster. .2) Best Card Game: Exploding Kittens LLC Exploding Kittens Party.Exploding Kittens Party Edition is the kind of chaotic, hilarious energy your UAE summer desperately needs. It’s like Uno’s slightly batty cousin—with more explosions, sabotage, and cats who stare into your soul. This party edition takes the original game and amps it up for up to 10 players, making it the perfect choice for game nights, family drama, or any indoor gathering where the AC is strong and the stakes are higher. Will you defuse the kitten? Or go down in a blaze of feline fury? It’s fast, unpredictable, and totally addictive—exactly how summer game nights should be..3) Awaken Realms ISS Vanguard.Awaken Realms ISS Vanguard is a fun, cinematic space odyssey packed into a box. Ideal for those long UAE summer nights when binge-watching another series just won’t cut it, this game throws you and your crew into the cockpit of a starship on an epic sci-fi campaign. Expect intense story arcs, high-stakes decision-making, jaw-dropping artwork, and modular ship management. It’s cooperative, immersive, and perfect for strategy lovers ready to boldly go where no board game has gone before—preferably indoors with the AC on full blast..4) Best Mystery Game: Ravensburger Scotland Yard Sherlock Homes Edition.Ravensburger Scotland Yard: Sherlock Holmes Edition is a detective drama in a box. Think you’ve got the brains to outwit Sherlock Holmes? Or maybe you’d rather channel your inner Moriarty and stay three steps ahead? In this high-stakes strategy game, 2 to 6 players go head-to-head (or pipe-to-pipe) chasing down—or becoming—the elusive criminal mastermind. Set on the cobbled streets of Victorian London, this special edition takes the classic Scotland Yard game and injects it with 221B-worthy intrigue, complete with Holmes, Watson, and all the foggy suspense you’d expect. Great for kids 8+ and clever adults, it’s fast-paced, cooperative and just the right amount of dramatic—perfect for UAE summer stay-ins. .5) Best Family Board Game: Azul Board Game.Azul is the kind of board game that brings out your inner artist… and your competitive streak. Inspired by the intricate beauty of Portuguese ceramic tiles, this game is equal parts strategy and aesthetic obsession. Don’t be fooled by the pretty patterns, Azul is ruthless in the best way. Two to four players take turns drafting tiles to decorate their palace walls, but there’s only so much beauty to go around. Plan carefully, block your rivals, and try not to hoard tiles you can’t use (unless you like losing points and your friends’ respect). With quick rounds and endlessly satisfying gameplay, Azul is the cool-down game for UAE summers—visually refreshing and mentally stimulating, like air-conditioning for your brain..5 best mattresses for back pain relief in the UAE, 2025 .7 best items to keep your car cool and refreshing in the UAE heat, 2025.UAE kitchen appliances under Dh500: 7 best picks from Amazon Payweek sale .7 best wellness travel buys for UAE jetsetters to beat stress on the go in 2025