Skip to Main Content
Fairfax County logo

Library of Things

Books are our brand, but we have other Things to enjoy as well. Delve into the expanded offerings at Fairfax County Public Library. Last Updated: Apr 1, 2024 2:04 PM

Board Games You Can Borrow

Board games at FCPL.Now available at all regional and community libraries

These tabletop games for all ages offer no-fuss entertainment, whether for a rainy day or a special gathering. From classics like Chess to new favorites like Catan and Codenames, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

CIRCULATION POLICY

  • Games may be borrowed for 3 weeks; they are renewable, if no one is waiting in the holds queue.
  • Games may be placed on hold using the catalog.
  • Please return games to the same branch where they were picked up.
  • All parts and pieces are to be returned with the game.
  • Customer are responsible for the cost of lost games.

7 Wonders

  • photo of 7Wonders gameYou are a leader of one of the seven greatest cities of the Ancient World. Gather resources, develop commercial routes and affirm your military supremacy. Build your city and erect an architectural wonder which will transcend future times.
  • Make the right decisions to lead your civilization to prosperity! Lead one of the seven greatest cities of Antiquity. Develop your civilization on a military, scientific, cultural, and economic level. Once built, will your Wonder bring you glory for millennia to come? No downtime, renewed fun in each game and perfect balance regardless of the number of players.
  • 3-7 players | Ages 10+ | 30-45 minutes
  • Contents: 7 Wonder boards 148 Age cards: 49 Age I cards, 49 Age II cards, 50 Age III cards 78 Coins: 54 Coins worth 1 24 Coins worth 3 48 Military Conflict tokens: 24 Defeats 24 Victories (8 per Age) 1 score pad 3 Description of Effects sheets 1 List of cards and chains sheet 1 rulebook.
  • Learn How to Play video

Blank Slate

  • photo of blank slate gameBlank Slate is the clever party game where you try to predict what others are thinking. Everyone secretly writes a word that completes a phrase on the cue card, but choose your word carefully, you score the most points for matching words with only one other person. In this fun, easy to learn board game you get to think outside the box, but not too far or you won't match words with anyone. Player with the most points wins!
  • Pick one of over 250 Word Cue cards, write the word you think best completes the phrase – and try to match it exactly to another player’s word without giving a single hint.
  • Set Contains: 1 x Score Board, 8 x Dry-Erase Slates, 250 x Double-Sided Word Cue Cards, 8 x Dry-Erase Markers, 1 x Rules.
  • 3-8 players | Ages 8+ | 20-35 Minutes
  • Learn How to Play video

CATAN

  • photo of CATAN gameTrade, build and settle the Island of CATAN in this addictively fun strategy game previously called Settlers of CATAN. Players control their own civilization and look to spread across a modular hex board in a competition for victory points.
  • The basics of CATAN can be learned in just minutes, but it offers enough depth to remain compelling as you explore strategies and tactics for years to come.
  • 3-4 players | Ages 10+ | 60-75 minutes
  • Learn How to Play video

Chess

  • photo of the CHESS gameChess is a two-player strategy game played on a checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an 8x8 grid.
  • 2 players | Ages 6+ | 30 minutes
  • Learn How to Play video

Codenames

  • photo of CODENAMES gameCodenames is a social word game with a simple premise and challenging game play. Two rival spymasters know the secret identities of 25 agents. Their teammates know the agents only by their codenames. The teams compete to see who can make contact with all of their agents first. Spymasters give one-word clues that can point to multiple words on the table. Their teammates try to guess words of their color while avoiding those that belong to the opposing team. And everyone wants to avoid the assassin. The game works very well with 4 players if you prefer to guess without help. Or you can add more players if you prefer lively discussion. 
  • Set Contains: 16 agent cards in two colors, 1 double agent card, 7 innocent bystander cards, 1 assassin card, 40 key cards, 1 rulebook, 1 card stand, 1 timer, 200 cards with 400 codenames.
  • 2-8 players (in two teams) | Ages 10+ | 15-30 minutes
  • Learn How to Play video

Disney Villainous

  • photo of DISNEY VILLAINOUS gameIn this epic contest of sinister power, Take on the role of a Disney villain and strive to achieve your own devious objective. Discover your character's unique abilities and winning strategy while dealing twists of fate to thwart your opponents’ schemes. Find out who will triumph over the forces of good and win it all! Disney villainous is a fun board game for families with kids age 10 and up and is also perfect for more serious board gamers.
  • Characters you love - In this asymmetric board game, choose from 6 iconic Disney Villains - each with their own sinister objectives & goals. Disney Villainous comes with Captain Hook, Maleficent, Jafar, Ursula, Queen of Hearts, and Prince John. The Fate Decks also feature your favorite protagonists like Aladdin, Peter Pan, Ariel, and more!
  • 2-6 players | Ages 10+ | 45-60 minutes
  • Learn How to Play video

Fluxx

  • photo of FLUXX gameA brilliant card game with ever changing rules! This interesting game is easier than ever. With four classic card types that fans love. It starts out simple: draw one card and play one card - but new rule cards quickly make things chaotic.
  • Included in this modern family friendly party game are 100 cute playing cards and instructions for play. 
  • 2-6 players | Ages 8+ | 5-30 minutes
  • Learn How to Play video

Point Salad

  • photo of POINT SALAD gamePoint Salad is a fast and fun card drafting game for the whole family! There are over 100 ways to score points! Players take turns building a salad of veggies and collecting point cards in order to score the most points for the ingredients in their salad! Players may use a variety of strategies and every game of Point Salad is unique!
  • 2-6 players | Ages 10+ | 15-30 minutes
  • Learn How to Play video

Telestrations

  • photo of TELESTRATIONS gameTelestrations is the visual version of the classic “telephone game” where you draw what you see, then guess what you saw to reveal hilarious outcomes! Each player starts with their own erasable sketch book, marker and word card. A roll of the die determines each player’s secret word. The timer gets turned and everyone draws their word. After 60 seconds, everyone passes their book to the player on their left. Then each player takes a few seconds to guess in words(s) what they see, and passes again. The timer is turned and everyone draws the guess.
  • This continues until everyone’s sketch book passes by every player and returns back to its original owner, where it’s time for The Big Reveal. Everyone shares their book and the hilarious miscommunication is revealed. Just like the game of “telephone,” the outcomes are unpredictable and the laughter is contagious!
  • 4-8 players | Ages 8+ | 30-60 minutes
  • Learn How to Play video

Ticket To Ride

  • photo of TICKET TO RIDE gameTicket to Ride is an award winning, cross-country train adventure game. Players collect train cards that enable them to claim railway routes connecting cities throughout North America. The longer the routes, the more points they earn. Additional points come to those who can fulfill their Destination Tickets by connecting two distant cities, and to the player who builds the longest continuous railway.
  • Comes with: 1 Board map of North American train routes, 240 Colored Train Cars, 110 Train Car cards, 30 Destination Tickets, 5 Wooden Scoring Markers, 1 Days of Wonder Online access number, and a Rules booklet.
  • 2-5 players | Ages 8+ | 30-60 minutes
  • Learn How to Play video

Wits & Wagers: Family Edition

  • photo of WITS & WAGERS gameKids as young as 6 can play the Wits & Wagers Family Edition game. No real knowledge required. The answers are numerical, and everyone is making a guess. Get started quickly! Gameplay is very easy to learn, so the game can get going in as little as 2 minutes.
  • The questions are random, and many silly, making it perfect for kids and adults to play together or for grownup game nights!
  • 3+ players | Ages 6+ | 30 minutes

Zingo!

  • photo of ZINGO gameZingo is one of ThinkFun's most popular and bestselling games, and is the winner of an Oppenheim Gold Award and Parents’ Choice Gold Award, among others.
  • It's a fun pre-reading game for ages 4 and up, comes with a very clear and easy to understand instruction manual - you'll be able to play within minutes of opening the box. 
  • Zingo is built to develop critical thinking skills and makes for a fun and challenging activity. Playing will improve language skills through fun and fast placed play.
  • 2-6 players | Ages 4+ | 5-10 minutes
  • Learn How to Play video
Fairfax County seal