11 Modern Tabletop Games Perfect for Your Next Game Night

3. Azul – Abstract Tile-Laying Perfection

Azul turns a night of gaming into pure, tactile bliss. Players draft colorful tiles to complete intricate mosaics—trying to outmaneuver rivals, block their plans, and chain satisfying point combos. It’s an easy teach but packs enough depth that even after a dozen plays you’ll keep discovering clever new tricks. What elevates Azul beyond other abstract strategy games is how every round is a tense, puzzle-like standoff—every piece taken or left behind matters. Gorgeous, chunky components (seriously, picking up those tiles is addictive) and quick thirty-minute game times make it a table favorite. If your group loves games where everyone’s secretly plotting but nobody’s out until the very end, it’s tough to do better than Azul.