I review board games for a living, these are the five I'm playing this Valentine's Day

The Hobbit: There & Back Again | $34.99 at Amazon
This delightful roll-and-write game took me by surprise last year, and now neither my wife nor I can put it down; the idea of a grand adventure, coupled with a cheery art-style, make it the shot of sunshine we need. Designed by industry legend Reiner Knizia, it's incredibly clever despite being oh-so simple. Each session is a 'chapter' based on the book, and they all have unique challenges that twist the mechanics you've come to know. This means it's difficult to get bored, because you've always got some new task to sink your teeth into.

UK price: £29.99 £23.99 at Wayland Games

Sky Team | $32.99 $29.99 at Miniature Market
With love being in the air, it's nice to work together rather than against each other… and this is a solid choice if you'd like to play as a team. You play as a co-pilot duo attempting to land a plane, and dice rolls are used to determine speed, angle of descent, and more. However, these are hidden and you aren't allowed to tell your partner what you've rolled. That means you'll need to come up with a good plan beforehand, as well as trying to figure out what they have based on their actions. As mentioned in our Sky Team review, it's a blast – and a great way to get closer to one another.

UK price: £29.99 £21.59 at Amazon

Paint the Roses | $32.95 at Amazon
What says "Valentine's Day" more than flowers? This florally-themed board game is a great option for February 14, as it's on-theme but relies on you working together. Inspired by Alice in Wonderland, it casts you as gardeners attempting to paint the Queen's roses the right shade (dictated by cards kept secret from one another) before she catches up to you. The problem is, you can't tell each other what you have; you've got to communicate without words, and deduce the answer based on clues laid out by your partner. It's surprisingly gripping, and endlessly replayable.

UK price: £42.99 at Boots

Azul | $31.97 at Amazon
If both of you like a good puzzle, there's nothing better than a session of Azul. As noted in our Azul review, we experienced "plenty of 'one more game, I want to try something' moments in our testing, which had everyone at the table intrigued." While it's a good head-to-head option, trying to outdo your previous score is just as satisfying. Consider this one highly recommended.

UK price: £42.99 at Boots

Patchwork | $29.99 at Amazon
Even several years after playing it for the first time, this is still one of my go-to recommendations for Valentine's Day, or couples. While you're working to get the best score, it's not hugely competitive – if anything, it feels more like a Tetris-style puzzle you're trying to solve. It's dead easy to understand as well, so you can be playing in mere moments. I don't think it'll be something you're always breaking out one game's night, but it's a great start to a romantic evening in.

UK price: £22.99 £18.49 at Wayland Games