Jon Purkis

Game Expert

Jon Purkis is a Board Game YouTuber based in London, England. For the past ten years, Jon has managed his YouTube channel Actual Lol, where he shares board game reviews and other related content to his over 136k followers. His content focuses on modern board games and is suitable for those who are new to the hobby and seasoned gamers alike. Jon previously worked as a Communications Manager for the critically-acclaimed board game, Fog of Love. He is also a freelance comedy writer with experience writing sitcoms for TV on the BBC, Cartoon Network, and Comedy Central.

Professional Achievements

  • One of the biggest board game reviewers in the world
  • Has been reviewing board games on YouTube for 10 years

Favorite Piece of Advice

Forget Monopoly, there's a whole world of incredible modern board games to explore.

wikiHow's Editorial Process wikiHow partners with over 1000+ experts from a wide range of fields to ensure our content is accurate and based on well-established research and testimony. Content Managers conduct interviews and work closely with each expert to review information, answer reader questions, and add credible advice. Learn more about our editorial process and why millions of readers trust wikiHow.

Forum Comments (2)

The best games to play at sleepovers
A game that would be fun for teenagers are hidden traitor games—like The Resistance or One Night Ultimate Werewolf. They’re a bit like Among Us, which has obviously been popular with teens. In these games, a couple of players are secretly traitors, trying to lie to their friends without being found out, while everyone else tries to expose them. It’s all about conversation—accusations, bluffing, lying to each other's faces. It can definitely get heated, but I think teens would have a blast with them. I would’ve loved to play those games at that age.
What are the best board games of all time?
That’s a tough one! I do have personal favorites, but I’m always a little hesitant to claim “best of all time” publicly, since games can be so subjective. I'll try to stick with more universal picks. So, I’d say Pandemic is one of the best of all time. It’s a cooperative game about trying to save the world from diseases (it came out long before COVID) but it’s widely considered the definitive cooperative board game. Another one would be Ra, an auction game set in ancient Egypt, where you’re collecting items to build the best civilization. It’s fantastic. And, if I could pick one more, I’d go with Codenames. You play on teams with a clue giver who gives one-word hints to help their team guess certain words in a grid. It’s a race against the other team, and it’s fascinating both to give and interpret the clues. Just a super fun and clever team game.

Co-authored Articles (9)

2 Player Uno Rules & How to Win

Plus, learn the subtle differences in how the Action cards workWhen it comes to playing a fun, competitive card game like Uno, you might think that the more players you have, the better. But is that really true, or can 2...

How to Make a Board Game: Prototyping, Playtesting, & Publishing

Create your own game to have fun and play with friendsDo you have an idea for the next big tabletop game and want to bring it to life? Making a board game can be a lot of fun, and it’s pretty easy to get started with y...

24 Creative Game Night Ideas for Family & Friends

Group activities to turn your living room into the ultimate fun zoneLooking for ideas to shake up your next game night? Whether you’re playing with your family or a group of friends, we have all the best game ideas for...

15 Best Dice Drinking Games to Play at Your Next Party

Spice up tonight's get-together with an awesome dice game You're hanging out and having a few beers. It's a good time, but conversation is starting to lag. Why not try a drinking game to break the ice and get the party s...

50 of the Best Games to Play with Seniors and Elderly People

Fun games to keep seniors engaged and entertained If you have a senior in your life who you love, or if you’re an older adult yourself, you may be looking for some fun senior-friendly games. Games can help older adults...

How to Play UNO House Rules (with Fun Options to Try)

Plus, exciting variations for a standard UNO gameIf you’re looking for a way to customize your UNO game, then playing the House Rules version of the game is the perfect choice. While the basic game is the same, UNO Hou...

The 30 Funniest Board Games for Your Next Gathering

Take a look at these hilarious games for adults and kids!So, you’re planning a fun night with friends. Are there any games you can play that are totally fun and absolutely ridiculous? You bet! Take a look at the list o...

30+ Best Date Night Games for Couples

Make the most of your date night with these games & activities You can't go wrong with the classic dinner and a movie, but if you really want to make date night unforgettable, invite your date to play an exciting board g...

21 Solo Board Games & Card Games to Play By Yourself

Single-player RPG, adventure, and horror games to entertain youSometimes, you’re in the mood to play a board game but have no one to play with…and that’s when solo board games come in! Board games designed to play ...