# Favorite Board Game? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 17, 2000, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-board-game/37335 "2000-10-17T23:44:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2000, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-board-game/37335/41 "2000-10-19T20:40:13Z")
I have far too short an attention span to abide bored games for long. I own none. Under certain circumstances, such as power outages, hurricanes and family reunions, I can be coerced into playing. Although my personal favorites are Operation (I like games that buzz!) and Mouse Trap, I notice most adults do not indulge in these anymore. Evidently, I like to play games that require some sort of manual skills. Scrabble cures insomnia. The only way I play Monopoly is to cheat like a lyin’ dog-zilla. Keeps me interested. Don’t you think they should change the name of Monopoly to “Microsoft?” ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2000, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-board-game/37335/42 "2000-10-19T20:49:44Z")
In no particular order: [ul] [li]Backgammon[/li] [li]Civilization[/li] [li]Balderdash[/li] [li]Robo Rally[/li] [/ul] and, as an honorable mention, even though it’s not a board game … The Great Dalmuti Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![vix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a88e4f/32.png) [@vix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vix)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2000, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-board-game/37335/43 "2000-10-19T20:54:11Z")
Boggle Master: 25 cubes Scattergories: find an original word beginning with a certain letter in each of 12 categories Claim to Fame: kind of a cross between pictionary and charades, where you must give facts about celebrities Solarquest: like Monopoly in space (!) I also like Outburst, Pictionary and the more traditional Scrabble, Backgammon and Parcheesi. -vix, who’s madly attempting to institute a “Games Night” at her new apartment… ---
**Author:** ![Sn-man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sn-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sn-man)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2000, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-board-game/37335/44 "2000-10-19T20:57:30Z")
Pente Backgammon Trivial Pursuit Scattergories Hugger Mugger (sp) ---
**Author:** ![Gregor\_Samsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@Gregor\_Samsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gregor_Samsa)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2000, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-board-game/37335/45 "2000-10-19T22:08:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SeatTime \* > \*\*Am I the only one that loves **Pictionary**? > \*\* This my lovely wife’s favourite game. We’re getting a tournament going at our Hallowe’en party, apparently. What she doen’t realize, of course, is that while her friends are intellectual university-types who are there for stimulating conversation, mine are pipeliners who are just there to get pissed. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2000, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-board-game/37335/46 "2000-10-19T22:35:43Z")
> [@](#): > > **Dogzilla:** Although my personal favorites are Operation and Mouse Trap, I notice most adults do not indulge in these anymore. Thanks for the reminder. My wife and I have Mouse Trap at home, and have been meaning to play it again. When I was a kid, I used to love putting the whole thing together and setting it off. The actual game could go jump off a cliff; I just loved watching the Rube Goldberg contraption. ---
**Author:** ![MamaHen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@MamaHen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MamaHen)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2000, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-board-game/37335/47 "2000-10-19T23:41:34Z")
Trivia For Dummies. My husband is not much of a trivia person so I thought this one might be fun since he could play and have a chance at winning. Well turns out this is the most fun game I have ever played. The trick is not knowing the answer but being the first to know the answer. Last time my sister and brother-in-law came down after we put the kids to bed we broke out the board games. We usually play Monopoly but this time it was Trivia For Dummies. We had a great time, it was so much fun. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves pressure and excitement in a game. ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Lord\_Davidson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bc8723/32.png) [@Dark\_Lord\_Davidson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Lord_Davidson)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2000, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-board-game/37335/48 "2000-10-20T00:08:14Z")
**Trivia Pursuit, 2000 Genus Edition** Fun for the family…especially when I kick everyone’s ass and they all quit when I have 5 pies and they have only one, or none at all. **Beyond Balderdash** Fun as HELL. I love it…and I’m good at making realistic sounding ideas, too. **Trivia Pursuit, Star Wars Edition** This is where the long years of being a Star Wars buff pay off! Thank you, Trivia Pursuit. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2000, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-board-game/37335/49 "2000-10-20T00:57:32Z")
Candyland 🙂 Life (somewhat akin to Careers, but more fun) Trivial Pursuit Clue ---
**Author:** ![JimmyNipples](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb9ed0/32.png) [@JimmyNipples](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimmyNipples)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2000, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-board-game/37335/50 "2000-10-20T14:53:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by picmr \* > \*\ ***Balderdash**. A game where you are given a _really_ obscure word and must bluff opponents into accepting your made-up definition. I _always_ lose - evidently my bull has an identifiable smell - but still enjoy it. Best played with cunning and intelligent friends. \*\* I have **never** lost a game of Balderdash. I **ALWAYS** win. We took some friends of ours on a 3 day houseboat cruise a few yrs ago. My face still hurts from all the laughing that game caused. ---
**Author:** ![Edwardina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Edwardina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edwardina)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2000, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-board-game/37335/51 "2000-10-20T16:46:30Z")
**Therapy** - the idea is to psychoanalyze your friends. We always have a ball playing it, but it’s best to play with a group who have cast-iron egos. Sample question: “Who in the group do you think is most likely to be hiding a deep, dark secret.” You think of your answer, then the group (or the individual) has to try and figure out who you chose. **Pictionary** **Balderdash** **Outburst** **Trivial Pursuit** **Uncle Wiggly** ---
**Author:** ![Sealemon88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Sealemon88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sealemon88)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2000, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-board-game/37335/52 "2000-10-20T17:36:35Z")
Outpost, the economical game with the bluffing of poker. Fast Food Franchise, the Monopoly game that builds the board layout as the game progresses. Car Wars. Cars blowing each other up. 'Nuff said. ---
**Author:** ![vandal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/858c86/32.png) [@vandal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vandal)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2000, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-board-game/37335/53 "2000-10-21T10:37:06Z")
Axis & Allies. Sans any expansion; I like it pure. Monopoly. The best aspect is bending all the rules. Trivial Pursuit. Especially the movie editions. Scrabble. I totally suck at it, but it’s just too addicting to not play. ---
**Author:** ![lolagranola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ea5d25/32.png) [@lolagranola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lolagranola)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2000, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-board-game/37335/54 "2000-10-21T13:13:32Z")
Taboo. Scattergories. Trivial Pursuit. Backgammon. ---
**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2000, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-board-game/37335/55 "2000-10-21T15:59:51Z")
Are there other games than Scrabble®? For two people, Scrabble® will always be my game of choice. In fact, I will kick your ass in Scrabble®! 😃 For games with more than a duo, I enjoy Monopoly, and Uno is a neat card game with a lot of people. Anyone wanna play e-mail Scrabble®? E-mail me! ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2000, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-board-game/37335/56 "2000-10-21T16:42:56Z")
You should only play Scrabble with Satan if you’re willing to lose. Dang. AND he hogs all the Es. You have been warned. As for odd board games…I like Cosmic Encounter, too. I took the precaution of photocopying the rules and making up six booklets (the unexpanded game allows up to six players) and thus the game goes much more smoothly. In fact, I think that this is a good idea for ANY game that’s not widely known. Most people know the basic rules of Monopoly and Scrabble. I like Dune as well, it’s held up very nicely. I’ve got a few more odd board games, I’d have to look on my shelf to list them all. Uno, the card game, is best with three people. If you have more than three, make sure that you switch seats every now and then so that the same people don’t always sit next to each other. ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2000, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-board-game/37335/57 "2000-10-21T18:45:29Z")
**Settlers of Catan** rules. We have _Seafarers_\* too, and both the 5-6 player expansions, though 3 or 4 player _Settlers_ is still the best. I insist on waiting for _Staedte und Ritter_ to be released in English–playing with the German version means everybody just fights over the translated rules. Waiting eagerly for _Spacefarers,_, too. **Castle of Magic** is a great favorite in our circle. Anybody ever played **Bitin’ Off Heads** or **Devil Bunny Needs a Ham** by Cheapass Games? Probably not enduring classics, but hell, two or three bucks for a game? Who can complain? I’m suprised nobody’s mentioned **Othello** along with all the mentions of chess and backgammon ---
**Author:** ![L714](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dec6dc/32.png) [@L714](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/L714)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2000, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-board-game/37335/58 "2000-10-21T19:00:15Z")
Candyland for sure is my all time fav. You can enjoy it with the kids or get blasted with our friends and play. It’s always a pleasure. It would be a toss up if I had to choose the one I hated the most - either Shoots & Ladders or Risk. Both _really_ get on my nerves ---
**Author:** ![dragonfly98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7bcc69/32.png) [@dragonfly98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragonfly98)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2000, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-board-game/37335/59 "2000-10-21T22:20:22Z")
[ul]\*\* [li]Chess[/li][li]Go[/li][li]Checkers[/li][li]Reversi[/li]\*\*[/ul] ---
**Author:** ![brachyrhynchos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brachyrhynchos/32/376_2.png) [@brachyrhynchos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brachyrhynchos)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2000, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-board-game/37335/60 "2000-10-22T02:40:02Z")
**UBI** - by the makers of Trivial Pursuit (with a geography twist). **UR: Royal Game of Sumer** - an interesting game for two based on getting your chips off the board before your opponent. Blocking moves and killing moves combine with the throw of dice to make a fast moving and exciting game. Also like the classics like Monopoly, Risk, and Parcheesi. Card games are played more often (Hearts, Cribbage, Pinochle, Gin, Poker). Best card game is double or triple solitaire where two or three people play Klondike on their own layout but build on a common foundation. We don’t take turns (too civilized!) but begin the mad scramble to unload all our cards once everyone has dealt their layout. We’ve played this with up to 6 or 7 people who were willing to get on the floor and risk bruising from arms flying. My mom is a real trooper (she was the one who taught us a sense of competitiveness and fair play - sometimes difficult for a child to learn). Once in a while she’ll play Scrabble with me. Now, English is not her native tongue so exchanges like this often occur: Mom puts down _vire_. Me: What’s that? Mom: Vire. _Vire_. You know. You put da vire in da vireplace. On the other hand, she kicks my ass in chinese checkers every time. And she takes no prisoners in UBI or UR. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-board-game/37335.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-board-game/37335.md?page=4)