The latest craze in our family is Banagrams. We have added one twist that makes the game a little harder, and that is the use of “Categories”. When building your crosswords, you have to have at least 3 words in the category. Thus, if the category is “Fruits & Veggies”, you would have to have at least 3 fruits or veggies in your list of words. (For a category like “Car Models”, we allow proper names.)
Also, Acquire is always a great game.
Yes it is! No one I play games with has ever heard of it. There’s a new version that has individual goals and things that speed up gameplay. I have the old bookshelf set from 3M.
This was basically made for you or anyone else who wants to get board game gifts without knowing much about modern board games.
Fixed link.
[QUOTE=Sitnam;13229292
Pandemic[/QUOTE]
Pandemic is a great one because it’s entirely co-operative. The whole bunch wins or loses as a group. That sets it apart from many games.
+1 for Betrayal; it’s a theme-based and atmospheric game, and fun with the right crowd.
I would also suggest Stone Age. Beautiful pieces and boards, dice-rolling (casual gamers usually like dice rolling) and easy gameplay (easier than Axis and Allies). Please, it’s easy to relate to cave men!
Escape from Atlantis: it’s an old game and have just been re-printed. It is good with a social crowd; you are trying to get your people to flee Atlantis on boats or by swimming. Each turn, you move your people and roll a dice to see which sea creature you control. You can then direct that sea creature to chomp on boats or devour people…
Sitting Duck has just been reprinted. You are ducks on a shooting gallery and you’re trying your darn best to stay alive. Players will try to aim at the spot you are at and shoot you, but you can play cards to move ahead, hide behind another duck or find some cover.
Along that same front I just picked up Forbidden Island at Barnes & Noble for $15. It’s cooperative, simple to learn and I haven’t played it yet but it seems elegant in design and strategy. The parts are quality too and makes for a nice gift.
Forbidden Island is essentially a simplified version of Pandemic. It is from the same designer and has many of the same mechanics, but has a far more limited decision tree for each turn.
Blokus is terrific. We love it! Easy to learn but always different when you play it. We also really like Uno, but that’s a card game and not a board game.
I’d recommend checking out the ‘express’ versions of old favorites (Monopoly express, battleship express, risk express) as well as NEW games based upon known titles (Monopoly DEAL, Sorry SLiders, etc). as an avid gamer, I’ve turned some people on to ‘harder stuff’ with gateway games like Settlers of Catan and Ticket to Ride, but most family/friends I encounter during the holidays take to these new spins on old classics much quicker.
The favorite game at our game night is Catch Phrase. The electronic version (which you mentioned). It made an appearance this year at the special Summer Game Night - being played around the fire!
Me and my friends play a board game called “Quelf” once a week.
It’s a hilarious and fun game.
It’s also only 20 dollars at K-mart.
it makes you do all kinds of crazy stuff like get up and act, dance, etc.
I highly recommend it!