Continuing my earlier post, here are some games that effectively take elements from your favorite family board games and improve upon them for a much more rewarding experience. If you are interested in getting into hobby board gaming, this is a great resource to find out where to start. Enjoy!
I’m not advocating anyone give up Chess, it is probably one of, if not the most balanced and complex game in the world, and Checkers is pretty darn good too. However, if you are looking for a modern board game equivalent, take a flyer on Hive. It is a 2 player abstract game like Chess and Checkers, but without a traditional board and using “insects”.
Each insect has a special movement ability, like Chess, and a player wins once the opponent’s queen is completely surrounded. The game is easy to teach with quality tiles that won't get damaged with repeated use. Best part? You don't even need a board!
Each insect has a special movement ability, like Chess, and a player wins once the opponent’s queen is completely surrounded. The game is easy to teach with quality tiles that won't get damaged with repeated use. Best part? You don't even need a board!
Charades, the ultimate family party game. However, let’s face it, there is a portion of the population that hates being goofy and acting things out. These people are a nightmare for Charades, but Concept helps alleviate this problem.
Instead of acting, you have a board with a vast array of, well, concepts that people will attempt to convey a word or idea. No talking is necessary, no acting, just creativity and ingenuity. This one is a blast at parties and is great for a change of pace, especially for those who don’t want to make themselves look like a damned fool in front of everyone.
Instead of acting, you have a board with a vast array of, well, concepts that people will attempt to convey a word or idea. No talking is necessary, no acting, just creativity and ingenuity. This one is a blast at parties and is great for a change of pace, especially for those who don’t want to make themselves look like a damned fool in front of everyone.
Sorry is the ultimate “screw your friends over” game that many of us loved…until someone else screwed you over. A lot of our childhood favorites relied on moving around a board until someone won, and I think Survive: Escape from Atlantis improves upon this on every front. The point of Survive is to get all of your pieces from a central island to one of the 4 small islands on the edge of the map.
The catch? You can only move 3 spaces at a time (1 if you’re swimming in the water) and every other player is trying to keep you from getting there safely. Some highlights include: Flooding tiles and forcing your opponents into the water, destroying boats with whales, and eating swimmers with sharks. Survive blends the strategy that Sorry is missing while keeping multiple ways to really inconvenience your friends. Bonus: You never have to say Sorry!
The catch? You can only move 3 spaces at a time (1 if you’re swimming in the water) and every other player is trying to keep you from getting there safely. Some highlights include: Flooding tiles and forcing your opponents into the water, destroying boats with whales, and eating swimmers with sharks. Survive blends the strategy that Sorry is missing while keeping multiple ways to really inconvenience your friends. Bonus: You never have to say Sorry!
This one is cheating a little bit, because Telestrations is basically Pictionary with a tiny twist. You still get a clue that you must draw, but there’s a catch: you’re not the only one drawing. After receiving a word, you will draw it, then pass your booklet to the left. That person will guess what your drawing is, and the next person will draw based on the guess. Hilarity ensues.
Telestrations includes everything you need to play, including dry-erase booklets, markers, and cards with clues. There is also a 12-Player party pack that is worth the investment because this game only gets more fun with more people. For a crazy twist, some people play this game with Cards Against Humanity cards, for those of you who enjoy games that are horrendously inappropriate.
Telestrations includes everything you need to play, including dry-erase booklets, markers, and cards with clues. There is also a 12-Player party pack that is worth the investment because this game only gets more fun with more people. For a crazy twist, some people play this game with Cards Against Humanity cards, for those of you who enjoy games that are horrendously inappropriate.