Chances are we have all been subjected to a Monopoly fight, a Risk eternity, or a Scrabble dictionary dive in our life. These tabletop fiascos can ruin evenings and quickly turn people off to games in general. There are so many more options out there now, that not only are bad board game nights no longer a problem, but there is no reason not to play some of the newer options.
Board games are a good way to bring people together. They are great for time together that allows you to talk, unlike movies, and requires very little prep, unlike dinner parties.
Recently, board games have been experiencing a rejuvenation. There is an explosion of cool board games out there of all experience levels, time commitment, and kinds. That can be overwhelming, I know. I am here to help!
Here are four board games that will help you break away from the norm.
Catan
No board game list would be complete without Catan. Your basic goal is to earn the most victory points. You do this by building settlements. This game has been around for several decades now, so chances are you know someone who has played and would enjoy playing it again. Catan has a lot of small parts and can look intimidating, but really after a round or two you will get the hang of it. Generally this game will last about 40 minutes. There are several versions and expansions you can use to spice up your game play.
Pandemic
In this cooperative board game you are disease specialists working to contain deadly outbreaks, while racing to find a cure for four diseases. This is a good game to play with older kids. The cooperative element helps everyone get used to working together as a group. Pandemic has several parts and pieces, but don’t let that deter you; this is a great way to spend 30 – 40 minutes. There are also a few different versions of Pandemic in case you want to branch out.
Betrayal at House on the Hill
In this semi cooperative game, you are a group of allies exploring the local haunted house together. When one of your party turns traitorous, you and your fellow heroes will need to do whatever they can to escape the evil-doer’s sinister scheme. There are quite a few parts to this game, from the house tiles to the monster tokens. It is easy to look at it and become discouraged. But never fear; just keep the rule book close (which is wise anyway) and explore away. Just watch out for evil puppets.
Betrayal at House on the Hill is easily one of my favorite games. The fact that you would have to play at least fifty times in order to recreate the same haunt scenario makes it new and interesting each time. I will go ahead and give you this hint now, don’t get trapped in the basement! There is an expansion to this game, which adds more haunts and a whole other level of the house to explore. Game play with this one will range from 40 minutes to an hour.
Organ Attack
Finally, I am going to plug one of my personal favorites. Organ Attack by The Awkward Yeti is just a delightful way to destroy your competitors by killing their organs. Each playing is given their organs at random, and then you take turns playing attack cards on others. Nick Seluk’s quirky humor will make this game a blast. Don’t forget to read the cards, I recommend checking out the Love card, and the Scalding Coffee card. This particular game only has two different sets of cards. It is easy to learn and fairly quick to play. Game play generally will take 20 – 30 minutes. There is an expansion coming in May 2018 that will allow you to play teams. This game is game will have you laughing while winning or losing.
There you are, four board game options that will not only give you a great evening, but they will make you look cool when suggesting them. So, grab 3 – 5 friends and have yourself a board game evening!
If you’re interested in trying out these games for yourself, pick them up through our Amazon affiliate links: Catan, Pandemic, Betrayal at House on the Hill, and Organ ATTACK!
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