It’s the Friday before Christmas and you’re still looking for presents, right? We’ve all been there. Well, some of us have been there. The Type A members of our editorial staff have been keeping things locked down for months, but what about the rest of us? Yes, I went. Fortunately, board games are always a good gift and come in their own box. Just add wrapping paper. So we’ve rounded up some of our favorites from the past year to help you shop for the whole family (and add some fun to your stocking, too).
for dad
grill license
Publisher: More than a game
Manufacturer’s suggested retail price: $39.99
It’s not peak grilling season, but why not help your dad experience the joy of cookouts no matter the weather with this competitive title from Greater Than Games? All players compete against each other in a battle for neighborhood supremacy. To maximize your points, you’ll need to not only keep track of the recipes you’re using (represented by polyominos that require adequate space to work with), but also know when to move food from the fridge to the grill to the table. There is. An incredibly fun little family game with an attractive look and easy-to-learn gameplay.
for mom
flower garden
Publisher: Horror Guild
Manufacturer’s suggested retail price: $30.00
Ask Mom to Help You Relax flower garden, A great tile placement game where you and your garden buddies compete to create the best garden possible. This means having as large a flower bed as possible and attracting as many bees as possible from the field for pollination. The game’s aesthetic is reminiscent of old-fashioned folk art, and uses a warm, earthy color palette to evoke that atmosphere. Try them out over coffee the day after Christmas, or play together in the garden when the weather warms up.
For siblings
Invincible: Escape from Mars
Publisher: Skybound
Manufacturer’s suggested retail price: $24.99
I’m sure you’ve all gotten over your little squabbles and gotten along with your siblings, but once in a while it’s fun to test your family ties with some fun party games. Invincible: Escape from Mars This is a social deduction game that requires the whole family (starts at 4 players). To return to Earth, you and your fellow Guardians of the Globe must unite. Unfortunately, there are dangerous alien parasites around. last I think we need to bring that mess home. So before you get off the Red Planet, you need to make sure everyone is clean. It’s not as barebones as other games in this genre, and there are lots of little ways to discover who’s who, but the added complexity doesn’t turn this into a fun party game.
For grandparents
seaside
Publisher: Randolph/Hachette
Manufacturer’s suggested retail price: $29.99
The sun, the sea, and the shells. Whether your family is a snowbird, a permanent resident, or just someone who loves visiting the ocean. seaside It’s a great way to bring the beach vibe indoors without all the dirty sand. This is a very simple game. Remove a wooden token from the bag and choose a side to place it in front of you. Each side has its own effects, from simply taking another turn, to redoing another token’s effect, to even creating a Clavitat. As we all strive to build our own perfect marine ecosystem, we need to be able to make the right choices. Every part of the game is made to be sustainable, waterproof, and travel-friendly, so you can play it before or after Christmas dinner, on the plane to Florida, or even on the beach itself.
stocking stuffers
button shy wallet game
I have been a Button Shy evangelist for many years now. Their unique approach to truly bite-sized board games has resulted in some of the most innovative, creative and fun experiences I’ve had at a table. All of them are packed with amazing designs that literally fit in your pocket. In short, here are my five favorites.
Tassie Massey Written by Elizabeth Hargrave – A fun card draft based on historic Victorian flower meanings. Continue rotating the flowers to create the best combination possible. The team-up of Hargrave and Beth Sobel represents one of the best combinations in board games.
Ugly Griffon Inn Written by Scott Almes – You can’t go wrong with any of Almes’ titles in Button Shy’s catalog, but this one in particular stands out to me. This is a solo title where you manage a famous inn and make sure all the customers are happy without getting rowdy. It’s a great way to learn more about more automated board game systems.
picaresque By Amanda Franck and Philip Knapp – A near-perfect atmospheric game, more akin to a micro-TTRPG than a traditional board game. The chosen GM sets the scene for each “trial” that the players must overcome. Each trial is more difficult than the last. It uses card draws instead of dice to represent “defeating” each trial, but the basics and storytelling are very familiar.
family dinner by Phoenicia Rogerson – Another roleplayer, this game has each player having dinner as part of a dysfunctional family. Use ingredient cards to facilitate conversation and try to guess how big this family really is while planning the menu.
Sedlec skull Written by Dustin Dobson – Do something for your sick friend or family member! This game takes place during the height of the Black Death, and your task is to place all the fresh skulls in the crypt. Not only do you want to impress the bone collector with your arrangement, but you also need to make sure it meets the family’s wishes.
Images via their respective owners
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