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We’ve taken a good few recommendations from this thread over the Xmas break. Port Royal has probably been the favourite closely followed by carcassone (got the big box and working up through the expansions). Enjoyed Kingdomino and exploding kittens too.
Not seen Ingenious mentioned so far and that’s a big favourite of ours. Simple concept but can get very tactical towards the end of the game.
This will either inspire you, or put you right of board games 🙂
Link to a vid..
heroquest
Wow. Lasted 4 seconds before he got switched off!
Anyhow, we got Citadels over Christmas. Only played it once but it has potential.
Not sure if it has been suggested before (have only skim-read the thread), but if anyone likes the TV show Taskmaster I can highly recommend the game. Not quick to play, and can get quite messy, but lots of fun (especially after a few drinks)
@bigh If you are interested in Gloomhaven, but put off by the cost then Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion is probably for you as it is roughly half the price, but still sounds like it is awesome!
Disclaimer; I have not bought or played either, but would love to.....
Thanks, another added to the list 😀
Played Just One last night. I really rate this, it’s a dead simple game which works well with a high player count and perfect for getting non-gamers gaming.
On the strength of that advice... I bought Just One yesterday in an attempt to lure my 8 and 10 year olds away from the Xbox...
Result! What a great little game. Whole family just spent a very happy couple of hours gaming. 7 to beat.... 🙂
Thanks @cougar
(-:
Right? First time I played it was with like 14 people over a big table, I came away frobbing the Internet for prices.
My absolute favourite genre of game is one that you can teach inside of a minute but then keeps folk scratching their head for ages. Beyond a four-player head count for families / casual gamers, Just One is a no-brainer here.
Your reply makes me happy, thank you.
Not sure if 7 Wonders has been mentioned yet. On the face of it the gameplay is complex but once learned, it is actually very simple. We are now at the stage of experimenting with different strategies to win...this is from someone who normally avoids board games...
hard to argue with that tbh 🤣Link to a vid..
heroquest
I haven't played the actual board game, but the computer version of Root is quite interesting, I'm playing on iPad, against computer and multiplayer.
It's complicated, each faction has its own rules.
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/237182/root
https://store.steampowered.com/app/965580/Root/
HTRBM!
Anyway, Terraforming Mars.
Wow.
Quite complex, just played through for the first time and only really 'got' the scoring system toward the end.
Very nicely presented, good balance between several different elements - card management, allocation of funds, various side 'quests' that can swing the final outcome.
Biggest challenge for me was realising the extent to which the game can be closed down by those with an a decent advantage.
Very impressed.
The most complex game I've enjoyed so far, but not overwhelming by any means.
It all makes perfect sense and I'm looking forward to another bash.
Highly recommended.
Supposedly a fantastic game let down by poor quality components. I've never actually played it.
Did you get Catan to the table yet?
In related news,
If anyone's looking for a really light, family friendly / non-gamer friendly game, Tesco are kicking out a thing called Tension cheaper than anywhere else I've seen it. If you've ever seen the game show Tenable on TV it's basically that. You get a card with a subject which might be "car manufacturers" or "countries beginning with A" and ten answers, the other team then has an egg-timer minute to name as many as they can.
It's fluff, but it's fun accessible fluff and it's gone down a storm here. There's several spin-off games too like Tenable Food or Tenable TV. I've hoovered them up, stuck them all in the base box and house-ruled the addition a roll of a die to select which question category you get.
☝☝ typo, "Tension Food or Tension TV"
If anyone wants a used once Terraforming Mars game, send me a PM.
We're currently enjoying Catan with C&K expansion for when we don't want to think too much.
Brass Lancashire and It's a Wonderful World for when our brains are fresh.
Zombie Kidz.
Eldest's favourite.
Monopoly is a bit of a running joke within board game communities, but its single biggest problem is that everyone thinks they know how to play when in actual fact someone read the rules once back in 1927 and it’s been handed down by word-of-mouth ever since. Not playing by the actual rules is one of the reasons a game can last for a week
Our youngest loves monopoly. Good for his maths (he's six). It's pretty good for encouraging a bit of forward planning as well.
Standard rules - game done within an hour, usually.
The only minor mod we make is that auctions start at the ticket price. Prevents silliness ("nobody buys, everybody auctions, everything sells for £1")
We have got the Monopoly Deal card game for when we are in the camper, its good fun and doesn't take up much room
Supposedly a fantastic game let down by poor quality components. I’ve never actually played it.
Did you get Catan to the table yet?
Err, possibly a bit flimsy, but nothing outrageous. It belongs to a mate - there's talk of laminators and 3D printed pieces.
In Wales atm, also had a go at Potion Explosion, pretty good, nicely presented.
I'd have to have a few more goes before committing to it though.
Managed a quick go of Catan - love the sheep picture on the replacement tile!
I've really got into Star Realms. Deckbuilding that's simple yet complicated enough to hit the right notes for me. If anyone's up for some digital games give me a shout.
A mate bought Flamme Rouge, really good fun. Need to try it out with a couple more players.
I've got Star Realms on that Steam I think? Can't remember if it's just the free starter or the full thing. Like most of my extensive Steam library, I've never played it.
Managed a quick go of Catan – love the sheep picture on the replacement tile!
I don't remember that at all now. You'll have to send me a pic. If it's even remotely arty then it's almost certainly not my doing, might've been someone I lent it to. It's been round the block a few times has that set.
Thread Bump!
Is Cards Against Humanity any good?
If you enjoy Pandemic or any of the Forbidden Series, have a look at Burgle Bros.
The designer was inspired by Matt Leacock's games and acknowledges him in the game rulebook.
I think it's a better game.
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/172081/burgle-bros
A bit of Googling would suggest that Cards Against Humanity may not be particularly family friendly.
Any suggestions for a family game? We like Port Royal, Carcassonne, King/Queen Domino, Ticket to Ride, Citadels etc.
Something simple that you can play for an hour would be ideal.
Edit
Anyone played this?
Any suggestions for a family game?
Downforce - a great fun racing game and you can be very sneaky.
Burgle Bros as the link above.
Forbidden Island/Desert/Sky
Is Cards Against Humanity any good?
CAH's USP is that it's just Wrong. The idea is that you get a question, everyone submits an answer from their hand and the winner is voted on. I've just pulled three answer cards at random from my set and they were "used knickers", "foetuses" and "the Jews."
It can be hilarious with the right audience (and lots of alcohol). It can fall very, very flat. It is absolutely not a family game.
Apples to Apples is essentially the same game only kid-friendly.
Any suggestions for a family game?
What ages, player count?
12, 14 and adults. 4 of us.
I haven't played Jaws but I believe it's half-decent for what it is. The Works often boots it out for little money IIRC.
Exploding Kittens is quite family safe, although not with the NSFW pack added in.
My problem with CAH is that the game takes too long. It needs to be shorter so that it's finishing before you start to sober up.
Have got already Exploding Kittens 🙂
That weight at 4 players... Small World? Sagrada? One of the Azuls?
I got Mysterium for Christmas last year and rather like it, it's kinda abstract Cluedo. Often on offer in various places.
Again, I haven't played it, but there's a new Gloomhaven called something like "Jaws of the Lion," supposed to be a more accessible version of GH at a not-stupid price.
My problem with CAH is that the game takes too long.
You're not playing until you exhaust the entire black deck are you?
CAH is as long at you want it to be. I don't think there's an actual end-game win condition in the rules, even. Play until you've had enough or decide ahead "we'll have x rounds" and start with a black deck of x times player count.
Arriving tomorrow is Ticket to ride anniversary edition. I'm sure many here have already played it but I'll let you know my impression
I haven't played the 15-year Anniversary edition which I assume you've just bought, but I have the 10-year edition and a couple of regular ones. Ostensibly the Anniversary edition is exactly the same game only with nicer components.
It's a classic game, it's been a 'gateway game' for a long time for a reason.
Just bought Azul. Jaws looks a little "involved" for Boxing Day afternoon.
i'm trying to ride this thread too now as XMas approaches.
looking for party esque games for larger numbers of people (6+). with a realtively quick turnover per round. (so avoiding the traditional board game, 2 hr strategy etc)
others games that would work so more along this theme please?
Just One
Jungle Speed
Ligretto
Exploding Kittens
Perudo
secondly, has anybody played "Silver"? if I combine multiple packs, can I increase the player numbers like i can with exploding kittens? is it aimed at the 12 year market, or will adults be able to play and enjoy by themselves?
Cranium? That ticks your boxes so long as you've got an even number of players as it's up to four teams of 2 players each.
I don't have many higher-player count games, it's a it of a hole in my collection. Often it involves expansions. Carcassonne can be quick if you draw your next tile immediately after playing so that you have the rest of the round to think about it, but you'd need something like the Inns & Cathedrals expansion to give you a sixth set of meeple and sufficient tiles to keep it playable.
A roll-n-write maybe? Anything that has simultaneous play will mean that player count doesn't overly matter. It's not a party game exactly but, "Welcome To..." perhaps?
Perudo
I love Liar's Dice even though I'm terrible at it. I wouldn't class it as a 'party' game though due to the knockout mechanic.
Oh, Telestrations? That's basically Chinese Whispers meets Pictionary. Little downtime because everyone plays at once. I think that caps out at 8 players.
I'll ask in the FB group.
I love Liar’s Dice even though I’m terrible at it. I wouldn’t class it as a ‘party’ game though due to the knockout mechanic.
I taught people to play it by reducing dive count for higher numbers, and stopping the game once the first person was fully eliminated ensuring there were no people just hanging around.
Just to add to my own collection of similar games, SCRAWL is a good game for a reasonable number of people.
I don’t think Gloomhaven is expensive for what you get. I’ve probably enjoyed over 120 hours of gaming so far! And nowhere near the end of the campaign. Frosthaven is greatly anticipated!
Honestly, I've never played it (and would love to). I wasn't suggesting that it wasn't worth it, rather that it's perhaps on both the spendy and the heavy side for family gamers more used to Carcassonne.
gloomhaven is ace, mansions of madness is really good, zombioide is a good fun family fave
for lighter stuff
bears vs babies
happy little dinosaurs
munchkin
organ attack
for getring folks into co-op dungeon crawling with super easy gameplay, escape the dark castle is really jolly
I have Mansions of Madness, but never really gelled with it.
I have Eclipse 2nd edition arriving for Christmas. 🙂
Read the thread and not sure it's come up yet so. It's a little different but sweajnr (8) loves Labyrinth. Might be best for 10 and under but I know adults that play it as well (there's lots of subtle ways to make it easier / harder / longer / shorter)
For 4 players I would recommend Quest for Eldorado which is a deck building race game.
For 4-6 players Mission Red planet 2nd edition is a real fun role selection/area control game where you can really mess up other people’s plans.
Cheaper card base games we like include The Crew and Hanabi both of which are cooperative.