These Classic Board Games Are Party Favorites Again
From cherished classics like Chess and Monopoly to new favorites like Speak Out and Cards Against Humanity, put away your screens and gather for a good old-fashioned board game. No matter your preference, you'll enjoy a break.
From cherished classics like Chess and Monopoly to new favorites like Speak Out and Cards Against Humanity, put away your screens and gather for a good old-fashioned board game. No matter your preference, you'll enjoy a break.
- Unlock (Cooperative/Exploration/Puzzle, Suitable for 2-6 players, a great puzzler)
This incredibly popular puzzle game supports 1-6 players. As a cooperative escape-room board game, the rules are simple: simply search the room and find items. The game is filled with puzzles that require players to solve to find the right path and escape. This game can also be integrated with an app, allowing players to receive clues through voice prompts, making the game even more immersive. Recommended for escape-room lovers or puzzlers looking to embark on a grand tabletop adventure together.
- The Game of Life
How could we not include life in this roundup? We remember playing this game as kids and dreaming of all the possibilities (and responsibilities) of growing up—college, marriage, children, insurance! In this classic game, each player receives a plastic car that they can move around the game board, representing the various stages of life, from choosing a college to enjoying a sweet retirement. The premise is to make smart decisions throughout life and ultimately be the player who retires first and has the most money. It's a great game for kids to learn life lessons in an approachable way, and it's sure to spark some great conversation when played as a family.
- Resistance: Avalon (Language/Deduction/Negotiation/Medieval/Teamwork, Suitable for 5-10 players, Upgraded Werewolf, Better Than Werewolf)
Avalon, an expansion to Resistance, adds characters and corresponding skills to the original game, introducing a new setting. Avalon is an important island in Arthurian legend, a sacred place in Celtic mythology, and a central belief in the ancient Druid religion. King Arthur, the legendary king of England, and his subjects, including Merlin, must complete quests to achieve victory and lead them to their final "Utopia." Meanwhile, his evil minions, led by their leader, Mordred, must hide within the sanctuary, waiting to sabotage the quest or assassinate Merlin to thwart the king's plans.
- Codename (Card/Deduction/Espionage/Word Game for 2-8 Players, Popular Party Game)
This word-guessing game, a hit game from the past two years, is now the top-rated party game on BGG and has been translated into 16 languages. It's also a game I frequently recommend. Before the game begins, players are divided into two teams. Each team elects a captain, and 25 words are displayed on the table. The captain guides his teammates to guess their own words using the clues on the board. The team that completes the game the fastest wins.
This game, which tests teamwork and stimulates creative thinking, has simple rules and is easy to learn. Subsequent releases of the graphic and two-player versions further enhanced the game's fun while retaining the core gameplay. "Operation Duo" in particular has surpassed the base version in ratings on BGG. This transformation of the party game into a two-player cooperative game, while retaining the essence of "Operation," shifts the competitive mechanics to a cooperative one, allowing two players to effectively issue orders, while also incorporating a new scoring system. Its success as a party game is no accident. As a game that explores the mind, it possesses its own unique charm, perfectly suited to fostering a rapport among familiar players.
- VITA MORS (Life and Death) (Language/Teamwork/Middle Ages/Voting, Suitable for 3-6 players, Exquisite tokens and novel mechanics)
As night falls, a rhythmic knock echoes from the door. Opening the door, a doctor wearing a black cloak and a long, bird-beaked mask appears... The story of "Vita Mors" is inspired by the Black Death, a major calamity during medieval Europe. The eerily clad plague doctor is both a symbol of hope and a symbol of the terror of death's arrival.
In this game, each player takes on the role of a Death Grim Reaper and takes turns manipulating the plague doctor. The host, in turn, guides the plague doctor through patient visits and diagnosis. All participants then vote and exercise their privileges to determine whether the patient lives or dies. The game ends when one player completes their faction's mission. As a small, attractive board game, it's captivating, attracting the attention of prominent figures. The coins and plague doctors inside are irresistible. It's also easy to play and carry, making it a great choice for casual games with friends at gatherings or during a short break. Even with a large group, there's no need for lengthy discussions. The game's unique setting and mechanics, combined with the ability to customize character skills and even turn the tide in critical situations, have made it a very popular original Chinese board game. Let's play the role of a doctor and decide the final outcome of "life and death."
