The last decade has seen an explosion in the popularity of board and card games that aren’t just the traditional Christmas assortment. Families seeking interesting, actually fun alternatives to Monopoly and Trivial Pursuits have embraced the German-designed classics Catan and Carcassonne, as well as a growing range of exuberant, highly social card games exemplified by the irrepressible Exploding Kittens and the frighteningly timely Pandemic.
And now, with successful, critically acclaimed video games such as Slay the Spire and Wildermyth drawing key design principles from board games, it’s the perfect time to tempt the most stubborn console and PC owners away from their screens.
Recently I asked video game designers on Twitter for their favourite board and card games to add to my own recommendations. Here then, are 10 examples worth investing in for the festive season, most aimed at teenagers and adults but all fabulously entertaining whether your players are veterans of Cluedo or Call of Duty.
Dungeon Mayhem (Wizards of the Coast, £15, 2-4 players)
From the creators of Dungeons & Dragons, this is a simple but enjoyably competitive card combat game in which players choose one of four characters and then battle other participants with a range of attack and defence cards, as well as devastating power moves. It’s easy to learn, fast-paced and more tactical than it sounds, and there are expansion packs to add variety later on.
The Quacks of Quedlinburg (Schmidt, £35, 2-4 players)
When I asked video game designers for their favourite board games, this one came up most often. Each player takes on the role of a quack doctor trying to create the ultimate healing potion. Everyone must blind draw ingredients from a pot to add to their mixtures, but while some additions increase the value of their potions others will eventually explode, so each draw is a gamble. It’s a really fun game, with lots of tension and a clever “catch-up” mechanic to help quacks who’ve fallen behind.
Escape the Dark Castle (Themeborne, £25, 1-4 players)
Designed to capture the look and feel of early 1980s tabletop role-playing adventures, escape the Dark Castle is a cooperative game in which up to six characters (each with different stats for Might, Cunning and Wisdom), must break out of the eponymous building while avoiding deadly traps and deciding together the best course of action. Each turn, a chapter card is played, which gives a little narrative and a set of options – like a “choose your own adventure” book. I love the visual style of the game, and the fact that it’s cooperative makes a nice change for families prone to board-tipping tantrums.
Codenames (Czech Games Edition, £16, 2-8 players)
If you like team-based deduction games but are a bit bored of Pictionary or Heads Up!, this is a really fun alternative. Twenty-five word cards are placed on the table and team leaders must attempt to describe the words belonging to their own side without accidentally helping their opponents. It’s filled with social interaction so great for parties. Alternatively, try Monikers (CMYK, £25, 4-20 players), which can get even more loud and lively.
Colt Express (Ludonaute, £30, 2-6 players)
Another popular choice with video game designers, this Wild West adventure has competing bandits attempting to hold up the same train, shooting and punching each other in their rush to get rich. In a similar style to turn-based strategy games such as XCOM and Into the Breach, players have to pre-plan their actions, utilising the special abilities of their characters. It’s fast-paced and accessible, and with its 3D locomotive model, it has real visual appeal.
Incan Gold/Diamant (Sunriver Games, £30, 3-8 players)
Combining luck, gambling and bluffing, and a setting that’ll be familiar to anyone who’s watched an Indiana Jones film over Christmas, Incan Gold (also available under the name Diamant) has players exploring a series of ruined temples, going deeper and deeper in search of valuable jewels. The further you explore, however, the more likely you are to encounter a deadly snake or mummy, so you need to know when to get out with the spoils. It’s all played with cards, so you don’t need tons of space, and it’s really well-balanced for family game nights. A nice alternative to this might be Saboteur (Mayfair games, £10, 3-10 players) – a treacherous gold mining card game with a hint of Among Us.
Santorini (Spin Master, £30, 2-4 players)
If you love world-building strategy sims such as Populous or more recently Islanders or Valheim, this is the one for you. The players are Greek gods competing to construct a city for their followers, using various strategies to create the tallest buildings. The board comes with lovely little building blocks to make the 3D towns, and although the instructions are very simple, the structure allows for a huge array of tactics and outcomes. A cool alternative is the Japanese city-building game Machi Koro.
Downforce (Restoration Games, £30, 2-6 players)
If you have lots of driving game fans in your household, Downforce should appeal. Players bid on six F1 cars taking part in a race, then “drive” their vehicles by placing cards which have instructions on how many spaces they can move. It sounds simple, but there’s also a mid-race betting mechanism to add extra tension, and to win you need to plan your racing strategy very carefully. Like a board game version of Mario Kart, the whole family can play, and last minute changes in fortune will have you all yelling at each other – in a good-humoured way obviously. If you’re not into cars, try Camel Up, a similar concept but with, um, camels.
Azul (Plan B, £35, 2-4 players)
One of the most gorgeous looking titles on our list, Azul is billed as an abstract strategy game in which everyone competes to build beautiful mosaic designs from a range of tiles bought from centrally placed factories. In order to earn points, players must complete rows of matching tiles and then transfer the pieces to their wall. There are similarities with block matching video games such as Bejeweled and Candy Crush Saga but in a more refined and thoughtful environment.
Starship Samurai (Plaid Hat, £35, 2-4 players)
There are lots of branded sci-fi board games out there with Star Wars, Star Trek and Alien all well represented, but I’m recommending this entertaining space war title instead, mostly because it has giant samurai battle mechs. Players represent different races attempting to control a distant galaxy through conflict and cunning. The mech figures are lovely and there’s an expansion pack if you get completely addicted.
Honorable mentions
There are so many more board games that will capture the imagination of video game fans. Among those suggested to me by multiple game developers were: Splendour, Organ Attack!, Railroad Ink, Century Spice Road, Cutthroat Caverns, Forbidden Island, The Quest for El Dorado, Skull and King of Tokyo.
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