Board games have long been a staple of family bonding and entertainment. In a world dominated by screens, gifting a board game offers a unique opportunity to bring everyone together, share laughs, and create funny memories.
Types of board games
Strategy Games
These games require players to plan and make thoughtful decisions to achieve a goal. Often competitive, strategy games focus on resource management, long-term planning, and critical thinking.
Examples:
Catan: Players trade and build settlements to gain points.
Chess: A classic game of tactics and foresight.
Suitable for: Players who enjoy problem-solving and complex decision-making.
Cooperative Games
Players work together to achieve a shared goal, fostering teamwork and collaboration instead of competition.
Examples:
Pandemic: Players collaborate to stop the spread of diseases worldwide.
Forbidden Island: A group adventure to recover treasures and escape danger.
Suitable for: Families or groups looking for collaborative and non-competitive fun.
Party Games
These games are light-hearted, fast-paced, and designed for larger groups, often focusing on humor and social interaction.
Examples:
Codenames: Teams guess words based on clever clues.
Cards Against Humanity: A humorous, fill-in-the-blank game for adults.
Suitable for: Parties and gatherings where quick and entertaining gameplay is key.
Abstract Games
These games are typically simple, with minimal reliance on luck or a theme. They focus on pure strategy and mechanics.
Examples:
Go: A centuries-old game of territory control.
Checkers: A straightforward yet strategic game.
Suitable for: Players who enjoy logical and straightforward challenges.
Thematic or Adventure Games
These games immerse players in a story or theme, often featuring elaborate narratives, characters, and settings.
Examples:
Gloomhaven: A rich, story-driven dungeon crawler.
Betrayal at House on the Hill: A spooky game with a twist mid-play.
Suitable for: Those who love role-playing and getting lost in an engaging story.
Deck-Building Games
Players start with a basic set of cards and improve their deck throughout the game by acquiring more powerful cards.
Examples:
Dominion: The original deck-building game where players build kingdoms.
Clank!: Combines deck-building with exploration and adventure.
Suitable for: Card game enthusiasts and fans of strategy games with evolving mechanics.
Worker Placement Games
Players assign workers (tokens or pieces) to different tasks or areas to gain resources or actions.
Examples:
Agricola: Players grow farms and families.
Lords of Waterdeep: A strategic game set in a fantasy city.
Suitable for: Fans of resource management and tactical game play.
Trivia Games
These games test players’ knowledge across various topics.
Examples:
Trivial Pursuit: A classic trivia game with diverse categories.
Wits & Wagers: Combines trivia with betting for a twist.
Suitable for: Quiz lovers and those with a competitive streak.
Movement-Based Games
These games rely on physical skill, such as stacking, balancing, or flicking pieces.
Examples:
Jenga: Players remove and stack blocks without toppling the tower.
PitchCar: A game of flicking tokens to race on a track.
Suitable for: Groups looking for active, hands-on fun.
Legacy Games
Legacy games evolve over multiple sessions, with permanent changes made to the game’s components and storyline.
Examples:
Risk Legacy: Adds new rules and strategies to the classic game.
My City: A city-building game that changes over time.
Suitable for: Families or friends committed to playing a game repeatedly.
Roll-and-Write Games
Players roll dice or flip cards and use the results to fill in a game sheet, often with strategic decisions.
Examples:
Welcome To: A flip-and-write game about building neighborhoods.
Cartographers: Players draw maps based on card prompts.
Suitable for: Compact gaming sessions and those who enjoy puzzles.
Educational Games
These games are designed to teach or reinforce skills, such as math, vocabulary, or history, while being fun.
Examples:
Scrabble: Enhances vocabulary and spelling.
Timeline: Teaches history through chronological card placement.
Suitable for: Families with children or those who love learning through play.
Curious fact
Board games strengthen family bonds
Families that play board games together often report stronger emotional connections. Shared gameplay fosters teamwork, patience, and understanding, turning family game nights into a cherished and meaningful tradition.
Recent Board Games Worth Exploring
Cascadia
What makes it worthwhile: Cascadia is a beautifully designed tile-laying game where players create their own ecosystems. It combines strategy with creativity, as each player works to arrange habitats and attract wildlife.
Suitable for: Families who enjoy nature themes and light strategy games.
Age Range: 10+
Playtime: 30-45 minutes
Cascadia is easy to learn but offers depth, making it a great choice for families who want to relax and strategize at the same time.
Doodle Dash
What makes it worthwhile: Perfect for families who love to laugh, Doodle Dash is a fast-paced drawing game with a twist. Players try to draw prompts quickly, then race to guess each other’s masterpieces.
Suitable for: Families who enjoy party games and creative fun.
Age Range: 8+
Playtime: 20-30 minutes
This game creates hilarious moments and doesn’t require artistic talent—just a willingness to have fun.
My City
What makes it worthwhile: My City introduces the concept of legacy gaming, where the game evolves over multiple sessions. Players build their own cities, and each playthrough brings new challenges and opportunities.
Suitable for: Families who enjoy building and storytelling elements.
Age Range: 10+
Playtime: 30 minutes per session
With its simple rules and evolving gameplay, My City keeps families coming back for more.
Just One
What makes it worthwhile: Just One is a cooperative word game where players try to guess a mystery word based on one-word clues from teammates. The catch? Identical clues cancel each other out!
Suitable for: Families who enjoy word games and teamwork.
Age Range: 8+
Playtime: 20 minutes
It’s quick, engaging, and perfect for families of all sizes. Plus, its cooperative nature fosters collaboration rather than competition.
Wonderlands War
What makes it worthwhile: For families who enjoy a bit of adventure, Wonderlands War brings the world of Alice in Wonderland to life in a strategic battle game. Players draft cards and engage in area control to secure their victory.
Suitable for: Families who love rich themes and strategic play.
Age Range: 13+
Playtime: 60-90 minutes
With stunning artwork and engaging mechanics, Wonderlands War is an epic choice for families ready to dive into an immersive game night.
Wingspan
What makes it worthwhile: Wingspan is an award-winning game where players attract birds to their wildlife preserves. It’s part strategy, part educational, and entirely captivating.
Suitable for: Families who appreciate nature and strategy.
Age Range: 10+
Playtime: 40-70 minutes
Its gorgeous components and relaxing gameplay make Wingspan a standout gift.
Throw Throw Burrito: Extreme Outdoor Edition
What makes it worthwhile: This wacky game combines dodge ball with card play, featuring inflatable burritos for outdoor fun. It’s hilarious, active, and perfect for families with younger kids.
Suitable for: Active families who love physical games.
Age Range: 7+
Playtime: 15-30 minutes
This game guarantees laughter and movement, making it ideal for outdoor family gatherings.
Why Board Games Make the Best Gifts
Board games are more than just entertainment; they foster communication, teamwork, and healthy competition. Unlike digital games, they provide a tactile and social experience that brings families closer together. They’re also a gift that keeps on giving, offering countless hours of fun long after the wrapping paper is discarded.
When choosing a board game as a gift, consider the family’s interests, the ages of the players, and the time they have available for gaming. The right game can transform an ordinary evening into an unforgettable family event.
If you’re searching for a gift that’s fun, engaging, and creates lasting memories, a new board game is the perfect choice. Whether it’s the strategic challenge of Cascadia, the creative hilarity of Doodle Dash, or the adventurous spirit of Wonderlands War, there’s a game for every family.
Give the gift of togetherness this year with one of these fantastic board games—and let the good times roll!
