The holidays are over and once again, families up and down the country have suffered through agonising games of Monopoly or Ludo. Old feuds have reawakened, your uncle’s inability to be a fair banker has resurfaced and no one wants to talk to each other anymore. But it does not have to be like this – try one of the board games below next time and save Christmas!
Tsuro of the Seas
Players are sailing ships over the ocean, aiming to explore it in its entirety without perishing. The aim of the game is simple: stay on the board longer than any other player.
This is made infinitely harder by the sea monsters that also roam the board, as well as the complicated wake paths the ships must follow. Run into a monster, you sink. Sail off the edge of the board, you sink.
While this sounds very straightforward, avoiding these pitfalls becomes increasingly difficult as the game progresses. The more players, the more chaotic the seas become in no time. Tsuro of the Seas encourages strategic thinking and combines it with luck.
Players: 2-8 Age: 8+ Game time: 20-40 minutes Price: From £39.50
Odin’s Ravens
This game is only for two players, but it is my favourite on this list. From the stunning art to the quick set-up and straightforward rules, Odin’s Ravens is truly a game that can be played straight out of the box.
Players are Odin’s two ravens, engaged in a race around the world. They have movement cards and Loki cards – the latter used to make their own journey easier and that of their opponent harder.
The Loki cards are what make this game, giving players the opportunity to thwart their opponent at the last minute or speed themselves along. Odin’s Ravens has great replay value, and its small size makes it great for taking on holidays, too.
Players: 2 Age: 8+. Game time: 15-20 minutes Price: From £16.13
Hanabi
Technically a card game, but Hanabi is still worth including in this list. It is a cooperative game in which players are hapless fireworks engineers who must work together to save the big display.
The twist is the fact you cannot see your own cards; they are always held face out. It is up to other players to give you helpful clues about which cards you hold.
Your task is to put all fireworks of one colour into the correct order, but at any one point you can only be given information about their colour or their value, never both at once.
This game is great for players who love a memory challenge and for occasions where competitive play isn’t a good idea (we all have those relatives).
Players: 2-5 Age: 8+ Game time: 30 minutes Price: From £10.99
Featured image credit: Composite: Osprey Games, R&R Games, Calliope Games
