Having a game night with friends is an effective way to catch up and bond; even if you haven’t seen them in some time, it’s a great way to keep conversations rolling. With your friends, you may run out of entertainment options, but worry no more. Instead of watching something from a streaming service, there are other options these days, including a wide range of online casino games to choose from, to exciting board games, both classic and modern. And no, the board games are not simply staples like Monopoly or Scrabble. These board games are fresh with new ideas and enhanced creativity to get the whole squad active.
Here are some of the best classic board games to try out as an adult:
1. Hedbanz Adulting
The game has no board to play with; instead, from its name, the players place cards on their heads, held in place by headbands, and then ask the other players questions to figure out what the card is all about. At first, it will be quite confusing but with time you’ll get to understand the whole concept. The fun part is guessing, asking random questions and hearing the hilarious answers. There is also an adult version, targeting older groups. Drinking can also be incorporated into the game and will be something different from the cards and puzzles you might be used to.
2. Settlers of Catan
This game takes place in an island called Catan and is mostly about strategy. To win, you must collect resources through resource cards like sheep, ore, brick and straw to build roads, strengthen settlements and raise cities. The game’s playtime can last for hours and is suitable for three to four players.
The fun part? The resource cards can be traded from player to player, and with each milestone, one can claim rewards, such as longest road or most significant settlement. The game is easy to get the hang of, and the rules are pretty plain: The first player to score 10 points wins.
3. Game of Thrones Monopoly
Winter is here. For the “Game of Thrones” fans, here’s a board game that should never be missing from your closet. The theme, the tokens and the properties all contain features that you can relate to, as they are entirely from “Game of Thrones.”
The standard rules of Monopoly you are accustomed to also apply to this version, except that different house rules can be implemented whether you are a Stark or a Targaryen.
The game creators outdid themselves with the branding and visuals of the properties and landmarks, which all connect to the television series. The game board will leave you reminiscing on epic battle scenes, which will in turn leave you feeling they should have extended their painting brush to capture every moment of “Game of Thrones” on the board. The cardholder is a mini-iron throne — yes, that world-famous throne you already have in mind. The game can be played with two to six players.
4. Ticket to Ride
The objective of this game is to build railroad tracks across North America. Players who achieve this feat, creating the longest track and city-to-city tracks, claim points. The strategy may vary from game to game, hence there is no estimated playtime. The goal is to score points by creating train routes across the board. However, certain lines offer greater rewards, but there are a limited number of spaces — miss out, and you’ll find yourself with a big pile of worthless tickets.
Ticket to Ride is an excellent game for entertaining your gang of friends and your parents too. The gaming experience may be gentle and slow-paced at first, but the fact that it’s strategic enough to keep you occupied will also appeal to them.
This game offers up the unique experience of balancing risk and reward. Quick victories are to be had, but it is more rewarding to take your time and pursue longer-range goals. Your opponents also have their plans, so keep an eye on what they’re doing.
