The Top 3 Board Games to Bring to a Party....

The Top 3 Board Games to Bring to a Party....

Small parties are a great time to rock some low-tech fun. Board games, the original home entertainment system, can really liven up your next gathering. That said, there are a few board game pitfalls to avoid to guarantee a successful start to your year!

PICKING THE RIGHT GAMES

First and foremost, know your crowd. If you’re getting together with a bunch of academics, a trivia-based game like Trivial Pursuit may be a hit, but try busting that out at a family gathering that includes small children and you’re going to have several unhappy campers. The best rule of thumb is to pick games that have relatively simple rules and can easily be played in teams.

Why simple rules? Because you’re going to have to explain the game to everyone, and the longer that takes, the more bored everyone will get. You don’t want setting the game up to feel like work.

Why teams? Because that takes the pressure off individuals (even if they’re  competitive) to win, win, win. Also, fewer teams are better—no more than 4 at the most. If you can divide everyone into 2 teams, that’s probably best. If it’s been a while since you've played board games, you may have no idea which ones will work. No worries. Here are three games you can easily incorporate into your next gathering.

THE GAMES

1. Cranium 

Cranium is great for mixed crowds because it includes a little bit of everything: charades, Pictionary, light trivia and even Play-Doh. (Yes, there’s Play-Doh. How could that not be fun?) Just make sure everyone has a chance to get involved, jumping in on the questions and categories they’re most comfortable with.

2. Clue 

File this under ‘oldie but goodie’. If you haven’t played Clue since you were a kid, you may be surprised at how much fun it is for both children and adults. And, while the game is not designed for team play, it can easily be accommodated. Just one word of warning: the rules aren’t too terribly complicated, but they are a bit lengthy. It may be easiest, especially if there are children involved, for one or two adults to read the rules before hand and bring everyone else up to speed.

3. Uno 

Uno isn't’t technically a board game and cannot be played in teams, but it’s a time-tested crowd pleaser. You can get all fancy and go with the “Blast” or “Power Grab” editions, or you can just stick to the original no-frills card game. The biggest upside of Uno is that it’s entirely about blind luck. No one is likely to suffer a bruised ego because they didn't draw a blue seven. On top of that, game play is fast. You can play a couple of rounds quickly, but it remains fun even if you play it for an hour or more.

If you opt for a different game, just remember the following: pick something everyone present can get into. (Generally, that’s going to be something team-based and relatively simple.) And, have fun! Friendly competition is a good thing, but don’t let it go too far! 

By: Adam Martin

adam@adammartin13.com