board games and xmas

[racletteyum]

DH and I had a fight over xmas about board games. We loves them whereas I just dont see the point. He was very adamant that everyone plays board games over xmas - it's just what you do. I didnt grow up in the UK and honestly, I have never ones seen my parents play boardgames or any other adult. Is playing board games really such a thing in the UK?

We love board games. Play them all year round

Definitely not middle class. We used to play board games as kids, young adults, with friends round when married, and then with our own children and still do now they're grown up and moved out. I think in some ways it's not just the game, it's the fun, the asides and just general interaction. So much more rewarding than all sit staring at the telly.

We always play board games at Christmas, family favourites are Pictionary and cards against humanity (that one is definitely not for kids) as it was only the five of us this year we played logo what am i, a kids vs adults one, uno, and play link PlayStation ones (not technically a board game but still had the desired effect of a group activity)

This morning we were looking at the new dobble dd got for Xmas and without even calling anyone the phones were put down and we played a few rounds.

For my family it was something to do away from those that wanted afternoon naps and it’s stuck.

Not a huge fan. Only like Pictionary. Last played a board game at Christmas 2016. I find they usually go on for too long / people get too competitive / want to play again and again etc.

Oh and we’re definitely working class. Can’t be that rare our Tesco always gets extra board games at this time of year and the shelves tend to be bare by Christmas Eve.

We always play board games, usually something like trivial pursuit. We also like word games. Would have been games like Monopoly when I was a kid.

I'm not sure what we would do on Christmas day if we didn't play games!

@rawlikesushi - so if I look back to when I was little - when it was too wet (it's almost always too cold where I come from apart from about three weeks a year ;-) we would either go somewhere like a museum or something similar (we did that most weekends), saw relatives (again most weekends). the rest of the time, kids just played stuff some of that probably involved computer games or something like that. Adults either read, chatted, cooked, had friends over for very long lunches/dinners etc., drank (a lot), made music etc. We had no TV growing up so no screens as such.

A few of my relatives were into chess/poker etc - but this was at very high level i.e. semi-pro but that was seen more as a job really. My parents certainly didnt play it with them - because there would literally be no point.

Last time I played a game was when I was ten years old and it was Monopoly. So am not really against game - just never realised that adults played them really.

Really interesting to hear other people's experiences. Might check out a few of them :-)

I am not from UK and adults regularly played cards or board games when I was growing up. It's not just UK thing and certainly has nkt much to do with class (though in uk everything has everything to do with class).
My favourite is Monopoly and a version of it from my childhood with horses. We used to play checkers lot.

I am getting exploding kittens next. Apparently it's great

@SchrodingersImmigrant - yes, now I thin about it, maybe men play cards where I come from. But it's definitely a gender thing - blokes get together, drink, smoke and play cards. Not sure that whole families would do that or that women would. Again this isnt about gender for me - just lack of exposure I guess

We do in my family, but we’re fans all year round. Generally I think it’s a fun thing to do when you’re all together, but no harm if it’s not your thing.

We play a lot of board games normally, but I would say that playing at christmas is particularly traditional.

We love board games.

Good games with kids:
Ticket to ride (build trains to connect cities as decided by cards in your hand). There are several versions now and the Junior one is really good even when DH and I play alone as a quick game.
Carcassone: a map building game where you get points for roads, towns etc. The winner is rarely clear until the very end.
Boggle: kids need to be able to spell and find words but we adapted rules for DD (nearly 8yo) so she doesn't have to do linked letters every time.
Othello: black and white discs, have the most of your colour showing at the end.

General good games :
Risk: it's a long haul game of building armies and taking over countries.
Scrabble
Monopoly: make sure you play the auction rule, it makes the game quicker. Or implement a family rule if you land on an unowned property you must buy it (we borrowed this rule from the My Little Pony junior version).

These are just from what I can see in the shelf unit under our TV!

There are so many different games available now that you could literally play a different game every day of the year.

My parents used to host canasta nights with another couple (once in theirs, once in ours). Poker was more of a meet up in a pub, yeah, probably more man thing, though when I was older, I got rich few times when joining in😂 Then we had other type of cards and we all played even kids. We had this massive box of classic games and scrabble. Can't forget scrabble.

I agree. I think it's each family is different. One of my friends never played games like this. Family was more of a tv on and quiet type

@MrsDThomas - is The Wall any good?

[quote racletteyum]@SchrodingersImmigrant - yes, now I thin about it, maybe men play cards where I come from. But it's definitely a gender thing - blokes get together, drink, smoke and play cards. Not sure that whole families would do that or that women would. Again this isnt about gender for me - just lack of exposure I guess[/quote]
Card games (usually not for money or only for token pennies) are a family thing here in the UK in my experience. They are actually a good way of bridging the age-gap in family gatherings. Better than board games because whereas your very elderly relative with failing powers might not be able to get to grips with the intricacies of the latest strategy game, they will likely be able to play Whist or a similar game that's been around all their lives.

Monopoly, scrabble, chess here. It’s not class related. They are just games.

My parents never played board or card games so I never grew up with it. I’d rather watch TV, read a book it just chat. Me and DH try and make the effort for DD2 who loves them. DD1 isn’t a huge fan either. My parents were from working class families were the adults didn’t really engage with their children.

Yes it’s a big thing here. Board games or “parlour” games or both are a standard part of most people’s Christmas in the UK. It’s good for children’s development too.

Luckily I seem to have developed OK without them, got a job and everything. My oldest who hated board games is very bright, just likes other things.

Santa leaves us a family Christmas present every year and it's always a board game. We are just about to crack open the scrabble!

apologies for bringing class into it - only mentioned it because one of the PP said something about it so was wondering if it was a thing.

I collect board game. Absolutely love them. However, if I went to someone house and they right our Monopoly and Scrabble then I would make excuses to leave.

Board games are a massive thing, but still quite niche. I have 47 of them. They're amazing; my kids and I have game night every week but the games are actually good.

Games like Yamatai, Small World, Champions of Midgard, El Dorado are great. If you're husband is a proper board gamer then excellent but if he is talking Monopoly then no thanks.

we enjoy board (and card and word) games too, and often have games evenings during the year. We add to the haul every Christmas.

We play many of the games listed upthread, and this year have added mafia to the list which was really popular. I played Cards Against Humanity with my teens, and then they sent me to bed (as I turned out to be unembarrassable) and carried on playing games until the early hours!

I don't think it's middle class, U grew up in a really poor household and we always played lots of games - it's just something I wanted to do with my kids and it's just a nice way to spend time as a family - we take games on holiday with us too.

DS also got a chess set so we've been learning that.

@WhereverIGoddamnLike

I collect board game. Absolutely love them. However, if I went to someone house and they right our Monopoly and Scrabble then I would make excuses to leave.

Board games are a massive thing, but still quite niche. I have 47 of them. They're amazing; my kids and I have game night every week but the games are actually good.

Games like Yamatai, Small World, Champions of Midgard, El Dorado are great. If you're husband is a proper board gamer then excellent but if he is talking Monopoly then no thanks.

I can't bear Monopoly. We got Monopoly Cheaters edition which was marginally more bearable. Not much though.

Almost everyone on here has said monopoly, risk and scrabble.

Maybe try something you cant buy in the supermarket.