Best board game

[thoughtsbecomethings]

Want to buy a board game for family to play at Christmas age range 13 - 67. What's the best board game ??

---

MNHQ Update
We appreciate this thread is a little old now, but if you’ve come across it while on the hunt for similar recommendations, our guide to the best board games has been recently updated to reflect current availability and new releases. It’s been compiled based on advice from Mumsnet users as well as consumer reviews with fun for the whole family in mind. We hope it’s helpful!

Would Ticket to Ride be a good game for a 9 y o, or a bit too complicated?

Paper, thanks for the info. Good stuff.

Anything you would especially recommend for teenagers? OH and I have six between us to occupy over Christmas and we were mooting board games, and as you say Monopoly just goes on and on and on whilst I most of the players get increasingly hacked off.

I think a 9 yo could play Ticket to Ride - we've had it at least a couple of years, and DD is 11 now.

linerunner My teen and his mates love Settlers - but that is for 4, or with expansion pack 6 at most - have played it in pairs but isn't meant to be a team game.

Articulate, 5 Second Rule, Cranium are more lighthearted games, and are played either as teams or can have 8 players.

I think a chess championship.
Set up as many games as you have pairs and winners compete.

Indeed, it was the bestest present :o we weren't expecting it at all!

Does ticket to ride work for 2 people? Not sure if my 6yo would get it so might just be for the two of us?

Lego - CreateIt my brother got it about 10 years ago and me and my sister late teens and late 20's played it a lot after he had gone to bed. They have a similar version called creationary now but not sure what thats like.

ticket to ride for a nine year old? just. depends on how game savy they are. dd(7) has had a go at it and likes it, the mechanics of the game are simple enough. But the strategy element might be a little tough (dd scores hopelessly) so you would need to be a gentle opponent. if they have experience at board games (like they should be fine

imho i think some of the classics still stand in the 8-10 age range "the London game" "the great game of Britain" (both train games ) Wallace and gromit sheep game (not my game wish I could remember the name)

line runner- settlers of catan would be my first suggestion

(taps nose) I would add that they're are ways and means of adapting it so you all can play. you need the 5-6 player base game expansion and then either to build a couple of extra player sets from lego or you can get them online. it does make quite a long game and not as good as with up to six; but couple with pimms and it can be a hoot!

BUT to play more than four of you you would need base game + expansion as a minimum

Lords of waterdeep and ticket to ride play 5 players straight out the box

in your case I would actually recommend 7 wonders. This plays up to seven players straight out of the box. the turn structure has every one playing at the same time (no long wait for your turn) and is great for larger groups.

if there is noone who knows the game there are some awesome tutorial videos for most games YouTube.

got to go will come back to two players games later

Where Is Moldova? or Linkee

Can't wait for Xmas, annual board game-a-thon!

Paper, that's brilliant, thank you.

for two players i like lords of waterdeep best. Lords of waterdeep is a really good all round game.

Ticket to ride plays well two players, as does the Ticket to ride card game. ticket to ride Switzerland or Asia map are better if you are only playing 2 players because if someone takes a key line you need there are more alternative routes
Switzerland map only plays 2-3 players though so isn't as versatile as the others. (I have USA map as a proper game the rest I play often with friends online)

settlers is designed for three or more. it does have a two player variant which I think is ok but does kinda play ok straight from the box. people tend to trade more with the bank more than each other though. it does work better 3 plus. friends disagree with me on this and dislike 2 player settlers.

7 wonders just does not work 2 players.

it is much less accessible amd is a very flawed games but I like high command 2 players

how could I forget!!!! Dominion is awesome 2 players.

if you have enough base sets or are nifty with a photocopier it's also pretty cool for larger groups

Fuzzpig I would get ticket to ride USA with the Switzerland/India expansion.

Switzerland is awesome for 2, much better play than the USA

fuzzypig - couldn't look back over the posts while typing. Missed it was you who asked and therefore you have catan already.

Seriously have a look at Lords of waterdeep. it's a newer game so hasn't really built a reputation yet and don't let the fact it's dungeons and dragons put you off. imho it really is the best I've played two player but is also works as well for any number (up to 5). it just a solid well designed game.

I hesitate with ticket to ride. it is a very good game and if you collect games or have younger gamers it is a must.

However if youre 2 adult gamers, want a game for replay value and you happen to find one of you is particularly good, it is as frustrating as chess. I win 9/10 times and nobody irl will play me that often anymore. it is just a quirk of the game that it seems to suit my brain, it doesn't happen on most games.

Union Pacific is my current favourite In love Settlers of Catan and Dominion too though. Mum's just got me another expansion of Dominion for Christmas (I have the original and Intrigue).

Settlers of Catan is great. If you want something sillier, look at Pictureka.

This is a useful website www.boardgamegeek.com/

Otherwise paper games like Consequences and Mad Libs, or card games like Racing Demon/Crazy Patience.

Hi there thoughtsbecomethings and other searchers in this elusive quest,

We've got a page rounding up the best board games for this Christmas based on Mumsnetters' recommendations, which hopefully might help you out a bit. Incidentally, if any of the games mentioned here aren't on this list, you can write reviews of them here to let other Mumsnetters know how fab they are.

Hoping that everyone finds the game of their festive dreams,
MNHQ.

hey mumsnet! how about a separate section for board games under the reviews so I appropriately decimate review monopoly

Articulate is a big favourite in our house.

It used to be tension, but we played it so often we remembered the answers.

confused pixie which expansion have you got?

also those with forbidden island what is the age range on it and how does it play with differ numbers of people?

I love settlers of catan!

paperlantern have you tried Munchkin? or Cards Against Humanity? Love them both too.

Rapidough is a good family game as is Pictionary or Cranium.

paper I don't know! She told me she is getting me one but won't tell me which :(

Intrigue is a good expansion though, if you're used to the normal game it has some interesting cards

board game geek is great for getting a look at games and finding new games. some of the games reviews and scores are serious gamer reviews and are overly harsh. believe it or not I find you tube better for getting an idea of whether a game is for you