Can we have a 'what board games are you getting' chat thread please?

[fuzzpig]

Choosing the board games is my favourite part of Christmas shopping! :o

Unfortunately it is DH's turn to choose the main family game this year so I've reluctantly relinquished control - he's chosen Castle Panic, although the new cooperative Thunderbirds game came a close second.

For the DCs I've got that Bounce Off one that is advertised on telly - looks a bit of a five minute wonder, but they both go gooey over it whenever it comes on, and I'm thinking that will be the Santa present (as they know mum would never buy it ).

DSCs (teens/young adult, all live together) are getting a couple as a joint gift - the Batman edition of Love Letter, and the London Game.

DCs always get Top Trumps in their stockings, so DD (8) has Monster High and DS (6) has the retro style Transformers.

Trying to resist the temptation to add more

[NowBringUsSomeFuzzpiggyPudding]

(but they've now gone upstairs to play Dobble - always a winner - while I enjoy some Malteasers peace and quiet)

[NowBringUsSomeFuzzpiggyPudding]

Thanks for explaining about the Starbucks thing I hadn't realised it was an app :) I had ticket to ride on my ipod and loved it.

[Chillywhippet]

Just remembered another game! DS has bought his sister Star Wars Time Line for the family secret Santa.
I am preparing myself for endless plays with me never winning. We are seeing the film tomorrow but it won't be enough!

[backinschool]

I have a quick question for all you board game experts. DP isn't really into board games - he likes Uno but that's about it for games. I think it's because he thinks he isn't very good with general knowledge or spelling and he has been put off by games like Trivial Pursuit and Scrabble.

We have fallen into the bad habit of collapsing in front of the tv in the evening and I feel as though we barely speak to each other (we are just tired, not falling out or in a huff). I thought a game we could play together might encourage us to switch the tv off and get us chatting. Can anyone recommend a fun game that is good for 2 adults, doesn't take too long to learn or play a full game and is strategic rather than knowledge based. I thought Labyrinth or Forbidden Island might be good??? If it's available via amazon prime in time for xmas then thats even better. TIA

[Wolfcub]

Back in school. From grown ups I'd try pandemic. It's cooperative so no losers unless you lose together, it's strategic because you have to stop the disease from spreading and, probably most importantly, it's nothing like the games your do hates.

[backinschool]

Thanks Wolfcub - I'll go and check that out.

[BuildersBum]

I've bought Ticket To Ride, for OH & I, Back To School.

Not played it yet, so can't comment, but it comes highly recommended. OH does like trains mind

We also like playing Animal Upon Animal when DD has gone to bed. It's a balance game by Haba. It's a lot of fun and the games can be made tougher / longer, by changing the rules.

[BuildersBum]

Just looked & Animal Upon Animal is out of stock on Prime :-(

[BuildersBum]

but the more expensive, turning version is in stock Animal Upon Animal

[I8toys]

Chillywippet - just bought a couple of those timeline games - they look really good and my youngest loves historical timelines. Thanks

[backinschool]

Thanks buildersbum, I've seen a few recommendations for ticket to ride so I might look at that for now and add animal upon animal to my wishlist.

[backinschool]

Actually, after reading through this thread I have a huge wishlist of board games . I'm just working out which ones work best with 2 players (for DP and I to play) and which ones will be good for DDs 6 and 3.

[Chillywhippet]

I8toys I hope you all enjoy Time Line. Huge hit here - quick, portable, mixture of luck/guessing/deducation and some knowledge. My mum likes to play it with the kids and they always have fun.
It's not as exposing as Trivial pursuit in that you can have a go and put your card somewhere without saying the wrong answer or having to say I don't know.

[vikjul]

backinschool
We love Jaipur or Monopoly Deal for 2. Both quick and fun with simple rules (although sometimes the first 2-3 plays of any new game may feel a bit overwhelming) and lots of interaction!

We also love Splendor for 2, although it's a little bit more thinky than the above, so I would perhaps not start with that. Also has simple rules and plays quickly though.

My ds (10) and I like Forbidden Island, but dh finds the notion of coop games a bit weird.

[vikjul]

Ticket to Ride is great fun! They say that the Nordic version plays better for two; we have TTR Europe and it works just fine for 2 but bettet for 3-4.

[backinschool]

Thanks for all the recommendations. Pandemic and Flash Point look great but they are a bit more expensive (I've already spent my xmas budget really). I like the idea of a co-op game but I've no idea what DP will think. Jaipur is gorgeous and looks fun too. I was tempted by Forbidden Island because its a bit cheaper just now but that seems less popular. I just can't decide but I need to get my order in soon.

I have put ticket to ride on my birthday list.

[IamFatherChristmasNOTsanta]

Enchanted forrest is sold out on amazon and cant be found now

Just got rat a tat cat delivered.

it has mensa recomendation on it

[halcyondays]

Backinschool, how about Othello?

[NotCitrus]

Backinschool - Dominion and San Juan are good for 2 people who haven't played many games and aren't too brain-hungry.

I've just splashed out on Forbidden Island as it was in a nice tin, I wanted a cooperative game to encourage ds to play games, and an enterprising couple are trying to start a local business, so had a stall and will come demo games in your house.

Also got Linkz which was cheap and looks like a short simple game. Trying to find Articulate for Kids as the similar games we have have too few things ds has heard of but he wants to play. I wonder if Pictionary cards might work?

Cooperative Scrabble works well here - you show each other your rack and help get the best score and see what combined score you can get.

[backinschool]

Thanks all, I finished up going with Forbidden Island - it was half the price of the others and the tin is lovely. I have loads in my camelcamelcamel wishlist though just waiting for my birthday in January. I think I will go for Pandemic or Flash Point, Ticket to Ride and something else. I haven't heard of Othello, Dominion or San Juan so I'll go and have a look at those now.

I've also ordered Dobble for the kids (6 and 3) to play with us. We spent all day yesterday playing Pass the Bomb Junior, Connect 4, Snakes and Ladders, Hedbanz, Greedy Gorillas and Pop up Pirate. It's not easy to find things the 3 year old can play but her sister is getting into board games now so I'll be on the lookout for some new games for her soon.

[NowBringUsSomeFuzzpiggyPudding]

Do you have a link for the, erm, linkz game please? :)

[NotCitrus]

Fuzzpiggy - sorry, it's called Line Links - £5.99 on the John Lewis website. Will see how it works - 25 tiles so can't take that long!

I'm hoping to get ds and dn into Scotland Yard - all the detectives can work together.

[NowBringUsSomeFuzzpiggyPudding]

Ah yes, Line Links is already on my wishlist :o

Woohoo only one more day til we have lots of new games to play! So excited.

I still don't know if we'll be able to persuade my parents to join in, but their loss if they don't right? :)

[NowBringUsSomeFuzzpiggyPudding]

Happy Boxing Day! Today is a bit 'meh' for me as DH is working so it's really just like a regular Saturday. dying to know how everyone got on with all their games!

DCs were so excited that Santa gave them Bounce Off. They played it immediately and actually stopped opening presents to do so it's actually quite tricky! But fun.

Sleeping Queens went down really well. Simple and strategic and very competitive!

Super Tooth seemed a bit WTF at the beginning but I think that's because we got loads of the bad cards early on which made it very hard to start the proper game (I'm blaming DH for poor shuffling!). Once we got the hang of it, it was pretty good.

But the best thing was... my parents actually joined in with the card games! I'm really pleased.

We only opened Castle Panic when we got home in the evening so not tried that yet. My DSCs are coming round tomorrow and DH has a couple of days off, so we should play loads of different ones then (I'm hoping Castle Panic, my new BBT Cluedo, and the Batman Love Letter and London Game that they've got as presents!).

[IamFatherChristmasNOTsanta]

now glad you like sleeping queens.

Not played a single one yet, but have been admiring them! Got ticket to ride, dixit and seven wonders they also received QUIXO .