Board games - fun for 8 people, age 12 and up

[WhatWouldTheDoctorDo]

Looking for an easy but fun game to play on Christmas Day for 8 people, with the youngest being 12. Nothing too long and complex.

Exploding kittens would be fun, but that only does up to 5 players. We've done headbandz before which went down well with the same group of people (though the DC are all a few years older now) but looking for something new!

TIA.

Sussed
Santa Banta
Articulate
Chameleon
Code Names

Thanks! Will have a look at those. I thought maybe articulate after I posted actually.

How about Werewolves? It needs a big group to play and everyone is involved all of the time in different roles. It can seem confusing to learn, but as long as your Storyteller (person narrating the game and directing proceedings) has a good grasp of the rules, they can lead everyone else through the experience.

One night werewolf is great and has an app so when everyone goes to sleep the app tells each character what to do.
Spyfall
Just one - think that’s up to 7 players though but quick enough for one to sit out each round.
Telestrations
Herd mentality
Pictionary

Happy salmon is rather funny but needs everyone on their feet

Another vote for articulate, works well in teams

Cranium would be good too.

If you feel eccentric... Dixit?

Tension could work

5 second rule...maybe give the young ones 10 seconds

Some great suggestions here, thanks everyone. Five second rule is good - we have that. I'd never thought to give the young ones longer, that's a good idea. We tend to just draw again if anything comes up that would be too hard for them.

One of the funniest games we played, (although not actually a board game) was ‘Name that tune’ otherwise known as the kazoo game.

Dd got it in her stocking a few years ago, it was hilarious and kept us amused for a while!

Think it was about £3.99 which included 4 kazoos, you could double up, So everyone has their own kazoo.

TaskMaster was a huge hit for our same aged group last Xmas

The game recommended by @theNarwhalballoom is perfect for 8 people. IIRC you all play at once rather than taking turns so it is not boring.

Pictionary! We (group of friends in their 30s) played the other night with some drinks and it was great fun, makes you realise just how terrible you are at drawing, but potentially also shows how well your friends/partner/family know you from their interpretations of your "art".

Scrawl is really good fun as everyone is busy every round. There is an adult version and a regular one.
Everyone starts with a card with a phrase on which you then draw. The drawings get passed to the next person who writes down their guess. This gets passed round and then you draw etc until the cards arrive back with person who did first drawing.

That sounds complicated! It isn’t when you are playing and it is fun.

See pics for the family friendly version and a really life example of “Throwing the baby out with the bath water.”

Telestrations is ace and 8 people can play. It's better the more people who are involved and can be hilarious.

You can play Sequence with up to 12 people, although I've only ever played with 4 I think. It's a really enjoyable game.

Cat chaos is a card game, it’s good fun. I think they do a similar game with dogs.

Throw throw burrito! By the same people that did Exploding Kittens I think. It’s great! Muffin Time is also good. The Crystal Maze board game was fun. Also Disney’s Villainous is good although it can appear complicated the first time you play, it soon becomes clearer.

Last word is another good fast word game

Another vote for dixit

Another vote for chameleon - we got it last Christmas and it is simple and fun, plus each round is quick so the game can be as short or long as you want.

Camel Up was another popular game in our house

Pitch car, and you get to walk round and round the table so a little exercise thrown in 😀.

Apples to Apples, and The Game of Things would be great with lots of people.