Fun things to have on standby for further lockdowns

[NeverTwerkNaked]

Just thinking ahead and anticipating that it is quite likely over the autumn/winter that we will face lockdowns either nationally, locally or at a household level if someone has symptoms. I just think it would be good have some fun stuff on standby that we can dig out when we want to have some fun. The children are 6-13 . I'm thinking things like board games etc . We have quite a few strategic type games (Carcassonne, Ticket to ride, Scotland yard etc) but would be good to add in some more fun games or other suggestions (screen free, they do enough of that!) things we could do together (individually, in small groups or as a family)

Sorry that's a bit waffly but am just thinking of ways to be a bit prepared!

@NiceGerbil we love Pandemic! Well DH and I and one of the Children. The littlest is too young and the others lack patience. We also have Pandemic Legacy which I think is even better.

There are some fabulous suggestions on this, games I hadn't heard of and other ideas thank you I am making a list

@IfOnlyOurEyesSawSouls I was just looking at mapominoes and wondering about it... didn't realize you could get expansion packs!

I love the balloon modelling idea, won't work for us we have a child with sensory issues who cries at the sound made when people touch a balloon but otherwise I think that would have been so much fun

Do you have any other suggestions like pandemic OP?

Oh that's a shame. They are squeaky, totally.

I'll have a think.

I get the "too close for comfort" thing with pandemic equally far from harming anyone by playing it I think it helps (albeit in a far fetched way) to understand what is happening at a policy level

I have been ok at low cost parties :D

Which surprised me.

Do they like painting and are you relaxed about it. Made up an art game for a party a while back...

@NiceGerbil we love collaborative games. Scotland Yard is good fun. And forbidden Island/forbidden desert are both quite good but neither are a patch on Pandemic in my view.

You might enjoy the escape room games if you enjoy pandemic. We did some good escape rooms in a box over lockdown.

I make them paint in the garden . (They are all as clumsy as me). would love to hear your idea.

Love this thread! Brilliant ideas & games I’d never heard of - anything is better than bloody Monopoly, it turns out my lot are awful bunch of cheats & vulture capitalists!

Awesome recs thank you!

Ok you pick a theme eg jungle and get some decent cheap painting boards from the workz or wherever.

You need an organizer (that would be me at our house ).

Selection of paints brushes sparkly pens etc etc

Sit in a circle.

Say ok draw a tree on the right (this side and point)

Judge when ready

Everyone pass board to the person on their left. Now draw a lizard on the left

Etc etc

Keep going until organiser is happy

All sign the back and keep the one they started

That's good isn't it? I am not that sort of person at all. I'm a spreadsheets type moment of inspiration!

Craft stuff like glue gun, Shrinkies, fabric paints etc

Games -
exploding kittens
Banana grams
Trump cards
Timeline
Pandemic
Scotland Yard
The London board game
Scale of 0 to t-Rex
Family trivial pursuit
Countdown board game
Wikipedia board game

Cooking supplies for cookies/cake/bread etc DD has been making sushi so I got her a bamboo rolling mat but that might be a bit niche!

Other than that mine are screen addicts!

I do second making sure everyone has wellies/waterproofs (inc trousers) and decent walking shoes along with hat scarves and gloves. No-one is going to want to crowd into indoor attractions this winter so being able to bundle up and get some fresh air is important.

@NiceGerbil that's a brilliant idea!

I'm starting to wish I had young children again, reading this!
We often had a jigsaw on the go.

I second Mapominoes, we love it! We started with Europe and got the expansion packs for Asia and Africa.

If you like co-operative games and Harry Potter then I recommend Battle for Hogwarts.

If you like pandemic but the theme feels a bit close to home, I recommend flashpoint: fire rescue - cooperative game where you are fire fighters rescuing people/animals from a burning building. If you like cooperative word games then codenames (we have duet which is the 2-player variant) and letter jam are both good fun.

For quick competitive games:
Love letter
Hey that's my fish
Takenoko

Or for a bit of a step up wingspan is lovely.

What about fun things for an adult who lives alone?

Articulate - brilliant game with older children

A book to teach card games and patience

A dart board

We've been playing Pandemic Legacy 2 throughout lockdown, having done Pandemic Legacy last year. Both brilliant. Another cooperative game that we love is Dead of Winter. Play it with the kids quite a bit. Someone else mentioned Forbidden Island/ Desert which are also great.

Rhino hero is a great game for all ages, I’d say it’s a cross between uno and jenga. Previous posters suggestion of takenoko is also good, that’s a really cute game.
If you enjoy cooking how about family come dine with me, split into two teams and then score each other?

@SugarMiceInTheRain is pandemic legacy 2 sufficiently different from the first one? Quite tempted!

@SBAM I love the come dine with me idea

@NeverTwerkNaked yes it's quite different, you're having to build up the world again and uncover new areas of the map. Really enjoying it!

@SugarMiceInTheRain perfect, that's DH birthday present sorted then