xmas day board games - no really help me or i will throw myself of the golden gate bridge

[Tortington]

ok its not a life and death thing - but its pretty much the saviour of condemner of xmas day.

we all like a family game - poker usually on a normal day. anything else though and dh has to be forced - and sometimes loses his temper like the big fat fecker he is and spoils it.

so my kids are 16 and twins 12. and every year we buy a board game - its difficult to find something both kids and adults will enjoy

now they ..thats the rest of the family are begging for monopoly - and dh thinks this is great - becuase he knows how to play monopoly - he gets agitated with things he doesnt know you see. and plus he always wins even when i steal money out of the bank......i digress

i don't like monopoly because it goes on foooooooooorever. i am willing to give in but i wondered whether you have any suggestions.

we bought "atmosphere" last year and it was a disaster. we have played it twice since.

what are your experiences what would you recomend. ...no pressure but it could be your fault if xmas is a disaster....

what about trivial pusrsuit but buying a box of kids questions aswell?

Scrabble?

cluedo

buccaneer

cat attack

cluedo

also played game years ago which was sort of environmental (military coups etc could put the kybosh on your harvest etc) and that was fab..will try and dig around to see if i can find it.

custy there is a brighton version of monopoly which may be shorter

what about pictionary or that one with the modelling clay that appeals to all ages is simple and fairly quick

Risk might be fun for that age group - strategic alliances and battles around the globe. Details here and you can get themed versions like Lord of the Rings and Star Wars too. However it can go on a bit.

DD got Cranium last year and it is really good fun- can be played in teams or individually and doesn't just depend on general knowledge.

traffic jam

We always used to play Game of Life. Its not toooo long or complicated.

Cranium is absouluty brilliant, we played ot last christmas and it was brilliant. It has modeling clay, impressions, english puzzels and general knowledge cards and really is one for crimbo.
That and balderdash-whole family in stiches with that one

cwoor thanks girlies your wonderfuel.

well i looked up a couple and i looked up the brighton monopoly.

then

i found

wait for it .....

lord of the rings monopoly - and sauron can end the game in the middle - fking fantastic!

Pictionary is hilarious. I shall never forget the year my mum (in her 70's) had to draw "prick" for my auntie (also in her 70's). We fully expected her to draw a drawing pin or needle, but she drew a penis complete with hairy balls! .

I've had some great games of Taboo and Dare, but with Dare everyone playing have to be really up for it.

Guesstures! Timed charades... has the WHOLE family, including the extended lot, in complete stitches. Took it away on the youth weekend and they loved it.

Play it with everyone we can. Really funny!

Pass the bomb - quick and easy and for all ages and as many people as you like

Guesstures!

played hummbug at the weekend - was very unsure about it but it was brilliant. basically you have to hum th song on the card and someone has to guess it. Try humming its actually alot harder that going la la la. It was a great leveller!

Scattegories - it has become our Xmas game over the last few years and is briliant because the premise is so easy, but you can get into some very heated arguments over the validity of answers.

two non board games (I believe you can buy them but don't, it's a con): the rizla game - everyone writes a famuos name on a cigarette paper then sticks it to teh forehead of the person next to them - without them seeing what it is. Each person takes it in turns to ask everyone else yes/no questions until tey guess who they are. and the name game: everyone writes aout 10 famous names on small bits of paper (without otehr people seeing) fold them up, put them in a hat. divide into two teams. teams then take it in turns - one person on the team picks a name out and then describes it to the rest of the team without saying any proper nouns (anything with a capital letter)- the team gets a minute to guess as many as possible. if you say a proper noun your team's go is over. the tem swaps who gets to doteh describing. both these games are great fun, especially if lubricated. will try to think of somemore but those were always our favourites

What a lot of Rizlas you must have, Hatstand

Rapidough - Pictionary with playdough!

we used to buy them in specially dontcha know

NTROPY looks fun! I want one of these!

something similar to the rizla game - but called the bowl game - you put names on pieces of paper and fold them up really small drop them in a bowl. The more the better then in teams / pairs one takes a name and describes the person without saying the name - anything goes rhymes with etc, used to govern the country etc. The more obscure the names the better. ie mr whippy!, roobard from roobard and custard, hartley hare, or if you have my husband, attila the hun - clue used to go round raping and pilaging a long time ago in history - really brutal - husband 'eric the viking!!!!!! incidently he put peoples names down from his six from?????? (not that obscure. - i do just love him though!!!)