Friday before Christmas and you’re still looking for gifts, huh? We’ve all been there. Well, some of us have been there. The more Type A members of the editorial staff have had things locked down for months but for the rest of us? Yeah, we’ve been there. Luckily board games are ALWAYS a good gift and they even come in their own box. Just add wrapping paper. So we’ve gotten some of our favorites of the past year together to help you shop for everyone in your family (and even add some fun to their stockings too).
For Dad
License To Grill
Publisher: Greater Than Games
MSRP: $39.99
It’s not exactly peak grilling season right now, so why not help dad experience the joy of the cookout no matter the weather with this competitive title from Greater Than Games. It pits every player against each other in the battle for neighborhood supremacy. You need to keep track of not just what recipes you’re using (represented by polyominos that need the right spaces to work) but also timing your food from fridge to grill to table in order to maximize your points. It’s an incredibly fun little family game with a charming look and easy to learn gameplay.
For Mom
Flower Fields
Publisher: Horrible Guild
MSRP: $30.00
Give mom some help relaxing with Flower Fields, a great tile-placement game where you and your fellow gardens compete to create the best garden possible. This means getting the biggest flower beds you can and making sure to attract as many bees as you can from the field so they can pollinate. The aesthetic of the game is evocative of old school folk art and uses a warm, rustic color palette to really drive that home. Grab it and give it a shot the day after Christmas with a cup of coffee, or give it a shot when things warm up and you can play it with her out in the garden.
For Siblings
Invincible: Escape From Mars
Publisher: Skybound
MSRP: $24.99
While I’m sure you’ve all outgrown petty fighting and live in harmony with your siblings, it’s always fun to test your family bonds with a good party game now and then. Invincible: Escape From Mars is a social deduction game that you’ll NEED the whole family for (it’s player count starts at 4) where you and your fellow Guardians of the Globe must unite to get back to earth. Unfortunately for you there’s dangerous alien parasites around and the last think you need is to bring that mess home with you. So before you get off the Red Planet you need to make sure everyone is clean. It’s not quite as bare bones as others in the genre and there’s plenty of little ways to detect who is who, but the added complexity does nothing to make this any less of a fun party game.
For Grandparents
Seaside
Publisher: Randolph/Hachette
MSRP: $29.99
The sun, the sea, the shells. Whether your family members are snowbirds, permanent residents, or just like to visit the ocean then Seaside is a great way to bring the beach vibes indoors without all the messy sand. It’s a pretty simple game: draw out a wooden token from the bag and choose a side to place in front of you. Each side has its own effect, from simply taking another turn to redoing another token’s effect even making a Crabitat. Everyone is working to create their own perfect ocean ecosystem so you need to be able to make the right choices. Every part of the game is made to be sustainable, water proof, and easy to travel so you can play it around Christmas Dinner, on the plane to Florida, or even on the beach itself.
Stocking Stuffers
Button Shy Wallet Games
I’ve been an evangelist for Button Shy for years now. Their unique approach to truly bite-sized board games has led to some of the most innovative, creative, and fun experiences I’ve had at the table. Every one of them packs so much great design into a package you literally can fit into your pocket. For a quick hit, here’s my five favorites:
Tussie Mussie by Elizabeth Hargrave – Card drafting fun based on historical Victorian flower meanings. You’ll be passing around flowers to create the best combinations possible. Team up of Hargrave with Beth Sobel means one of the best combinations in board games.
Ugly Gryphon Inn by Scott Almes – Can’t go wrong with any of the Almes titles in the Button Shy catalogue, but I’ve got a soft spot for this one. This is a solo title where you’re managing the titular Inn, making sure all your customers are happy so they don’t get too rowdy. Very good way to learn more about the systems within more automatic board games.
Picaresque by Amanda Franck and Philip Knapp – A game with almost impeccable vibes, it resembles more a micro TTRPG than a traditional board game. The chosen GM will set the scene for each “trial” that the players must overcome, with each one harder than the last. It uses card drawing instead of dice to represent “beating” each trial, but the fundamentals and storytelling are quite familiar.
The Family Dinner by Phoenicia Rogerson – Another role-player, this game has each player represents part of a dysfunctional family having dinner. You’ll use ingredient cards to drive conversation and plan the menu while also trying to suss out just how big this family actually is.
Skulls of Sedlec by Dustin Dobson – Something for your morbid friends and family! This game takes place at the height of the Black Death and your job is to arrange all the fresh skulls in the crypt. Not only do you need to impress the chief bone collector with your arrangement, you’ll also want to make sure it fits the family’s wishes.
Images via Respective Owners
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