Board gamers after Xmas

[bellbird]

So I know a lot of game recommendations were being traded in the lead up to Christmas. Have you had a chance to play any of them?

I have a question about Forbidden Island - we've played 3 times now and lost all 3 times. DS was getting a bit dejected (and it was novice sea level obviously), but there was some solace in that we were losing together... This game is win-able, right?!

 

[tkradtke]

I'm no help on that game Justine (@bellbird). We got two new games for Christmas though.

First up was Fuse. After seeing posts here about cooperative games, I wandered down some Amazon rabbit trail that lead me to this game. The first time we played this, my 16 year old son declared that he hated this game and never wanted to play it again. Playing against a timer seriously stressed him out. Last night I picked it on my turn to pick the game, just to give it another shot. It went much better this time and he actually asked to play it a few times in a row as we worked out different strategies. We have managed to "win" a few times, but just barely and always on "training" level. I'm not sure how much we'll play it, but it will be fun to have in the mix.

The second game we got was Exploding Kittens (the family friendly version). The kids LOVE this game and we have played it countless times already. Is it bad that I've already started an Amazon wish list for next Christmas and added the Imploding Kittens expansion pack to it?

 

[StefanieS]

We played 30 seconds and still love it.
The version we have seems to be quite South African with British royalty, but our American family member struggled at time.

 

[janedee]

We got Pandemic (a co-operative game) this year and really enjoyed it. The game seemed quite complex at first but it didn't take long to get the hang of it and start developing strategies. We have played twice so far, lost the first game and won the 2nd.

 

[janedee]

We got Pandemic (a co-operative game) this year and really enjoyed it. The game seemed quite complex at first but it didn't take long to get the hang of it and start developing strategies. We have played twice so far, lost the first game and won the 2nd.

 

[AnneofAlamo]

I have a question about Forbidden Island - we've played 3 times now and lost all 3 times. DS was getting a bit dejected (and it was novice sea level obviously), but there was some solace in that we were losing together... This game is win-able, right?!

well, my kids age 11, 10 and 8 have won it 3 times! lol we now play at higher level

The second game we got was Exploding Kittens (the family friendly version). The kids LOVE this game and we have played it countless times already

we just got that one, and are gonna play Monday! lol

We got Pandemic (a co-operative game) this year

we got that one, but haven't played yet...

and Kerplunk was a hit for all!

 

[corsicar]

Pandemic and Forbidden Island are great games! I've been curious about Exploding Kittens because I've seen it so many places but never played it.

I got my husband Onitama for Christmas. I picked it because it's two players, short game (15-20 minutes), easy rules (the moves are all laid out for you in the cards you pick), and strategy I can understand (thinking ahead like chess). We played it twice and I lost both times

My best friend got New York 1901 and Takenoko for Christmas, so I played those with her family. New York 1901 is a fun game about building up skyscrapers in NYC, trying to get more land and buildings than everyone else. Takenoko is a super cute game about growing bamboo and feeding a panda.

@tkradtke Tracie - speaking of stressful games, we borrowed SpectreOps from a friend of ours. It involves one player (me) sneaking around a facility trying to accomplish the mission, keeping track of moves secretly on a piece of paper, while the other player/s hunt them down. It's easy enough, but knowing that I was being tracked and hunted stressed me out so much!! I ended up losing when I couldn't sneak past them quickly enough.

 

[bellbird]

The second game we got was Exploding Kittens (the family friendly version). The kids LOVE this game and we have played it countless times already. Is it bad that I've already started an Amazon wish list for next Christmas and added the Imploding Kittens expansion pack to it?

so yeah i may already be making a wishlist too - i was looking at that on your Amazon link and DD walks up behind me and goes 'oh yeah that's an App' - not sure if it's family friendly though (can i ask what's not good about the normal version? is there more animal cruelty than exploding cats?!!)

 

[bellbird]

We got Pandemic (a co-operative game) this year and really enjoyed it. The game seemed quite complex at first but it didn't take long to get the hang of it and start developing strategies. We have played twice so far, lost the first game and won the 2nd.

andemic and Forbidden Island are great games! I've been curious about Exploding Kittens because I've seen it so many places but never played it.

my sister and her partner got Pandemic (saw it on her instagram anyway ) not sure what she thought of it but adding to the list of possibles - or maybe i just swap her Forbidden Island for a bit...

 

[bestcee]

I've been curious about Exploding Kittens because I've seen it so many places but never played it.

My favorite part is there's no shuffling involved! It's a really simple card game to play.

can i ask what's not good about the normal version? is there more animal cruelty than exploding cats?!!

The not safe for work version includes throw up jokes, and such. The normal version is the family friendly version I believe. We have both, and I though we ordered imploding kittens for Christmas. Must not have.

We got Build or Boom and Labyrinth for Christmas. Well, Labyrinth was for Thanksgiving, we loved it and bought it for my nieces and nephews for Christmas. I'll have to check out Forbidden Island! DH wants some cooperative games.

 

[Tree City]

We got Ticket to Ride and we've played at least 3 times. Love it! DD got the hang of it right away, and it's still fun for DH and me. I got it cuz of the other thread talking about it (actually, I think there have been at least 2 mentioning it, but I digress.) We debated getting the Europe expansion pack cuz Barnes and Noble has it on sale, but IDK if we really "need" it yet, ya know?
Also we played Clumsy Thief for the first time around the holidays. That's fun! I like it cuz it's fast-paced. Plus it's easy for DD cuz she can easily count to 100.
Just yesterday we played Mexican Train for the first time. IDK what makes it a "Mexican Train," but that's what it's called. So I bought it today from Amazon cuz I think it'll be nice to play with my parents when they visit. My mom doesn't like fast-moving games, so this should be good for her. (Peanuts made her have a heart attack rotfl!)
And an "oldie-but-goodie": we got DD Clue for Christmas. We've played twice and she hasn't won yet but she still wants to play, which in my world means a game is a winner!
Oh, and one more: Labyrinth (like @bestcee!). I played it as a kid but DH never did. We (well, *I*) got it for DD for Christmas and we've played once already. DD and DH both liked it, so I count that as a win! I think we'll play it tonight as well. I need something faster than Trains but less brain power than Clue rotfl.
ETA: who's played Pit? I need to get that out to play. We used to play it when my mom's side of the family got together. I've got to think of some more old games to unearth from our closet!

 

[gwtwred]

My absolute favorite of the new games I was introduced to this Christmas is The Castles of Mad King Ludwig. It's so fun! There's a lot of strategy involved, but it's not totally overwhelming.

We also got the kids' version of Ticket to Ride, which was fun, and Splendor, which we've played before and loved. My brother got Isle of Skye, and I played it a few times with him, but I didn't really care for it. It was far too elaborate for my tastes.

 

[KarenW]

The second game we got was Exploding Kittens (the family friendly version). The kids LOVE this game and we have played it countless times already. Is it bad that I've already started an Amazon wish list for next Christmas and added the Imploding Kittens expansion pack to it?

We got our 13yo this for Christmas as well, it has been in constant use since then - he loves the kitten meowing everytime the box is opened..

My eldest son who is a board game addict got given Ra and that is so much fun as well. We played board games all Christmas day. Our daughter had her friends over for boxing day for the same and then my sons friends came over for NYE's games. Love it!

 

[krscraps]

I got three new expansion packs for Cards Against Humanity (since I have no kids). A while ago I also got the game "QuickWits2" (also 17+) and we played that after Christmas. My sister got the Oregon Trail game (which for the 90s kid in me... oh how fun!)

I've never had the patience to play any other board games but I've always wanted to try.

 

[KarenW]

We got Ticket to Ride and we've played at least 3 times. Love it! DD got the hang of it right away, and it's still fun for DH and me. I got it cuz of the other thread talking about it (actually, I think there have been at least 2 mentioning it, but I digress.) We debated getting the Europe expansion pack cuz Barnes and Noble has it on sale, but IDK if we really "need" it yet, ya know?

We have the European version and we got the Asian Expansion pack that we haven't played yet - it has a mythical map as well as the normal Asian map. It is one of our families favourites as well.

 

[Tree City]

We have the European version and we got the Asian Expansion pack that we haven't played yet - it has a mythical map as well as the normal Asian map. It is one of our families favourites as well.

this is good to know. Actually, it's bad, cuz now I'm gonna spend more money on the European version!

 

[tkradtke]

speaking of stressful games, we borrowed SpectreOps from a friend of ours. It involves one player (me) sneaking around a facility trying to accomplish the mission, keeping track of moves secretly on a piece of paper, while the other player/s hunt them down

Oh my! That does sound stressful! I don't think Fuse is that bad... it was a combination of not fully understanding the game yet and the fact that we picked the "personality" narration for countdown on the app. She was a bit obnoxious and added to the stress. After that we picked the basic narration which just announced how many minutes were left, without any extra insulting commentary.

We got Ticket to Ride and we've played at least 3 times. Love it! DD got the hang of it right away, and it's still fun for DH and me.

Yay!!! I'm glad you're enjoying it!!

who's played Pit? I need to get that out to play. We used to play it when my mom's side of the family got together. I've got to think of some more old games to unearth from our closet!

YES!!! We love Pit!!! We love to play it when we have lots of people over as the yelling and confusion is so much fun!! Side note... when I went to camp in middle school, we played a life-sized version of Pit. The cards were poster board sized and when you had three to trade, three members from your team went out, arms linked, with the cards to make the trade.

he loves the kitten meowing everytime the box is opened..

Our box doesn't meow :-( I didn't even know a meowing box was an option!

 

[Juliestcyr]

So I know a lot of game recommendations were being traded in the lead up to Christmas. Have you had a chance to play any of them?

I have a question about Forbidden Island - we've played 3 times now and lost all 3 times. DS was getting a bit dejected (and it was novice sea level obviously), but there was some solace in that we were losing together... This game is win-able, right?!

@bellbird, we've won Forbidden Island 3 times in a row! I was starting to feel that it was a little too easy. Actually, I suspect it's just luck of the draw. Every time we've played, Fool's landing has ended up on one edge of the board, and we've been able to collect our treasure squares really close together, which has been a huge help.

 

[Tree City]

YES!!! We love Pit!!! We love to play it when we have lots of people over as the yelling and confusion is so much fun!! Side note... when I went to camp in middle school, we played a life-sized version of Pit. The cards were poster board sized and when you had three to trade, three members from your team went out, arms linked, with the cards to make the trade.

That sounds so fun! Now I want to play a life size version!!!

 

[bestcee]

We have the European version and we got the Asian Expansion pack that we haven't played yet - it has a mythical map as well as the normal Asian map. It is one of our families favourites as well.

What's the best version of Ticket to Ride to start with?