The vast majority of board games available today are fun board games for adults. They may be fun for other age groups as well, but they fit in the adult category because adults have already lived through those younger years. It’s what qualifies them to be adults.
That said, it should be obvious that not all board games are fun for every adult. Fun board games for adults I’m associated with might not be the same fun board games for adults you have contact with. Among the dozens that I’ve played as an adult, there have been a small fraction that I haven’t particularly enjoyed. They are few and far between though.
When speaking of adult board games, I’m not going to devote time to those that have risque content. The adult-ness referred to here will only be a reference to an age group, not to games that are for “adults only” because they would be rated R if they were movies.
There are some traditional gateway games mentioned fairly often by those who make suggestions for board games for adults – and I think understandably so. Ticket to Ride and sometimes Carcassonne are most frequently brought up, and I agree that they should be as I would also recommend them, especially for adults who have not yet played anything remotely like a Euro board game before. Yes, that’s how these fun board games have earned the moniker of gateway games. Once people see how much fun these are, they tend to look for more fun board games that they haven’t played before.
Sequence
Sequence is a combination card and board game for 2-4 players. It is somewhat reminiscent of the classic Pente in that you need to get a row (or two, depending on the number of players) of five chips – vertically, horizontally, or diagonally – for a victory.
The board shows all the cards in the deck twice except the jacks, which are wild and have special properties. Play a card and place a “poker” chip of your color on a corresponding card space. Then don’t forget to draw a card to replenish your hand. If you don’t pick up a new card before the next player plays, you have to finish the game with less cards in your hand than you deserve, which can severely limit your options – especially if you forget more than once.
Sequence is a light-weight board game strategy-wise, so there’s plenty of time for socializing, if that’s what you like to do while playing with friends and family. Still, there is enough challenge to make you think a little before placing just any old card anywhere.
Wits & Wagers
As its name suggests, Wits & Wagers is a combination trivia and betting game that is great for parties. It plays quickly, especially if you enforce the time limit imposed by the hourglass. And it doesn’t really matter if you know the answers to the trivia questions; you can still win by intelligent wagering.
A question is read from one of the cards included. All answers are numeric. (This includes years.) Players write down their answers secretly within 30 seconds. When all are ready, answers are revealed simultaneously and are arranged on the betting table from low to high. When sorted properly, players then have 30 more seconds to place their “poker” chips on the answer they think is closest (without going over) to the correct one.
Winnings are paid only to the player or players who guessed the correct (closest) answer according to the odds shown on the betting table. The farther away from the median answer, the higher the odds.
Alhambra
Alhambra is another combination card and board game. Cards are money in four flavors usually identified by card color (though other cues can be used by those who have difficulty with colors) and come in various denominations. Normally, you pick up cards on your turn or discard some of your cards to pay for one of four tiles available on the board.
These tiles, most of which have dark-colored “walls”, are used to construct your own personal Alhambra. The tiles also come in different colors. Twice during the game and once at the end, players score points based on how many tiles of each color are in their Alhambra.
The challenges come in deciding when to purchase a tile, when to bide your time and collect more cash, where to place a purchased tile in your Alhambra (as there are restrictions), and which tile to go after.
When playing with three or four people, you can usually do a fair amount of planning ahead. With five or six people, chances are that the tile you were waiting to buy is going to be taken by someone else before your next turn.
With just a little more strategy involved than in Sequence, this board game will provide many hours of fun for most adults.
Outburst
Party games like Outburst and Balderdash are two more fun board games for adults that you might like to try. Balderdash is virtually the same as the generic “dictionary game”. Having the actual game just makes finding good words to stump people with a lot easier.
Outburst is similar to Family Feud in that you’re trying to come up with lists of items in a category as a team. The main and significant differences are that everyone on the team participates at the same time and that the items in the unknown list are not necessarily the ten most popular answers. Sometimes you’ll wonder why in the world they didn’t list an item that your team came up with, and other times you’ll be puzzled at where the creators came up with an item that none of you thought of.
Quiddler
Quiddler is a card game that works best with players of roughly equal vocabulary levels and spelling ability. You have a hand of three to ten cards (depending on which round it is) that have letters instead of numbers. After drawing a card, you try to spell one or more words using all the letters except one, which you will discard. When one player accomplishes this, the rest have one more chance to do the same, or to at least play as many cards as they can. Any cards left in your hand score negative points. Bonuses are awarded for the longest word and most words each round.
With these suggestions as a starting point, you should be able to find your way to
Have you ever stopped in a toy store or gift shop to buy a present and been completely astounded by the aisles after aisles of board games piled up mountain high? With so many board games in existence, it is nearly impossible to find the perfect one with little time and cornered by the never-ending options. With that in mind, we have compiled a list of the best of the best; the top 6 board games that are must-haves for any household. If you have been on the constant search to find a board game that is fun and enticing, then our list of the Top 6 Must Have, Most Popular Board Games is the ultimate resource to quench you board game needs!
The Top 6 Must Have, Most Popular Board Games:
o Monopoly- I’m sure that there are probably less than 10 people in the world that haven’t ever heard of the classic board game, Monopoly. Monopoly is the classic game of real estate and the banker. Players of young and old try to race around the board, buying as many properties as they can and collecting fines from others that land on their claimed properties, all while trying to earn as much money as possible. The player who has earned the most money by the end of the game is declared the winner of that match of Monopoly, but with the game being so addictive that title is usually quickly challenged in hours of follow-up games and re-matches! Monopoly is the perfect game for all types of people and can be enjoyed by both young and older generations, with the help of many different versions of the game, including ‘Star Wars’ versions, popular cartoon versions, special animal versions, deluxe versions, and much, much more for more hours of Monopoly fun!
o The Game of Life- What game is better than one about your own life? The Game of Life is a game in which you travel around the board in a tiny plastic car on the main road of your life. You literally experience all the stages of life right at your kitchen table! Players are given a job and a salary and try to maintain a high fortune after being put through all the joys and troubles of life, such as having children and paying for their education. At the end of the game, each player is led to the retirement home of their choosing in order to count up all the money that they have accumulated throughout The Game of Life. The player who is the richest wins the game! This board game is perfect for any group of people, young or old, who would enjoy having a laugh out of what this board predicts will occur throughout their lives!
o Scrabble- Enjoy using the English language to create long, exotic words out of random letters and scoring points for it? If so, than this game is perfect for you! In Scrabble, players gather around a game board and basically create a crossword puzzle in front of their own eyes! Each player receives random wooden tiles with letters printed on them and must try to create words using their tiles and linking them to the words that other players have already laid out on the game board. Each letter that is on the tiles has a point value, and in the end, the player who received the largest total amount of points by using their tiles to create words is the winner of the game. Scrabble is an excellent game for adults or elders who are trying to improve their vocabulary, or just for children who are just learning the basics of the English language. Either way, Scrabble is an excellent Family Game Night choice!
o Clue- Do you have a niche for solving mysteries? Have you always been the one to know where Waldo was or to discover where in the world Carmen Sandiego was hiding before anyone else could even begin to fathom where she might be? If this sounds like you, then you are sure to fall in love with Clue, the board game. In this thrilling game, players travel around the rooms of a house on the board trying to collect clues to discover which one of their fellow players murdered a member of the household. A player must hurry around quickly before anyone else can discover it and proclaim the suspected murderer out loud. Those who participate in this game will find themselves intrigued by the dark secrets and truths that other players are keeping and will be excited to try to unravel those mysteries! This board game is the next best thing to a live murder mystery party!
o The Settlers of Catan- This game is a pretty new game in comparison to the above classics. First created in 1995, the game offers the power to build a civilization to the normal, everyday person! In The Settlers of Catan, players must try to build settlements, cities and roads to build up the island of Catan throughout the game. With each turn, the dice are rolled in order to determine what resources the island produces and the players use these resources to build up their civilizations even more and to earn victory points. The first player to earn 10 victory points wins the game. This is a phenomenal board game for those who are ‘Civilization’ and ‘Tycoon’ computer game addicts!
o Risk- Okay, so maybe you don’t want to fight for power over just a tiny island, like in The Settlers of Catan. Perhaps, you desire control over much more land, like the whole world? Satisfy this desire through playing the board game, Risk! In Risk, players compete in battles to win over areas of continents and ultimately try to conquer the world by defeating the troops of all the other players. In this game, players fight to the death and the last player to have surviving troops after killing all their fellow players’ troops wins the game. This board game is perfect for competitive spirits and will suffice if you have a lot of spare time on your hands; a good game with friends can potentially last several hours!
We hope you enjoyed our list of the Top 6 Must Have, Most Po
Monopoly, Risk and Clue have roots buried deep in the sands of ancient Mesopotamia.
British archeologist Charles Leonard Woolley unearthed the earliest known board game in the late 1920′s. He was excavating a burial tomb in Ur, what is now southern Iraq. The game, buried with other treasure, had been interred nearly 4,500 years earlier. The Royal Game of Ur is the earliest known board game. Not only did Woolley find the game board and game pieces, he also found instructions for playing the game. They were engraved in cuneiform texts located at the site. The Royal Game of Ur, or the ‘game of 20 squares’ was a race game with two players racing to the end of the board. Since that time similar game boards have been found throughout the ancient world, from Egypt to India. The game Woolley found can still be played today, just as the ancient Sumerians enjoyed it.
Board games have been popular in nearly every known civilization. Many civilizations were playing board games before they developed any form of written language.
Board games come in two basic types. The first uses strategy to win the game. The object is to block or capture opposing game pieces or to capture larger portions of the game board. Monopoly and checkers are both examples of the strategy game. Strategy alone does not insure victory.
Chance plays a significant role in most board games, but not all. Some of the most respectable board games, chess for example, focus on skill with very little luck involved.
Purists feel that luck is an undesirable element. They feel the games should be based entirely on strategy and skill. Others feel the element of chance gives these games more complexity with many more possible strategies. These people feel the element of luck makes these games more exciting. On the other hand, games that are completely games of chance, where no or few decisions are made, quickly become boring to most adults. Many children’s board games are games of luck with few decisions to be made.
The second types of board games are race games. Two or more players move pieces in a race from one point on the board to another. Backgammon is an example of a race game. Again, the element of chance is an essential ingredient in these games.
Luck is introduced into the game in a number of ways. One of the popular ways is by using dice. The dice can determine how many units a play can move, how forces fare in battle or which resources a player gains. Another common method of introducing change is by using a deck of special cards. In yet other games spinners or other such devices are used to determine the play.
A third type of board games is a combination both of the above types. These games employ strategies to conduct a race.
Board Games Pre-date Reading And Writing
Board games have been popular for centuries. The game of 20 squares was played from Egypt to India more than 4,000 years ago. Nearly 3,000 years ago a game that resembles backgammon was developed in the same region. Games using stone marbles were developed in Egypt nearly 1,000 years later.
A board game is a game played with a pre-marked surface and counters or pieces that are moved across the board. Methods of chance are often used, usually dice or cards, to determine the movement of the pieces or counters across the surface of the board.
We are not really sure why early board games were developed. Some argue these games were a device for conducting religious services. Others claim they were employed to teach strategies of war. Today’s board games are recreational and considered good family entertainment.
Board games became popular in the U.S. in the early 1900s. As the population moved off the farm, people had more time and more money to pursue leisure activities. Board games were a family recreation easily played in the home. Chess, checkers and backgammon became tremendously popular.
The most popular board game of all time is Monopoly. In 1904 Elizabeth Maggie patented “The Landlord’s Game” an early version of Monopoly. It was based upon economic principles and was designed to teach real estate ownership and management.
In 1933, Clarence Darrow copyrighted a version of “The Landlord’s Game.” He called it “Monopoly.” He went to the game company, Parker Brothers, for help producing the game. They turned him down because they said it would never sell. He began selling Monopoly for the 1934 Christmas season. He was overwhelmed with orders. Parker Brothers agreed to produce the game the following year. Monopoly is now printed in 15 languages and sold worldwide.
Favorite old board games have recently been redeveloped for a whole new generation. These classics have been developed as electronic games. Most popular board games have now been successfully adapted as electronic games. These games are played on game consoles and on personal computers.
Board games have come along way since the days of ancient Sumerians when they were played around campfires of camel trains. Astronauts millions of miles above the earth have played board games. Now, with the Internet, players half a world apart can come together in cyberspace and enjoy the challenge of board games.
A classic entertainment filled with fun, leisure and family activity is rooted with the top board games in the world. These board games have been introduced and experienced over the past 8000 years. Earlier board games were mostly played in live sessions where players competed by sitting opposite each other. Now the online industry has given us a comfortable platform for board game lovers to play and enjoy competitions on various online sites.
Everyone who plays a board game has memories tied up while they are experiencing their next game. Players try out the latest board games introduced every year along with the existing ones. Hence each year ends with a list of the most popular and the most dis-liked board games played in live sessions and also in the online world. Below is the list and explanation of the top 10 popular board games of the year 2009. Take a look!
Clue
By its original format it is known as “Cluedo”, a United Kingdom version published in 1949. This game is based on speculation, presumption and guessing techniques that the player must posses. As the game of Clue has a fun-filled format and encourages social interaction, it’s become a favourite one for adults and kids. Everyone knows the story of this game to do with the rooms and weapons. But what makes it more interesting is guessing aspect that heightens the worry and raises the stakes for players. Many variations have been introduced now, including editions for kids and in many language versions.
Monopoly
Monopoly has certainly existed and thrived as the most popular board game in the commercial industry. Almost for 100 years this game has been initiated in many forms. Though monopoly is an over-hyped game and is well-known among the modern board games, it is still given less valued. The experience gets monotonous while playing because most people are not aware of the rules and hence play on wrong terms. But there is a solid game here involving some basic economics.
Players try out the various novelty incarnations (Simpsons-opoly, University of Texas-opoly, etc). The old-school Monopoly, the basic introductory version, that you played in early times features the infamous paper money and is the version that reigns best over all other commercial games.
Life
The Game of Life was invented in 1861 and it was released by Milton Bradley that year. Players proceed in the game of life by rotating a wheel and following different tracks and taking serious decisions while they are on their way. Even this year the game has achieved enough fame as it includes fun activities. You enjoy growing up, adding kids and jobs and cash. This is indeed one of the older American board games still played. New rules and new careers to practice are included in the Updated versions. This is based loosely on the classic Parchisi game from India like a slide and pursuit game. The game also includes aspects of card games and capture games – the rules are simple to follow and players of all ages can participate.
Chess
Chess is a global happening that continues to challenge players world-wide and it stands as an all-time holder for board games. On a global scale, chess is the only well-known and most-played game of chess than any other game. It involves factors like complexity, strategy, planning, and easy to play steps. You don’t even need a board and characters, but just a pencil and paper and that keeps the game special and the most wanted one till date. The rules of Chess have always been evolving from the 7th century until today. But it’s still a wonderful game that drives players from all over the world.
Scrabble
The game can be enjoyed by two or four players who participate by forming words on a board type like crossword puzzle. The best-known and most popular word game, Scrabble has an extreme following of wordsmiths – you know those people quick to correct your usage and grammar on the bus. More vague letters and words lead to higher point score. Some players study Scrabble, the most popular word game in the world, like Garry Kasparov studies Chess. The Deluxe version has many features including a board that spins and holds letters in place.
Checkers
The board game Checkers is also known as Draughts and dates back to at least the sixteenth century. Just like chess and other accepted games, there are tournaments in checkers that’s played on national and worldwide basis, and popular culture has fully embraced this game of “capture”. Considered “the poor man’s chess”, checkers is almost as tough and famous as chess, and the variations have been listed in books and websites for years.
Stratego
Stratego makes the players to control a large number of pieces representing the soldiers and officers of rival armies. This can be defined as a classic war strategy game. Organize your troops in a way that safeguard your flag while giving you a chance to capture your opponent’s flag. This game is an adaptation of an ancient Chinese chess variant, called “Animal Chess”. The game involves steps like misleading your opponent, a good deal of tricks, and strategy learned over time in order to win.
Risk
This game is based on the world during the period of Napoleon which is played by two to six players. This is a war strategy game invented by a French film director in 1957. The goal is to rule the world with your army by over taking countries through military might. Risk is another game known for eating up entire weekends and creating rivalries among friends. Many expansions exist, both official and unofficial, including a futuristic version called Risk: 2210 AD. An updated version of Risk, Risk 2210 AD improves the original by shortening the game (five turns), introducing underwater and space territories, and more. Powerful commanders and cards add new strategy.
Battleship
Battleship is a simple game that has entertained players for decades. To understand it better and in a simpler form, the game of Battleship is based on guessing techniques. Much before the board version was introduced, which featured the classic back-to-back setup “cheat proof”; players used paper and pencil to submerge each other’s battleships with. The basic theme of naval combat was first published in 1931 and hasn’t lost fame. Two players furtively deploy their armadas and then try to destroy each other.