National Post (National Edition)
THINK INSIDE THE BOX
Summer and board games go together like summer and cocktails. Or summer and the beach. Or summer and, well, summer goes with anything. Problem is, after months upon pandemic months of visiting and revisiting every board game in the closet, there's no way you're taking that tired Monopoly game with you out to the cottage/cabin/yurt/camper. Yes, the classics will always reign supreme, but now's a great time to test out some fresh titles. Here are a few upbeat games Lindsey Ward says go well with family, friends and, well, summer.
JABUKA Ages: 8+ Players: 2-8
Spilling the beans is actually a good thing when it comes to Jabuka — a quick-thinking word game where players assemble words by turning tiny coffee bean-shaped wooden letters. Toronto-born designer and artist Martin Russocki came up with the idea for the game while tinkering with a coffee bean at — you guessed it — a café. He created a twisted alphabet that makes it fun and easy for both adults and kids to create, re-create and steal words. Jabuka taps into our memories, problem-solving skills, brain speed and creativity, making it a hot pick for parents looking to keep their kids' minds in proper working order during this never-ending pandemic summer. And its recycled wood game pieces and burlap sack packaging will fit right in on your creaky cottage game shelf.
Price: $24.99
Available at: Amazon.ca
HORRIFIED Ages: 10+ Players: 1-5
A classic monster mashup minus the movie screen, Horrified is a “co-operative” board game that you can play all by yourself. Clearly that's made it a pandemic-era hit, but you can also play with up to four others of all ages and skill sets since it's quite simple to pick up. Players work together to defend a town against horror legends Frankenstein and his bride, Dracula, the Wolfman, the Mummy and the Creature from the Black Lagoon by determining which strategies work best for taking each monster down. The price tag is on the high side, but brand snobs will appreciate that this one's from the game and puzzle veterans at Ravensburger.
Price: $59.99
Available at: Amazon.ca
RELATIVE INSANITY Ages: 14+ Players: 4-12
When large gatherings are a thing again, this game will be a real treat — especially if your relatives are big on dishing and taking jokes. Using bits from comedian Jeff Foxworthy's stage shtick, Relative Insanity is similar to the party hit Cards Against Humanity in that one player reads a setup card (for example, “While walking past my sister's bedroom, I heard her say ...”) and the other players pick a punch line card to finish the sentence (for example, “Give him a break, he just got out of jail”), hoping the reader chooses their phrase. The player with the funniest punch line earns a point (and bragging rights). The resulting sentences can be quite hilarious, but bear in mind the 14+ age suggestion is merely that — and some might find the game better suited for an all-adult group. Price: $19.99
Available at: Walmart.ca, Indigo
FIVE CROWNS Ages: 8+ Players: 1-7
Rummy junkies who are looking for another spin on the game will welcome Five Crowns — a five-suited take (stars have joined the lineup) on the classic featuring a double deck and a rotating wild card to spice things up. Fans of Crazy Eight Countdown will also dig the rotating wild card twist, as the game begins with three cards (and threes are wild) and then moves on to four cards and so on until the kings get wild. Twos and aces are MIA and the deck has two of each card so it's easier to go out quickly. This competitive card game — which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year — is more suited to families with older kids, or younger kids who have a lot of rummy experience.
Price: $14.99-17.99
Available at: Walmart.ca, Toysrus.ca, Mastermind, Indigo
ZINGO Ages: 4-8 Players: 2-6
Let's not forget about the littles. This preschool-friendly take on the classic bingo builds memory and language skills, and it's lively and fast-paced enough to keep them interested. Slide the “zinger” to release a pair of tiles, then race to be the first one to fill your card. Reading isn't a prerequisite, so even the youngest of gamers can fill their Zingo cards while referring to the pictures on the tiles.
Price: $24.99
Available at: Amazon.ca