Christmas is about spending time with family, and nothing brings out a family’s competitive spirit more than by playing a board game.
According to new research from Hasbro Gaming, 39 per cent of Brits are anticipating being asked questions about their personal life this December. 14 per cent of people are estimated to ask ‘Is marriage on the cards’, with seven percent asking ‘Are you going to get on the property ladder?’ and a whopping 22 per cent will apparently ask ‘Have you put on weight?’
If you have been the recipient of dreaded festive questions, what better time to reach for a board game and get the whole family talking about something other than you?
Another recent study found 56 per cent of Brits say family is the group they are most likely to play a board game with, and Monopoly was found to be the most popular board game in the UK.
Other than Monopoly, a third of Brits say they would reach for a strategy game when deciding what to play while another third say they prefer something that will test their knowledge and trivia skills.
The study also found that 65 per cent of Brits are confident that luck is on their side before they play the game but 20 per cent is confident that fate will see their board game downfall.
Whether you’re is the glass half full or glass half empty camp, be sure to remember in the end a board game is just a bit of fun and something that the whole family can join in on this Christmas.
Find the best classic board games to pick up for Christmas this year below.
Pictionary Air
New tech is slowly starting to filter its way into classic board games, and Pictionary Air is leading the charge. The person drawing uses a Pictionary Air pen and other players can see what is being drawn by using the Pictionary Air app and pointing the in-app camera at the player. The app can link to other devices so all players can see what is being drawn on a smart TV. Welcome to the future.
£15 | Argos | Buy it now
Monopoly
If there’s one board game that is guaranteed to bring out the worst in us, it’s Monopoly – but that won’t stop us playing it. The ultimate game of luck and strategy, the classic with its London landmarks is always a failsafe option and the perfect game to play post-Christmas dinner.
£17 | Argos | Buy it now
Articulate Phrases
A new twist on the classic describing game, Articulate Phrases features over 1,500 British sayings such as, ‘don’t rock the boat’ and ‘shaken not stirred’. For anyone who has mastered the original and wants a bit more of a challenge, the aim of the game is to describe as many phrases before the timer runs out – trickier than it sounds.
£21.60 | Amazon | Buy it now
Harry Potter Wizard Chess Set
Embrace your inner child with this chess set depicting one of Harry Potter’s most iconic scenes. This official HP merchandise is a replica of the one seen on screen, and will delight any Potterheads on your to-buy-for list.
£50 | MenKind | Buy it now
Cluedo
For a nation as clearly addicted to crime dramas as we are, Cluedo is a no-brainer when it comes to Christmas gifting. Get together with your family to play the classic murder mystery game by eliminating suspects and solving the case. The latest version introduces Dr. Orchid as one of the suspects
£17 | Amazon | Buy it now
Uno
Uno is a classic for a reason; it’s a game of luck and strategy and can be played with up to 10 people. The latest versions include customisable wild cards, and ‘swap hands’ cards to change hands with other opponents.
£6.99 | Mattel | Buy it now
Friends – Top Trumps Quiz
For those in your life that still watch Friends on repeat, get them to truly test their sense of ‘unagi’ with this Top Trumps pack. Posing over 500 questions, even the biggest Friends fans will be thrown by some of the harder ones.
£9.99 | Top Trumps | Buy it now
Balderdash
In this game of twisting truths, a player must pick a category – from people to words, initials and movies – and, once the question is read, the other players need to write down what they think the definition of the word is. The aim here is to be as creative as possible and coerce your fellow players into believing your bluff – that’s how you will gain points.
£15.80 | Amazon | Buy it now
Game of Life
When you need a break from your real life, the Game of Life works by sending players either to college or straight into a career. As players move around the board, they will have the option to get married, start a family, change jobs and, in the latest addition, adopt pets as well. The winner is the player who has the most money at the end – but expect a healthy amount of surprises along the way.
£18 | Argos | Buy it now
Scrabble
The original word game, Scrabble celebrated its 71st birthday earlier this year. For the uninitiated, Scrabble involves making words out from the tiles you pick and linking them to words already formed on the board. Each tiled letter has a value and players need to be strategic about the placing of the word on the board as this can help them gain more points.
£12.99 | Amazon | Buy it now
Trivial Pursuit
With 2,400 questions across its six iconic categories - geography, entertainment, history, art and literature, science and nature, and sports and leisure – Trivial Pursuit is a great game for young adults and older.
£20 | Amazon | Buy it now
