Amidst all the overwhelming news such as harrowing conflicts, financial strains and more around the world, this year’s Christmas gift is meant to gather people – namely board games. For those who may not know, the Swedish Retail Institute (HUI) annually appoints “the Christmas gift of the year”, based on current social trends and the present, as well as future consumption patterns in Sweden. I couldn’t be more excited about this year’s gift and immediately delved into the myriad selection of the most entertaining games to share with family and friends. I think it’s safe to say that there’s no doubt that they’ll be a hit. After all, who doesn’t like games? They offer laughter, memories and bring us closer to our loved ones.
I present to you a selection of games, of various categories and a mix of Swedish and English games. Without further ado, let me present to you which games you might want to look out for.
For the political ones
Debatable: Do you spend time on political internet forums, or perhaps eager to sharpen your debate skills? Then this game certainly is for you. In this seriously silly game, all players are politicians taking turns debating both serious and frivolous topics such as climate change or whether “cats are better pets than dogs”. Each round, two players are chosen to be either for or against a question, and after a lively debate, the other players vote on who they believe won. However, before stepping into a debate you draw two strategy cards without showing anyone else. You must then follow different strategies such as “Deny Everything”, “Go to personal attack” or “Use invented science” throughout the round.
Games that guarantee a burst of laughter
“Kan du ta en hint?” (Swedish): This game you simply don’t want to miss. Divided into teams, your teammates have 90 seconds to guess what words you’re trying to explain. The game contains cards featuring words of categories such as celebrities, inventions, and cities. Here’s the twist: to convey the words on the card, you must resort to either speaking, charades, singing or using various geometrical shapes. However your teammates must pay attention, because each time there is one forbidden word they can’t guess. Hence as the name suggests, can your friends take a hint?
What do you meme?: Think you are the ultimate meme maestro in your group? This game serves laughter at its finest by taking you on a nostalgic journey through the memes that once entertained us all. Similar to cards against humanities, players compete to create the funniest meme by pairing caption cards with a photo of a meme. The judge at the table chooses the caption that they think matches the photo the best and whoever played that card gets a point.
Games to get your knowledge in test (trivia)
0-100 (Swedish): For enthusiasts of trivia games, eager to broaden their knowledge horizon, this is definitely something to look out for. 0-100 is the fun, fast-paced knowledge game where the answer is always a number between 0-100. A refreshing twist to the traditional trivia experience. When uncertain, take a shot at making the closests estimate – closest wins. It’s a fun way to cultivate knowledge, making reasonable assumptions and guesses together with others. 0-100 contains about 1100 challenging and fun questions, and can be bought in different versions such as general knowledge, around the world and more. You can be sure to find one that suits your preferences!
For those who yearn for suspense
Exploding kittens: This is a strategic game and as the name suggests, a kitty version of Russian Roulette. Players try to avoid drawing Exploding Kittens, as they eliminate them from the game, unless they have a defuse card. All other cards in the deck are used to move, mitigare or avoid the cards with Exploding Kitten in order to be the last man standing. Although the instructions make it sound complicated, once you get the gist, this fast-paced board game is perfect for family game night or as an anytime boredom buster. Cluedo: This murder mystery game is guaranteed to infuse the evening with suspense. When six chosen guests arrive at Boden Black’s mansion after receiving a mysterious invitation, none are certain what to expect. The tension heightens when their host is found dead after unveiling a sinister blackmail scheme during dinner. The pressure is on to solve this mystery. Compete against the other players in solving this case through collecting clues and narrowing the list of suspects. Each player records their clues and eliminates false information to identify the culprit, location of the murder and the weapon used. Be the first to figure out the murderer’s identity and claim victory in the game!
Kickstarter for some interesting and deep conversations
We’re not really strangers: To conclude this list, this game may evoke sentimentality, something we occasionally find comforting. However, this isn’t just a card game, but in fact a movement as well, dedicated to strengthening meaningful connections. Featuring three levels of questions and prompts, this allows your group to deepen the existing relationships and perhaps create new significant ones. Play bold and daring as it not only shows your courage, might just pave the way for your victory.
As I wrap up this exploration of interesting games, I especially realize that the key to a truly memorable holiday season lies in the joy shared with others. Particularly now many of us feel the need to spend as much time with our loved ones, and perhaps some around us need that additional support. If you’re still trying to figure out what to bring to this year’s Holidays, perhaps board games might be just what your friends and family will enjoy. Anticipate the warmth of connection, the thrill of competition, and who knows maybe it is over these games that you’ll even discover additional friendships?
