9 Board Games To Play With Mates At Your Next Games Night
Rally the crew for an awesome games night.
Captain Morgan is Junkee's new Captain of Culture and he's about to make some captain's calls about everything you love.
You’ve cleared yer to-read pile, seen all the TV shows and watched every movie – even the ones with words on them. Now it’s time ter see yer friends in person (maintaining that new-fangled social distance and in keeping with current restrictions, of course)!
I suggest a games night for the next time you catch up, but I’m not talking about video games here.
Permission to come aboard? Board games, that is! Yep, I’m rolling the dice on one of the best way to bond with your crew.
Call your mates, get everyone to put their pesky mobile telephone devices away and make some old-fashioned eye contact over a Captain and cola. Here are a few of my favourites.
Taboo
It’s not as good as forbidden treasure, but forbidden words still work for me. Players work in teams, I am very good at being a team. During each turn, a player picks a card with a word on it for their teammates to guess based on clues. The twist? The card has a list of “taboo” words, too. Use one of these cursed words at ye own peril! Lots of awkward fun.
Balderdash
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I once knew a Balderdash, was an absolute scoundrel, but that’s a different story. In this game, you must bluff your way to victory. Random words get read out and players make up the definition. Hidden in the mix is the real answer! Points are awarded for guessing the correct definition as well as how well you trick your mates. A sly game, indeed.
Risk
Take over the world from the comfort of your own home. Each player commands an army and the goal is claim as many territories as possible. A pesky dice decides your fate each step of the way. There are lots of different themed versions so pick your favourite galaxy or fantasy setting and let the power go to your head.
Cluedo
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Sure, being a Captain is great, but I’ve always wanted to solve crimes on the side. Finally, I get the opportunity with this enjoyable game. My only major gripe is there are professors and colonels but no captains. The people demand more Captains!
Boggle
Use a different kind of shaker to toss a bunch of letter cubes and then try to make as many words as you can from the mess. It’s a delightfully chaotic and nerdy game.
Scrabble
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An oldie but a goodie. Until you get down to using only two-letter words and arguing about the dictionary for words you’ve never heard of but desperately need to win the game, that is. But, yes, a goodie.
Articulate
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The box says this game can have four to 20 players! Woah, slow down person with your 20 friends (brag). You work in teams to give your mates clues about words without using rhyming words or soundalikes, and there’s a strict time limit.
Scattergories
Want to feel like you’re in one of those action motion pictures but with a board game? Then look no further! Players pick a category, roll a dice and then get a letter. A timer starts and you have to list as many objects in the category that start with the letter. The ticking clock makes it very exciting. I feel like Tom Cruise every time.
Codenames
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The name’s Morgan, Captain Morgan. Pretend to be a secret agent and track down other spies on a card grid that’s a little like Battleship. You work in teams to use single codewords to find your own agents and avoid ghastly traps. Grab your sneakiest mates for the one.
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Be sure to keep up with me on Instagram @captainmorganau.
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(Lead image: Rumman Amin / Unsplash)