By NATHANIEL DUNAWAY Entertainment Editor
My friends and I have taken up to playing games.
Right now, you might be imagining kickball or “Grand Theft Auto”; however — while those are both awesome — the games we’ve been playing aren’t at home outside or on the TV, but instead on the tabletop (or the carpet).
Game night has become a weekly tradition at my house, and in case you’re considering making it a tradition at yours, here’s a quick rundown of some of the best board and card games my roommates, friends, and I keep returning to every weekend. All of these games are best played with 2-6 players.
“Once Upon a Time”
My only disclaimer for this card game is this: it’s not for everyone. Or maybe a better way to put it is that not everyone is for this game. The entire focus of “Once Upon a Time” is on storytelling.
Players have a hand of cards with fairy tale elements such as “Princess,” “Dragon” and “Dungeon.” These are called Story Cards. The game begins as one player, the Storyteller, who begins telling a story, utilizing their cards to
further the plot, guiding it to their specific Ending Card.
The other players can use Interrupt Cards to become the new Storyteller. The first player to play all their Story Cards and reach their ending wins. It may sound complicated, but you get the hang of it quickly. The more creative and inventive the players are, the better. The stories created during this game can be hilarious and exciting, and you’ll find yourself wanting to write some of them down.
“Clue Mysteries” *
If I have any complaints about the game “Clue,” it’s that games don’t last nearly
long enough. If you agree with that sentiment, and also worry that “Clue” isn’t complicated or convoluted enough, then “Clue Mysteries” is the board game for you.
Taking the mystery-solving theme of “Clue” and expanding it from a single crime in a single house to 50 individual crimes in a whole town full
of suspects, “Clue Mysteries” has a terrific amount of replay value. The gathering of clues involves getting statements from characters (many of them new, although the usual suspects are still present), cracking codes, and traveling all across town to catch a criminal.
While the classic murder weapons are unfortunately absent, the game makes up for it with cool detective tools such as a magnifying glass, mirror, and key.
“Fluxx” *
Another card game and one of the wildest, most wonderfully unpredictable games
I’ve ever played. In “Fluxx,” the rules are determined by the cards in your hand, and they’re always changing.
Complete aspects of the game can be changed with a single card, such as how many cards can be drawn, how many or what cards can be played, and what it takes to win. Games can last five minutes or they can last an hour.
There are dozens of versions, ranging from “Cartoon Network Fluxx” to “Cthulhu
Fluxx” and “Monty Python Fluxx.” Every play-through is different, making “Fluxx” endlessly enjoyable.
Board and card games are fun; that’s kind of the whole point. And while some are
more fun than others (I’m not a huge fan of “Settlers of Catan,” but it’s a popular one you should also check out), try to be open to whatever games come your way. You’ll find the ones that stick.
Tabletop games may not be as popular as sports or video games, but they can be just as much — if not more — fun.
*Shout out to Sarah Cotter for recommending these games.
