It's tricky shopping for board games. Well aren't you lucky that I have compiled my Board Game Review 2023 Christmas Board Game Gift Guide! The post Christmas Board Game Gift Guide 2023 appeared first on Board Game Review.
‘Tis the season to be jolly and nothing says being jolly more than fleecing your bank account and spending it on other people. Well this year, give the gift of quality family time with a new board game. Or treat yourself to a new game, you know you deserve it! But with so many on the market what do you go for? In formulating this list, I have selected newer games that should be readily available. I have tried to pick things that are affordable too, but the cost of decent board games creeps up, like everything else annoyingly.
Kids’ game
I’m a firm believer that Christmas is about the kids and so what better place to start! My favourite children’s game of the year is Stomp the Plank. I love it because it is so easy to teach, you can pretty much do it while playing the first turn. I have played it with children as young as four and there aren’t many games that I am as happy as a four year old playing, but this is one of them. Even my teenager will play it because it is silly push-your-luck fun! Games are quick so it works well for those with shorter attention spans too and the pirate elephants are brilliant. This one is well worth checking out! If you want to find out more, read my review here.
Family board game
Tipperary is a lovely family board game that sits up to five players. With simultaneous play, this game moves around at a canter regardless of player count. I recommend Tipperary as it is easy to grasp but also offers plenty to think about. I couldn’t forgive my minor niggles of the bag being a bit too small for the tiles and the towers that needed gluing, else it would’ve been comfortably resided in my hall of fame, but this doesn’t affect the gameplay. We have played it lots even after reviewing it which is always a good sign! After Us would be another brilliant option and that plays up to six with very little downtime too!
Co-operative board game
The A.R.T. Project is a really great option for a co-operative game. Collectively you are trying to retrieve stolen artwork from around the globe and defeat the underground network of art thieves. Dice rolling fun with everyone at the table invested. This is a lovely new release from this year.
If you’re looking for a quick, fun and chaotic co-operative game, Kites may be worth checking out too!
Two player board game
Splendor Duel is from the same stable as Splendor, an absolute favourite in our house. This two-player only game feels familiar but is certainly different. The selection of gems in particular has a cool twist from the original. It certainly is interesting enough to warrant owning both. So if you are looking for a game for a couple, this could well be the gift you are looking for!
Stocking filler
This could be a feature in itself! It’s one I’ve been meaning to write for years, but haven’t! If I have to pick one from this year’s releases, Trio is my choice. It is a great family card game that tests your memory skills. With cool cards and simple rules this is a winner in the smaller box category. The memory element makes this suitable for those over eight years old. If you are looking for a game for a younger audience Monster 12 or My Gold Mine from Kosmos games would be great options too!
Party game
Gullible arrived with me in time for Christmas last year and we had oodles of fun with it over the festive period. It’s great for four people. If you’re looking to sit more players, Shoot for the Stars is a great trivia game that hit the table a lot over the festive period last year too. Both have been reviewed on my website so check them out here and here respectively!
For gamers that already have everything!
Well clearly another board game isn’t going to be an option! If nothing on my feature 5 Gift Ideas For The Board Gamer That Has Everything appeals, then perhaps I might suggest an Escape Room gift voucher. The logical puzzles escape rooms offer is very much akin to a board game. I recently reviewed an Escape Plan and a Mindworks escape room, they were both very good and I am sure others are too!
If escape rooms aren’t their thing you could consider gifting someone a subscription to Rent, Shuffle and Roll, a UK-based hire company for board games, so they can try lots of great, new board games every month!
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