Christmas Board Game Gift Guide 2024
The festive period brings with it the blogger’s obligatory list of things to consider gifting your loved ones, friends and family. If this offering doesn’t tickle your gift-giving fancy, you could always look for more inspiration with my 2023 list. Like last year I have tried to pick relatively affordable newer games that should be readily available.
Some of these games have been gifted to me but appear on this list entirely on their own merits. Also, all links are affiliate ones, so that if you do decide to buy a game I will get a few pennies from the company you buy from as a thank you.
Kids’ game
Christmas should be about the joy and wonderment on the faces of children so what better place to start! A game that will entertain kids and adults alike is Captain Flip. The straightforward push-your-luck gameplay and amazing player aids will mean you won’t be scratching your head when the children want to play it straight away on Christmas Day. In its simplest form, you will draw a tile blind from the bag, decide whether to place it on your board, or flip it and then place it on your board. What I particularly like is that although this is a high-luck game, I still feel like I am making decisions and memorising positions of tiles so it is not totally devoid of strategy. Yet, players of almost any age and ability can still be competitive. If you want to find out more, you can read the review I penned earlier in the year. Orbito is really fun too, if you don’t mind something more abstract!
Family game
My most played game that I don’t own this year is Courtisans. I missed out on it around the time of the U.K. Games Expo when it was a Waterstones exclusive and have been waiting patiently for a restock ever since. I have been reliably informed by the distributor that it should be restocked in time for Christmas, so I am including it as my recommendation as my family game of choice. My win rate is shockingly low and my most recent loss was to a thirteen year old. The simple rules of only playing three cards on your turn, and it playing up to five people, ensures it makes this gift guide.
In case the restock doesn’t come to fruition, I heartily recommend checking out another card game for your family. Again, it has simple rules but plenty of game as you create a 3 x 3 tableau. You primarily score through agency, location and set collection. Castle Combo also plays up to five people so it is another great family option. I reviewed it recently as unlike Courtisans I do own it!
Co-operative board game
There is only really one co-operative game that should be on your radar this year, and that is Sky Team. Being a two-player only game will delight some and be an annoyance to others, but if the player counts suits you, then this is very worthy of your consideration. I appreciate the theme may not be for everyone, but the gameplay could well be. You land the plane with clever dice placement and limited communication. With lots of different airports to attempt to land your plane at, there is plenty of game in this box. And yes, I reviewed this game earlier in the year too. There is more information about this one you can read there to decide whether it is worth parting with your hard-earned pennies for it!
If you’re looking for a more family friendly co-operative game that sits more players, you could consider Belratti instead.
Two player board game
I could’ve written the paragraph above here too as Sky Team would be an excellent two player recommendation!
However, I feel it wouldn’t be right to offer the same game twice so instead I have diverted my eyes to the quick-paced abstract strategy of Lacuna. This game centres around area control and line of sight. It also comes with an attractive playmat and lovely player tokens. The cylindrical colourful box makes this feel more like a gift too.
If you need more inspiration in this category you could consider Omshanti, a fun mix of shuffleboard and bowls. Players of all ages will delight how the balls glide across the included playmat. Fortunately, only the older players will realise it is packaged akin to a sex toy!
If it was easier to track down in the UK, Agent Avenue would be high up my two player recommendation too!
Stocking filler
Another year goes by and I still haven’t written my feature on the best stocking stuffers. My favourite small box game of the year was a surprise hit. Rafter Five will definitely fit in a stocking as it comes in a typically Oink Games sized box. Inside you will find dexteritous fun as you take it in turns to extend the size of the shared raft without it collapsing. Easy enough for all to play and despite the hazard, falling pieces aren’t as punishing as it is in some similar games. I should’ve probably reviewed this one as we have thoroughly enjoyed it, but I haven’t yet. Soz.
Party game
Hopefully you are going to need a good party game over this festive period. Bang Out of Order has been a firm family favourite since it got delivered earlier this year. Another small box that could’ve been included as a stocking stuffer! It pits two teams to place numerical answers in ascending order. The questions are near impossible to know so your team’s best estimate is all you can rely on as you hope to place your card in the correct order. If you think a card is incorrectly placed you can call out your opponents as being Bang Out of Order!
Prey Another Day has also been a hit for all ages and there is no hiding behind a team on this game of deduction and second guessing with super vibrant artwork.
For gamers that already have everything!
Well clearly another board game isn’t going to be an option! Well it probably is, but unless you know their entire collection and taste buying one is going to be risky! If nothing on my feature 5 Gift Ideas For The Board Gamer That Has Everything appeals, then perhaps a Shirts and Merch tee could appeal, or a subscription to the board game hire of Rent, Shuffle and Roll. If they are an Instagrammer the LED wand lights I featured recently might also appeal.
Reviewer’s Note
For clarity: we don’t get paid for our reviews. I purchased these wand lights with real money. We have tried not to let this affect our review in any way.
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