13 Board Games on Black Friday Sale That Will Warm You Up on Long Winter Evenings

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2 years ago

Board games are a great way to make a meeting with friends an extraordinary experience or to have fun with the family. They are very popular all over the world, and 25% of Americans play board games at least once a week. The amusing fact is that 10.9% of those who have already fallen in love with this pastime have more than 100 board games at home. That’s why we invite you to immerse yourself into the board games world!

1. This cooperative Mysterium game for adults and children is suitable for 2–7 players, ages 10 and up. In this game, you and your team of psychic investigators must find the person who committed the crime at Warwick Manor.

The average playing time is 45 minutes.

Every night, the team will have visions, but what is the spirit trying to tell you? The psychics must find out the location and identity of the criminal and not let him escape punishment. The more players work together, the easier it will be to catch the culprit!

Each player must investigate their assigned case and find out if the evidence points to the right person. If you play as a ghost or medium, you’ll have a lot of fun guessing what the other players have in mind.

Promising review: This is such a great game. I have played a few times and all of the people we have played with have wanted to play again straight away. The set-up takes a bit of time the first time you play, but after that it is very straightforward. The most enjoyable aspect is being able to work as a team and discuss the clues, or to play as the ghost for a completely different challenge. I would definitely recommend this game. We also downloaded the “soundtrack” and downloaded an app soundboard of spooky sounds, which added to the atmosphere! @Phantom13

2. This is a classic Jenga game where you have to move the blocks one by one and put them on top of the pile. Every move counts in this strategic game. The most important thing is not to topple the tower! This classic block stacking game is easy to learn and makes a great gift for anyone 6 years of age or older.

The average playing time is 5–15 minutes.

You can play this game alone or in the company of family or friends! The game contains 54 precisely crafted hardwood blocks and a handy stacking insert to help build the perfect tower.

Promising review: We ordered this as a Christmas gift for our young cousins and as a family in general. While we knew it would be a great addition to the games already lying around the house, we were blown away by its success! Everyone, from kids to adults, was fiercely competitive about their pieces, and we still laugh when we see the grumpy face of the one who caused the tower to collapse!
It’s such a simple, fun game, language-free, and it’s a must in any household. You can turn this into any kind of competition, and into any kind of game! An absolute must, as far as games go! @Catarina A. Rodrigues

3. Dobble is a fast-paced game where players compete to find the same symbols between cards. This game, which requires a keen eye and quick reflexes, is exciting for children and adults alike and involves every player in the process.

The average playing time is 15 minutes.

Because the game is based on reaction and visual perception rather than knowledge or strategy, adults have no advantage over children, making it an ideal family game. Each card in the game is unique and has only one symbol in common with another in the deck. Determining a match can be difficult because the size and placement of the symbols on each card can be different.

Promising review: What a brilliant and perfect game! This is a visual speed-matching game. Things I love about this game: we found the children aged 5 and 7 were equally as good as the adults for this game, so we didn’t need to let them win. They genuinely won against us several times. The game is very fast to learn, so anyone can join in instantly and be well-matched against more experienced players. There are five variations on how to play, which you should learn if you want some variety. It’s compact and will easily fit in a bag to take out as a game for children at a restaurant. I love playing it as an adult and think it might be fun as a quick and easy pub game. We laughed a lot while playing it, too. It’s fast (like a game of snap) and addictive. You’ll want to play it more than once. Every player can play at the same time. No waiting for your next turn, keeps it engaging and fun. (Yes, you can always play every card, it’s just a case of being fast enough to spot the match.) If you lose a card, you can still play. The game does not rely on all the cards supplied; you could put two packs together too. @taraghb

4. Harry Potter quiz with 1,800 questions for the whole family. If you’ve dreamed of studying at Hogwarts, this is your chance!

The average playing time is 1 hour.

A quick quiz featuring your favorite characters and events from the Harry Potter franchise. Questions inside the game will entertain and teach even the brightest students of Hogwarts, and test your knowledge and memory. This is a challenging, addictive, and mesmerizing mind game for the whole family.

Promising review: Absolutely awesome! I already have the mini-game, basically a triangle wedge box with question cards. This, however, is a truly ultimate version with a Hogwarts game board, a dice tower, and 1,800 questions, along with the obligatory wedges and wedge holders. I am so excited!! @Fenellaj

5. This Risk game contains material from the entire Lord of the Rings film trilogy. The detailed game board shows a complete map of Middle-earth, including the territories of Gondor, Mordor, and Haradwaith. A comprehensive instruction booklet describes various ways to play this strategy game for 2–4 players. Lead your troops to victory in the greatest battle of all time!

The average playing time is 1–8 hours.

This strategy game contains over 100 cards, including territory cards, adventure cards, and battalion cards. Adventure cards can help or hinder a quest, suggest secret missions, or change strategy.

Promising review: As a family, we have been playing a fair number of board games and decided to add Risk to the collection as it was a game I remember playing at Christmas as a kid. The quality of the board and pieces are really good and the games last for several days, which is a fun way of playing for a few hours at a time to keep the kids engaged. Although it seems expensive for a board game, it will last for many years and will get plenty of use. My 10 and 12-year-olds are loving it, as is the wife, as she won the first game. @Paul

6. The Jumanji Deluxe board game takes you and your fellow adventurers on a journey through the jungle, where you’ll have to solve puzzles, experience events, and complete tasks while trying not to lose your life tokens. Click on the electronic green dome to hear the Jumanji drums beat. Look inside—mysterious secrets and dangerous events magically appear and peek out from the depths.

The average playing time is 30–45 minutes.

Each player tries to be the first to reach the center of the jungle and shout, “JUMANJI!” to win. But if one player loses all of their life tokens, all players have lost! The game includes: 1 electronic game board, 100 challenge cards, 4 rhino movers, 12 life tokens, 2 regular dice, 4 challenge dice, 1 sand timer, instructions, and batteries.

Promising review: The game tries to provide you with a “real” Jumanji experience, and it’s probably as close as you could possibly get. It’s pretty good fun. The riddles are not too hard to solve, but they are not too easy either, and the challenges can be quite amusing. The sound is fairly loud, but I think it’s a good thing, as if it were too quiet and hard to hear, it would take away from the fun. Game time for 2 players took about half an hour, so it’s not a long game, but obviously with more players it will be longer, and it probably also depends on how long you take to complete a challenge or riddle too.
@Lisa O.

7. This is Boggle — a head-to-head word search game for single players or against friends! To win, you must find the most words before the time runs out. You can also play a single-player game and set your own records!

The average playing time is 3 minutes.

If you like simple and not too complicated games, this is the game for you. Develop your vocabulary and imagination and compete with friends or family with the hourglasses included in the game.

Promising review: We bought this for our holiday in May and haven’t stopped playing it since!
It’s perfect for travel due to the size, but it’s also perfect at home. We love it so much, we’ve just ordered the super big box and can’t wait to try it. It says it’s for 8+, but we just jiggled the rules a bit to suit this household. Adults have to get words of 5 letters or above. A 7-year-old is allowed anything over 3 letters, and a 4-year-old practices writing any of the letters! It means we can all join in the fun.
Excellent for anyone who enjoys word games. @Amazon Customer

8. The Outer Rim board game based on the Star Wars franchise takes you on a journey across the galaxy to assemble your legendary team!

The average playing time is 2–3 hours.

In this game, players take on the roles of criminals on the fringes of society and set out to make their mark on the galaxy! You will travel on your ship, recruit iconic Star Wars characters to join your team, and compete for a place in the legends of the galaxy. The goal is to be the first player to reach the top 10 in fame, but the path to fame can be different for each villain!

Promising review: Bought this to expand my current “Fantasy Flight Games” collection (currently own the “Game of Thrones” base game and expansion). It’s such a brilliant game.
The game is so intuitive and easy to pick up. The details on each of the cards are simple and easy to follow.
I’ve only played once with one of my friends, but I’m definitely looking forward to a full board of people. Even the solo mode is intriguing to me. The way in which all of the cards work with one another and intertwine with the section of the map that you’re on blows my mind. I genuinely felt like a true Outer Rim occupant, doing whatever it took to get by.
Highly recommend this game for board game fans and Star Wars fans alike. Such a unique game, expertly put together by “Fantasy Flight.” @Owen Thomas

9. In this exciting adventure game, Ticket to Ride Europe, players travel across Europe to earn the most total points by claiming routes between two cities, completing destination tickets, and vying for the longest continuous route across the map! Using a compatible Echo device, say “Alexa, start Ticket to Ride Europe” take a guided tour from start to finish. You can even play against Alexa!

The average playing time is 30–60 minutes.

The map of Europe offers aspiring railroad moguls many options for creating their strategy. With elegantly simple gameplay, the game can be learned in under 15 minutes and enjoyed time and time again, whether it’s your first time building a rail empire or an old favorite.

Promising review: I’m not a board game enthusiast, but I bought this in an attempt to introduce an activity into the household that doesn’t involve passively sitting in front of a screen-and it’s been a big hit. It’s simple to learn; it takes one game to get to grips with the mechanics, and after that, the strategy and tactics elements are easy to develop from there, and you get a deeper experience the more you play it. The scoring is really effective in creating excitement, particularly towards the end of a game, and the gameplay rewards both risky and conservative approaches, depending on how the board develops. It’s really inclusive and has unbelievable replay value. I love it. @Steven

10. The board game Dune is about conquest, diplomacy, and betrayal. Imagine being able to rewrite the script of one of the best fantasy books of all time!

The average playing time is 2 hours.

Welcome to a board game that recreates the incredible world created by Frank Herbert. Imagine that you control the forces of a noble family, brotherhood, or religious order on a distant and desolate planet called Arrakis, or Dune to the Fremen. The planet is the only source of the most valuable substance in the known universe — melange, a mysterious and powerful spicy product of giant and dangerous worms that inhabit the planet’s sands.

Promising review: Quick to learn and play. Lots of subtleties and variations to maintain high replay value. The asymmetry from noticeably different player positions is satisfying. Well-balanced. The economic, political, and military aspects all work well, feel spirited and original. And keeping the spirit of “Dune” alive makes this game more than just a good game; this seems smart.
At first, I played it as an “Avalon Hill” game (original). This is a replica with similar parts of equivalent quality in a slightly larger box (I prefer book size for my shelves over cabinets). I found it satisfactory, and our club and friends all loved it. Easy to play in a short evening. @Carrick

11. 221b Baker Street is a detective board game inspired by the stories of Sherlock Holmes. Test your deduction skills!

The average playing time is 1–1.5 hours.

This is a strategy board game based on the cult books of Arthur Conan Doyle. Throw the dice, move around London, and collect clues to find out who the culprit is. Compete with your friends in logic and speed thinking!

Promising review: I have played this game with a range of ages, from 15 to 50, and we all loved it. It helps if you enjoy logic problems, as this game will have you thinking. The only drawback was the sticky label on the front of the box, but after careful peeling, it came off without damaging the box. @Melissa Snyder

12. The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth board game takes you to Middle-earth to form your own brotherhood and fight for victory!

The average playing time is 1–2 hours.

Tolkien’s famous fantasy will unfold right on your gaming table. Become the heroes of the Free Peoples of Middle-earth, improving your skills and testing your might and wisdom in battles against the dark forces that threaten the Earth. The immersive app will guide you through each scenario and track your progress throughout the campaign!

Promising review: Was so impressed with this game, have had 30+ hours of game time in 2 or 3 different campaigns and haven’t reached the end in any of them. So excited to keep playing them with other people and finishing the other campaigns. @Alex Poynter

13. Exciting Labyrinth board game based on Jim Henson’s film. Try to get out of it!

The average playing time is 30 minutes.

Can Sarah defeat Jareth and his labyrinth, or will the Goblin King turn little Toby into a baby goblin? Play with your friends with beautiful collectible figures of the main characters! The complex and exciting concept of the game will be interesting for the whole family, and the high-quality execution of the board and figures will bring aesthetic pleasure to fans of the film.

Promising review: What a find this was. My wife and daughter are huge fans of the film, and we were looking for a game to play as a family. This was a bit complicated to play the first few times, but once you’re into it, it’s a good, fun game. It’s easy to lose the game as well, so you don’t always win, and it promotes good teamwork. All of the contents in the box are premium, it’s a very well-made game with a sturdy board, well-made characters which could be kept as collectibles, and a good explanatory book of instructions. Keep it nice if you buy it; its resale value can go up! @S Neil

How often do you spend time playing board games? Who in your family is a fan of board games, and what game can’t keep them away?

Bright Side gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Preview photo credit Clara T./Amazon

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