Games to Get You Through the Holidays

• SA Engages

November 23, 2020

With Thanksgiving and Christmas break right around the corner, many of us are about to be spending a lot more time with our families. While it is amazing to be able to hang out with everyone, conversations can go stale after a few days if there’s not much going on around the house. Yes, reading, exercise, or binge-watching TV shows are all great ways to pass time, but in my opinion there really isn’t anything better than playing a game with my family during the holidays.

I get it. Not everyone is super competitive like I am, but games are a great way to bond with your family and to have a momentary release from the stress of real life. I know there are a lot of people out there that don’t want to commit to playing a game because there are some that are quite lengthy, but there are plenty of games that are quick and easy to play. So, before you stop reading this blog post, check out some of my suggestions below – you might find a game you actually like!

Game that can be lengthy and involves strategy:

Catan (previously Settlers of Catan) – A classic strategy game that involves trading, building, and stealing. Games typically last from 90 to 120 minutes. You can play with three to four players, but with the expansion pack you can have up to six. You settle on different parts of the game board to collect resources which you can then use to build or trade. The first person to ten victory points wins. It takes a practice game or two to get the hang of different strategies to win the game, but once you get a good handle of things, you won’t want to stop playing!

Once you’ve mastered the base game, check out one of their expansions like Seafarers or Cities & Knights (my personal favorite). If you’re not able to get the whole family together for the holidays, you can try out Catan online. It’s not the same as playing in person, but it certainly satisfies the craving to collect as much wheat as possible.

Game that is less lengthy and involves some strategy:

Ticket to Ride – Where Catan can be lengthy and take a little longer to understand, playing a game of Ticket to Ride, is much easier to learn and takes significantly less time (approx. 30 to 60 minutes per game). You can play with anywhere from two to five people. The object of the game is to build as many railway routes as possible while preventing your opponents from doing the same. It is an incredibly simple but fun game that I assume most people would enjoy. Ticket to Ride is also a neat geography lesson as you are building these railways across an actual map of the United States – or many other parts of the world depending on which version you play! They also have a Ticket to Ride app if you’re unable to gather enough people to play in person during Thanksgiving.

Game that is quick and involves some strategy, but a lot of it comes down to luck:

Exploding Kittens – Number 9^th on the most funds raised Kickstarter list is a game that involves cats, defusing bombs, and doing everything in your power to keep the target off of your back so that you’re the last person standing. Exploding Kittens only takes a few minutes to learn, and about 15 minutes to play a game, so it’s great for anyone who’s scared of a large time commitment to other games. You can play with two to five players, but with the expansion you can play with up to ten! Exploding Kittens is arguably the most unique and entertaining card game you’ll ever play, and that’s before you add in all the different expansion cards. If your extended family isn’t getting together like they normally do, you can play with everyone online on their app too.

Game that is very quick and involves lying:

Among Us – This is the most affordable game on this list because it is completely free to download on your phone. Among Us blew up in popularity in the U.S. during the late summer/early fall season and now has 1.5 million active players worldwide. Most players in each game are Crewmates, who have to run around a spaceship and complete tasks while trying to avoid being eliminated by The Impostor (who looks just like every other Crewmate). If the Crewmates vote off The Imposter then they win, but if they don’t then they lose. Games can have four to ten players and typically last a couple minutes. It’s a great alternative to Mafia or Ultimate Werewolf if you’re unable to meet up with your favorite cousins in person during the break.

Instead of laying on the couch and watching movies all break long, you can add some excitement to your life by playing one or even all of these games. Each one is a great way to connect with your family whether you’re playing in person or playing from a couple states away. Happy playing and happy holidays!

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