Games you must play at least once
The holidays and games go hand in hand for me. Christmas and New Year's, I go through them all playing games. Luckily, my family loves that too, or did I inherit that love for games from them? Either way, games are always a hit at our home. I have fond memories of New Year's Eve when my mother stormed off during Risk (she liked it a bit less), and even fonder memories of the times I actually won at Risk instead of my brother. Monopoly was always played unfairly (never by me) and I was very happy when I finally mastered Settlers of Catan — and then the rest was already done with it.
But nowadays we hardly take those games out of the closet anymore. These three games are what it's all about for us. Happy holidays.
30 Seconds
Maybe a bit obvious, but it's still a fun game. During my student days, I knew this as the pan game (because everyone put a person in a pan and you grabbed them out) and I think everyone has their own version or name for it, like Who's The Man. So you can also write down your own names (what I particularly like is when everyone knows a bit of the same people) or you play it as the ‘real‘ version, including board and pieces. It often takes a bit longer, but laughter is guaranteed. Or arguments if you're unlucky and stuck with a bad person on the team, or if you're that person yourself.
Werewolves of Wakkerdam
Yes, it sounds a bit childish when you read that name, but this is really very fun. You have to play it with a larger group, starting from eight people. You need to go through the explanation well, but it comes down to the game being led by a game master and you have to figure out who the werewolves are. Sounds a bit sour like this, but believe me: this is really a fun game to play together.
Party & Co/Triviant
In my experience, this is the game where tempers can run high. Know-it-alls, frustrations, cheaters... It often all comes up here. Still, I always find it a fun game, especially with family members. Everyone gets really into it and that's always good.
