Games are a great way to spend time with those you love, whether friends or family. I have always loved playing games. It is interesting to me how there are different game-playing personalities. There are many different types, but I have a few listed below:
“I must win.” – This is the uber-competitive player. Their drive is to win. Plain and simple. Now, this player usually is pretty confident as well. Sometimes, this confidence is arrogance. However, I also believe that it comes from their experience in life. This is the fact that they DO win, often.
“That game is boring.” AKA, they never win. – This player enjoys playing games but only has fun if they win. It might not be all games, but simple games out there only give much satisfaction if you dominate the game.
“I don’t get it.” – I think we have all met at least one person like this. No matter who explains the game or how often you play, they don’t get it. It tends to happen with more complicated games, but you never know.
“I’ll be right back.” OR “Will you take my turn for me?” – Oh boy. This person usually drives me crazy…oops…did you guess which type I am? You will hear many sighs from all players when you play a game with this type of person.
“Ha! I’m beating you now.”
“That’s okay. I am just having fun.” – I feel like this is either of two types. On one hand, someone might say something like this if they want to win but see no way of accomplishing that. The moment they win, they will shove it back in your face. On the other hand, some people believe everyone should have a participation trophy. There is nothing wrong with that, but it’s not me.
I made a list of the games I enjoy playing regularly. I included the categories used in my other hobbies reports: Cost, Ease of Learning, Enjoyability, Energy Level and Time Commitment. This list is purely about games I enjoy and maybe encourage someone to try a new game. I listed my top nine games in order from most to least favorite. Side note: this is different from the usual way-to-do lists. However, I dislike it when lists do that to me. It drives me crazy, and I usually skip to the bottom to see the top choice.
You can find all of the games online on Amazon.
My Top 9 Favorite Games
1. Secret Hitler
Cost: $40.00
Player count: 5-10 players
Secret Hitler is my absolute favorite game! It’s unlike anything I have ever played. This game needs at least five players but is more fun with at least seven to ten, which means it is primarily a party game. This game is not the easiest to learn. I have only met a few people who couldn’t get the hang of it.
In the game, the players will split between liberals and fascists. The goal of the fascists is to pass enough fascist policies or, at a certain point, elect Hitler as Chancellor. The goal of the Liberals is to either pass enough liberal policies or kill Hitler. The fascists know who each other is and who Hitler is, but the liberals don’t know who anyone is. There is a lot of chatter as liberals try to determine who their allies are; fascists try to show Hitler they are on his side, all while convincing everyone else they are liberals themselves.
Trust me, I know. You won’t regret trying this game with your friends, though! This game doesn’t take long, but I have never played just once. Every time I played, our group would play for hours.
Click here to check it out on Amazon. Click here to see a video of how to play.
2. Rummikub
Cost: $18.00
Player count: 2-4 players
Rummikub is a unique twist to Rummy, where you use numbered/colored tiles. Rummikub is an easy game to learn. I have played this game since I was about ten years old. I never won much against my grandma, who is great at this game!
The goal is to get rid of all of your tiles first. You can play tiles with at least three numerically in order with the same color (a run of 3+) or three or four of the same number (a set of 3 or 4). Once you initially play your first turn, everyone can play off each other’s tiles. If you can’t play, you have to draw.
Rummikub is a chill game, but it does require some thinking. As a twist, you can rearrange all of the tiles to play tiles you have; however, if you leave any by themselves, you have to put them back the way they were before you touched them. I have found that it is harder to play when I am tired.
Click here to check it out on Amazon. Click here to see a video of how to play.
3. Bananagrams
Cost: $15.00
Player count: 1-8 players
Something I love about Bananagrams is that I can play alone. My husband is not a huge game player, so this game helps me relieve the desire to play while alone. This game also works out your brain. You are playing Scrabble without a board.
The game’s goal is to be the first person to use all of their tiles once the ‘bunch’ or draw pile is depleted. Everyone starts by choosing the determined amount of tiles. Then, you arrange your tiles into words that interconnect. Once someone uses those initial tiles, they will say ‘peel,’ so everyone has to draw one tile. Their goal is to keep using those tiles until the tiles are gone. If you can’t add the tile directly on a word, you can rearrange your tiles, whatever it takes to win! (By this point, everyone should know what playing personality I am. HA!)
A cool aspect of this game is that you will always have a different set of words depending on the order of tiles drawn. Playing alone, I will turn on a movie or audiobook and enjoy the process.
Click here to check it out on Amazon. Click here to see a video of how to play.
4. Skip-Bo
Cost: $10.00
Player count: 2-6 players
Skip-bo is a classic for me. I have played skib-bo a lot in my life! It is pretty easy to learn and chill. You can easily play this game when completely exhausted since it doesn’t require too much thinking.
The point of the game is to play all the cards in your stock pile. As you play, you will use the cards in your hand or your discard piles to help you eliminate all your stock-pile cards. The cards are numbered 1 to 12, and you simply play the cards in numerical order.
Side Tip: I grew up constantly hearing from my competitive mother that the key is to keep your discard piles easily accessible. (ex: Don’t discard a seven on top of a six. If you need you both, you won’t be able to access the six unless you play the seven.)
Click here to check it out on Amazon. Click here to see a video of how to play.
5. Chess
Cost: $12.00+
Player count: 2 players
Most everyone knows about chess, but I have a love-hate relationship with this game. I don’t play regularly this season but have played throughout my life. My dad taught me when I was young. I have never won against him, which is frustrating. Come on, by now, you know I like to win. I enjoyed playing games; this was the only one my dad would play when I was growing up. I stopped playing once I moved out.
Well, it came back into my life when I got married. My husband never learned, so I thought it was my duty to teach him. He refused. Then, one day, he came to me ready to learn. He went through a phase of chess following that lesson. He eventually joined a chess club. I know, right? What a nerd. Just kidding.
Chess is amazing. How many games do you know that have been around for 1,500 years? How many games do you know that have been played by kings? This ancient game has been played by some of the most wealthy, influential, and intellectual people this world has ever known. Chess has a depth that no other game has. If you want a life-long game where you will always learn something new, chess is for you. Give it a chance!
Click here to check it out on Amazon. Click here to see a video of how to play.
6. Phase 10
Cost: $12
Player count: 2-6 players
Phase 10 is a great group game! This game was a camp favorite for many years. However, the game was hardly ever finished since it took so long that we were interrupted many times to keep the schedule.
Like the name, Phase 10 is a game where you complete 10 phases of various card combinations. The way you win is by completing all of the phases first. In each round, if a player doesn’t complete a phase by the time another player plays all of their cards, then they will have to repeat the same phase the following round.
Click here to check it out on Amazon. Click here to see a video of how to play.
7. Rummy
Cost: $4
Player count: 2+ players
If you are looking for a classic card game, look no further. Rummy is not just a game of luck but requires noticing patterns and deciding what to play.
It is like its counterpart, Rummikub, in that you are looking for sets (3+ cards of the same number) and runs (3+ cards in order with the same suit). The game does require keeping score, so to win, you must play several rounds to reach the goal number of points. This game is fun to play one-on-one or with a group. All you need is a deck of cards to get started.
Click here to check it out on Amazon. Click here to see a video of how to play.
8. Dutch Blitz
Cost: $25 with the expansion pack
Player count: 2-8 players
Hearts will be thumping fast with Dutch Blitz. It will keep you on your toes. This game is for the quick-witted and fast-thinking player. The “I don’t get it.” player will be unable to keep up.
I won’t be able to explain the ins and outs of the game, but just imagine everyone frantically looking at their cards and throwing cards into piles all over the table. The more players that play, the more chaos. This game takes a tremendous amount of skill and quick thinking to win. The “I want to win.” player will even have a quickened heart rate.
Click here to check it out on Amazon. Click here to see a video of how to play.
9. Wahoo
Cost: $45
Player count: 2-6 players
Wahoo is a family game my husband grew up playing, so I didn’t play until I was an adult. It has become a holiday staple for me now. We made many lovely memories around a dining table playing on a homemade wahoo board.
Wahoo reminds me of a version of the game Sorry. Each person has four marbles in their start zone. Each player will roll a dice on their turn and move accordingly. The game’s goal is to get all your marbles in your safety zone. Wahoo is a game that is great for all ages!
Click here to check it out on Amazon. Click here to see a video of how to play.
Try a new game this week!
Games are a great way to bond and create memories with family and friends. Games can become part of your family culture like anything else you do. Once bought, games are cheap but worthwhile fun for all ages. Let me know in the comments if you have any game suggestions. I would love to try a new game!