Introduction
Board game nights are always a blast for those who love to play. Whether it’s youngsters, adults, or fellow board game enthusiasts, the shared experience and enjoyment of a game night is something that anyone can appreciate. With this in mind, one might ask: what’s a great gift for the avid board gamer?
As someone who holds an annual “Board Game Night” with my close friends and family, I’ve often wondered what would make a perfect gift to show my appreciation for their enthusiasm and participation in the event. After doing some research on potential presents, I have compiled some of my favorite ideas below – all sure to make any board gaming fan happy!
First up is board game accessories. Something as simple as organizing trays that hold all pieces neatly, or even custom dice or player tokens can add extra life to an old favorite. Especially popular among hardcore players are blank cards they can use to introduce new rules or modify existing ones during gameplay.
Then there’s the ever popular expansion packs that build on existing games – either with extra cards, boards, rules and pieces – to give completely new dimensions of fun and competition around the table. Finally, you could never go wrong with purchasing further copies of a favorite game so that all friends can join in when it’s time for game night again!
Overview of Popular Board Games
Party Games:
• Exploding Kittens: Through a combination of strategy and luck, players try to avoid drawing the exploding kitten card and be the last person standing.
• Codenames: Two teams compete against each other to identify their team’s secret identity cards while avoiding the other teams cards. Clues are given by off of one word clues.
• Heads Up!: Challenge your friends as they try to guess words related to various categories while wearing a headband display with the correct answer written on it.
Strategy Games:
• Catan: Players roll dice, gather resources, trade them with other players, and build settlements for points. The first player to reach 10 victory points wins.
• Betrayal at House on the Hill: Players team up to explore an eerie house where visions come alive and then turn against each other when a traitor is revealed.
• Ticket To Ride: Players collect tickets for destinations around North America and then attempt to build train lines between them for points.
Cooperative Games:
• Pandemic Legacy Season 1: Work together with other players to fight a virus that spreads across continents and evolves as you play in order to save humanity from extinction.
• Forbidden Island: Players work together as they attempt race against time while collecting hidden treasures from an island that’s slowly sinking into the sea.
Far Off Land 2nd Edition : Adventurers must brave deep dungeons, long forgotten tombs, haunted forests, and ravaged plains as they cooperate with each other in order to stop an impending evil force from destroying their beloved land.
Gift Ideas for Someone Who Loves Board Games
Special edition board games are the perfect gift for anyone who loves board games! There are a variety of special edition versions that feature different artwork, pieces and even rules. These versions can add more complexity or challenge to the game. Popular special editions include Monopoly Collector’s Edition, Clue Master Detective, Settlers of Catan 5-6 Player Expansion, and Risk: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy Edition. Another great gift option is an alien themed version of classic board games such as chess or Sorry!. They also make specialty card games like Exploding Kittens and Unstable Unicorns that are sure to get a few laughs when playing at family game night. For those who love interactive board games, Pandemic Legacy: Seasons 1 & 2 is a popular choice with over 600,000 copies sold worldwide. Finally, for those with a taste for something exotic, Ancient Drum Mystery Board Games from Japan is unique and entertaining puzzle game. No matter what type of board game your loved one enjoys there’s sure to be a gift here that will put a smile on their face!
Ideas for Hosting the Perfect Board Game Night
For anyone who loves board games, the perfect board game night requires more than just great games to play. It requires the right snacks and drinks to keep everyone energized and having fun! Depending on your personal tastes and preferences, snacks can range from homemade sweet treats like cookies, brownies and cake, to savory options like pizza, chips and dips. If you’re looking for something a bit healthier, fruit salads with chocolate chips or grapes are always a hit. As for drinks, there are multiple options depending on whether you want alcoholic or non-alcoholic types ” hard ciders, beers and cocktails can bring out a lot of laughs while fruit juice, sodas or lemonade provide lighter alternatives. Just make sure you set ground rules ahead of time regarding what types of drinks are acceptable at the table so that no one gets too carried away.
Once you’ve got your snacks and drinks sorted out, its time to select your board games! Be sure to choose ones that will be accessible to all players involved – explaining complex strategy games for long periods can quickly break up the fun-factor. This is when it’s good idea to pick a mix of games from older classics such as Monopoly or Scrabble to new party-style games like Exploding Kittens or Cards Against Humanity – everybody should be able to find something they’ll enjoy playing! Great music also helps create an atmosphere conducive to having fun so get creative when it comes to selecting tunes that’ll make everyone want stay on their feet throughout the night!
Benefits of Board Games
Board games can be both entertaining and educational at the same time. They also provide an opportunity for social interaction as players learn to cooperate, strategize, and collaborate in order to reach their goal. Board games can also help develop valuable life skills such as problem-solving, communication, teamwork, decision-making, and negotiation. Aside from these benefits, board games have been proven to reduce stress and anxiety levels among players. Studies show that regularly playing board games helps increase the level of dopamine in the brain which can help alleviate some of the adverse effects of stress and anxiousness. These effects extend into day-to-day life in the form of improved emotional regulation and increased interest in activities as well as better mental clarity. Additionally, playing board games has been linked to higher quality sleep patterns meaning that looking for a gift for someone who loves board games but also needs to unwind after long days at work could be particularly beneficial!
Conclusion
If you know someone who loves board games, there are tons of great gifts to get them! Whether it’s the latest game to hit the market or a classic that has been around for decades, board games are perfect for bringing family and friends together. They come in all sorts of varieties and can be designed for any age, skill level, and interest. From strategy games to educational games, cooperative ones to competitive standbys, there is something for everyone.
No matter what type of game you decide to get for your loved one, be sure to throw in a few surprises as well – from snacks to fancy drinks – that will make game night even more special. Consider printing out a list of suggested rules or activities related to their chosen board game. This will add an extra layer of fun while they’re playing! Lastly, don’t forget the most important part – just enjoy time spent with your favorite people!
And if you’re looking for more inspiration on what gift ideas would make your loved one happy, consider asking around in your family or friendship group – chances are you will get some great recommendations from others who love board games as much as they do. Or simply get creative with new twists on classic favorites – come up with alternative rules or gameplay methods – to keep things fresh and exciting at every game night happening in the future. No matter what you decide on for gift ideas for your favorite gamer friend, let us know how it goes – we’d love to hear about their reactions and tips from your own epic boardgame nights!
I love playing all kinds of games – from classics like Monopoly to modern favourites like Ticket to Ride.
I created this blog as a way to share my love of board games with others, and provide information on the latest releases and news in the industry.
