Actual Physical Non-iPad Based Games

So I’ve talked a bit about the game books and board games of the past (well, past-ish, most of them are still around in some way, shape or form today). That’s not the end of it, though, oh no. There’s quite the board and card game boom going on these days with far more choice available than there was when I were a nipper. You can even go to specific board game cafes now for your gaming fix (The Library Pot in Richmond is a favourite). But where to start with so much choice available? Well, here are some that have become firm favourites with Stepson The Youngest over the last couple of years.

Exploding Kittens
Type - Card game
In a nutshell:- Russian roulette with cards
This is a good introductory game, especially for younger kids. The aim of the game is very simple - don;t get the Exploding Kitten card. All of the other cards help you avoid, defuse or pass on that card to other players. Good fun and can be relatively quick although you probably want to mix it up after a while.

Fluxx
Type - Card game / board game
In a nutshell:- Constantly shifting rules and goals
Developed by former NASA scientists(!), this is a game that starts off simply and becomes more complex as you play. The initial rules are simply pick a card and play a card. As you play, you put down more rules, goals to help you win, keepers to help you meet goals or just play actions to mix things up. The beauty of this one is you may be about to win when suddenly the goal of the game is changed and you;re back to square one. Can be surprisingly quick or go on for ages. Also comes in themed variations (Monty Python, Doctor Who, Batman) and a board game variety with moving board pieces.

Ticket To Ride
Type - Board games
In a nutshell:- Compete to claim train routes across a map
A good fun and simple to grasp on again - you have a set of cards detailing train routes that have to build with other players possibly competing to claim parts of the same route first. At the end of the game, any routes you have claimed give you points with any unclaimed costing you points. Good train-y fun.

Gloom
Type - Card game
In a nutshell:- Make your family as miserable as possible before killing them off
A nicely macabre and twisted one. You each have a family of characters which you play cards on to in order to make them miserable before killing them while simultaneously trying to cheer up your opponents family. This one encourages an element of storytelling as you describe the unfortunate events befalling your woeful family. It's a really nice design as well as the gloomy action cards you play on top of the family members are see-through. Good, miserable fun for the family.

Those are just a few of the many and varied games out there these days. See, kids don’t just sit on their iPads all day every (just most days). Sometimes they do get up and interact with other human beings. Well, until they get bored and go back on the iPad that is.