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2 Jan 2025
Photo: Polina Kuzovkova
The jingles are ringing, the presents are being wrapped, and the Christmas tree is already showing off its fabulous design, perfectly in line with this year's trend (are you going for bows or garlands?). Now, it is high time to think about holiday evening activities. As for me, my ideal evening involves hot chocolate, plenty of friends, and a list of board games I have been meaning to try all year — the ones that make reunions cosy, exciting, occasionally competitive, and, of course, full of fun! If your perfect evening looks the same, check out my top board games below!
Board Games for big companies
Codenames
This is a game for those who enjoy a bit of team competition and a brain teaser, with plenty of room for teamwork. The best part? It can last as long as you want — each round takes about 15–20 minutes and can be played millions of times. Just be prepared: it is not the best choice for a loud party, as it requires focus and full engagement!
Rules: The group is split into two teams, each with a spymaster who gives one-word clues to help their teammates guess the correct words linked to their team. The game is played on a grid of 25 word cards, and the challenge is to avoid words linked to the opposing team. The winning team is the one that correctly guesses all their words first.
Number of players: 4+
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Pandemic
What makes this game unique is that there is no competition — everyone works together to achieve the main goal: prevent a global pandemic! The game typically lasts about an hour, and it keeps you on edge the whole time! By the way, the creators of Pandemic used real epidemiological data, which is an interesting bonus for bookworms (like me).
Rules: This is a cooperative role-playing game where players work together to treat infections and develop cures before the world succumbs to outbreaks. Through logic and the unique knowledge each player brings, you must create all the cures to win. But it is not as easy as it sounds — if the diseases spiral out of control, everyone loses.
Number of players: 2–4
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Catan
Some say this is Elon Musk’s favourite game, and while I am not sure if that is true, I can definitely understand why, if it actually is. This is a strategic game where players must collect resources, build roads, settlements, and cities, and trade with others. The rules might sound tricky at first, but once you have all the cards in front of you, it becomes much easier to understand. While the game requires logic and strategy, it is usually very fun and interactive — the main reason being that trading between players is key. But be prepared for long rounds — it can easily last up to two hours (when I first tried it, my friends and I played until 4 am!).
Rules: Players have a map of the island of Catan, filled with resources. Based on dice rolls and the locations of their settlements, they aim to build roads, settlements, and cities, growing their influence and gaining points. Trading with other players is essential to success. The first player to reach 10 points wins.
Number of players: 3–6
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Jungle Speed
If you are not into strategy and logic and are looking for something fast-paced and loud, then this game is for you! It requires speed, attention, and a readiness to have fun. The game lasts between 15 and 30 minutes, making it perfect for quick sessions. Additional bonus: it is compact, so you can easily bring it along to a gathering or take it on a trip!
Rules: The players sit in a circle with the totem placed in the centre. One by one, they take turns flipping cards from their deck, and if the pattern matches their opponent's card, they race to grab the totem. The cards are designed to confuse players, adding to the challenge. The game ends when one player successfully discards all their cards.
Number of players: 3–10
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Dixit / Imaginarium
These games do not require much concentration or a strategic plan, but logic and creativity will definitely come in handy! Both Dixit and Imaginarium have the same basic rules; the key difference lies in the cards: in Dixit, they are brighter and more straightforward, while in Imaginarium, they are more unique and abstract. If you are a new player, I would suggest starting with Dixit (though I personally tried Imaginarium first and liked it!). By the way, both games offer special Christmas editions with cards related to the winter holidays — perfect for getting into the festive spirit.
Rules: Each player holds a deck of cards and, choosing one, describes it in a unique and unexpected way (through either word association or movement). The other players then choose a card from their own hand that they think best matches the description. All the submitted cards are shuffled, and everyone votes on which card they think belongs to the storyteller. The cards are designed to make associations trickier than they might first appear, so I promise you will have plenty of fun.
Number of players: 3–6
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Board Games for two
Twilight Struggle
This game is a simulator of the Cold War, featuring its two key players: the USA and the Soviet Union. Twilight Struggle is perfect for history enthusiasts, as it uses original historical photos and quotes, and highlights pivotal events such as the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Fall of the Berlin Wall.
Before you start, there are two things to keep in mind: the game can take a while (up to three hours), and the rules might seem a bit challenging for beginners. But, trust me, the duration and complexity are definitely worth it!
Rules: The game board represents a world map, divided into regions and countries, where players compete to establish their influence. The game takes place between 1945 and 1989, with cards based on actual historical events. Players aim to gain dominance over the world. The winner is the one who establishes global influence. An automatic victory is awarded if your opponent starts a nuclear war.
Number of players: 2
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Get Closer
If you think you know everything about your partner or friend, then this game is a must for you! The rules are simple and require no preparation — perfect to try while a Christmas film plays in the background and you are sipping cocoa with marshmallows! The great thing is that Get Closer also has a special holiday edition.
Rules: The game consists of cards with unexpected questions and tasks designed to help you get to know each other better. There are no winners or losers — just pure fun and surprising new details you will discover about the other person.
Number of players: 2+
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Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective
If you have ever dreamt of becoming a detective, this game is for you. One of its most exciting features is its versatility — you can play solo, with a partner, in a small group, or even with up to eight players! Each case includes authentic-looking newspaper clippings, photographs, and clues that feel like genuine evidence. It is as if you are solving a real case from your favourite detective novel. The game comes with 10 unique cases, each taking between one to two hours to complete, depending on the number of players.
Rules: This is a cooperative game set in Victorian London. Players are given a map of London, a directory of locations, and various case materials. By analysing these clues, they build their theories and make progress on the case. As the game unfolds, players can compare their deductions with Sherlock Holmes’ solutions and earn points based on your accuracy and efficiency.
Number of players: 1–8
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Guess who?
If I were to make a list of the most Instagrammable games, this one would definitely top it. I cannot even count how many times I have seen it throughout the year, and each time I was really close to ordering it online. It is a quick and easy game, so if you are looking to build strategic theories or logical cases, this is not the one for you. Guess who is all about fun, quick reactions, and asking the right questions.
Rules: This is a two-player game where each player picks a mystery character from a board filled with different faces. The goal is simple — ask your opponent yes/no questions about the character to narrow down the possibilities. The first player to guess the correct character wins.
Number of players: 2
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