10 fun board games to play with your loved ones at home

Have you been spending more time at home than usual thanks to Covid-19? Have you been quarantined or on sick leave? Are you tired of watching Netflix or playing video games? How about gathering the entire family around the coffee table for a good old round of board games?

We aren’t just referring to old school board games like Monopoly and Scrabble. There are so many newer board games in the market that you should check out and play with your loved ones to bond and pass the time in a fun manner. Here are some of our recommendations.

Kingdomino / Queendomino

Number of players: 2 to 4
Time to play: 20 Minutes

Start things off light with Kingdomino or Queendomino. In this game, you will be a King or a Queen in search of new lands for your kingdom. Fight over certain pieces of land and try to grow a bigger kingdom (or queendom) than your opponents.

Shiba Inu House

Number of players: 2 to 5
Time to play: 30 Minutes

Love dogs, especially shiba inus? This game is a cute game to play if only for the imagery alone. In Shiba Inu House, you have to work fast to place your cards right and make matching doghouses for your shiba inus’ goals.

Tokaido

Number of players: 2 to 5
Time to play: 45 Minutes

If you love traveling, on the other hand, Tokaido is the board game to play. Here, you need to look for brand new discoveries as you cross the East Sea Road. Taste local cuisine, meet new people, donate to shrines, visit hot springs, paint vistas, and buy souvenirs. It’s almost like a real trip around the globe.

Seikatsu

Number of players: 2 to 4
Time to play: 20 Minutes

If you’re looking for a game that’s pleasing to the eyes and offers an amount of zen, play Seikatsu. The colourful bird and flower tiles will put you at peace as you earn points while tending to your garden.

Codenames

Number of players: 2 to 8
Time to play: 15 Minutes

Test out how well you actually know the people you’re playing with by playing Codenames. In this game, you have to give your partner clues to figure out certain words on the board. Play in teams of two or three, and brag about who knows each other better well in the end.

Exploding Kittens

Number of players: 2 to 5
Time to play: 15 Minutes

On the flip side, if you want to test your relationship with people, Exploding Kittens would be the game to play. Not suited for sensitive types, you’ll have to throw some people under the bus for this if you want to win in the end. It’s all in good fun, though.

Katamino Deluxe

Number of players: 2
Time to play: 15 Minutes

If you were ever a Tetris fan, this board game will bring you nostalgia galore. The tiles are reminiscent of Tetris and Katamino Deluxe actually works in the same way, except that it’s on a physical board. Place a piece at each turn to win, or divide the board to amp up the challenge.

Quixo

Number of players: 2 to 4
Time to play: 15 Minutes

Another board game that might make you feel nostalgic is Quixo. It looks like Tic Tac Toe, and the name of the game is to create a line with either an X or an O. The game is pretty easy to learn and it goes by pretty quickly, too.

Quoridor

Number of players: 2 to 4
Time to play: 20 Minutes

From the same makers of Quixo comes Quoridor. Using identical wooden pieces, the goal here is to make it to the opposite side of the board while evading walls and building walls to block your opponents’ path. The more players, the more chaos will ensue.

Pandemic Legacy

Number of players: 2 to 4
Time to play: 45 Minutes

In Pandemic Legacy, the world is facing threats from different viruses (sound familiar?) and you will work as a specialist to fight and treat the diseases. Search for cures and come up with a strategy along with the other players to keep the viruses in check. This game requires good teamwork. If you don’t work well together, you’ll lose the game.

What’s your favourite board game at the moment? Got any other fun ones to add to this list?