Game Night!

I love playing games and doing puzzles with my family and friends all year, but especially during the holidays when we have extra time indoors.  Games and puzzles are not only fun and a great group activity that keeps everyone off devices, but they’re good for our brains too!  Games and puzzles also make good holiday gifts or hostess gifts if you’re invited to someone’s home.  Here are some of my favorites, but as always, I love hearing your suggestions too.  Please scroll to the bottom of the newsletter to leave a comment!

Games

Rummikub Classic (which is 2-4 players) and Rummikub for 6 players This is a classic game of sequences, similar to the card game Gin Rummy, but with tiles instead of cards.  This is a fun travel set. And this one makes a luxe gift.  

Bananagrams Sort of like Scrabble, but you’re only making words with your tiles and not building on other players’ tiles. It’s fast and fun. I noticed there are also versions with large tiles, for bigger groups, and in other languages (with different characters.)

Blank Slate A word association game that is fun for different age groups to play together.

Code Names A game that pits two teams against each other to decode clues. Really fun.

Cards Against Humanity A little dirty, so this one is for adults, although I hear they have a kids version.

Sequence A game of sequences where you can block your opponents which is part of the fun.

Mahjong I don’t play yet, but I am starting to learn because many of my friends play.  A mahjong set makes a great gift.  

Very different than board games since you play on your TV, but my family LOVES the games through Jackbox.tv game packages, specifically Fibbage and Quiplash

Lastly, there are other ways to play games together even without a physical game!  There are sites online where you can print games like The Price is Right.

Puzzles

There are differences in quality when it comes to puzzles.  I have never had luck with cheap puzzles bought at a convenience store or a pharmacy.  The cardboard bends and starts to peel pretty quickly. Not worth it!

Piecework Puzzles They have so many beautiful designs, it’s hard to go wrong.

Liberty Puzzles are beautiful but different.  They are wood instead of cardboard and they are gorgeous.

xxPamela