Six board games to try – some harder – for a playful break.
Posted at 1:00 p.m
Ark Nova
Let’s start with a confession: ever since this game entered the home, managing home priorities has become a problem. To hell with the dishes, even dinner! We spent our evenings sitting in front of the huge tray and racking our brains. In this beefy game (the first parts can last over three hours), players must manage a zoo and try to make it as attractive as possible for visitors while taking care of the well-being of the residents. The game mechanics aren’t overly complicated, but the amount of choices you have to make (and especially the order in which you make them) has a big impact on the outcome. A perfect title for experienced players who want to use the holidays to embark on a new adventure. But beware: A certain dependency is to be expected.
Stephanie Morin, La Presse
number of players : from 2 to 4
Old : 14 years and older
Length of time : from 90 to 150 minutes
Price : $110
Top Ten – Quebec Edition
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
Smart groups will have a lot of fun with Top Ten – Quebec Edition game.
A holiday favorite in the Tester clan, so back in our pockets for spring break. Each player is randomly given a card numbered from 1 to 10; According to the explanation that the Cap’ten makes each round, each player must invent an answer, from best (1) to worst (10). We can say, mime, shout, gesture, run or walk on our hands if relevant! Since this is a collaborative game, we’ll have to think carefully about our answers to properly guide the Cap’ten, whose goal is to put the answers in the right order. With every wrong answer, our unicorns turn into little poops. Of course, it’s catastrophic when we have too much poop. If you have the opportunity to play with a well-trained group, it’s a guaranteed success!
Pierre-Marc Durivage, La Presse
number of players : from 4 to 9
Old : 14 years and older
Length of time : from 30 to 45 minutes
Price : $35
Catan – At the beginning of mankind
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
Catan – At the Beginning of Mankind fits perfectly into the ranks of its illustrious predecessor.
For many people (including the author of these lines) the discovery of modern board games is due to the famous settlers of Catan. Since its release in 1995, several extensions and derivatives have emerged. One of its derivative games (released more than 20 years ago) was set in prehistory and was never released in French. By the way, here it is in a refreshed version. To win, players must amass resources to set up camps on five continents, hunt giant beasts, and level up their skills. This game is a bit more complex than its illustrious predecessor without straying too far. Dice rolls remain at the heart of the mechanic, but the ways to earn points are more diverse here. The parts are also slightly longer. In short, a beautiful reinterpretation of a classic!
Stephanie Morin, La Presse
number of players : 3 or 4
Old : 12 years and older
Length of time : 90 minutes
Price : $97
taxi
PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, THE PRESS
Taxi driving is fun for the whole family.
Taxi is a very popular Quebec game that has had its look completely redesigned recently and is now made entirely in Quebec. Simple enough for toddlers to play, yet fun for the whole family. Here we play the role of a taxi driver who has to drive his clients to all four corners of the city despite blocked roads, one-way streets and other orange cones (no kidding!) thrown in our way by our opponents. The number of objectives – nicely illustrated – determines the length of the game – we recommend two or three, we managed six! “Sometimes it’s an observation game because you can analyze how your opponent reacts when they draw their target cards,” points out our teenage tester. You can sometimes know where he needs to go! »
Pierre-Marc Durivage, La Presse
number of players : from 2 to 6
Old : 5 years and older
Length of time : 20 minutes
Price : $45
The snapshot of the century
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
The snapshot of the century
There are board games that delight us as soon as we open the box, if only for the quantity and quality of the material. Such is the case here, as the box is overflowing with small cardboard cutouts. In this memory and matching game, you have to place these characters around a table for a photo shoot. The problem: Everyone has their own requirements! Sitting next to X or Y, standing more or less far from the table, hiding one’s face… We must therefore remember everyone’s desires (even suspect them in certain cases, since not all the clues are revealed). Get the shot that hits the largest number. A well made and very ingenious game in its mechanics. The only downside: You have to use a smartphone to immortalize the finished photos. It’s a bit annoying… (so much so that we decided to bend the rules a bit to avoid it!)
Stephanie Morin, La Presse
number of players : from 2 to 4
Old : 10 years and older
Length of time : 45 minutes
Price : $65
lucky numbers
PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, THE PRESS
Lucky Numbers is an excellent cross-generational game.
Lucky Numbers is sort of an original mix of bingo and sudoku, with a touch of strategy to boot. Each player has their own small clover field, a board on which they place the randomly drawn numbered pieces in both columns and rows in ascending order. If this is not possible, you can exchange a piece for a piece already placed in your field. Be careful though; the latter is then available to other players who can use it in hopes of refilling their card – that’s the goal of the game,” says our tester mom. Often grandparents enjoy playing cards while young people are less used to it, so this game allows everyone to gather around the table. »
Pierre-Marc Durivage, La Presse
number of players : from 2 to 4
Old : 8 years and older
Length of time : 20 minutes
Price : $20