Christmas gift idea - Classic board game titles

It’s that time of the year again, the days are getting longer and warmer, and there’s a certain festive je ne sais quoi in the air… along with a cubic tonne of pollen that is. Time to think about what Christmas presents you’ll have in store for your family, friends and co-workers. Here’s where the Mind Games team is happy to lend you a hand!

We’re starting our series of posts dedicated to exploring the many wonderful and fun gifting ideas from the world of board games, puzzles and toys. This week, let’s take a look at the good ol’ classic board games, staples of their genre, tried and trialled by time and still going strong. These could become someone’s gateway into the wondrous hobby of board gaming, or just a new favourite pass-time!

Catan - a classic family strategy game of trade and territory control. You have uncharted lands before you. It’s your goal to make the most out of its resources, build infrastructure, and expand your domain. A few lucky dice rolls and a lot of strategic thinking, and you’re the winner! With several expansions and player extensions, Catan has made a name for itself and is here to stay!

Risk - a veteran amongst war games and possibly the most well-known and popular title of its genre. With its many different versions, Risk offers a multitude of settings to choose from. The aim of the game is simple - conquer the map! Each turn players receive reinforcements, then choose to engage in battles for territory, where dice rolls and the number of troops determine the outcome. Victory awaits!

Cluedo - a murder mystery classic. Memory, bluffing, and deduction - these are at the very core of Cluedo. You are at a dinner party, and someone end up dead! Who is the killer? Where did the crime take place? What item was used? Each player’s goal is to deduce the answers to all three questions before the rest! Many versions are available, from Game of Thrones to Harry Potter - something for everyone!

Carcassonne - a medieval-themed game of tiles and territory building. Draw tiles, lay out the landscape of the map, and take control of its many segments with your Meeples! Depending on where you place your token, that’ll be its job for the game: on the city as a knight, on the road as a robber, on a cloister as a monk, or on the grass as a farmer. Once the area in question is complete, your Meeple will start scoring points, and victory will be within your grasp!

Scotland Yard - a classic game of hidden movement. One of the players takes on the role of X - a criminal, escaping from a group of detectives. They take different types of transportation while moving around London trying to evade the pursuit. In the meantime, the detectives don’t know where X is, but they sure do find all those transportation fairs! Their job is to spread out, deduce the location and movement of X, and catch the criminal!