Don’t let your family give in to the post-turkey sandwich slump on Boxing Day, give them one of these board games instead – fun, frantic, and no fake paper money in sight…
SHOUT
Play involves completing nine challenges on a card before the timer is up. The questions are asked and teams have to shout as many answers as possible – normally as loudly as possible – covering a wide range of topics for all ages. Each game lasts about 30 minutes with the timer adding to that element of urgency. £19.99
SHARK MANIA
Place up to four plastic pirates on the one-metre track and set the mechanical shark in motion. The fast-paced rolling game then has all players desperately trying to reach the safety of the island at the end, collecting coins as they progress – get caught by the shark and you’re obviously out of the game, reach the finish and have the highest coinage total, you’re victorious. Frantic and very fun. £14.99
BOUNCE OFF
Take the tray of table tennis balls (different colours for different players) then turn over a card to reveal the shape you’ll be creating (or at least attempting to create) on the play frame. Each player, or team, will bounce their colour ball into the slots, and whichever colour finishes the asked-for shape, wins the point. It takes some practice bouncing to even get close to the hole you want, but being so devilishly tricky to play just makes it super satisfying to win. £14.99
RINGO FLAMINGO
Flip the life-saving rings across to the seven stranded flamingos waiting to be rescued from the water; the more you get on the birds, the more you score. Remember you must avoid saving the alligators that also lurk within the waters though, they’ll cost you dear. A game of co-ordination, precision and a pleasant level of panic. £12.99
ACCENTUATE
Celebrating accents both across the UK and much further afield, players draw a statement from the pack, read it aloud in their everyday voice, then in their best interpretation of whichever accent card they’ve also been presented with – from Cockney to Cornish, and Scottish to Spanish. A little box but with wide-reaching fun. £19.99
DOBBLE
Think of Snap supercharged, and you’ll be partway to imagining the pace of this card game. The premise is simple – matching shapes – yet the reality is anything but. The illustrations vary in size and each one is unique, so your eyeballs are almost popping out of their sockets as you strain to match symbols and discard your cards. There are a number of different ways to play, but each one is enormously enjoyable. £10.99