Replacing your archaic board game collection

Boardgames are growing in popularity, with Wil Wheton's TableTop show and TableTop Day getting the word out to a different audience that boardgames aren't just for Sunday afternoons with your parents.

I like video games, in particular ones that I can play with friends in the same room. Unfortunately less and less companies are making these type of games so I now turn to board games. They provide many games for both competitive and cooperative play so that my friends and I can sit down and enjoy a game together.

The games that most people own are probably ones that you either don't enjoy playing any more or are so simple that they lack any competitive enjoyment. I hope to enlighten you with some alternative options to refresh your dusty old pile of games and to get you back into doing something that is both enjoyable and sociable.

Offender number one – Connect Four

Connect Four is a minor step above noughts and crosses. It's a too simple game that once you know the right strategy every game will go the same way, if you go first you will win. Because of this the game is very boring and pointless playing against anybody who knows what they're doing.

Alternative game – Tsuro

This game can be played with more than two players but has that same pattern recognition and trap set-ups but with much more skill. Instead of the simple connecting four dots you have to connect tiles with lines on and try to send your opponent into another player or off the board. The game will require more skill and every game won't end the same way. Watch these to see how good this game is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMtlQxJeWvc and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avtOjxSnfiI

Offender number two – Scrabble

This game requires you to not only be able to spell but also know words that use obscure letters for more points. This means that the game is great for some but terrible for others and isn't something you want to bring out with a group of friends as it ends up being a who is smarter game and not something fun to do.

Alternative game – Unspeakable Words

This alternative takes word games and changes things up. For one thing the letters are scored on their angles not their frequency of use so knowing words becomes less of an issue. Add in the push your luck factor where you must roll a d20 to get higher or equal to your words score, the playing field is levelled. Fail at your roll and you lose your sanity until you go insane then spelling goes out the window. This game will have a lot more laughs and less frustration, perfect for a group of friends, especially if you don't know how good their spelling is.

Watch it played here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU9FzW5QyEg

Offender number three – Monopoly

This is one game that you feel like you have to endure and not enjoy. A pleasant family evening would quickly become a war that ends in no one winning and everyone feeling like losers. With every turn being decided by 6 sides of fate you wished that going to jail meant that you could finally leave the table and go and watch some TV, alone.

Alternative game – King of Tokyo

Like Monopoly half the game is taken up deciding which piece you want to be except instead of hats, shoes or irons you get to pick from krakens, giant apes and aliens. You also have dice rolling, but again more interesting as you get 6 dice and a few re-rolls. The one dice, one roll system should never be used in games as it's 100% luck based and very limiting. See the next entry for more on why it's a terrible game mechanic.

Other similarities are that you can make money in the form of energy and use it to buy cards that make your monster better or others worse. There's no big board to move around just Tokyo and the game can be played in around 30 minutes which makes it instantly something you'll want to play again. That's not something that can be said for Monopoly, that is if you even manage to finish one game before everyone gets bored, pissed off or both. At least the fighting in King of Tokyo is only between the monsters on the table and not the players.

To see it being played: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGaCjM2hal4

Offender number four – Snakes and Ladders

Snakes and Ladders is one of the worst games ever made. It's 100% luck and can be played by anyone or anything that can roll a dice. No skill, no challenge and no fun. No matter your age this game should be avoided.

Alternative game – Munchkin

At first glance the games have nothing in common, but a few elements of the “classic” game seep through to this new one. That sense that when you're one one step away from the end you can fall back down. Instead of snakes though it's the other players that send you back (though calling them snakes would be apt). Also this is one game that still uses one 6 sided dice to decide to decide a few things, but with cards that allow you to change those results I allow it.

To see it played on TableTop click the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6oMBSiL7Zs

Offender number five – Jenga

This stacking game of nerves and steady hands is a classic that often takes longer to set-up than it does to play. Once finished the idea of another game is about as appealing as making Argos furniture. Sure it's easy to put together but you know it's quickly gonna come falling down.

Alternative game – Rampage

Rampage is a board game designed to feel like the old Rampage video games. Like Jenga you have to build before you can play, but after the building the game is much more satisfying. Destruction is the name of the game and the game is fun. No need to worry about keeping everything balanced as instead you want things to break and crash, after all you're on a rampage!

See the game played live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=WHY0h24L5kU#t=8591

With a few or better yet all of these games replacing your old, worn, often family feud filled, games, it won't just be a Sunday afternoon thing anymore. Instead of sitting down to watch CSI Michigan season 22 (it may happen) you'll want to play a game with your friends and family and actual enjoy the experience.

If you have any suggestions on what old games you have replacements for or better ideas than the ones above then leave a comment below.

See a similar (and better written) take on new games taking over from old games here: http://www.cracked.com/blog/6-board-games-that-ruined-it-everyone/