Being quarantined and socially detached at home can be boring. We get it: Finding new and fun things to do every day can be difficult. Trying new hobbies, solving puzzles, or dedicating all your time and attention to your pet are good options, but if you are looking for something to involve the whole family, or something you can do with your friends in a video chat, there is a classic solution. and they are the board games.
Board games are usually fun and light-hearted, making them an ideal escape. Also, depending on the game, you can play them with anyone in the world. "Games are very good for our mental health," says Lauren Bilanko, co-owner of the New York game store Twenty Sided Store. “They relieve stress and stimulate the imagination. They allow us to connect with others, laugh and have fun, and spend time in a positive way. ”
If you're looking for games to play during quarantine, Bilanko says there are plenty that you can play alone, with the small group you're isolating yourself with, or even online with a group of friends. "Trivia games are great party games for large groups that play virtually," she says.
But if you haven't bought any games yet, you better act fast. Filip Francke, CEO of Ravensburger North America and global head of gaming, says there is an increase in sales equal to what they would expect in December over the holidays. "Board games are selling up to five times more in the past four weeks compared to the same period last year," he says.
Francke recommends taking advantage of free time to find new games that improve the more you play them. "With a little more time available, there is much more to explore than Monopoly, " he says. "So if you have time, venture into the unknown!" Francke recommends trying logical games like Rush Hour and Gravity Maze if you play alone, as well as highly playable games like Disney Villainous and Horrified: Universal Monsters .
If you're ready to start your game, we've put together more recommendations from Francke and Bilanko below, as well as some of our favorites based on their guide. Take a look at our list and roll the dice in a new game to play during quarantine.
The best family board games
No screens, just fun. Check out the best board games to play with the whole family.
Ocean Labyrinth ($ 25.98, originally $ 32.99; amazon.com)
This underwater twist in the classic game Labyrinth will make the whole family lose themselves in the sea.
Scattergories The Card Game ($ 8.99, originally $ 10.99; amazon.com)
A fun matching game, this game will make you test your wits and vocabulary under pressure.
Scotland Yard ($ 37.50, originally $ 39.99; amazon.com)
Take out your magnifying glass, because this game requires a real detective job. You and your family will hunt Mr. X down the winding streets of London.
Wonder Woman: Challenge of the Amazons ($ 34.97; amazon.com)
If your kids like superheroes, they will love playing Wonder Woman in this cooperative strategy game for the whole family. They will have to work together to protect their island from enemy attacks.
Disney Villainous ($ 34.99; amazon.com)
Play as one of the infamous Disney villains as you try to beat everyone else in this strategic story-based game.
Horrified: Universal Monsters ($ 34.97; amazon.com)
Work together to defeat some of the most famous monsters, including Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, and more.
Jurassic Park Danger! ($ 16.99; target.com)
This strategy game makes you play as dinosaurs and humans, pitting your family against each other. Humans play as characters from the movie "Jurassic Park" and try to escape before prehistoric monsters eat them.
The best board games you can virtually play
It's hard to find games to play with your friends when everyone is isolated and can't get together. However, there are still options that you can play in video chat. Try role-playing and trivia games, plus there's even a free version of Scattergories that you can play online.
D&D (5e) Critical Role Explorer's Guide to Wildemount ($ 29.99; target.com)
Dungeons and Dragons is a classic that gamers have loved for decades. This book will give you everything you need to create an epic quest at Wildemount.
The Lord of the Rings: Travels in Middle-earth ($ 89.93, originally $ 99.95; amazon.com)
Have you seen the three "Lord of the Rings" movies yet? Dive into Middle-earth with your friends in this cooperative strategy game. It has a complementary application that you can share on screen with the rest of your community so that you can easily play virtually.
Cinephile ($ 14.52, originally $ 20; amazon.com)
Cinephile, a question and answer game for movie lovers, tests your knowledge of cinema, pop culture and more. In addition, there are multiple levels of difficulty so you can adapt it to your skills.
Trivillennial - The Trivia Game for Millennials ($ 25; amazon.com)
This trivia game aimed at millennials will have you answering questions about Psy , Left Shark, and more pop culture icons.
The best board games for adults
Without children? No problem. These strategic games are not for children, but they are a lot of fun.
Pandemic Board Game ($ 49.98; amazon.com)
Perhaps you can find a solution to the pandemic in this board game, but most likely not. Either way, this strategic game is a lot of fun, but it's not the best option if you're looking for escapism.
Settlers of Catan Board Game ($ 44.99; amazon.com)
This commercial game has captured the hearts of many for decades. It is easy to learn, but difficult to master, since you will be betting with your friends until late at night.
Jaws ($ 29.99; amazon.com)
This game allows you to play in the world of the movie Shark . One player acts as the huge shark and three others as characters from the movie trying to stop the monster.
Exploding Kittens NSFW (Adults Only) ($ 19.99; amazon.com)
For the more obscene, this game is an adult-only version of the extremely popular Exploding Kittens card game.
Scrawl ($ 39.95; amazon.com)
This drawing game makes you do dirty and risqué doodles, because the only way to get points is to make others laugh.
The best solitaire board games
Isolating alone can be very difficult, so to keep your mind busy, here are some games and mind benders that you can play alone.
ThinkFun Gravity Maze ($ 29.95; amazon.com)
This critical thinking game will leave you stumped trying to make the marble fall to its target. And with 60 challenges, Gravity Maze can keep you busy for hours on end.
Rush Hour Traffic Jam Logic Game ($ 19.99, originally $ 21.99; amazon.com)
Solving these bottlenecks is not an easy task: you will have to use all your mental power to solve the 40 challenges.
Dog Crimes ($ 14.99; amazon.com)
This game has 40 crimes that you can use to solve sequential reasoning. All you have to find out is which puppy did the dirty act.
The best board games for two players
If you are locked up with your partner, here you will find the best board games for two.
MindWare Invisible Think ($ 24.95, originally $ 26.95; amazon.com)
All you have to do is make your partner say a word, but there are words you cannot say as clues. This game for two is super simple and fun to spend a night.
Bananagrams Party Edition ($ 14.49; amazon.com)
Put your quick thinking and vocabulary to the test with fast-paced Bananagrams.
Codenames Duet Board Game ($ 19.95; amazon.com)
This mysterious game for two will make you search for secret agents and unmask your partner.
Scrimish ($ 9.99, originally $ 12.99; amazon.com)
The objective of this game is to reveal your partner's card. The rounds are high speed, so you can play in just a few minutes or extend the rounds to fill an entire night.
Off Topic ($ 29.99; amazon.com)
You'll need to get creative and think fast in this matching game where you have to list things on a certain topic, starting with a randomly chosen letter.
Note: The above prices reflect the price at the time of article posting.