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Statistically, every German household has an average of five different card or board games in their closet.
At least that's what a current YouGov survey on behalf of the German Association of the Toy Industry (DVSI) shows.
Accordingly, more than every third German citizen distracts himself from the corona situation with toys and believes that this will help them get through the pandemic better mentally.
The result is that, according to the specialist market researcher npdgroup / Eurotoys, the toy industry has grown by an impressive eight percent to 3.7 billion euros.
But contrary to forecast, it was not the video games that, according to studies, became the most popular pastime in the past months of the pandemic.
It was mostly traditional board games that were responsible for the increase in sales.
If you take a closer look at the numbers, it becomes clear that within these board games, it is not the newcomer games that top the lists, but the classic parlor games.
The portalvergleich.org published a list of the games that Germans most frequently searched for on the Internet this year.
Which are they?
And which one shouldn't buy if you don't want to provoke a family quarrel?
10. Don't get angry
The concept:
The players have to get their four pieces to the goal one after the other and that is only possible with luck when rolling the dice.
The danger is that your own pieces can be pushed back to the beginning by another player.
And mostly just before the goal.
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Who is it for:
Two to four players.
Why it's still fun:
It was invented in 1914, but the game is so simple and unpredictable that even today it has one main effect: annoyance.
Potential for dispute:
9 out of 10.
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"Mensch ärgere Dich nicht" by Schmidt Spiele, for 12 euros (buy here) *
Source: Amazon
9. Dominion
The concept:
In the role of the ruler, you try to expand your kingdom.
To do this, you build villages and libraries, conquer new provinces, earn gold and silver and build your own throne room.
The game is not to be confused with the name-like classic Domino.
Because Dominion is a much more complex card game and the youngest participant in the hit list.
It only became game of the year in 2009.
Who is it for:
Two to four players, ages 13+.
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Why it's still fun:
It's very dynamic.
With this card game, Donald X. Vaccarino founded the “deck building” genre, in which, in contrast to collecting games, the set of cards is repeatedly changed during the game.
In addition, there are now 13 expansions, from the “Renaissance” to “Hinterland”, which never let the game get boring for fans.
Potential for dispute:
3 out of 10.
"Dominion" by Rio Grande, around 27 euros (buy here) *
Source: Amazon
8. Monopoly
The concept:
Relatively simple.
With the help of play money and tactical buying up, the players should drive their opponents into financial ruin and build an empire by buying as many roads and properties as possible.
Who is it for:
Two to eight players.
Why it's still fun:
Monopoly is one of the oldest games because it was invented back in 1933 and has not lost any of its popularity since then.
The explanation is very simple, capitalism does not go out of style.
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Potential for controversy:
8 out of 10. Especially since it takes until all streets are sold and therefore bankrupt players have to wait a long time before a new round starts.
"Monopoly" by Hasbro, around 20 euros (buy here) *
Source: Amazon
7. The crazy labyrinth
The concept:
it has been on the market since the mid-1980s, but now there are also some special editions and variations available.
Players try to be faster than everyone else to grab the coveted treasure before the walls shift.
Who is it for:
For two to six players.
From 7 years.
Why It's Still Fun:
Mages, Witches, and Hidden Treasures never go out of style.
In addition, there is now a 3D version that makes the game and the movable towers even more vivid and thus more fun.
Potential for controversy:
3 out of 10. A round only lasts 15 to 20 minutes and a new treasure can be found at any time by pushing it.
"The crazy labyrinth 3D" by Ravensburger, for 23 euros (buy here) *
Source: Amazon
6. Scotland Yard
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The concept:
detectives chase the criminal Mr. X across the London transport system to catch him.
To do this, one of the players must move to the field on which Mr. X is located, who is also being led by another player.
The highlight: You only have a limited number of tickets.
Who is it for:
Three to six players, ages 10+.
Why It's Still Fun:
Who doesn't like being a detective?
The appearance of Mr. X in unexpected places always causes astonishment.
In addition, to the amusement of everyone, it can happen that the investigators can no longer move due to a lack of tickets, which are limited in the game.
Especially when the players know each other well, facial expressions and comments are analyzed and used against each other.
Potential for dispute:
2 out of 10.
"Scotland Yard Master" from Ravensburger, for 37 euros (buy here) *
Source: Amazon
5. Jenga
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The concept:
Here players have to pull out square blocks and place them on top of the tower.
A sure instinct is a must, because the tower must not collapse.
Fun fact: The name of the game is derived from Swahili and simply means “to build”.
For whom is it suitable:
You can even play it alone, but with two players or more it is a lot more fun.
Why it's still fun
: There have been a few variations since game designer Leslie Scott's original 1983 version.
Over the years, it has also become a popular drinking game.
If the tower collapses, you have to drink.
Potential for dispute:
3 out of 10. Since you can (almost) nothing for gravity and thus the collapse of the tunnel.
"Jenga Classic" from Hasbro, for 69 euros (buy here) *
Source: Amazon
4. Risk
The concept:
There is no more nerve-wracking strategy game on the market.
You have to act diplomatically in order to conquer the board and the right countries.
You have to win battles and use armies to secure dominance over the conquered areas - and thus defraud the other players.
Because at the beginning each player draws a task card on which world-changing tasks are written, such as “take out a continent” or “destroy an opponent completely”.
For whom is it suitable:
Two to six players, only suitable from (at the earliest) 10 years, as the logic of the game is complex.
Why it's still fun:
You can never predict how a risk game, which, by the way, can take hours to complete its mission, will play out.
Albert Lamorisse invented the game in 1957 and has since inspired numerous special editions, such as a "Game of Thrones" or a "Lord of the Rings" version.
Potential for dispute:
10 out of 10.
"Risk - The Great Strategy Game" by Hasbro, for 30 euros (buy here) *
Source: Amazon
3. Twister
The concept:
a turntable specifies which hand or which foot should stand on a certain color.
No matter how much you have to contort over other players.
Whoever keeps the balance the longest wins.
Who is it for:
For all ages, at least two players.
Why it's still fun:
The game was released back in 1966, but especially in pandemic times you learn to appreciate the closeness that inevitably gives a Twister.
That is why you should only play the game with people from your own household in a corona-compliant manner.
Potential for controversy:
1 out of 10. You can't help which contortions the turntable decides for you.
Hasbro's “Twister” for 17 euros (buy here) *
Source: Amazon
2. Carcassonne
The concept:
A placement game in which you draw landscape cards one after the other, showing parts of the city, paths and monasteries with which you should build a functioning city.
Whoever has the most points wins.
Who is it for:
Two to five players,
suitable for ages
eight and up.
Why it is still fun:
The "game board" is designed by the players themselves in each round, which means that different landscapes with winding cities are created.
Thanks to additional game expansions - this box contains 11 of them alone - the game never gets boring even after years.
Instead of going to the Middle Ages, with some spin-offs, players can also travel to the South Seas or the world of “Star Wars”.
Potential for dispute:
2 out of 10.
"Carcassonne Hans im Glück game collection" by Schmidt Spiele (buy here) *
Source: Amazon
1. Taboo
The concept:
The new edition of Tabu works like the classic variant, but has been expanded to include three extras.
In addition to the classic guessing of different terms in a certain period of time, the players have to draw words, describe them with only 15 terms or explain them with the help of a doll and pantomime representations.
Incidentally, it is not only taboo in the list ofvergleich.org the most searched game with more than 33,600 searches per month, but also, according to the manufacturer, the best-selling game with more than 20 million units.
For whom is it suitable:
At least four people should play, the upper limit is open.
Why it's still fun:
Because every round is different, even if the terms repeat themselves over the years.
In the extended version there is also the “taboo cube”, which complicates the game and sets up additional rules.
Potential for controversy:
2 out of 10, since you can always
blame
it on the inability of others if you lose or something is not guessed.
"Tabu XXL" from Hasbro, around 30 euros (buy here) *
Source: Amazon
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