"Fight against philistineism"
What is the plot?
The aim is to use the US model "Cards Against Humanity" to create the most nasty sentence combinations possible.
Whoever makes the funniest or politically incorrect statement wins.
The game is also available for Austrians as a “fight against the Korinthenkacker” and for Switzerland as a “fight against the Bünzlitum”.
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Suitable for
Possible for three to eight players.
The cards contain terms that are not suitable for minors.
So if possible do not play with minors.
On what occasion?
Especially amusing when people meet with different types of humor.
Also good for getting to know your partner's friends and breaking the ice, for example.
This makes it ideal for birthdays or New Year's Eve - of course in accordance with the current contact rules.
Less suitable for the first meeting with the in-laws.
Source: Bumblebee
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How complicated?
Very easy to understand.
You have to fill as many gaps as there are in the sentence with your terms.
Laugh.
The round is over.
Fun factor?
High.
Provided you are flexible in the level of humor and can also endure black humor.
Where buy?
"Fight against the philistine" by Kampfhummel, for 30 euros (buy here) *
"Azul"
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What is the plot?
A strategy-heavy board game in which you have to place as many tiles as possible next to each other and fill colors and rows.
Sounds simple, but in fact you have to be tactically smart to get as many points as possible.
It was not voted Game of the Year 2018 for nothing.
Suitable for
Two to four people, there are no more game boards.
On what occasion?
Cozy evenings with (adult) friends who enjoy abstract games.
And bring along time, as you have to play two to three rounds to really internalize the game and the tactics.
Can also be played well as a couple.
Source: Amazon
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How complicated?
Complicated.
But once you understood the rules, it was worth the effort.
Fun factor?
Medium.
Because although you train your logical thinking well, in the long run there is a lack of variety and interaction with other players.
Good as an interlude, for example, between dinner courses, but not a full-length occupation if there is nothing else to do.
Where buy?
"Azul" from Pegasus, around 26 euros (buy here) *
"The Mind"
What is the plot?
"The Mind" is a cooperative card game with maximally limited communication.
You have to try to place cards face down in ascending order - but without exchanging information about the height of the numbers on the cards.
Reminds a little bit of "Chummelies".
Whenever someone plays a card while another player still has a lower card in hand, the team loses a life.
Each game is played over a certain number of levels - depending on the number of players.
But only a certain number of mistakes can be made in each level.
Suitable for
Team player, because every decision you make feels like a team effort.
The rules are simple, so it is also suitable for younger players.
A total of two to four people can play.
On what occasion?
Rather for quiet hours.
The small card game takes up very little space and can therefore be played almost anywhere.
Source: NSV
How complicated?
Once you have developed a feeling for the game and concentrate, it is no longer that difficult - but it can take a few rounds to get used to it.
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Fun factor?
It's more meditative than fun, a good way to relax or when you have to get on the same wavelength with your family again - nothing beats synchronized teamwork.
Where buy?
"The Mind" from Nürnberger-Spielkarten-Verlag, for 10 euros (buy here) *
"Exploding Kittens"
What is the plot?
A card game based on the “last man standing” principle.
Whoever draws the "Explode" card is out.
Unless you can defend yourself with your own cards in hand by looking into the future, pointing laser pointers at other cats, or magical enchiladas bailing you out.
A bit like the more amusing variant of "Uno" for pet freaks.
Suitable for
Exclusively for cat lovers.
Each card is illustrated with funny cat cartoons from the website "The Oatmeal", whose founders brought the game to the market.
For two to five players.
On what occasion?
Suitable as a drinking game or on the go.
But despite the explosions, the game is not brutal, so it's also worth playing with children at the table.
Source: Amazon
How complicated?
Easy to understand.
There is a video tutorial on the website that explains the game in 100 seconds.
Fun factor?
High.
But after a few laps you get the feeling that you already know the jokes.
However, you can enjoy the illustrations every time.
There are also two expansion sets that make the game more exciting again.
Where buy?
"Exploding Kittens" by Asmodee, for 14 euros (buy here) *
"Minecraft Builders & Biomes"
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What is the plot?
The template for this board game is the video game of the same name.
In analogue “Minecraft” - as in digital - raw material blocks have to be mined, monsters fought and buildings erected.
The world on the board is constantly changing.
The aim of the game is to conjure up high quality and coherent landscapes on your player board - predictive building and a strategy are an advantage.
The winner is the one with the most experience points (short: EP).
Suitable for
"Minecraft" has been released on almost every major console, including smartphones, and is the best-selling video game of all time.
If you also want to play offline, this board game is the right choice.
It is a classic family game for two to four players, ages ten and up.
On what occasion?
Rainy Sundays or when you have to lure the gambling child away from the console or tablet.
Source: Ravensburger
How complicated?
Not in the least complicated - you know a bit about the terms from the digital version.
Despite the strategy requirement, it is not an extremely deep game - but it does not try to be either.
Fun factor?
For parents with children who love video games, Minecraft Builders & Biomes is a fun way to battle - first come, first served.
Where buy?
"Minecraft Builders & Biomes" from Ravensburger, around 24 euros (buy here) *
"Viticulture"
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What is the plot?
A strategy game that you can play alone.
It's all about wine.
The player runs his own winery in Tuscany and has to expand it, plant and harvest wines and of course produce wine.
In each round you go through the four seasons and place your workers on different action spaces in summer and winter.
Suitable for
Even if you can play the game with up to six players, the solo version is also a lot of fun.
On what occasion?
Since the playing time is 90 to 150 minutes, it is an excellent way to fill a lonely evening.
The playing cards are designed in such a way that the action has the same sequence even without an opponent.
Who needs real friends there?
Source: Tierra del Fuego
How complicated?
Understanding is not a problem, the process was quickly understood.
Nevertheless, you cannot commit yourself to any strategy, as the randomly drawn cards can thwart your plans, which keeps the player thinking.
You are very busy reading and memorizing the cards in the game, which is time consuming and demanding.
Fun factor?
High.
You can adjust different levels of difficulty each time, these increase the replay appeal.
Mechanisms such as the aging of the wines, collecting victory points or housing the workers make the game complex.
In addition, there are now numerous extensions such as the "Tuscany Essential Edition" and the new extension "Visits from the Rheingau".
Where buy?
"Viticulture Essential" from Tierra del Fuego, for 48 euros (buy here) *
"Quiztopia"
What is the plot?
This game is cooperative - that is, the players play against time together.
In this game this is given by a certain number of question cards.
So you have 24 questions “time” to save the various streets and buildings of the city “Quiztopia” from the dark forces and to pull them back to the “light” side.
Suitable for
The game is 16+ and the difficulty of the questions is sometimes relatively high.
You have to have fun with it.
Otherwise also suitable for everyone who cannot lose against others - since you play the game together, in the end all or none have won.
On what occasion?
If only one repetition of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” Is on TV - and you want to play something where you can also learn.
How complicated?
You have to get used to the construct of cooperative play first.
The questions are not easy either.
But there is help.
The game also offers different levels of difficulty, from "normal hard" to "hell".
Fun factor?
You can also play alone, the principle remains the same - but since there are no guessing aids from other players, there is no great fun factor.
With several players it becomes quite entertaining through pantomime elements.
Where buy?
"Quiztopia" by Kosmos, around 27 euros (buy here) *
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This article was first published in November 2020.