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The holiday season is here, and whether you are looking for the perfect gift or a way to spend quality time with family while it is chilly out, this board game round-up will offer some perfect picks for you to wrap or stick in a stocking.
When it comes to board games at my house, we love variety. From easy card games to immersive roleplay sessions that can last hours, everything is welcome.
Because of this, we have had the chance to try out a selection of particularly enjoyable options for the 2024 season, and I am excited to share our picks with this board game-loving audience.
Table of Contents
Command Nature – Unstable Games
- Price: $20 on Amazon
- Expansion Sets: Command of Nature: Sand & Wind
- Number of Players: 2 or 4
For fans of strategy, card games, and one-on-one matches, look no further than Command of Nature. We reviewed this game earlier in the year, and I fell in love with its complicated battle system and challenging battle system.
This is a game I would recommend for families with older kids, especially if they enjoy things like Pokémon. Every match is a new opportunity to level up and beat your opponent, and families can create co-op teams to take each other on. The addition of the Sand & Wind expansion has only added more options, making it a delightful, versatile, and exciting game to pick up.
Fishy Squishy Crusty Quirky – TeeTurtle
- Price: $15 at Barnes & Noble
- Expansion Sets: No
- Number of Players: 2 – 6
I have to start this off by saying that my family is obsessed with Fishy, Squishy, Crusty, Quirky. With gameplay that takes the concept of Go Fish! and expands on what players can do each turn, rounds are fast and exciting.
I always worry with expanded card games that rules will be difficult to follow, but we were handling the steps taken during each turn rapidly after only a few rounds.
We tested gameplay with a group of three and a group of six, and the greater the number of players, the faster the rounds go. This is a perfect pick for a family evening or casual after-dinner quality time. Plus, the art is adorable.
Lanterns: The Harvest Festival – Renegade Game Studios
- Price: $34.12 on Amazon
- Expansion Sets: No
- Number of Players: 2 – 4
Lanterns is one of my favorite games of all time. This is the sort of game that is perfect for ADHD individuals like me, as your turns are quick, and the primary goal is pattern matching. It keeps my creative brain engaged, and I don’t have to juggle too many elements each turn.
This is a perfect option to have out while watching a movie. It’s also one of my favorites for just relaxing and having a nice time with my partner.
If you aren’t into competition and just want to enjoy someone’s company with an easy game, Lanterns is the pick for you.
Calico – AEG/Flatout Games
- Price: $37.81 on Amazon
- Expansion Sets: No
- Number of Players: 1-4
Calico is a staple in my house, despite it regularly trying to ruin my friendships and marriage. And I mean that with all the love in the world.
This adorable board game has players building quilts beautiful enough to entice kitties to come sleep on them. But you’ll need to follow the quilting guidelines of your starter tiles while also trying to appease the desires of those cats simultaneously.
While this might seem like a cozy game, many a match in our house has devolved into yelling, laughter, and quilt-tile-induced rage.
This is a great game to pull out with your older kids, adult siblings, or close friends. Additionally, the game has a “single-player” option, so if you want to skip the drama, you can play by yourself when everyone else is relaxing.
Garden Variety – Unstable Games
- Price: $8 on Amazon
- Expansion Sets: No
- Number of Players: 2-5
Much in the same vein as Calico, Garden Variety will have players building their own Garden Bed, hoping to attract the most garden critters and flowers to their space as possible.
What I love about Garden Variety is that it is a fully portable card game with an easy setup, but offers such a depth of gameplay. It’s fun, fast, and satisfying. It’s also great for younger players, so kiddos under seven and up will have little trouble learning the rules.
I will also say, as a parent, I just love the illustrations in this set. Unstable Games has the best art and makes playing that much more fun.
**Bonus Action is a member of the Amazon Affiliate Program. That means buying items from the Amazon links in this article will help support our writers via a small amount of money earned per purchase.**
If you want more opinions on tabletop and board games we’ve tried out, check out our review for Talisman.
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