Creating a new pastime for your friends and family isn’t as hard as it seems. You’ve got plenty of great examples out there, so use your imagination to come up with something fun. After all, the best board game ideas were just ideas until someone played them.
The best board game ideas of all time
First of all, there’s nothing wrong with copying the greats. So, look at the most popular board games of all time to figure out what they did right (and wrong). Here are the champs in no particular order:
- CLUE – This game of suspense and mystery let everyone try their hand as a detective.
- MONOPOLY– You became a real estate tycoon by benefitting from your opponents’ losses.
- LIFE – Your avatar wanders through the winds of a lifetime to gather experiences and retire rich.
- SCRABBLE – Compete to create the highest-scoring words for major brain-bragging rights.
- CHESS – Outsmart your opponent on a checkered battleground with strategic moves and planning.
Mystery, achievement, and strategy: those are the three qualities that all good games share. That means you’ll have to adopt those ideals if you want to make a strong DIY board game or take yours to a legit cafe.
How to DIY your game night
Homemade board games don’t have to be lame. They can be just as fun as store-bought games if you create them correctly. Remember, all of the components should affect each player’s experience in some way. So, even if you use uncooked pasta or loose change for makeshift game pieces, the point is to achieve a goal while having fun with your loved ones.
3 homemade board game ideas to try
Making your own board game can seem like a lot of work and it is if you want something complex. Or, you can always cut to the chase with one of these awesome DIY board game suggestions instead:
#1. The New Guess Who
Create an updated, customized version of the old classic, Guess Who, by printing pictures of your friends and family for game cards. Then, take turns trying to guess who’s who by describing each picture like you would in the original game.
#2. Makeshift Memory Race
Challenge your brains to a battle of the wits since memory is closely tied to intelligence. Just use a series of identical items from around your home to create a predictable layout. Then, ask your family to find matches in record time.
#3. Checkers for Cheap
Play this one just like the original but instead of using a game board, use a checkered cloth. Take similarly colored objects from your house and turn them into game pieces. Then, beat your opponents to the other side before folding it up for easy storage.
