As the holiday season quickly approaches, many people are looking for some great Christmas board games. Whether you’re a veteran gamer or new to the world of tabletop gaming, it’s essential to know what the best options are on the market. This article will explore different games that all have something special about them and why they make a great Christmas gift.
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What Do the Best Christmas Board Games Have in Common?
One of the things that all great Christmas board games have in common is that they are fun for the whole family. They can be enjoyed by both children and adults, regardless of age or experience level. Most of these games also have a relatively short playing time, so you won’t have to commit hours upon hours to play them. Finally, they are all great for holiday get-togethers, whether you’re hosting a party or just looking for something to do while you visit with friends and relatives.
What Are the Best Christmas Board Games?
Most of the best Christmas board games on the market are designed to be easy to learn and teach, so there is no need for a lengthy instruction manual. Most scenarios can be played through with just one or two reads of the rules. This makes them perfect for casual gamers who don’t want to spend hours learning how to play
Santa’s Workshop
A Christmas-themed worker placement game where players are elves trying to prepare for the big day. Santa’s Workshop is a game that can be enjoyed by gamers and non-gamers alike. It has a playing time of around 45 minutes, so you won’t have to spend all day playing it.
One thing that makes this game so great is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Instead of being some dark, dreary experience, Santa’s Workshop feels like a lighthearted romp through the North Pole. The artwork on the board and cards perfectly captures the spirit of Christmas with elves playing in Santa’s Workshop or delivering presents to children around the world.
Home Alone
In the classic holiday movie Home Alone, Kevin McCallister is accidentally left behind when his family vacation. Players must help Kevin defend his home from two burglars in the game adaptation.
Home Alone is a strategic game that requires players to make quick decisions to protect Kevin’s house. It has a playing time of around 30 minutes, making it one of the best Christmas board games for gamers who don’t want to spend hours playing.
The game also has some great miniatures that players can use instead of drawing or using tokens like many other tabletop games. While this isn’t a necessary game component, it adds an extra layer of enjoyment with handling cool-looking pieces.
Animal Upon Animal: A Christmas Stacking Game
Animal Upon Animal is a simple stacking game where players take turns adding animals to a tower. The player who causes the structure to collapse loses and must remove all pieces from play.
This Christmas-themed version of this famous family game includes Santa Claus, elves, gingerbread men, and other holiday characters that can be stacked on top of one another. It has a playing time of only 15 minutes, making it perfect for parents who want to play with their children or gamers looking for something quick and easy. This game is also great because there are no winners or losers – everyone has fun stacking animals! This makes it one of the best Christmas board games out there that anyone can play regardless of experience level.
Animal Upon Animal is a great game for families with young children because it teaches them about taking turns and sharing and fine motor skills needed to pick up the pieces and stack them properly on top of one another. It’s also fun every time you play, thanks to random animal combinations that can change how the tower will collapse depending on how the pieces are placed.
12 Days
12 Days is a card game where players try to collect gifts for Father Christmas by trading with one another. A deck of cards contains twelve presents, numbered from the first through twelfth days of Christmas. Each player gets dealt three cards and must decide whether they want to keep their present or trade it away to get the gift they want.
This is the best Christmas board game for gamers looking for a light, easy-to-learn card game that can be enjoyed with family and friends. It has a playing time of around 15 minutes if you’re short on time. 12 Days is also great because it can be played by any number of players, making it perfect for larger gatherings.
The Santa Claus Game
The Santa Claus Game is where players try to earn points by delivering presents, making toys, and putting up Christmas decorations. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins!
This game has a playing time of around two hours, so it’s perfect for gamers who want a more extended experience. It also has great replay value thanks to the different ways players can score points. The Santa Claus Game is one of the best board games for those looking for a game with a lot of strategy and decision-making.
Llama Drama: Holiday Edition
Llama Drama is a fast-paced card game that requires players to match cards to gain an advantage over their opponents quickly. Each player gets dealt four random animal cards at the start of each round and must find two matching pairs before time runs out. The first person to get rid of all of their cards wins.
This game is the best Christmas board game for gamers who want a quick, easy-to-learn card game that can be played with family and friends. Llama Drama: Holiday Edition is great because it’s one of the best Christmas board games for those looking for a lighthearted game that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It has a playing time of around 20 minutes, making it perfect if you’re short on time.
A Christmas Story: The Party Game
A Christmas Story: The Party Game is a game where players try to collect as many points as possible by answering questions about the movie A Christmas Story. Questions can be asked about anything from the characters, to the plot, to what happens at the end of the film.
This game is perfect for fans of A Christmas Story who want to relive their favorite moments from the movie. It’s also great for family game night, as there are questions that everyone can answer.
Santa Claus GO Fish: A Christmas Card Game
Santa Claus GO Fish is a twist on the classic GO Fish card game. Players try to collect various Christmas-themed cards.
This is the best Christmas board game for gamers looking for family board games for Christmas that can be enjoyed with family and friends. Santa Claus GO Fish is also great because it can be played with up to 6 people, making it perfect for larger gatherings.
Letters to Santa
Letters to Santa is a game where players try to write the perfect letter to Santa. They must choose from various cards to create the best letter possible. The player who writes the best letter wins. This game is perfect for those who want to get into the Christmas spirit. It’s also great for family board games for Christmas night, as players of all ages can enjoy it. Letters to Santa has a playing time of around 30 minutes if you’re looking for something that will last a little longer.
Lumps: The Elf Coal Game
Lumps: The Elf Coal Game is where players are trying to collect as much coal as possible by playing cards that match the numbers on other players’ coal piles. The player who collects the most coal wins.
This game is perfect for gamers who want family board games for Christmas to enjoy with family and friends. Lumps: The Elf Coal Game is also great because it can be played with any number of people, making it perfect for larger gatherings. It has a playing time of around 20 minutes, making it the perfect game for kids.
Rudolph’s Christmas Journey
Rudolph’s Christmas Journey is a game where players are trying to navigate the icy terrain of the North Pole. They must move Rudolph around to collect as many presents and coal as possible while avoiding obstacles such as elves, gingerbread men, and ice patches that could slow him down. The player who collects the most points wins.
This game is perfect for gamers who want a challenging Christmas board game to enjoy with family and friends. Rudolph’s Christmas Journey is also great because it can be played with any number of people, making it perfect for larger gatherings. It has a playing time of around 45 minutes if you’re looking for something that will last a little longer.
Santa vs. Jesus
Santa vs. Jesus is a game where players try to score points by answering questions about Christmas. Questions can be about anything from Santa, to Jesus, to the Nativity story. The player who scores the most points wins.
This game is perfect for anyone looking for family board games for Christmas that can be enjoyed with family and friends. Santa vs. Jesus is also great because it can be played with any number of people, making it perfect for larger gatherings. It has a playing time of around 30 minutes.
Santa’s Sleigh Ride
Santa’s Sleigh Ride is a game where players are trying to collect as many presents as possible by building the best sleigh with cards that match. Players take turns playing a card from their hand and adding it to their pile until everyone has played all of theirs—the player who builds the most valuable sleigh wins.
This game is perfect for gamers looking for a challenging Christmas board game to enjoy with family and friends. Santa’s Sleigh Ride is also great because it can be played with any number of people, making it perfect for larger gatherings. It has a playing time of around 45 minutes.
A Christmas Story Card Scramble Board Game
A Christmas Story Card Scramble Board Game is where players must solve a scrambled word by moving around the board and uncovering letters. When they find all of the words on their card, they can trade it in for points and move to another square. The player with the most points at the end wins.
This game is perfect for gamers looking for a lighthearted Christmas board game to enjoy with family and friends. A Christmas Story Card Scramble Board Game is also great because it can be played with any number of people, making it perfect for larger gatherings. It has a playing time of around 30 minutes if you’re looking for something that will last a little longer.
Nightmare Before Christmas Monopoly
The Nightmare Before Christmas Monopoly is a game where players try to build the best town by collecting properties and paying rent when other players land on them. At the end of all their turns, the player with the most money wins.
This game is perfect for gamers who want a challenging Christmas board games to enjoy with family and friends. Nightmare Before Christmas Monopoly is also great because it can be played with any number of people, making it perfect for larger gatherings. It has a playing time of around 90 minutes if you’re looking for something that will last a little longer.
Christmas Bingo Cards
Christmas Bingo Cards is a game where players try to get five in a row by matching the pictures on their cards. The first player to do so wins.
Christmas Bingo Cards is perfect for anyone looking to have fun with family board games for Christmas. If you’re looking for something that will last a little longer, Christmas Bingo Cards can be played in as few as three players. It has a playing time of around 30 minutes.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the best Christmas board games that you can find on the market today. Whether you’re looking for something easy to learn or something with cool miniatures, there’s sure to be a game out there that fits your needs. So get yourself into the holiday spirit and break out.