Board Games For The Cabin

by Jun 24, 2019Olaf's Corner0 comments

Summer is finally here. For many Manitobans, this means spending weekends at the cabin.

Time at the cabin usually means relaxing and enjoying the company of friends or family at a place where schedules are almost non-existent, and time flows at a more relaxed pace; the perfect backdrop for playing some board games while we reconnect with others and ourselves. 

I would like to offer some game suggestions to help make the most of your summer cabin getaway.

So, what are some of the factors that come ‘into play’ when choosing games for the cabin?

Well, if you’re fond of entertaining guests, it’s a good idea to have games at hand that players of any level of gaming experience will enjoy. They should also provide plenty of re-playability, as these games will likely become a permanent fixture at the cabin.

Game night shouldn’t feel like work, so your choices should be straightforward, easy to learn, and not too much of a time commitment. Many people are hesitant to play a new game and the shorter duration makes it easier for them to observe a round of gameplay before they decide whether or not to join in.

That said, there’s nothing wrong with having a few games on hand that are a little more complex, for those guests (or yourself) who enjoy that kind of challenge. These are especially good to have around on days when the weather gives you an excuse to hunker down at the table for hours on end, with friends and your favourite snacks.

I believe it is a good idea to have a shortlist of games that can be played even if the number of people interested in playing varies. This might include some games for 2-4 players as well as some for larger groups of 8 or more. In addition, it would also be wise to have a few titles at your disposal that can match mood and playing time.

I hope you are going to have a great time relaxing with freinds and family this summer!

Let’s go and play a good game!

Azul

2-4 Players, Ages 8 and up

Azul won the German game of the year award and is a great abstract game. Each player gets points by forming rows of coloured tiles they select from ‘markets’ at the center of the table. A turn consists of taking all the tiles of one colour and placing them into one of the rows on your player board. However, if you don’t have room for all them, the leftover tiles are counted against you. A game with a relatively easy rule set but great depth of strategy.

Just One

3-7 Players, Ages 8 and up

a cooperative party game in which you play together to discover as many mystery words as possible. Find the best clue to help your teammate. Be unique, as all identical clues will be cancelled!

I’ve spent a lot of hours playing games with friends at the cabin. Here are some personal favourites, which have a proven to be well worth the investment:

Concept

2-12 players, Ages 10 and up.

Concept

You are furnished with a large board covered with icons representing a variety of materials, subject categories and colours. One player (or group) is given a word to describe. Then, they place small tokens next to any number of these icons in an attempt to give enough information that the other players can guess the word.

Kubb

2-4 Players, Ages 6 and up

A classic Swedish outdoor game. Toss the dowels underhand and topple your opponents kubb blocks. Topple all of their blocks, then the king and your team is victorious!

Take 5

2-10 Players, Ages 8 and up

Cards are always popular at a cabin. In this card game, every player simultaneously plays one card. Whoever played the card with the lowest numeric value places their card into one of 4 rows of cards displayed on the table. But be careful! If you can’t place the card legally or you are forced to place the 6thcard of a row, you must take all of the cards in that row which will count against your final score. Easy to learn but highly addictive.

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