Why choose games and puzzles?
• Great value for money. When money’s tight, get out the traditional board games. You only pay for them once, but the fun lasts for hours.
• Perfect for families. A great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Get the kids and grandparents involved.
• Quality. Most traditional board games are great quality. Some have been updated over the years and may have been downgraded to a cheaper plastic version. If you want the original quality, buy a special edition, or a vintage set from eBay.
• Educational. Nearly all games have an educational element. Playing games is a great way to help educate the children, and it doesn’t hurt the adults to have a little bit of brain training.
• Fabulous fun. They say laughter is good for you. We’ve had lots of evenings when even a serious game has provided us with a hilarious night.
Our top picks include –
Monopoly
Game of life
Cluedo
Risk
Sorry
Pictionary
Trivia games
Boggle
Scrabble
Uno
Battleship
Keep up with the latest additions by checking online regularly. Parker Brothers and Hasbro have a good selection.
What to think about
• Is it easy to set up? If you’re playing a new game, read the rules before you start. It gets pretty boring if you need to keep stopping to look at the rules.
• Ease of play. Match the game to the players.
• Energetic or lazy? They say exercise helps to relax you. Had a hard day at work? Unwind with a vigorous Wii game or a traditional board game that involves moving around.
• Who’s playing? Check the age suitability. There are lots of games to suit kids and adults.
• Where are you playing? Lack of space but need room to move? Take it outdoors.
Video games
PlayStation, Nintendo, Xbox and Wii; everyone’s got their favorite. We love the Wii fit, Mario and Fifa games.
Lego Star Wars
Mario and Sonic at the Olympics
Guitar Hero
Final Fantasy
Scooby Doo
Ghostbusters
Children’s games
Children’s games can be electronic, board, traditional or video games played on a TV and console. One of the top picks for children is the Leapfrog range. They have some great educational games to choose from, and they’re adding to the collection all the time. Fisher Price make a great TV interactive, Smart Fit pack, that’s easy to set up, and kids can have fun skipping, hopping, and jumping.
Peppa Pig,
Fifi
Leapfrog
Memory games – Disney, Spiderman,
Chutes and Ladders
Thomas the Tank
Boggle Jnr
It’s great to have a mix of traditional and video games in your collection, and all games are great to keep your mind active. They have a fantastic fun factor, so make them a regular part of your social life.
