How to Choose A Board Game

Ever had those days that you really want to try something different? Maybe you are sick of playing online games, maybe you want a family friendly game that you want to play indoors or maybe you want to avoid computer addiction. Don't worry, I have the solution for you. BOARD GAMES!!! In a short sentence, board games are typically games that require a board (DUH), some game parts and most of the time, in-game currency. They are a great way to bond with family or friends since most of the board games that I know of usually require more than two players. Let's not talk any further and let's just get on with the board games that work.

1) Games that are related to finance
Money makes the world go round, I think. Anyway, without money, how are we going to survive in this world? We need money to buy food, we need to buy necessities and also we need the money for luxury. So, how do we get the little ones or ourselves to learn about money, the fun and easy way? With these board games of course! Below are the board games that I recommend if you want to learn more about financial management and about money.

Monopoly Junior
Just like the original version of the board game, Monopoly Junior teaches the little ones how they can manage their money. When your child plays this game, he/she can learn about finance and money management. The main difference between this and the original Monopoly is that the Junior version requires the player to buy 'amusements' rather than properties. Plus, they are compulsory to buy unlike Monopoly which is optional if you land on properties. It is a more streamlined version of the game and it does not require you to play with a big board. It comes with a rectangular board out of the box.

The Game of Life
The Game of Life is about, well, life. When you first play the game, you will have to choose which path you want to go to. The path consists of College and Career. When you go through College, you will have different options that will shape your life in college. Same goes for career. Just like Monopoly, this game has in-game currency and it teaches you how to properly manage your money when you are going through your career or college.

2) Games that improve your English and vocabulary
English is a universal language. No matter which country you go to, you will have to speak English if you want to communicate with the locals there. Especially in Singapore where all of us have to speak English properly so that we can communicate properly. Whatever method that you wish to carry out if you want to improve your English, here are 2 board games that may improve your English vocabulary. No guarantees.

Travel Scrabble
Just like the original Scrabble, you play this game by joining words in a crossword puzzle fashion and you will earn points based on how many alphabets you put on the board. Unlike the original Scrabble, there's no need for a pen and paper to track down your scores. They are all integrated along the edges of the board game itself. You can improve your vocabulary by forming lots of words with it.

Boggle
This game also improves your vocabulary too! Scrabble is a game whereby you will have to form long words in order to gain points, whereas Boggle is a game whereby you will hunt for words in the game. The longer the words, the more points you will get. All you have to is to shake it and there, you will hunt for the words like a pro. You can check my archives on the sidebar if you want to see a full review of this game.


3) Games that are just fun.
I don't really know what 'life skills' these two games teach. But anyway, these two games are great for ordinary family fun and they are great time-wasters. Plus, they can get very addictive and the instructions are easier to follow than the four previous games that I have recommended. So, here they are.

UNO Spin
This board game is a variation of the popular game UNO. (I have made a full review of the original game. Check the archives on the sidebar for the full review.) It's slightly different because instead of playing with just cards, you will also get to spin the wheel which lets you decide on the card that you have to play. Just like the original UNO game, UNO Spin has coloured cards that you can play with in the game.

Taboo
Taboo is a fun game which involves lots of guessing. How do you play this? All you have to do is to describe a the word using non-taboo words. You will draw a card with the secret word on it. Let's say the secret word is kitten, you can't say meow or purr. You will have to say something else to let the players guess what the secret word is. It's pretty hard to describe this game with words so you'll have to play this game with your friends to experience the full thing.

And there you have it! This article is for you to know how to choose a board game and if you are clueless on what board game to buy or what game to get for your family or friends, this article is for you. In short form, if you want a game that teaches you financial management, you have Monopoly Junior and The Game of Life. For a game that improves your English and vocabulary, you have Travel Scrabble and Boggle. Or if you want a game that is just fun and a big time waster, there's always UNO Spin and Taboo. No matter what kind of person you are, there's always a board game for you. All these board games are available at all toy stores, department stores and Popular bookstores in Singapore. Don't forget to browse around more board games at the store itself.