While the United States, parts of the Caribbean and much of the rest of the world have been forced to stay at home due to the coronavirus, pandemic, many people are looking for ways to enjoy their free time.
Movies, TV shows and video games are a great and entertaining way to pass the time, but it is ideal to take a break from sitting in front of a TV or computer. Board games are a great way to keep you and your family entertained while in quarantine. Many board games are also educational and are a great way to keep your mind sharp and test your skills.
Pictionary
Pictionary is a classic game of drawing and guessing pictures. The game includes a game board, four playing pieces and category cards, a one-minute sand timer and a die. Each board square is coloured and corresponds to a category of cards with various words. Players have to attempt to draw (usually scribble) an image that illustrates the word on the card.
Scrabble
Players attempt to gain points by making high scoring/unusual words from the letters on the tiles. The tiles show the points they are worth. Each player picks seven unseen tiles from a bag and hides their letters from opponents. When it’s your turn, you have to try and form a word.
Snakes and Ladders
This is one of the less competitive, classic board games. Each player throws the dice, working their way around the board looking for ladders and trying to avoid sliding down the slippery snakes.
Chess
Chess is one of the oldest known board games still played to this day. The objective of the game is to move around the chess pieces on the board with the hope of capturing the other player’s pieces and scoring checkmate. Chess is considered a game for thinkers and strategists.
Ludo
Ludo (known as “Ludi” in Jamaica) is one of the most popular board games played by Caribbean nationals and Caribbean-Americans. The basic goal of the game is to guide your tokens from “home” (by rolling a dice) clockwise around the board along the game track to the finish center square. The first person to get all their tokens to the square wins the game.
Monopoly
This classic game sees two to six players make their way around a board as they buy, sell and trade properties to win. With only one winner of Monopoly, players collect rent from their opponents, with the goal being to drive them into bankruptcy. Money can also be gained or lost through community chest cards and tax squares. Players can also end up in jail, which they cannot move from until they have met one of several conditions.
Jumanji
Inspired by the family-friendly 90s movie, the aim of the game involves making your way through a jungle. Players roll the dice with the aim of being the first to get to the center of the board and win the game. However, on the board are “jungle” animals for players to get past. They use the deck of danger cards to reveal and decode the secret message in order to move on.
Draughts
This board game is for two players, played on a draughtboard. Each player starts with twelve disc-shaped pieces in three rows along one side of the board and moves them diagonally with the aim of capturing all the opponent’s pieces. Draughts is similar to another popular board game, Checkers.
