Some of our favorite Cabin games.
As the weather gets cooler, you may spend less time out and about in the Gatlinburg area and more time hunkered down in front of a roaring fire in your snuggly cabin in the Smokies. Our family’s favorite cabin activity, by far, is playing games! Here are a few games to try that you might not have heard about, beyond Uno, Scrabble and Pictionary.
Adult Games:
- Settlers of Catan. We LOVE this addicting strategy game from MayFair Games. It’s not a good game for passing time while chatting about your sister’s new boyfriend. But it’s a great way to spend a long evening by the fire with bowls of munchies close by. This game for 1-4 players is played by each player becoming a people group settling a new island, fighting over resources to build towns and cities first. The game is long — expect a minimum of 45 minutes per game and way up from there — and retails for around $40. You can find it online or at specialty game shops. The game is pretty complicated, so I wouldn’t recommend it for kids under 10, even if they read well.
- Family Business. My husband and I started playing this game right after we were married, and ended up having our first major fight about it! But we love it. We still pull out the scuffed up board whenever we have someone new to enjoy it with. This is a game of mob vengeance. It’s a bit less complicated than Settlers of Catan and way more back-biting. For up to 6 players, expect to make a few enemies, and hopefully more friends. The original game is now a collector’s item and retails for around $50. But MayFair Games has recently repackaged it as a card game, which doesn’t really change anything except for some of the fun packaging. You can buy it for under $15 here.
For Groups of Kids and Adults:
- Qwirkle. I love this one, because my 7-year-old daughter plays as well as I do. This game by MindWare is kind-of a shapes version of Scrabble. You try to make groups of shapes that are the same color/shape or different colors/shapes. The game is really easy to learn and fun to play. And even though it’s officially a maximum of 4 players, we’ve played with up to 6 with the only result being that the game is shorter. Expect games to last at least a half an hour. Qwirkle costs about $20. Oh, and this game was a Mensa Best Mind Game winner in 2007.
- N.Y. Chase. From Ravensburger, this fun good guys/bad guy game is really different. The game is for up to 6 players, and games usually last at least 45 minutes. You choose one player to be the bad guy — Mr. X — and the others act as a team of detectives trying to catch him running around New York City. Players take taxis, buses and subways to try to land on the same spot as the elusive Mr. X. Kids would need to know their numbers well to play. Bonus: Mr. X gets to wear a fun visor! Game retails for around $40.
And for a Laugh:
- Fluxx. Some friends (thank you Liz and John!) introduced us to this Looney Labs game over the summer, and we immediately went out and bought one and have been playing it ever since. This crazy card game is for up to 8 people. Kids can play, as long as they can read well. The weird part about this game is that the rules are ever-changing, so you never know what goal you are working toward. This is a great party game, since there isn’t a lot of strategy involved. Games last anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour. We had one last just 2 turns (not round, turns) in July. Try it; you’ll love it.
- Snorta. This goofy game is perfect for kids and adults. Each player is an animal, which they reveal to others, then hide in a little barn. In turn, players turn over cards of animals. When two players show the same card, they have to make each others’ animal sound first. It’s crazy and confusing. Again, sometimes the little ones are better at it. Games are pretty quick — 20 minutes or so. And the game says ages 8 to adult, but my 4-year-old likes to play, too, with a bit of help. Great for groups — you can play with up to 8 players. Snorta is available at Target or online. This Mattel game retails for around $30.
Honorable Mention
- Moods. For one of my favorite silly games that is now out-of-print (though it is available on Amazon for around $90). Again, for kids and adults (even 4-year-olds can play with help), this game is an absolute hoot. You don’t want to play with people who aren’t willing to be silly (My husband for example. I would never, ever play this game with Jason.), but if you have a group that’s looking for something goofy to do, this is the game for you. The game is simple: You are given a phrase, then given a mood. You must then say the phrase in that kind of a mood. Picture saying “I love my rubber ducky” in a shy voice, for example. Other players then have to guess what kind of mood it was. Fun, simple and a bunch of laughs! Here’s hoping that Hasbro will bring this one back!
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