'Tis the season for games and merriment - isn't that right? I wonder how many of you look forward to playing games with the family over the festive season. We usually try to fit in some traditional favourites at one evening gathering or another, though more recently our kids have been teaching us some more up-to-date games. Some of these have been great additions, others I have struggled with and felt decidedly old at points as I fail to grasp the rules or the concept of them. A few of the ones we have enjoyed have included 'Exploding Kittens,' 'Uno - No Mercy,' 'Colour Brain,' and 'Muffin Time.' Though I should give a warning that you'll need to set aside a serious amount of time to stand a chance of completing the last one, as well as having your wits about you to fully understand the rules.
Maybe you prefer something a bit more traditional. We often play a game of 'Scrabble' with my Mum, even using the old travel version of the game that belonged to her parents and must be at least 50 years old. 'Monopoly' is liked by our kids but I don't usually have the stamina to complete it. I prefer things like 'Pictionary' or 'Trivial Pursuit' which we regularly played for years at the in-laws on New Year's Eve, along with a hilarious Beetle drive which brought out everyone's competitive streak. Whatever the game of choice is, the time spent with family or friends around a table together is something to be valued.
It was a different type of game, but I have fond memories of one Christmas in the 90s when my husband and I spent hours round my parents, playing Bomberman with them on the Super Nintendo. To see both my parents enjoying the game and getting caught up in something that was frankly beyond their usual experience, has stayed with me. I don't know who was crowned the ultimate champion but we certainly had a laugh in the process. A more recent equivalent of this would now be us, joining our children and their partners in rounds of Mario Kart on the Switch consoles. The technology has moved on but the fun and challenge across the generations has remained.
Today's author angle is to celebrate Jan who creates a series of murder mystery games, under the title of Maple Mystery Games. If you fancy something a little different for your social gatherings this year, then take a look at the games that are on offer there. In fact, readers of this blog can have a 20% discount on any game until the end of December 2024 by using the discount code cm5y56xc on the cart page, when ordering. What a bonus! Jan's games are fun murder mystery games that you can host yourself with friends or family. They are easy to run so the host can play as a suspect. Games have a flexible script. The high-quality party packs include lots of printouts to help decorate your home and table, also access to pages of helpful advice on decorations, food and drink.
There are two Christmas themed games for today's shout-out, although there are many more on the website for other times of the year / different themes and events.
Is Santa Slayed? - (6 -14 players) - enjoyed by adults and is also family-friendly, Has 17 five star reviews.
Murder at the Christmas Party - (6 - 12 players) - adults, most teens 13+ could attend, perhaps in a gender-neutral role, Has 5 five star reviews.
If, like me, you've enjoyed this year's TV hit, Ludwig - then perhaps you'd like to try adding a murder mystery game to your festivities? After all, it's good to keep the 'little grey cells' working amongst all the eating and drinking. All this talk of games of different sorts has got my brain running overtime, wondering which ones to find at the back of the cupboard in time for our guests. Have fun, everyone.
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