Top 5 Board Games for Adults

Who said adults can't play board games? It's as if we lose our sense of having fun or maybe that we are embarassed by the prospect of having fun as an adult. Our lives revolve around our children and our work and we tend to lose sight of some of the most enjoyable things in our lives. It amazes me to think that many adults live much of their adult lives in that state of mind, thinking that they shouldn't have fun. In fact most adults tend to spend insane amounts of money to have fun, when there are simple ways to relive some of the days of your lives when it didn't cost you a dime to have fun. What the heck is wrong with society today? Do you remember how much fun it can be playing board games. Think back to a time when you were young and carefree...you could sit for hours and play board games. It might be a good idea to reflect back on that lifestyle for a moment, just so you can remember what it was like to have a little bit of uncomplicated fun. Do you remember sitting down for hours over a Monopoly board game, or playing the game of Life and taking yourself into the future...or how about the classic game of Clue where you could be a detective for the evening? The truth is, these board games are still fun for children and adults alike, but there are board games that are specifically designed for adults that are great for entertaining and for your own personal enjoyment. For social gatherings some of the best board games are inexpensive and can be used over and over again for an evening of entertainment for your friends and family. Below is a list of some of the best board games for adults, their price range, and links on where to find them.

1.Murder Mystery Dinner Theater Games- These games are absolutely perfect for entertaining a group of friends. Each game has a central theme and includes recipes for your dinner party to fit the mood of the game. Each game consists of a character listing, clothing requirements for your guest-so that they can arrive in character, dinner invitations and a script for each of your guests. Once your guests arrive, you sit together, dine and let the game unfold as each participant acts out the themed murder mystery. Each person at your party is a suspect to the murder and everyone must participate in this fun-filled murder mystery event. You are sure to get a lot of laughs and praise for your wonderful murder mystery dinner event. These board games are not traditional in the sense that they do not use an acutal game board, but it tops my list for a night full of hilarity and pure social enjoyment. These games can be found on Amazon.com ranging in price from $19.99-$29.99. Some of the listed games are, A Taste for Wine and Murder, Lethal Lua, and A Murder on the Grill. You can see how easily these games will work for a themed party. Throw in a bottle of wine or a cooler full of your favorite alcohol of choice and you have yourself a night to remember. Alcohol is optional.

2. Survivor- If you haven't seen the hit show, Survivor, you probably know what it is about. Well, Mattel has released several versions of the game. The game runs much like the show, pinning two teams of people against each other in a battle of wits. The great thing about this game is that it is mentally challenging and does involve some skill and strategy in order to keep yourself from getting voted off of the island. Beware...there may be a bit of backstabbing involved, but no one will get hurt. Just keep your eyes open and watch your back, because in this game-everyone is your enemy. Different versions of the Survivor game can be found on Amazon.com or through local retail superstores, ranging from $10.00- $20.00- Depending on which version you choose. You can make the evening more entertaining by requiring your guests to dress up as Survivors and see what crazy outfits they show up in. The true test is...can you Survive a night of Survivor with your friends?

3. Pictionary- Pictionary is still a classic board game and it is great fun, no matter what your age. Pictionary is so much fun because you must draw the action, person, or place given on the game card as a timer is running and hope that your art skills are good enough for your team to guess the answer before time runs out. If your team does not guess the correct answer, the other team can guess and steal your points. With a diverse group of people, this can be fun and challenging...becuase not everyone is an artist and so the real challenge is knowing your teammates very well. Pictionary retails from $25.00 to $30.00 on Amazon.com

4. Catch Phrase- Hasbro developed an electronic game called Catch Phrase and it is a lot of fun. This fast paced game makes you think fast, talk fast, and keep moving. Two teams alternate turns guessing clues to the eleven categories. This trivia game is set on an electronic timer and you must work quickly, before the time runs out. People tend to get very nervous playing this game and it is funny to see how people freeze up answering questions because of the beeping mechanisim that runs the entire time you are answering questions. This game is a laugh out loud, hilarious time. Catch Phrase retails on Amazon.com for about $20.00.

5. Pirates of the Caribbean DVD game- Get ready for a swashbuckling adventure with this game, rated by the 2007 Creative Child Award's Seal of Excellence Award as being an excellent game. This game is great for friends and family for a night of pirate adventure as you play this interactive boardgame that links into your DVD player. The board game is shaped like a treasure map and will get you into the mood for a night of pirate adventures and trivia while searching for treasure and booty galore. The DVD includes clips from the actual movie, Pirates of the Caribbean. You will have to use your skill to outwit the other players in an attempt to answer pirate trivia, find hidden treasure and collect booty cards as you advance across the board while battling other pirate ships. This game retails for about $30.00 on Amazon.com and other retailers.

These are my picks for the top five board games for adults. Whatever adventure you choose, just remember to have fun and don't forget what it used to be like as a kid, in the days of reading by flashlight, and playing Monopoly all night long. Adventure is as close as your nearest board game!

By Heidi Adams, www.associatedcontent.com