Board Games

What It Is

You may have recently seen or heard the word "nesting" used to describe a trend in consumer behavior. Sounds lovely doesn't it. Birds in downy nests, taking care of their young, bringing them luscious bugs for snacks.

Lovely.

In human terms, it means staying home.

Preferably doing something that causes you to spend money, at least that's why "nesting" has become Madison Avenue's favorite buzzword-du-jour. According to the ad gurus, in order to enjoy staying in, we first must go out and purchase lots of high-end goods. Flat screen TVs and stainless steel refrigerators are great but contrary to what you read and hear, you don't have to remodel your kitchen or install a state of the art home theater system in order to enjoy time at home with family and friends.

So before you spend oodles of money adding a media and game room to your home, consider some of our game suggestions, all of which can be enjoyed at your kitchen table regardless of what kind of refrigerator you have.


Why It's Fun

Board games can turn a quiet evening at home with family into a fun event. They also provide an excellent excuse for regular get-togethers with busy friends.

The best games are those that are fun to play, simple to figure out and quick to make you want to play again.

The other thing that lets you know you're on to a good board game is that it's different every time you play it based on the people playing the game. It should be about the players, not the game.


Who's Going To Love It

If you like trivia then chances are good that there is a trivia game tailored to your favorite area of interest. Trivia games run the gamut from all things Disney to "The Sopranos" with tons in between. There's The Patriot Challenge Game for American history buffs and don't forget the game that revolutionized the genre, Trivial Pursuit. Check out the '90s Time Capsule Edition that celebrates the decade when drinking coffee became a national event. Keep in mind that a movie or TV-themed trivia game, like the Sex and the City Trivia Game, is only fun for a group of people who all share a strong liking for the show.

Don't worry if trivia isn't your thing because you still have a plethora of games to choose from.

Here are a few new games on the market that will have busy executives putting down their Wall Street Journal and picking up a game piece.

The first is StakXchange, where your skills in commodities trading can earn you the corner office. Stock Market Tycoon is a strategy game that follows the golden rule of economics: "Buy Low, Sell High." And for everyone who thinks they've got what it takes to be a famous financier, there's Trump The Game. Amass the most cash to win and you'll be shouting "Your Fired!" in no time.

If you can't get enough courtroom drama—we hope that means watching and not participating—then you might like the new game So Sue Me, a wacky strategy game that pokes fun at the frivolous lawsuits running through the courts.

Board games don't always revolve around sitting at a table. In fact, with the game Groove It, you don't even need a table. This new electronic doohickey is a music-making, movement-sensing test of skill. Another table-free, turn-taker is Pink Elephants, a nutty party game, which adds a new twist to Charades.

You can flex your artistic muscles with a new drawing game called Who What Where? And speaking of muscles, don't forget to exercise your brain. Several new games sure to tingle your neurons include Word For Word, where spelling not only counts but scores, Jargon, a no-holds-barred take on Scrabble and Simon Stix, which will test how long something "stixs" in your memory.

Shopping and dating become even more competitive in the games Marry, Date or Dump? and Mall Madness. In Marry, Date or Dump? You have to choose who you would marry, date or dump from three names listed on a card. Talking Electronic Mall Madness, a perennial slumber party favorite, is a virtual trip to the mall in search of the ultimate deal.


What To Be Aware Of

With so many games on the market you may have to play a few until you find the one that your group loves, but that's part of the fun.

When you select a game for a party, make sure that it's one that everyone will enjoy. For example, Scene It! won't be a lot of fun if some of the guests don't like movies.

Ask around and find out what other people are playing and enjoying.

Don't assume that just because a game is new or expensive that it has to be fun. There are the old classic playing cards. They're still fun, even though they've been around since the 10th century—and they only cost a couple of bucks.

Available At: Most major retail and toy stores as well as some specialty shops, coffee houses and many online e-commerce sites.