Dan's Papers - January 11, 2008

Imagine that you're sitting at a cocktail party among close friends, but after a fourth glass of wine and countless small talk, you've discovered there's nothing more to say. Don't be ashamed. After a long day of work it's hard to engage in a lively topical debate or tell amusing stories of days past. Instead, try debating whether cows are best described as "fluffy" or "dumpy" and telling two truths and a lie for your friends to decipher.

No longer reserved for keeping wayward children occupied for chunks of time, board games are the perfect way to spice up a Saturday night while encouraging bonding and friendly competition among guests. You'll be surprised by just how many of your companions house a secret knowledge of Chinese history or old movie quotes, and since more and more board games are targeting adults, there's nothing boring about them! Your next free weekend, invite a group of friends over with a few bottles of wine and let the games begin. Just be careful, as many a friendship has been lost over a heated game of Monopoly.

Trivial Pursuit: Greatest Hits (Ages 18+)
Nothing is better than the classic trivia game to prove who's smarter than a fifth grader, but after you've memorized the deck and inexplicably know all the roman emperors, the game can get a little dull. Instead, try this 600-card deck filled with questions from the game's three best sellers: 90s Edition, Pop Culture 2 and Totally 80s.

Mental Floss (Ages 15+)
If Trivial Pursuit isn't quite "trivial" enough for you, try Mental Floss, where a roll of the dice will lead you to a "left-brained question," a "right-brained question" or a "big fat lie," where you must discover a false historical statement among two true ones. Six correct answers win the game but with "Mental Block" cards, winning isn't easy.

Monopoly (Ages 8+)
If your nuclear scientist friend always sucks the fun out of trivia, tax him up the walls when he lands on Park Place. Grab Shoe, Hat, Terrier or Hot Rod as you fight to push your comrades into bankruptcy, or exchange the classic version with a Monopoly from your hometown and who knows, you may be able to buy your own house!

The Game of Life (Ages 9+)
Thank goodness life isn't as erratic as this board game where a spin of the wheel can mean the slammer or success. But you'd be surprised how hard it is to virtually manage marriage, work and kids. Find out what Life has in store for you, and be the first to retire the healthiest and wealthiest to win.

Pictionary: 20th Anniversary Edition (Ages 12+)
Channel your inner Picasso with this classic quick draw game. You won't believe just how short a minute is, especially when your friend keeps shouting "baby fish mouth" (see When Harry Met Sally for proof). With new twists like writing blind or with your opposite hand, you'll be glad you have a day job to go back to.

(Ages 12+)
With fifteen activities packed into one game, Cranium is an instant party for any party-poopers. Roll the die to see which of the four decks houses your fate; you'll be asked to do anything from humming song lyrics, to sculpting household items, to answering pop culture trivia. Advance to the center brain first to prove your brain is best.

Taboo (Ages 16+)
Think it's easy to describe the word "watch?" Well how about when you can't say, "time," "clock" "wrist" "wears" or "look"? Players in Taboo struggle to get their teammates to guess as many words as possible without being caught saying one of the buzzwords. Instant fun, you'll find out how well connected you and your friends are.

Catch Phrase (Ages 18+)
Hot potato meets Taboo in this electronic game where players pass around a disk with words and phrases their teammates have to guess. The person left holding the disk player when it buzzes earns a point for the opposite team. Just make sure to play somewhere that it is socially acceptable to yell - shouting wrong answers does not make them right.

Apples to Apples (Ages 12+)
A hysterical party game that will remind you of those horrible similes on the SATs, Apples to Apples is the only game where it's acceptable to say that "apples" are to "round" as "balloons" are to "sexy." Take turns judging whose comparison is best and collect as many green apple cards as possible to win.

Scene It (Ages 13+)
Test your general movie knowledge or get a specialized edition to prove you are the biggest comic book nerd ever. Adjust the board to long or short play and then roll the die to be challenged by chance cards, trivia questions and DVD video puzzles. Be the first to make it to the final cut, or be lost on the cutting room floor.

- Alexandra Calamari