ThisNext

Explore

Watch People Shop

Giveaway Calendar

Search

Bored games - a list by jooxi

Options for This Page

Share with friends

About this list:

Great games to play when you're bored - easy to learn, often hard to master, but always fun! plus you get to see an actual, you know, human being on the other side of the table.

Qualifications:

I own these games and enjoy them.

For people who like:

This is:

Show items only
Show full recommendations

Viewing 1-9 of 9 Items

Quarto

First to recommend

4 people recommended this item

Description

This wood board game stresses pattern recognition combined with a bit of geometry (straight lines). It relates to the game "Set" in the multi-dimensional pattern aspects and reminds me of Tic-Tac-Toe or Connect Four with how you win.

However, there are a couple of twists which make it a unique and challenging game: The pieces on the board belong to both players; any of them can be used by either player to win. Furthermore, when it's your turn to place a piece on the board, your opponent chooses which piece you will be using!

Though the rules are easy to learn, it is very tough to master as you have to keep thinking through deeper and deeper levels of what could possibly happen with the next move, and the move after that, and...

This well-made and attractive wood game set is suitable for leaving out as decoration and a conversation starter.

Updated Dec 27, 2008

For people who like:

Comment

This is:

Paradux Board Game

First to recommend

Description

Lest you think all do is buy board games, let me state that most of my board game recommendations were bought by my family. I really only play them when I'm with family or a good friend and there's not much else to do. Glad that's cleared up.

Paradux is one of those simple to play, hard to master games. I believe it was originally made by Gigamic, but the rights were sold to another company which now produces it.

The object: Line up 4 of your colored marbles on the board. The interesting part? You can only move a marble in concert with one of your opponent's ones; meaning, to make a move, you have to move 2: one of your color, and one of theirs. They must be adjacent to each other and both move in the same direction.

Adds a nice little twist. Gameplay on this varies from maybe 5 minutes (stupid mistakes) to, well, forever if you are both really, really good. But it's easy to learn and fun to play.

The packaging is not such great quality but the pieces are all nice wood.

Updated Nov 4, 2007

For people who like:

Comment

This is:

Quoridor board game

First to recommend

Description

Turn off the computer and play this with your children. It's yet another simple, easy to learn and fun to play game from Gigamic of France.

The object: get your pawn across the board! The catch? You or your opponent can skip a move and put down a wooden fence instead. Try making an intricate maze that will let you get across and win while making your opponent take the long way around.

As with all Gigamic games, it's made from beautiful, smoothly varnished wood in pretty colors. It's a great game to play with kids, and won't take more than 10 minutes per game. Have fun!

Updated Oct 29, 2007

For people who like:

Comment

This is:

Gobblet board game

First to recommend

Description

Another great board game from Gigamic, and perfect for kids as well.

The object: Get four of your color pieces in a row. The fun part? The pieces are stacked like russian nesting dolls, and you can use a bigger piece to 'gobble' an opponents piece, or even your own, to protect it from your opponents gobbles.

As with all Gigamic games, made of fine, lasting wood with beautiful colors. Simple to learn, fun to play, and it won't take you more than 20 minutes.

Updated Oct 29, 2007

For people who like:

Comment

This is:

Quads

First to recommend

Description

What do you know, another interesting boardgame from Gigamic of France. As usual, wonderfully sanded and high quality wood pieces, as well as their free piece replacement policy.

Quads is a bit more strategy intensive if you really want to play well; I am lazy and just see how it goes...that's probably why I always lose at chess....

There are 2 sets of tiles: Light and Dark. Each player takes a set. The point of the game is to keep putting tiles down on the board. You can only put a tile down next to an adjacent one that matches it in some way - either it's color, or the lines (horizontal or vertical) printed on both must go in the same direction.

You win when there are no more places for your opponent to go.

A bit different from Gigamic but still a fun way to pass the time.

Updated Nov 9, 2007

For people who like:

Comment

This is:

Quits Board Game

First to recommend

Description

Yet another slightly quirky and fun to play game by Gigamic, creators of fine wooden board games from France.

Your object: Get three of your colored marbles off the board by reaching the opposite side. The catch? You can only move diagonally. To move up or down, you pick up an empty square, and slide it in at the end of the row/column. This adds endless variations to the gameplay and is a very cool, quirky strategy.

As with all Gigamic games, everything is made out of fine wood and in beautifully varnished colors. Gigamic even offers a free piece replacement policy - if you loose a piece, or even a few, just send them a note or email and they will mail you replacements for free!

Takes at most 20 minutes to play, though you can drag it out a little bit longer if both players are good.

Updated Nov 3, 2007

For people who like:

Comment

This is:

Pentago: A Game for Smarties

4 people recommended this item

Description

Oh, you know I am gonna recommend this. The great thing about being a board game geek (I think I am almost there) is that you have to play with SOMEONE, so at least you're not alone in your geekiness.

Pentago comes from Sweden, land of the Vikings, Ikea and blonde supermodels (in that order, roughly). It's a simple 5 (not 4) in a row wins game, but with a twist. After you place your marble down (anywhere), you must rotate one of the 4 wooden board pieces 90 degrees. Those are practically all the rules.

This adds an entirely new level to the gameplay, as you have to start thinking in multiple dimensions. Defeat or victory can come from nowhere, with the simple twist of the wrist. However, you DON"T have to be a smartie to play, just someone willing to think a bit.

A great game that is easy to learn (my #1 rule) and nicely made (nice wood, aluminum pieces; my #3 I think). Gameplay usually only takes 5-15 minutes (# 2), but if you're both good, it can go up to 30 or so.

Updated Feb 12, 2008

For people who like:

2 player games
board games
I wonder if they are called bored games
logic games
made in Sweden

Comment

This is:

Sputnik

First to recommend

Description

Gigamic of France, creator of all things good in board games, sold their wonderfully named and produced game 'Quivive' to another company a few years ago . The resulting hybrid is 'Sputnik' - plasticy and with graphics aimed at the kids, but just as much fun.

There are a number of disks that players put down that form the playing board. They range from one to three disks in a stack. Once that's done, the real fun begins. Try to keep your rocket-ship hopping around from island to island while removing pieces as you go. When your opponent/s can no longer move (they're stranded in the middle somewhere with no more moves) you win. Simple and evil fun.

Updated Feb 12, 2008

List that features this:

Living - Rainy Day Gadgets

For people who like:

Comment

This is:

Quadrago - 3D Wooden Strategy Game

First to recommend

Description

Another four-in-a-row game with a clever twist. Take turns placng your pieces on the metal poles. The catch is you have the option of spinning a cut out circle in the middle - changing the positions of multiple poles. Puts a mind bending twist on an otherwise simple game.

If you like this, you aay also like Pentago, also available from ThinkGeek.

Updated Aug 21, 2008