Tracker Pixel for Entry

2019 holiday game guide

Culture | December 18th, 2019

by Aaron Swinkels and Erica Sponsler
gamegiantfargo@gmail.com

Make your hot chocolate, gather your family, and sit around the kitchen table on a cozy night. What else could you need? A board game! Family game night is not a new tradition, but that doesn’t mean it should be stale. There are so many board games available, it is easy to keep it fresh. Check out our annual holiday board game guide below to find the right fit for your family this season.

To start things off, we recommend every family have the next two games. Splendor is great if you are just getting into board games. It came out in 2014 and is already a classic for family game night. In this game, you are a merchant of the Renaissance trying to buy gemstones to get the most points to win. It is quick to learn and involves both strategy and luck. The artwork and quality are on point as well. Another family night must-have is Reef, in which you are taken below the sea to create a beautiful coral reef. It involves a bit more strategy. This makes it great to play with novice and seasoned players alike. While playing this tactile game, you position colorful coral reef pieces in patterns to maximize your points. It gets fishy because the other players are also trying to create their own patterns with the same growing coral reef. Planning ahead is needed for victory in this quick-paced game.

Machi Koro Legacy takes gaming to the next step. If you are new to the “Legacy” games, they take on their own life through several smaller games, also known as campaigns, that are played within the larger game. Get busy building landmarks in each of the 10 campaigns for Machi Koro Legacy. Each campaign will affect the outcome of the overall game. It creates a long and unique gameplay experience that keeps you excited about coming back for more.

For those looking for more strategy, the next two games are out of this world. Originally published 40 years ago, fans have been waiting a long time to get their hands back on Dune. In Dune, you take on the role of one of the iconic characters from the 1965 novel. Each character has slightly different rules that govern how they play on a quest to gain control of a valuable spice only found on the planet Dune. The game involves alliances, bribery, and secret wagers. Who doesn’t love secret wagers? The increased strategy and themes in this game make it a winner. Our last stop will keep you up in the stars. In Catan: Starfarers, you develop a network of colonies in space by collecting and trading different resources. This is similar to the original gameplay of Catan, the game that revitalized gaming again. However, in Starfarers, you now have new components, including exploration and encounters (it could be with aliens or space pirates!), that make it feel completely new and exciting. Bonus, every player gets their own giant rocket ship!

You don’t have to leave home to build coral reefs or discover new planets; all you need are some family and friends to help you get there!

Splendor: 2-4 players, 30 minutes, ages 8+
Reef: 2-4 players, 30-45 minutes, ages 8+
Machi Koro Legacy: 2-4 players, 1 hr, ages 10+
Dune: 2-6 players, 2 hrs, ages 14+
Catan Starfarers: 3-4 players, 2 hrs, ages 14+

[Editor’s note: Aaron and Erica own and operate Game Giant and Vinyl Giant in downtown Fargo.]

Recently in:

MayFargo MarathonNow - May 20Youth run Thursday, 5K Friday night, 10K, half and full marathon, entertainment along route on Saturday. fargomarathon.comKids to Park DayMay 20Bring the kids to Theault Farm in Fargo for crafts,…

By John Showalter john.d.showalter@gmail.comHuman rights is a subject that often comes up in the media. One has only to tune in to any of the major news broadcasters to hear heated debate and discussion regarding the treatment of…

Event by Moorhead Parks & Recreation and Swing Barrel Brewing Company, LLCW. H. Davy Memorial Park, 1st Ave & 8th St N, MoorheadTuesday, June 27, 5:30-8pmThe Gina Powers Band + Petting ZooHeather & Thistle Pipes and DrumsArt…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comOur opinion: Keep your chins up, class of 2023As the school year draws to a close, this seems to be the time of year when most editors offer up their best advice to the most recent graduating…

By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comCan Someone Tell Me Why Sneakers Sell for $1.5 to $2.2 Million a Pair? It has to be something other than quality. I shop for used books in thrift stores because I have discovered thick books given…

We are looking for 55-gallon plastic food grade barrels, do you have ideas or connections?We use these barrels to teach our resilient yard workshop series including Make Your Own Rain Barrel and Make Your Own Compost Tumbler. If…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.comSpring has finally sprung. It’s time to bounce out of the house and try a few new places to eat. Let’s explore what restaurants are trending on the Fargo-Moorhead Eats Facebook page. With nearly…

Event information provided by Morgan Thompson, Marketing and Sales Associate, FARGODOMEMThompson@fargodome.comIt’s the official kickoff of summer, and the return of the best BBQ around and look who’s going to be there! Getting…

By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.comUntil I saw “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” I really thought the cinematic expression of the multiverse concept had peaked with the triumphant Best Picture Academy Award for…

Hjemkomst Center 202 1st Ave N, Moorhead  April 25, 3:30-7:30pmPaint a rock, make a stranger smile and be a part of the movement! Keep your rock or add it to the pile to be labeled, sealed and…

By Eric Dallmanericd@hpr1.comWe recently watched “The PROM” at Chanhassen Dinner Theatre, and it was an experience that left a lasting impact on us. The story, a heartwarming yet familiar one, follows a group of Broadway stars…

By Annie Prafckeannieprafcke@gmail.com AUSTIN, Texas – As a Chinese-American, connecting to my culture through food is essential, and no dish brings me back to my mother’s kitchen quite like hotdish. Yes, you heard me right –…

By Kris Gruberperriex1@gmail.comSpring is here (mostly), and our area is buzzing with people eager to get back out and about -- many newly vaccinated and feeling a bit safer. Partnering with Jade Events, Fargo Brewing is just…

By John Showalter  john.d.showalter@gmail.comThey sell fentanyl test strips and kits to harm-reduction organizations and…

By Traci Sethre  traci.sethre@gmail.comAn integral piece of fencing is your mask. Its integrity keeps you safe. It’s typically painted black to hide your face…

By Ken and Alice Christiansonsubmit@hpr1.com HB 1332 is currently before the North Dakota legislature. The bill proposes to permit social workers to use a discredited treatment method to convert the sexual orientation of gay and…