The 5 Best Versions of Classic Board Games Board Games

The 5 Best Versions of Classic Board Games Board games are a great way to spend an evening when there’s a bunch of you stuck in for the night and there’s nothing on telly. We all know our favorite board games, Pictionary, Risk, Monopoly, Settlers of Catan. But the fact is, as many and varied as every game of these is, they can get a little on the dull side. Fortunately, board game companies love money, so they’re always willing to sell some new and exciting twist...

Lego Creationary

They missed a trick not calling this one bricktionary, but apparently that name was already taken. Basically, it’s Pictionary. Only instead of drawing pictures, you make Lego models. I know what you’re thinking, and you’re right, this is the greatest thing every made. You love Lego, you love building things, but now you can do it in a competitive way that leaves your friends crushed and defeated!

Star Trek Settlers of Catan

Settlers of Catan is a game about resource management, establishing territory, and stabbing your friends in the back. Star Trek is about exploration, discover and peaceful resolutions. You can see how these things go together? No, shut up it’s awesome. The little wagons are replaced with little star ship Enterprises, the land is replaced with planets, the back stabbing and double dealing continues as always!

Risk 2210 A.D.

The World is Not Enough as the worst of the James Bond films always said. Risk was great for people who were happy conquering the same old continents, but this is a game for people who think a bit bigger. This is for people who want to conquer the Southern Anarchist Control Zone in Antarctica, or who want to take over the oceans, and the MOON. It also adds commanders to the game, giving you access to special attacks and strategies. You know where this is leading, right? It means you can nuke the moon!

Monopoly Banking Edition

Monopoly is the king of making new versions of itself. Whatever city you live in, whatever TV show you love, whatever your favorite vegetable, there is a version of Monopoly to match it. One of the latest versions is the banking edition, because everyone knows bankers are really popular right now. They get rid of the funnest part of the game – the paper money – and replace it with swipe cards and pin numbers. Okay, now I’m writing it down like that it seems like a positive step backwards for the series, but at least it’ll mean the game can still be played by our grandchildren when they’ve forgotten what paper money is.

Cranium

Not really an edition of an existing game, but a combination of games. Here you’ll find general knowledge questions ala Trivial Pursuit, charades ala Charades, picture drawing ala Pictionary, making models out of play dough ala Pictionary, with play dough. Whatever your specialty, this game will give you your time to shine. And by shine, I mean punish and humiliate your friends with your awesome play dough sculpting skills.

Jason Falls is a freelance writer and avid gamer who works with Butlers Bingo and absolutely crushes friends, family and loved ones around the Monopoly table.