We've included a range of games for families, entry games, safe bets when you really have no clue about the person you're buying for, and hopefully ones that tabletop aficionado doesn't already own yet.
Entry Games
These titles are great for bringing people into tabletop gaming. Casual players and veterans alike can have a good time and you may even start someone down the rabbit hole of board game collecting. Most of these are quick party type games as those are the most versatile in social situations.
Coup ($12.95): This game is almost enjoying mainstream status now especially among university/college students. Coup is easy to pick up once everyone familiarizes themselves with the 5 roles and they're quickly on their way to bluffing and backstabbing to be the last person standing. Games are quick and it's portability makes it convenient to play anywhere.
Saboteur ($15.80): A path building game with secret betrayers in the group who don't want to help the team dig tunnels to reach the treasure. Players work together as dwarves mining for gold, but they don't know if the next person after them will continue the route or sabotage things at the last minute.
Spot it! ($10.95): Find the matching item on each card before your opponent does. Very simplistic game that's quick to play with any age group to pass some time and exercise your perception skills.
Other games also worth checking out: Werewolves of Miller's Hollow ($10.95), Sushi Go! ($10.95), The Resistance ($15.95), Anomia ($14.95), and Crabs Adjust Humidity ($16.95).
Family Games
Family games are always a safe purchase as there's bound to be someone in your gift exchange group who either has kids, younger siblings & relatives, or interacts with kids on a regular basis (teacher, babysitter, etc.). Even if they steer clear of children, who says you can't enjoy some simplistic fun?
Uno ($9.95): Uno is another game that knows no introduction and is ubiquitous with family game nights after dinner, or a past-time at recess. Even if someone already owns a copy, Uno is one of those games where it's fine to have multiples to keep in the car, at work, or in a school locker.
Letters to Santa ($9.95): This is a Christmas edition of the popular game Love Letter where players attempt to keep the highest valued card in their hand and survive all the other card effects other players may throw at them. Santa Claus replaces the "Princess" in the tempest version of Love Letter, and a line-up of other classic holiday characters like snowmen, reindeer, and gingerbread men make their appearance. The concept of trying to get a letter to Santa may be easier for kids to grasp than sending love letters to a princess and dodging royal politics.
GhostBlitz ($13.95): Get that rush of adrenaline from trying to grab the correct items first before everyone else. Ghostblitz is a very easy game to teach and play with kids. It's even educational for kids who are learning deductive reasoning, and piecing together abstract clues to identify the right object. Not playing with kids? It's still fun with a group of adults especially after a few rounds of eggnog ;).
Other family games to consider: My First Bohnanza ($15.95), Word on the Street Junior ($14.95), Connect 4 ($18.95), Taboo ($19.95), Mastermind ($18.95).
Monopoly Deal ($5.95): Everyone knows Monopoly and it's a staple for a lot of households. Monopoly Deal is a conveniently packaged quick card version of the game that can be played anywhere. At $5.95 you can even afford to pair it with another card version of a classic board game like Scrabble or Uno to beef up your gift.
Uno ($9.95): Uno is another game that knows no introduction and is ubiquitous with family game nights after dinner, or a past-time at recess. Even if someone already owns a copy, Uno is one of those games where it's fine to have multiples to keep in the car, at work, or in a school locker.
Letters to Santa ($9.95): This is a Christmas edition of the popular game Love Letter where players attempt to keep the highest valued card in their hand and survive all the other card effects other players may throw at them. Santa Claus replaces the "Princess" in the tempest version of Love Letter, and a line-up of other classic holiday characters like snowmen, reindeer, and gingerbread men make their appearance. The concept of trying to get a letter to Santa may be easier for kids to grasp than sending love letters to a princess and dodging royal politics.
GhostBlitz ($13.95): Get that rush of adrenaline from trying to grab the correct items first before everyone else. Ghostblitz is a very easy game to teach and play with kids. It's even educational for kids who are learning deductive reasoning, and piecing together abstract clues to identify the right object. Not playing with kids? It's still fun with a group of adults especially after a few rounds of eggnog ;).
Other family games to consider: My First Bohnanza ($15.95), Word on the Street Junior ($14.95), Connect 4 ($18.95), Taboo ($19.95), Mastermind ($18.95).
Games for the Board Game Geeks
If your social circle consists mostly of tabletop enthusiasts, the biggest concern is often buying something that someone already owns. While we can't help you if your friends are the type who's home collection rivals our entire store inventory, we've put together a list of noteworthy new releases (in the hopes they just haven't gotten around to getting it themselves yet) and some less popular picks that the 401 Games staff think are worth some attention. Don't forget! We do offer gift receipts.
Epic Card Game ($13.95): The depth of a Trading Card Game all in one pocket sized box. Epic Card Game is designed by the creative minds behind Star Realms and was successfully backed on Kickstarter this year. If your secret santa enjoys Magic: The Gathering and other deck-building games then Epic is right up their alley. Epic can be played in a variety of formats to suit 2-4 players, and it's full of eye-catching fantasy art.
Arboretum ($14.95): Players compete for points by building the most beautiful garden paths in their Arboretum for their visitors. This game is deeply complex and strategic, and a rewarding experience for the best tacticians. Pair that with elegant artwork, and this card game is a definitely winner.
Tides of Time ($11.95): For people who enjoy quick, tense, and clever games, then Tides of Time is another card drafting game on this list that's worth a mention. It's a 2-player game and perfect for people who are on the eternal search for meaty 2-player board games. Each game consists of three rounds in which players draft cards from their hands to build their kingdom. Each card is one of five suits and also has a scoring objective. Each round, the players each select one card to leave in their kingdom as a "relic of the past" to help them in later rounds. The player with the the most prosperous kingdom wins. Often referred to as a "filler" game, Tides of Time takes minimal set-up, is quick to play, and offers plenty of replayability.
Bohnanza ($16.95): Perhaps a bit more on the entry-level side than the other games mentioned in this section, Bohnanza is still a fun strategic card game with plenty of player interaction to introduce to someone who's growing their collection. As card games go, this one is quite revolutionary. Perhaps its oddest feature is that you cannot rearrange your hand, as you need to play the cards in the order that you draw them. The cards are colorful depictions of beans in various descriptive poses, and the object is to make coins by planting fields (sets) of these beans and then harvesting them. To help players match their cards up, the game features extensive trading and deal making.
The Grizzled ($18.95): A newly released cooperative game themed around survival as a military unit in World War 1. Players attempt to deplete the draw deck and their hands before time runs out by playing cards each round to complete the mission. If too many threats are played (mortar shells, bad weather conditions) then a mission fails and players won't make progress that round. The catch with this co-op game is that players can not share what is in their hand. The Grizzled was one of the most anticipated games to come out of Gen Con 2015.
Codenames ($19.95): One of the best party games to be released this year at Gen Con 2015, in Codenames two teams compete to see who can make contact with all of their agents first. Spymasters give one-word clues that can point to multiple words on the board. Their teammates try to guess words of the right color while avoiding those that belong to the opposing team. And everyone wants to avoid the assassin.
Sylvion ($16.95): The mad Fire Elemental lord is out to burn down the dream forest! Sylvion is an adaptable tower defense with drafting, amazing art, and a lovely theme. It includes an introductory and advanced mode as well as 2 expansions to keep the game fresh and challenging.
Epic Card Game ($13.95): The depth of a Trading Card Game all in one pocket sized box. Epic Card Game is designed by the creative minds behind Star Realms and was successfully backed on Kickstarter this year. If your secret santa enjoys Magic: The Gathering and other deck-building games then Epic is right up their alley. Epic can be played in a variety of formats to suit 2-4 players, and it's full of eye-catching fantasy art.
Arboretum ($14.95): Players compete for points by building the most beautiful garden paths in their Arboretum for their visitors. This game is deeply complex and strategic, and a rewarding experience for the best tacticians. Pair that with elegant artwork, and this card game is a definitely winner.
Tides of Time ($11.95): For people who enjoy quick, tense, and clever games, then Tides of Time is another card drafting game on this list that's worth a mention. It's a 2-player game and perfect for people who are on the eternal search for meaty 2-player board games. Each game consists of three rounds in which players draft cards from their hands to build their kingdom. Each card is one of five suits and also has a scoring objective. Each round, the players each select one card to leave in their kingdom as a "relic of the past" to help them in later rounds. The player with the the most prosperous kingdom wins. Often referred to as a "filler" game, Tides of Time takes minimal set-up, is quick to play, and offers plenty of replayability.
Bohnanza ($16.95): Perhaps a bit more on the entry-level side than the other games mentioned in this section, Bohnanza is still a fun strategic card game with plenty of player interaction to introduce to someone who's growing their collection. As card games go, this one is quite revolutionary. Perhaps its oddest feature is that you cannot rearrange your hand, as you need to play the cards in the order that you draw them. The cards are colorful depictions of beans in various descriptive poses, and the object is to make coins by planting fields (sets) of these beans and then harvesting them. To help players match their cards up, the game features extensive trading and deal making.
The Grizzled ($18.95): A newly released cooperative game themed around survival as a military unit in World War 1. Players attempt to deplete the draw deck and their hands before time runs out by playing cards each round to complete the mission. If too many threats are played (mortar shells, bad weather conditions) then a mission fails and players won't make progress that round. The catch with this co-op game is that players can not share what is in their hand. The Grizzled was one of the most anticipated games to come out of Gen Con 2015.
Codenames ($19.95): One of the best party games to be released this year at Gen Con 2015, in Codenames two teams compete to see who can make contact with all of their agents first. Spymasters give one-word clues that can point to multiple words on the board. Their teammates try to guess words of the right color while avoiding those that belong to the opposing team. And everyone wants to avoid the assassin.
Sylvion ($16.95): The mad Fire Elemental lord is out to burn down the dream forest! Sylvion is an adaptable tower defense with drafting, amazing art, and a lovely theme. It includes an introductory and advanced mode as well as 2 expansions to keep the game fresh and challenging.
Safe Bets
If all else fails and you have absolutely no idea what to buy, something generic like classic games are never ill received. Think travel sized chess, checkers, backgammon, cribbage, playing cards, poker sets, etc.
Deluxe Clay Poker Chips ($14.95): Hefty and high quality chips to make those "all ins" feel extra satisfying.
Bicycle Cards ($3.54): Standard deck of 52 playing cards.
You can always give the gift of choice and pick up a 401 Games Gift Card.
