When the pandemic first started, I wasn’t really thinking about card games and board games as something to do. I play a lot of games when my friends and I are all together, but I didn’t necessarily think of it. I was more focused on both work and hobbies.
However, there was one night where Jake and I were about to sit down to watch TV and I think I literally just thought to myself, “I don’t feel like watching TV.” Which is funny, because usually I find it it to be pretty relaxing and I look forward to spending time on the couch watching a favorite series. Funnily enough, Jake was feeling the same, and we decided to break out a game of Monopoly – it was a Disney Monopoly from 2002. Now, I honestly don’t think I’ve actually played Monopoly since I was a kid. I must not have ever played correctly because this game is brutal. In the beginning we were just being nice, rolling, buying properties. By the end, we were cackling when the other one was low on money. We had a blast – didn’t even finish the game yet (obviously – it’s Monopoly...) but we had such a blast playing it.
This photo is from York, ME when Pj, Jake and I played on the beach a few years ago!
But my favorite game of all time? Definitely Phase 10. Jake, Pj and I learned the game from our friend Meaghan when we went to visit her in Ireland in 2014 during our spring break. It’s a game I get pretty addicted to – I played with all my college roommates, my best friends, my family…everyone. Well, weirdly, my family hadn’t played the game since we were all briefly living in Minnesota (long story!) and we thought it might be fun to have a “Family Game Night”
All I can say is: wow, it was so much fun. I was losing (ugh!) and it was still so. much. fun. We had a blast together and, once again, didn’t even finish the game because it was taking so long. But it gave us something kind of different to do together, especially when none of us are really seeing anyone else right now. It made me feel like there are probably so many more games we could enjoy together!
What are your favorite games to play as a family?
