One of the best methods of bringing people together and sparking imagination is board games. It is a fun way to promote social interaction and creativity while having fun. If you are looking for gift ideas, or even home entertainment, there are many fun and exciting options to choose from.
Top 5 Board Games That Require Imagination
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Rory’s Story Cubes: Boredom can take a hike when your family is busy tossing these dice and creating stories. Each of the nine cubes has six different pictures, giving the game 54 picture options. Roll the dice and make a story based on the pictures that are faced up. One person can create the story or take turns developing the story as all the players contribute to the tale. Make the game more challenging by timing the player’s responses or varying the number of cubes that are used. This game was developed for storytellers 8 years of age and up. Roll the cubes and bring the pictures to life with words. |
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Cranium: If you are ready to give your friends and family an awesome night of entertainment, try Cranium and get ready for some fun. You will not only answer trivia questions and solve word puzzles, but you will also act and hum, as well as sketch and sculpt. Each player rolls a dice to make their way around the board. The player will draw from a color-coded pile of cards, depending on the color the dice lands on. After successfully making their way around the board, the player will complete one last task to be the winner. Cranium is available in a variety of age appropriate levels. |
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The Game of Things: It is easy and its fun! With 300 different topics to choose from, responses from the participants are written down. The responses can be true, false, or just a lot of nonsense. The answers to the questions are not important, as the objective of the game is to guess which answer goes to which player. The process of elimination determines who the winner is. Once a person and their response are paired, they are out of that round of the game. The Game of Things provokes rounds of laughter and is suitable for any age group that has the ability to write. |
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TableTopics Family: This game is designed to keep the family talking. It can be played in the car, at the dinner table, or for family game night. Keeping in touch with your kids and promoting conversation will increase the chances of them talking to you before a crisis begins. Keep them talking with the 5-inch cube and 138 cards and one of the best toys this season. There is always an interesting conversation with differing perspectives when the family gets together. Discover your family’s thoughts, opinions, and wishes. Created for families with school-age children, this thought-provoking game is designed for ages 3 years old and up with age appropriate questions. |
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Apples to Apples: It is fun and a good way to engage the family or guests in some hilarious fun. Apples to Apples was created for groups of people 12 years old and up and was selected as “Party Game of the Year” by Games magazine. Players are dealt a hand of cards that are used to describe the card the “judge” is holding. The judge decides who’s card best describes his card. The players take turns as the judge and the play continues around the table. These can be valid, funny, or totally outrageous comparisons. It is available in a junior addition for younger players. |
Other Great Imagination Games
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Hedbanz: What am I? The game gets its name from the headbands that are worn during play. These headbands hold the cards the answer that question. When it is your turn, ask each of the other player’s questions to help you determine who you are before the clock runs out of time. Each player gets a card for their headband and 3 chips. When you correctly guess who you are, you turn in a chip. If you give up, you receive a chip. The first player to get rid of all their chips is the winner. The game can be played with two to six players, ages 6 and up. |
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Loaded Questions: Players make their way around the board by answering questions from different categories. The categories are determined by which square you land on after a dice roll and moving your token. After the player draws a card, he will read the question out loud. The other players will write their answer and the person who asked the question must guess who the answers belongs to. The player will advance around the board one space for each correct answer. There are six tokens for a maximum number of six players. Try any of the five board games for a night of fun: Family, Adult, Political, Junior, and On the Go. |
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Truth be Told: In Truth be Told, each player takes a turn answering a question from a pile of cards. When it is your turn, you draw and card and read the question out loud. Everyone writes down their answer and puts the answers in a pile. Then you pick them up and read them out loud. Each player will guess which answer belongs to each player by writing it down. Points are earned by guessing the correct combination of players to their answers. This game is designed for players 12 years old and up with a maximum of eight players. This is a fun pick for family game night or company. |
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Bananagrams: Pass out the tiles and let the fun begin! There is no board, tokens, or score to keep so it is easy to play just about anywhere. The tiles are dispersed equally among all the players and are used to spell words just as a crossword puzzle is done. The first player to use all their tiles up to form real words wins the game. The concept is so easy that it is perfect for young children who are learning to spell, or for anyone who enjoys the challenge of word games. It will soon be one of the best toys in your board game collection. |
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Would You Rather?: The classic game, “Would you Rather?” is thought-provoking and full of mind boggling questions. Developed for the 12-adult age group, the 800 questions make you choose one alternative over another, even when neither would be your answer of choice. Persuade and debate the topic with the other players until you have come to a consensus. Whoever correctly predicts the group’s choice gets to move around the board. The first one to answer the three challenge questions at the end is the winner. For a more provocative game, choose the adult version with twisted, sick, and just wrong questions! |
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Guesstures: Can you make it through a game without speaking? It is hard to act out a word without using speech but you will have to give it a try with this modern charades game. And to make it even more difficult, players have to guess the right word before the timer goes out and Mimer-Timer eats your card. Each player takes their turn by drawing out four cards and putting them in order from easy to hard. The cards are put on Mimer-Timer and when time runs out, it eats your card and you begin acting out the next word. If players guess your word before the timer runs out, you get to keep it and score points. It is a laugh out loud fun game for family and friends. |
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Likewise: This is a party game for sure with fun and laughable moments every time a card is drawn. You will want to invite those friends and family members to play that think like you because that is how you win points. Designed for players 12 years old and up, the cards are randomly paired by subject and description. Players write down the first thing that comes to their mind. The answers that are repeated the most score points and the person with the most points wins the game. There are over 5,000 combinations of cards to ensure you always get a fresh new game! |
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Wits and Wagers: Place your bets! You can win chips just as fast as you lose them depending on your answer, or the answer you bet on. Wits and Wagers is one of the best toys this season for parties and family gatherings. It has trivia and gambling for up to 7 players, so ask your smart friends and trivia lovers over to play and place your bets on them. You have to be on your toes and pay attention because this game is fast-paced with everyone answering all the questions. It is designed for players 10 years old and up and bound to be your favorite party and family night game. |
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Scattergories: The challenge is to take on all twelve categories within the designated three minutes. But, to make it even more challenging, your answers have to be different than everyone else’s. You have to be imaginative, creative, and think fast on your feet if you plan to win the game. The objective is to match as many categories with words starting with the same letter. Receive bonus points for two-word answers that start with the same letter. It is challenging but a whole lot of fun. Get the family involved for family game night, or invite a group of friends over for stimulating conversation and fun. |
Imagination is an Important Thing
Who said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.”? If you guessed Albert Einstein, you guessed the correct answer. Why would a man who is considered a genius make a statement like that? Because imagination is the tool he used to problem solve. In our modern society and the business world, we are encouraged to “think outside the box.” This doesn’t come easy for some people and takes practice to develop. One way to develop a better imagination and creativity is through play. For adults and children alike, playing board games is a fun and productive means of enhancing those qualities.
Whether getting the family together, or having a night with friends, creative and imaginative fun is always a crowd-pleaser. Take some of these ideas home for some challenging entertainment.
