by Stephen H

Created on: February 12, 2009   Last Updated: July 05, 2011

When you do get the chance to chill out and play, there are some great board games to choose from. Although computer games are all the rage with most of our children and young adults, you can't beat a good old fashioned board game. They can be compelling and provide an opportunity for the family to come together and spend time having fun. Unfortunately, with the pressures on parents to work, it is more and more difficult for people to make the time to spend playing games. This is unfortunate because it's a great way for family and friends to come together and enjoy each others company. These days it is likely that the only time where people can do this is during the holiday seasons, such as Christmas, when these more traditional pasttimes resurface.

My favoutie family board games are:

a) Monopoly - probably the most successful board game of all time. Loosely based on property development its great fun for the whole family to try and build up the largest fortune. Players have to traverse the board according to a throw of the dice. When they land on an available property they have the option of buying it. The object of the game is to own as much property as possible. When opposing players land on on eof your properties they must pay rent. The level of rent to be paid increases as players build houses and hotels on their properties, however building cannot start until all the properties that form a set are owned by one person. Some squares are not properties. These may offer random treats/penalties to help/hinder players along the way. The player with most money at the end of teh game is the winner.

b) Risk - a strategy game where you can give vent to your meglomaniacal tendencies to conquor the world. Armies are built up by collection throughout the game. You can choose to move your armies into countries that you control. To capture countries you must challenge an opponent in war. The war is fought on dice throw. Highest dice number wins, and the loser removes an army piece each time they lose a throw of the dice. You can only fight against bordering countries. The object of this game is to conquor the whole world.

c) Cluedo - you all play detective in this fun logic and deduction game. A race to find Dr Black's murderer. There is a card for each weapon, potential murderer and location. At the begining of the game one card from each category is placed in an envelope and the remaining cards dealt evenly to each player. Players take it in turn to travel round the

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