Board games | Three suggestions for Halloween

Three Halloween-themed board games, for a fun evening with family or friends

Stephanie Morin
Press

Pierre-Marc Durivage
Press

Fiesta de los Muertos

Those who have seen the film Coco know it: the Day of the Dead is a well-established tradition in Mexico. The day of November 2 is a time to celebrate those who are gone and to make sure they are not forgotten. With its game boards shaped like skeleton heads, this award-winning party game is inspired by this colorful celebration.

The objective of this collaborative game: guess the names of the famous personalities or characters who are hidden behind each skull. However, it is not so simple when the game boards are passed from hand to hand and the words to describe each of the deceased change several times. A bit like the Arab telephone, the clues get confused and misunderstandings multiply. The end result often has nothing to do with who the player was trying to describe at the start!

Note: the rules are a bit confusing on how to win or not the game. And some French personalities are little known on this side of the Atlantic. Whatever. Laughs erupted every time we released this game. With its quick games, it is a sure bet to liven up an evening.

Atheneum – The Marvelous Library

Atheneum plunges us into the fantastic universe of apprentice magicians who have to clean the large library of their college of magic. Thanks to a card-picking mechanic (draft), players must strategically choose their cards to determine not only some of their own actions, but also those that their neighbors can take with the same card. The sorcerer’s apprentices fill their respective library sections according to common objectives which are renewed every turn, but also thanks to several other occasions which translate into victory points.

The mechanics are nonetheless very easy to grasp, although the first part requires more attention, which can be a challenge for less attentive young players. “You need mature people to play, because it can be a bit long and some people can get distracted,” emphasizes our youngest and very alert tester with insight. But I really liked it, especially since it’s the first game I play where there are so many pieces and elements to deal with. ”

Like the younger ones, the adults loved the magical universe of the game, as did its efficient mechanics. “I love it when we play everyone at the same time, it’s balanced, the game objectives are accessible, underlines our most experienced tester. Also, the game is super beautiful, it reminds us of our childhood, it’s like a magicians movie! Special mention indeed to the material of the game, particularly the tokens of small books which all bear different names.

Nightmare, horror adventures. Welcome to Manoir Crafton

Fifteen years ago, the owners of Crafton Manor were brutally murdered. Burned alive… Today, their children return to the scene of the crime to unmask the killer. Their mission: to collect the clues… and try to stay alive. Indeed, evil still lurks in the old family mansion.

This very immersive game intended for fans of fearful films is bathed in an atmosphere of assumed horror. A bit like in a Murder and Mystery evening, each player inherits a role to defend, but that is where the comparison ends. Here, the game master is an electronic application that distills the rules to be followed and adds a layer of dread to the evening. (The voice of this Quebec version is also that of Stéphane Rivard, who dubbed the films Decadence.)

As in an escape game, players must scan cards to try to find clues. Those who fear the dark will be put to the test, with certain passages where you have to blindfold yourself to better listen to what is happening between the dusty walls.

Let it be said: an evening at Manoir Crafton is more of an experience (horrifying!) Than a simple game of board game. Moreover, the contents of the box will only be used once, for an investigation that lasts about two and a half hours. A word of advice: make sure you have five players (the game is less pleasant with four.) And lock your doors!