Six games for fall weekends

Some suggestions for board games to keep the beautiful autumn weekends busy.

NéVaches

Here is a complete game that engages the brain in several (and beautiful) ways. In NéVaches, you have to reproduce landscapes with tiles, arrange them to encourage the growth of trees and manage a herd of cows. The one who performs these tasks best will earn the most points to achieve victory. This game has a nice complexity that will appeal to ages 8 and up who are new to this game. A favorite, both for the game mechanics and for the quality of the wooden material.

Stéphanie Morin, The Press

For 2 to 4 players aged 8 and over. Duration: 45 minutes. Price: $40

Hats

Invited to the Mad Hatter’s table, players must build the most beautiful collections of hats. However, there are several ways to score as many points as possible, because the game is distinguished by its multiple levels of strategy, particularly in the way it calculates points, which is different each time. Indeed, it is the players who determine by their choices which color of hat is worth the most points. We play quickly, but we refine our strategies with each game.

Pierre-Marc Durivage, The Press

For 2 to 4 players aged 14 and over. Duration: 30 minutes. Price: $34.99

Pixies

This little card game that fits anywhere is smarter than it looks. Here, players must choose cards representing seasons and arrange them wisely in their playing area. The value of the cards matters; color too. However, while some offer bonus points, others lower the final score. We must therefore know how to make the most of what chance sends us… while being wary of adversaries who can sabotage our plans. One game is enough to grasp the ropes of this game which unfolds over three rounds. A great find.

Stéphanie Morin, The Press

For 2 to 5 players aged 8 and over. Duration: 30 minutes. Price: $17

Plouf Party

Sometimes all you need is a tiny metal box, like this one, to have fun with others, no matter where you are. Its super practical format makes it an ideal game to take on vacation or to the chalet. Once opened, the box becomes the pool where you must knock down your opponents’ pawns, while trying to save your own – without revealing your color. There are even cool stickers to put on each of the pawns. The last one dry on the edge of the pool wins. A fun game that our 6-year-old testers really liked, but which could even be suitable for slightly younger children.

Laila Maalouf, The Press

For 3 to 6 players aged 6 and over. Duration: 15 minutes. Price: $19.99

Unlock!

A series of interactive collaborative games that immerse players in investigations that are sometimes amusing, sometimes disturbing. The game comes in a very small package sold at a low price, but you must use a tablet or smartphone to play it. However, the technological discoveries are frankly clever, which makes it a very immersive game. The younger ones will probably have to ask the older ones for advice to detect certain clues.

Pierre-Marc Durivage, The Press

For 1 to 6 players aged 10 and over. Duration: 30 minutes. Price: $12.99

Traitors on board!

Here is a game that is perfect for liars, cunning people and tricksters of all kinds. Because you have to know how to bluff to hope to win in this game with a buccaneering theme on the high seas. Depending on whether the spell has assigned you a (secret) role of pirate or mutineer, your objective will be different. The first will want to fill a chest with gold coins to share the loot. The second wants to throw the pirates overboard, while emptying the trunk. One thing is certain, chaos reigns on the ship, and it is not easy to separate the good guys from the bad guys! A party game that is easy to master, for short games.

Stéphanie Morin, The Press

For 3 to 8 players aged 8 and over. Duration: 20 minutes. Price: $25