Game nights — they’re arguably one of the best ways to bring people together. Perfect for a date night, family bonding, or just a hangout with friends, board games can show off someone’s playful, competitive side.
There are a wide variety of different board games on the market. Some have complex directions with several little game pieces, while others are more simple with an easy goal and few accessories.
If the typical Candyland and Monopoly board games are no longer filling your game night fix, try out these five board games that will help awaken your senses.
1. Hues and Cues
Sense – Sight
Hues and Cues is the perfect game for a modern day color connoisseur. The board is made up of squares with different color hues. Each square is labeled with a number and letter. One person will serve as the clue-giver.
The clue-giver will select a card with four different colors from the board on it. They’ll pick one of those colors to describe to the rest of the players. The clue-giver will then use one word to describe their hue.
The word they use cannot be a common color name and shouldn’t refer to the location of the color on the board. The clue-giver also cannot say words like “lighter” or “darker.” Their word should solely be a brief hint. For example, if the clue-giver is describing a green color, an appropriate hint would be “grass.”
Once the first clue is given, each player will use a game piece and select which square they think the clue-giver is describing. Once someone picks a certain square, no one else can choose that square.
After every player has selected a square, the clue-giver then gives a two-word clue, still following the rules about descriptions. Again, each player will select another square.
If the clue-giver wants to make the game extra tricky, they can choose to not give a second clue. Once all players have placed their game pieces, scoring will begin with the use of the scoring-frame.
Competitive and full of colors, Hues and Clues is great for a group of 3-10 players.
2. Jenga
Sense – Touch
While some may argue that Jenga is not a board game, it is a great game to test your touch. This timeless game uses small rectangular blocks. Players will arrange the blocks in groups of three and begin to assemble a tower.
Each row will alternate setting the blocks vertically then horizontally. Once the tower is formed, the fun begins.
Each player takes turns removing a block carefully, then places it on the top of the tower, continuing to build it. The objective of the game is to remove a block without knocking over the tower. If a player does knock it over, they lose and the game is over.
To spice up your Jenga game, consider turning it into a game of truth or dare. On each block, write a truth or dare. As each player pulls the blocks out, they have to abide by the truth or dare.
3. Bean Boozled
Sense – Taste
Created by the brand Jelly Belly, this game is not for those with a weak stomach. The game comes with a variety of jelly bean flavors — some appetizing and some, not so much.
Players will spin a wheel that has the name of the jelly bean and its matching alternative on it. Whatever jellybean it lands on is the bean the player must eat.
Each bean comes with an identical looking bean with an unsavory flavor. For example, a player may eat a pomegranate flavored bean or an old bandaged flavor bean.
The other flavors include toasted marshmallow or stink bug, cappuccino or liver and onions, buttered popcorn or rotten egg, juicy pear or booger, strawberry banana smoothie or dead fish, berry blue or toothpaste, birthday cake or dirty dishwasher, peach or barf, and tutti-frutti or stinky socks.
This game not only tests each player’s stomach strength, but also their bravery. With some versions of the game at an affordable price of $2.99, this game brings people together with the power of taste.
4. What’s That Smell?
Sense – Smell
Gather 2-6 friends and test the strength of scent through a game of “What’s That Smell?”
One player will serve as the “StinkPin,” who is the game leader and will calculate points at the end.
The game will come with a cardholder, scorecard and whiff strip for each player. Once the StinkPin starts the game, every player will grab a mystery whiff card. Players should be sure to unfold the first panel of their chosen card before placing it in the cardholder, as the answer should not be evident.
Start a timer then get smelling. Players should be sure to not scratch the scented card too hard, as it could get damaged. Once a player thinks they know what they’re smelling, they should write the smell number that comes with the card on their scorecard. Players also have different smell categories they must use to check-off what category they think their card is in.
Players will pass their cardholder to the left once the timer goes off. At the very end, the StinkPin will tally up the points and reveal what each scent actually was.
This game also has a unique feature to it called the “Whiff of Shame.” If a player wins a round, they can pick another player to smell one of the four “stinky stank cards.”
Silly and full of scents, “What’s That Smell?” is a great way to give your sense of smell a workout.
5. Hearing Things
Sense – Hearing
Test your lip-reading abilities with the game “Hearing Things.” Based on an online lip-reading trend, this game requires one player to wear noise-canceling headphones while another teammate reads a phrase on one of the 150 cards.
Each player will get the chance to wear the headphones and guess the phrase their teammate is saying. Once the guesser figures out the phrase, they get to keep the card. The player with the most cards at the end wins.
The game comes with a total of 600 phrases, keeping players surprised and on their toes. Be sure to pick up some triple A alkaline batteries beforehand though, as the headphones require them.
Hues and Clues, Jenga, Bean Boozled, What’s That Smell and Hearing Things are all available to buy on Amazon and other retail stores.
Sources: Jenga, Jelly Belly, What’s That Smell, Hasbro Gaming
