Best Group Games to Play for the Holidays
Whether you are going home for the holidays and meeting family, connecting with loved ones far away, or staying in Halifax and enjoying the holidays with friends, everyone is coming off exam season with a lot of free time. One of the best ways to enjoy time together is by playing a group video game. Here is a small list of 5 video games highlighted in-depth that are perfect for playing in groups over the holidays.
Mario Party
Mario Party is a classic game series: it's one of the first digital board games. The specific aspects of each game will differ based on what version you get, but the basic premise will be the same. In Mario Party, you play as one of the many characters in the Mario universe, and your goal is to go around the 'board' and collect stars. You do that by 'rolling' a die, moving, and collecting coins.
Another key component of the Mario Party formula is that there are specific spots where you can earn more or fewer coins than the regular spots, gain special powers that can be used throughout the game, or even things like losing a star or coins. On top of this, everyone plays a mini-game for a chance at more bonus coins after each person has finished a roll of the dice. One thing that keeps the tension high is that when you think you might be out of the game, bonus stars are awarded for different categories like “least spots moved” or “most bonus games won.” Truly a classic for online group games, easy enough for everyone to play, and always a good time, it’s hard to go wrong with Mario Party.
Available on: Nintendo Switch
Approximate price: $75.99 - $79.99
Maximum players: 4 - 8 players
Telephone Game
Taking it old school reimagined, this completely free game that only requires an internet-connected device. If you are unfamiliar with the original game of Telephone, one person whispers a phrase into another person's ear. The second person then repeats whatever they heard into a third person's ear until the last person who then says it out loud. However, because you are whispering (or intentionally mishearing the phrase), the phrase usually ends up being completely different—his online version is very similar. Once everyone is ready, each person writes a phrase on their device. Then the website automatically gives everyone a random prompt from those written to which they must draw the prompt. In the third round, the person must type what they think the phrase is based on the drawing. The rounds keep going, alternating between typing and drawing until everyone has gone once through each original prompt. You then get to see how each prompt progressed through the game.
Available on: Internet
Approximate price: Free
Maximum players: 14
Jack Box Party Pack
Truly one of my favourite group games, the Jack Box Party Packs are a collection of games rather than one individual game. This series currently has nine games, each with around five mini-games. Now which games you get will depend on which Jackbox you get. They include different game types ranging from trivia to drawing, to trickery, to cards-against-humanity styles, and almost everything. The newest one, Jackbox 9, says that it includes Fibbage 4 (a bluffing party game), Quixote (a trivia sorting team game), Junktopia (a creative story-telling game), Nonsensory (a drawing, writing, and guessing game), and Boomerang (a prompt filling game).
The Jack Box Party Packs are some of the best games to play in groups, and they always ensure a good time with the hilarious situations that arise. They are incredibly easy as the ‘controller’ is your phone. This game has a family-friendly setting that can be turned on or off depending on the dynamics of the group.
Available on: Xbox, PlayStation, PC, Nintendo Switch,
Approximate price: $20.00 - $60.00 (varies greatly depending on what platform and which game in the series)
Maximum players: 10 main players and an almost unlimited amount of 'audience members' (players who vote but do not play)
Mario Kart
Another classic in the Mario franchise is Mario Kart. If you read my previous article about reconnecting with video games, I mentioned that one of the easiest ways to reconnect is by playing games you played as a child. Mario Kart is a perfect example. The classic entry many people probably think of is the 2008 Wii version; however, there are many modern versions of this game if you don't have a Wii still kicking around (however, if you do want to play the original, thrift and pawn stores usually have a couple Wiis).
As for the actual game, it is your classic party racing game. However, similar to Mario Party, you play as a character from the Mario universe. In the newer version of the game, you can change the color/theme of the character, customize your car and change certain aspects of it to improve its statistics. Once everyone is done choosing, the race is on! However, you will quickly notice that there are fun-coloured mystery boxes on the track; drive over one of these and you will get a power-up to either boost yourself or hinder others. Each race requires approximately three laps to finish.
This game is suitable for either short or long periods to spend with friends and families as races usually don't take long, but you can play as many races as you like; plus, there are also some mini-games available within the game that can keep things interesting.
Available on: Wii, Nintendo Switch
Approximate price: $49.99- $69.99 (possible to find cheaper if on the Wii)
Maximum players: 4 - 8 players, depending on which version
Among Us
Among Us is for the people who want to get into gaming with their Holiday groups. While on the surface, the game seems pretty straightforward, there is quite a lot of depth involved in this game. You play as a little space person on a ship completing tasks... At least most of you do. 1-3 players (depending on the group size and settings) are imposters, and their goal is to kill off people without getting caught before the rest of the crew mates finish their tasks. To do so, you must secretly kill them without anyone seeing. At any point in the game, anyone can call a meeting to which everyone can discuss anything they saw. This meeting option is suggested whenever there is a body discovered. This game involves hiding, mischief, and strategy.
It requires trust between players in the same room together to not say who it is, but it makes a great game for playing over long distances!
Available on: ios, windows, Nintendo Switch, Playstation, Xbox.
Approximate price: Free - $50.00, depending on the device chosen
Maximum players: 15 players