Hey PI – Fans,
The team at PI – Games have put together a list of 12 games we think you should play this holiday season! These games range from simple to mechanics heavy, cooperative to competitive, and pocket sized to large, ensuring that you’ll be able to find a game for anyone and any scenario.
Without further ado, here is the list, in no particular order:
1. Codenames: Singapore Edition
Codenames Singapore Edition is a joint collaboration between Czech Games Edition and PI – Games.
Find all of your agents before the opposing team does, by providing 1 word hints related to your agents codenames. But beware, a secret assassin is hiding amongst the crowd, and will instantly end your game if you accidentally call him.
A short competitive game for up to 8 players, lasting about 15 minutes a game, with 400 different codenames for high replayability! You can also mix and match multiple different Codenames sets for a unique experience.
2. Kingdomino
A twist on the classic game of dominoes, in Kingdomino you have to line up tiles with the same biome instead of the same number. Build your very own 5×5 Kingdom and earn points by linking together tiles that match. The more tiles you match, the higher your score!
Kingdomino is a short competitive game for 2-4 players, the high number of tiles and turn based drawing system helps you to design an entirely new kingdom every time you play.
3. Unlock
Unlock is a cooperative, story based, escape room type card game for up to 6 players. With over 20 scenarios of varying difficulties, you’ll be able to find an adventure for everyone! Each box will also come with a simple 10 card tutorial adventure for new players to quickly learn the game.
Unfortunately due to the nature of the game, we are unable to provide a full game layout as knowing the cards will result in major spoilers.
4. Scout
Scout is part of our micro game series, consisting of 4 complete games, Dokojong, Scout, Durian, and In A Grove, by award winning developer Oink Games that literally fit in your pocket.
In Scout the objective of the game is to play all the cards in your hand, earning victory points. You can do this by playing a card or group of card that has a higher value than your opponent, such as a double (2 of the same numbered cards), or a run (2 cards with consecutive numbers). However, every card has 2 sides to it, and a huge part of the strategy in Scout is to decide which orientation each card starts with in your hand, locking them in for the rest of the game.
Each box consists of a full, competitive game for 2-5 players (2-7 for Durian), with each game lasting for 20-25 minutes including setting up. It’s a wonder that they have managed to squeeze so much content into such a tiny package!
5. Wingspan
Wingspan is a competitive, engine-building board game for up to four players. Birds are represented by cards, and each bird has special characteristics that match their real life counterparts. Match these characteristics to various targets throughout the game to earn victory points, and the player with the highest points at the end of 4 rounds win.
A medium length game, with each round lasting 10-15 minutes for a total game time of around an hour, just sifting through these high quality components will have you squawking with joy!
6. Canvas
In Canvas, you play as an artist putting together 3 pieces of drawings to enter into an art competition. Each drawing consists of a background and 3 transparent art cards. Match the type of art cards to the theme to earn victory points.
Designed for 1-5 players, Canvas is a short game, with each game lasting for 20-30 minutes, but with the large selection of art cards, no two games will have the same masterpiece!
7. Dobble
Dobble is a short, speed matching game where you match the symbol on your card to the central card. The game is designed such that each card will only have 1 matching symbol with any other card.
There are many ways Dobble can be played. Collect as many cards as you can in Tower, pass the cards from hand to hand in Hot Potato, or race to get rid of your hand in The Well!
*Dobble is sold as Spot It! in North America, but they are the exact same game.
8. Tiny Epic Games
Tiny Epic Games are a series of high quality, full and complete games that you can very easily bring anywhere. Our staff here at PI – Games are constantly amazed at how much content they manage to fit into such small packages.
From dungeon crawlers, to eldritch horrors, Tiny Epic has a game for everyone. With games ranging from 20-40 mins, and some even over an hour, you’ll be able to find a game for any occasion.
In this feature, we will be showcasing Tiny Epic Kingdoms. Choose from 1 out of 13 different factions, and engage in an epic 4x war game spanning across multiple maps. Each faction has their strengths and weaknesses, and with the number of maps available in the box, you are able to create endless replayability for a different experience each time.
9. D&D Essentials Kit
The D&D Essentials Kit comes out of the box with monsters to fight, spells to cast, dice to roll, and an original crafted story set within the Forgotten Realms.
It includes everything that new dungeon masters and players will need to start their very own journey, up until level 7, for an estimated 30-40 hours of content, easily expendable to hundreds of hours, limited only by your mind!
10. Splendor
Splendor is an engine building game where your objective is to collect chips, purchase infrastructure, and build a city with the most prestige points. The player with the highest number of prestige points at the end of the game wins.
We also have a Marvel special edition where your goal is to collect and spend infinity stones to assemble the Avengers, and finally, to claim the Infinity Gauntlet when your team is ready!
11. Dixit
A beautifully designed game of guessing, where one player, designated as the storyteller, briefly describes their chosen card. All players will then have to choose a card from their hand they feel best fits the description, and points are scored based on whose card is picked.
Supporting up to 8 players, Dixit can be played up to a maximum of 30 points on the board, or lesser points determined by the group for a shorter game.
Dixit is also available in several themed versions, changing the art on the cards, creating a vastly different experience from the base set.
12. Ticket to Ride
With many different cities and regions to choose from, Ticket to Ride is a competitive, resource management builder, similar to Catan, where you have to build connecting paths between different cities or districts.
Points are scored based on how much track you lay down, and bonus points are given if objective destinations are connected. But be warned, as other players might be vying for the same piece of track that you’ve set your sights on, calling for strategic change of routes as paths start to be consumed.
And thus wraps up our staff picks for this holiday season. We hope that you have as much fun playing these games as we have here at PI – Games!
