Jazz Up The Game Selection This Holiday Season

The holidays are a time of year that many of us look forward to above any other. They're a time we get to spend with our loved ones, giving and receiving gifts, eating far too much delicious food, and generally embracing the urge to hibernate. Much as this cozy time of year is a special one, the no man's land between Christmas Day and the New Year can drag on a little. There are only so many turkey sandwiches one can eat whilst watching re-runs of Elf and It's a Wonderful Life. If you're looking for a way to up the fun during the holiday downtime then learning a few new games to teach to your friends is a great way to do so. We've got a selection of suggestions that will keep even the fussiest of revelers amused right up until it's time to get back to the office.

If you're going to get your friends on board with some new games then you're going to have to know how to play them and organize them properly. Hosting a casino night can be a great way to break up the holiday monotony. Card games like blackjack and poker are easy to organize and don’t require a whole lot of equipment. However, games like roulette instantly provide casino vibes thanks to the recognizable wheel. If you’re the host of the party then it’s up to you to learn how all of the games work and to be the croupier for those that require one. Learning to play beforehand is essential, but online casinos can be a great resource to help. Vegas Slots Online has compiled a list of the top online roulette casinos where you can experience a few spins and learn how the game works. There are deals and bonuses available at all of their recommendations, so you can be sure you’re getting the best value gaming experience possible. Once you've got the rules down to a tee, invite your friends over, switch on a casino playlist, dim the lights and get ready for a gaming party that nobody will forget in a hurry.

Some friendship groups are based around a love for the same books, comics, or even authors. Perhaps you met at book club, bonded over nerding out over superheroes at school, or something similar. If you're lucky enough to have a group of friends who are talented linguists then why not have a board game night that's all about them? Many of the board games that we play around this time of year, like Monopoly, or Catan, don't cater to the unique strengths of language lovers. Instead of whipping out the old favorites, consider games like Scrabble, or Articulate which allow people with this unique talent to shine. Scrabble requires a minimum of two players but can be played by up to four, so it's perfect for smaller groups. If you want the game to go on just a little longer than standard Scrabble then you can now buy the giant-sized edition, in which the board is four times larger and there are four times as many tiles too. When it comes to marathon gaming sessions, giant Scrabble will give Monopoly a run for its money. Articulate is another classic that's well worth digging out and dusting off. This game asks you to work in teams to describe a word to your partner and have them guess it as quickly as possible. You're obviously not allowed to use the word itself, or words that rhyme with it, but beyond that, how you describe it is up to you. This game has the potential to become truly hilarious, but it's also a great way to spot which people are truly in-tune with one another.

Finally, there's a lot to be said for board and card games, but you need to have the board, or some cards. There's one game that's perfect for the impromptu games night and that is charades. This game has been around in some form for generations and it's the perfect opportunity for culture vultures to shine. If you've never played before then it's really simple to pick up. You need to think of a television show, a movie, or a book, and act out that title without using language. It's then up to people to guess what you're trying to describe. Whoever guesses correctly gets to act out their own title next. It's a short, simple game, that lasts as long as it lasts and is a great way to check out your friends' acting skills.