It’s that time of year again, Cupid has put a new string on their bow and polished their arrows, the price of roses is soaring, chocolate manufacturers have been going full pelt for a while… and you’re looking for an original idea for your Valentine.
Well…. here at Chance & Counters we’ve got your back, we reckon every holiday is an excuse for a board game so here’s a few ideas that we think will hit the spot for your beloved on this most romantic of days…
They like… Escape Rooms?
What better thing to do in a relationship than to work together? But why go to the hassle of getting locked in a room with your loved one and paying exorbitant costs when you can do it in the comfort of your local board game cafe?
Enter the Unlock! series of escape rooms in a box. There are two types of Unlock! In the series currently, the classic sets have three separate challenges in them which also have a short 10 minute tutorial that teaches you the game and the ‘Short Adventures’ series that have a single challenge in them but are pocket sized!
Most of these can be completed in an hour, but beware! The harder ones may challenge you and you might go a bit over! Best book a longer slot then, I mean, if you finish early there are plenty of other games to challenge you both!
There is even a Star Wars set which leads us to our next suggestion… (it’s like I planned it as a segue, gosh, we’re getting good at this!) *quickly rearranges the blog order*
They like… Movies?
For some people, sitting in a darkened room ignoring your loved ones is their idea of a good time. We suggest you lock them in a wardrobe and you play a solo game…
Others like a movie night, something Epic maybe? Lord of the Rings is as Epic as it gets but to get the most out of it you really need to watch all three movies, extended editions and then all the extra content too… and who really has the time for that these days?
All the Epic you can handle and this time YOU control the narrative. Will Good triumph? Could Evil have its day? Duel for Middle Earth will lend you its sword (and axe, and bow…)
This is an outstanding piece of modern board gaming that we love and everyone who has played it loves too. Taking the classic that is 7 Wonders: Duel and adding arguably THE top franchise to it and even simplifying the rules as well as weaving the narrative of the stories into the game ridiculously well. Did we mention the gorgeous artwork?
Remember it’s a long way to Mordor (reminder: insert something about ‘not simply walking’ here), perhaps that’s why you love this so much… or maybe it’s the… journey? (Ooooo…. They did it again, smooooooth!)
They like… Travelling?
The thrill and excitement of visiting foreign lands is enticing, finding something new and immersing yourself in a different culture. If that’s your partner’s vibe then good luck with your bank balance! There are so many games that are to do with travelling, we are spoilt for choice… Ticket to Ride: Cities are like a mini city break to themselves, so many games are named after places too, such as Carcassonne, Istanbul, San Juan, Catan (it IS a real place, don’t spoil it for us… *fingers in ears* la, la, la… we’re not listening…) the list is endless. How about a game that is actually based on organising a trip?
Lets Go! to Japan is literally about organising an itinerary for a weeks stay in Kyoto and Tokyo. You’re going to try and see the best of the cities and surrounding areas, if you’ve ever planned to go to Japan, this is a great way to see if you have what it takes and also get some great ideas for things to do, all in the guise of a delightfully made closed drafting, set collection game.
…and what’s something you really should do in Japan? Visit a hot spring obviously, or if you don’t want to go that far… (three out of three… on a roll!)
They like… Spa Days?
Relaxation and pampering… the Zen of peace and quiet can be very alluring in this busy and hectic world and what better gift for your loved one than a Spa Day? Well, games can be relaxing too and this one HAS ITS OWN TEA TOWEL! What better way to say ‘I love you’ than getting someone a tea towel?
Alright, this is a bit of a stretch, there are games that are relaxing (honest) but we just love Mandala. It IS part of the ‘For Two Players’ series of games by Lookout Games, being made for two is kind of romantic, like a tandem or… erm… a posh sports car?
It’s all about life, death and rebirth. Consider that whilst playing crossed legged on the floor with the tea towel… um… play mat between you. Look, the playmat even has a hook on the back, it’s clearly a tea towel. You wash and they can wipe, that’s quality time. Remember to rinse the posh glasses in hot water and polish them… speaking of glasses… (BOOM!)
They like… Wine Tasting?
The romance of an Old World chianti… The effervescent joy of a sparkling champagne… The refined elegance of a crisp and dry ‘savvy b’… mmm… fancy, that’s us, innit?
However could a board game even try to come close to the sophistication and depth that a glass of wine can have?
Forget wine-tasting, this is Viticulture, we’re only running a vineyard in pre-modern Tuscany! Leave the rat-race and immerse yourself in growing your own grapes and developing your meagre holdings to become THE premium winery in Italy. That’s more like it. This is euro gaming done right, an excellent, yet heady, well-aged bouquet of worker placement with hints of hand management and… is that a slight trace of a race mechanic I can taste too? Delightful. Classic Stonemaier Games at their best.
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Whoever your partner is, quality time over a board game is always a good idea. Don’t leave it for a special occasion, you deserve to spend more time with them doing what you both love.
You know where we are. (& we love you too!)