If you're looking for some entertainment that doesn't involve a screen this Christmas, then you really can't go wrong with a board game or two.
Whether you want a family-friendly game for all ages, or something a bit edgier to play with friends, then we've put together a list of some of the best board games and party games to play this Christmas.
From old classics like Monopoly, to fast-paced and addictive games like Dobble, these should be on your shopping lists in 2024.
And who knows, maybe some of these will be available in the Boxing Day sales, so make sure you shop around for the best deal.
It's also worth pointing out that all prices are correct at the time of writing.
Monopoly - £14.99 from Argos
While it has been known to cause an argument or two, Monopoly is something that most people are familiar with, which makes it a favourite among adults and children alike.
It's also cheap to buy, plus it comes in lots of different themes and variations if you want to customise it to your particular group of players. There's Fortnite variants, Dungeons and Dragons, Wicked and even a dedicated board for football fans.
The 1% Club board game - £20 from Argos
The TV show is a firm favourite in our house, despite making everybody feel really clever one minute, and embarrassingly stupid the next.
Playable for three players or more, the board game version comes with over 200 double-sided question cards full of the same kind of teasers you'd see on TV.
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Pandemic - £30 from Argos
After the events of 2020, I can completely understand why the Pandemic board game might not be at the top of some people's shopping lists, but give it a chance and you'll discover a fantastic co-op board game for 2-4 players.
Each player is assigned a different role with their own set of skills, with the aim to save humanity by keeping four deadly diseases at bay. Despite being surprisingly easy to learn, Pandemic has a lot of depth and replay value, as you adapt to each new dynamic event and outbreak.
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Chicken vs Hotdog - £25 from Argos
If you like those trickshot videos on TikTok or have ever played a game of Flip Cup, then Chicken vs Hotdog is the game for you.
The ideal party game to play with family members or groups of friends (maybe with some alcohol involved), players must bet on whether they can perform flippy trickshots with the Chicken or Hot Dog.
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Lord of the Rings - Duel for Middle-earth - £27.99 from Amazon
If you've burned through the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy but aren't quite ready to leave Middle-earth, then this LotR twist on the excellent 7 Wonders Duel board game might be just the ticket.
This game sees two people battle for Middle-earth, one as The Fellowship and the other as Sauron. While it shares many similarities with 7 Wonders Duel, the victory conditions revolve around completing the Quest for the Ring, conquering the territories of Middle-earth, or gaining the support of each of the races. It's another game that's surprisingly easy to learn, but has enough depth for dozens of playthroughs. Perfect for two players.
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Codenames - £16.02 from Amazon
Codenames is a versatile game that can be played in big groups and small, and is suitable for all ages. The aim of the game is to identify your team's secret agents by giving your teammates one word clues that could point to as many of your crew as possible. However, it's game over if your teammate accidentally uncovers the assassin due to bad intel.
It's actually a really funny word game for couples or best friends, because the understanding you share with that special someone comes in handy when trying to get into their head and figure out their clues.
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Dobble - £9 from Amazon
While it's primarily seen as a game for kids, I actually think Dobble works in any scenario. The aim of the game is to spot the common symbol between two cards and name it before your opponents. It's a little bit like Snap, although the difference is that each card has multiple symbols, so you need to quickly identify which one matches your card. It's extremely chaotic.
Similar to Monopoly, Dobble has become popular enough to spawn multiple themes and variants, including , Marvel, Harry Potter and even Friends.
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