Make any night at home a “game night”!
While COVID-19 still looms, many of us continue to spend most of our evenings at home, so there’s no time like the present to embrace some new board and card games and, much like everything else we recommend at Do312, we encourage you to start at a local level. Here are some Chicago-based games that you can play at home with your family, roommate, partners or online friends!
Photo via Being Earnest: A Very Sincere Podcast
Running out of things to talk about with your quarantine crew? Add some life back to the conversation with a new card game from Being Earnest: A Very Sincere Podcast. No Wrong Answers: Non-Burning Questions to Kick Off Conversations comes with 70+ conversation prompts. Pre-orders are available through November 16 and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
Photo via Facebook/Transit Tees
Following the success of Transit Tee’s “LOOP: The Elevated Card Game,” the super Chicago-centric apparel and home goods shop rolled out its first Chicago-themed board game, “El: The Chicago Transit Adventure.” You can pick up either, plus a couple of Chicago neighborhood puzzles, online.
Photo via Facebook/Gray Matters Games
Chicago-based Gray Matters Games supply party games that should make your next Friday night in a little more fun. Try the combination poker/trivia endeavor You-Bet-Cha or the adults-only Badmoji. Purchase games online.
Photo via Facebook/Cards Against Humanity
We generally assume that there isn’t a Chicago household in the city that doesn’t have a set of Cards Against Humanity. (It’s available for purchase or free download online if not.) However, the purposely NSFW game isn’t always great for family game night. With that in mind, the creators have rolled out a beta version of their latest product: Cards Against Humanity: Family Edition. Download a free “print and play” version now!
Photo via Amazon/Pitch Deck
Do you think the show Shark Tank can get weird? You haven’t seen anything yet. Pretend to convince your friends and fellow players to invest in the most ridiculous startups imaginable. It’s all about presentation! Buy a game on Amazon or download a free “print and play” version.
Photo via Kickstarter/Inhuman Conditions
Being stuck in your apartment alone during a pandemic can get boring. But do you know what can be even more tiresome? Being stuck inside with one other person. Break up the monotony with this five-minute, two-player game of imaginative interrogations. It’s available for purchase on Amazon or free download via its website. The game makers have also adapted the rules so you can play online with friends.
Photo via Facebook/Neat Games
Like cats? Like poop? If you answered “yes” to at least one of those questions, you’ll dig this very mature card game from Chicago company Neat Games. Buy it on Amazon or download a free “print and play” version from the website.
Photo via Facebook/Competition Kitchen
You’re probably watching a lot of cooking competitions, huh? Put that inspiration to use with this food-themed competition card game. Gather ingredient cards and whip up the best dish that you can imagine! Purchase a copy of the game online.
Photo via Amazon/Wavelength
We’re all spending a lot of time together these days. Perhaps our mind-reading abilities are improving because of it? Enjoy a few rounds of this team-based social guessing game. Buy it on Amazon or help test a remote play app!
Photo via Backerkit.com/Earworm
Think you’re a musical encyclopedia? Get this game and get teammates to guess which song you’re singing—without using any lyrics! Purchase a copy online.
Photo via Facebook/Jackbox Games
Chicago-based studio Jackbox Games was built for this. Purchase individual games or party packs online and play with friends all over the world. In honor of our inability to do much else but play online games, Jackbox has even halved most of its prices to make at-home fun more affordable.
Photo via Facebook/Road To Infamy Games
Beginning with its namesake game themed after Chicago’s most notorious crime operations, the Road To Infamy team has created a half dozen games sure to keep any number of quarantiners occupied! Get tipsy with the drinking-based game “Bowties,” tickle your science fiction fancy with “Afternova” or check out more from the selection. Order games online here.
Photo via TVShowBingo.com
Avondale-based visual designer Murphy O'Rourke has created a series of TV-show-based bingo boards available online to challenge your friends to while you binge-watch from your respective couches. Choose between "Tiger King," "COPS," "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia," "Gilmore Girls," "30 Rock" and "Diners, Drive-ins & Dives." Play here.
