Question 1

How many people can play Catan?

Accepted Answer

The base game is for three to four players, with a 5 to 6 player extension sold separately. There are variants for two players, though the game works best with more people.

Question 2

Is Catan luck or skill?

Accepted Answer

A bit of both. The dice decide what you collect each turn, but where you build and how you trade usually matter more over a whole game.

Question 3

What does the robber do?

Accepted Answer

The robber sits on one hex and stops it producing resources. You move it when you roll a seven, which also lets you take a card from a player with a building next to it.

Question 4

How long does a game take?

Accepted Answer

Roughly an hour to 90 minutes for the 6th edition, though your first game may take longer while everyone learns the rules.

Question 5

How many people can play Catchphrase?

Accepted Answer

Two to four players for this Drumond Park version.

Question 6

Is Catchphrase luck or skill?

Accepted Answer

Mostly quick thinking and spotting visual clues, with a little luck in the puzzles you get.

Question 7

What is the Bonus Catch Phrase?

Accepted Answer

A large picture puzzle hidden behind nine numbered window covers. A correct guess in Round 1 reveals a square, and a single guess at the bonus picture is worth £300.

Question 8

What if an answer is close but not exact?

Accepted Answer

The Host can accept an answer as close enough, so the Host's call decides.

Question 9

How many people can play Scrabble?

Accepted Answer

Two to four players.

Question 10

Is Scrabble luck or skill?

Accepted Answer

Both. The tiles you draw are luck, but vocabulary and board positioning decide most games.

Question 11

What is a bingo in Scrabble?

Accepted Answer

Using all seven of your tiles in a single turn. It earns a bonus of 50 points.

Question 12

What if we disagree about a word?

Accepted Answer

Players can challenge words, so agree beforehand which dictionary you will use to settle it.

Question 13

How many people can play Cluedo?

Accepted Answer

Two to six players. Hasbro's guide also includes rules for two players or for teams.

Question 14

Is Cluedo luck or skill?

Accepted Answer

Mostly deduction, though the dice decide how quickly you reach the rooms you need. Careful notes and watching what others ask about give you the edge.

Question 15

What is the difference between a suggestion and an accusation?

Accepted Answer

A suggestion is a question you ask from inside a room to gather information, and it does not end your game. An accusation is your final answer, and you only get one go at it.

Question 16

Who is the victim?

Accepted Answer

In the 2023 Hasbro edition the victim is Boden “Boddy” Black. Older UK editions called him Dr Black, and older North American editions called him Mr Boddy.

Question 17

How many people can play Connect 4?

Accepted Answer

Two players, one for each colour of disc.

Question 18

Is Connect 4 luck or skill?

Accepted Answer

Skill. There are no dice or cards, so the result depends on how well you plan your moves and block your opponent.

Question 19

Does the first player have an advantage?

Accepted Answer

With perfect play the first player can force a win by starting in the centre column. In ordinary games it is far less certain, so most families take turns going first.

Question 20

What happens if nobody makes four?

Accepted Answer

The game is a draw once every space is filled. You then release the discs and play again.

Question 21

How many people can play cribbage?

Accepted Answer

Usually two, but three- and four-player versions exist.

Question 22

Is cribbage luck or skill?

Accepted Answer

Both. You cannot control the cards you are dealt, but the discards, pegging and counting reward skill.

Question 23

What is the crib?

Accepted Answer

An extra hand made from cards the players discard. It belongs to the dealer and is scored at the end of the hand.

Question 24

What is pegging?

Accepted Answer

The first scoring stage, when players take turns laying down cards and score for combinations such as fifteens and pairs.

Question 25

How many people can play Exploding Kittens?

Accepted Answer

Two to five players.

Question 26

Is Exploding Kittens luck or skill?

Accepted Answer

Mostly luck, with some tactics. How you use action cards and when you defuse can make the difference.

Question 27

What is a Defuse card?

Accepted Answer

A card that lets you survive drawing an Exploding Kitten. You then slip the kitten back into the deck.

Question 28

How long does a game take?

Accepted Answer

Around 15 minutes.

Question 29

How many people can play Guess Who?

Accepted Answer

Two. Each player has their own board and mystery character.

Question 30

Is Guess Who? luck or skill?

Accepted Answer

Mostly skill. The questions you choose matter most, although you can be unlucky if your opponent's character is a very common type.

Question 31

What is a good first question?

Accepted Answer

One that splits the remaining faces roughly in half, such as whether the person wears glasses. That removes about half the board whatever the answer is.

Question 32

What happens if I guess wrong?

Accepted Answer

Under the standard rules you lose, so most players wait until only a few faces are left.

Question 33

How many people can play Jenga?

Accepted Answer

Any small group can play, and you can also practise alone. Because turns are quick, it works well with larger groups.

Question 34

Is Jenga luck or skill?

Accepted Answer

Mostly skill, built on a steady hand and careful block choice, with some luck in how the tower settles.

Question 35

How many blocks are there?

Accepted Answer

A standard Jenga set has 54 wooden blocks.

Question 36

What does the digital die do?

Accepted Answer

It adds variations to normal play. Check the rules in the box to see how each result works.

Question 37

How many people can play Midsomer Murders?

Accepted Answer

One to six players, according to retailers.

Question 38

Can I play on my own?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The game is listed for one player, so you can work through a case solo.

Question 39

How many cases are there?

Accepted Answer

The game has 30 case cards, each a different murder.

Question 40

What do I have to name to win?

Accepted Answer

The killer, their motive and the weapon, once you reach Causton CID.

Question 41

How many people can play Monopoly?

Accepted Answer

At least two. More players means more trading, but usually a longer game.

Question 42

Is Monopoly luck or skill?

Accepted Answer

Both. Dice and cards decide where you land, but what you buy, how you trade and when you build are down to you.

Question 43

What happens when you go to jail?

Accepted Answer

You go to jail by landing on Go to Jail, drawing a card that sends you there or rolling three doubles in a row. You then have to meet one of the conditions in the rules before you can move again.

Question 44

How long does Monopoly take?

Accepted Answer

It varies widely, from around an hour to several hours, depending on how many play and how much trading goes on.

Question 45

How many people can play Mousetrap?

Accepted Answer

Two to four players, according to Hasbro.

Question 46

What age is Mousetrap for?

Accepted Answer

Hasbro lists the current edition for ages 6 and up. The game has small parts, so keep it away from very young children.

Question 47

Is Mousetrap luck or skill?

Accepted Answer

Mostly luck. Dice rolls decide where you land, and there are few decisions to make.

Question 48

How long does setup take?

Accepted Answer

Assembling the trap takes about 5 to 15 minutes, so allow some time before the first game.

Question 49

How many people can play Perudo?

Accepted Answer

Two to six players. Each player has a cup and five dice, so a full set for six players has 30 dice.

Question 50

Is Perudo luck or skill?

Accepted Answer

Both. The roll is luck, but deciding when to bluff, when to raise and when to call Dudo is skill, and reading the other players matters most.

Question 51

What does Dudo mean?

Accepted Answer

Dudo is Spanish for “I doubt”. You call it on your turn to challenge the previous bid and make everyone reveal their dice.

Question 52

What is Palifico?

Accepted Answer

Palifico is a special round that starts when a player is down to one die. Ones are not wild in that round and the starting player's chosen face cannot be changed, so players can only raise the quantity.

Question 53

How many people can play Pictionary?

Accepted Answer

The box is for two teams. Mattel's rules suggest that larger teams make for a quicker, livelier game.

Question 54

Is Pictionary luck or skill?

Accepted Answer

Mostly teamwork and quick thinking, with a little luck in the words you draw.

Question 55

Can the person drawing talk?

Accepted Answer

No. The Picturist cannot speak or use letters or numbers, so only the sketch can give clues.

Question 56

What happens if the team does not guess in time?

Accepted Answer

The turn passes to the other team.

Question 57

How many people can play RISK?

Accepted Answer

Two to six players. Hasbro's rules also cover a two-player variation.

Question 58

Is RISK luck or skill?

Accepted Answer

Both. Dice decide each fight, but planning, timing and diplomacy decide who wins over a whole game.

Question 59

How long does a game of RISK take?

Accepted Answer

Full games can run for hours. Hasbro's rules also include a shorter variation if you are short of time.

Question 60

What are RISK cards for?

Accepted Answer

Collecting sets of cards lets you trade them in for extra armies on your turn.

8–11

Find a game

Players

Play time

Age range

Game type

Best for

CATAN 6th Edition – The Strategy Board Game

Catchphrase Official Family Board Game

Classic Scrabble Board Game (2 Games in 1)

Cluedo Classic Refresh

Connect 4 Grid Game

Cribbage Board Set with Playing Cards

Exploding Kittens Original Edition

Guess Who -the Original Guessing Game

Jenga Game with Digital Die

Midsomer Murders – The Board Game

Monopoly Classic Refresh

Mousetrap Board Game

Pass the Pigs

Perudo Liar Dice

Pictionary Board Game

RISK Strategy Board Game