Question 1

How many people can play Articulate?

Accepted Answer

Four to 20 or more players, according to Drumond Park.

Question 2

What are the six categories?

Accepted Answer

Object, Nature, Random, Person, Action and World.

Question 3

What can't I say when describing?

Accepted Answer

You cannot say the word itself, any derivative of it, what it sounds like or what it rhymes with. No mouthing the word and no foreign languages either.

Question 4

What happens on a Control space?

Accepted Answer

A describer from the team describes a word to everyone, and the first team to guess it correctly gets to play next, whatever the usual order.

Question 5

How many people can play Battleship?

Accepted Answer

Two.

Question 6

Is Battleship luck or skill?

Accepted Answer

Early shots are luck, but a good search pattern and smart follow-up shots make a big difference.

Question 7

What is the Salvo variation?

Accepted Answer

A variation in which you take several shots in a turn. The name goes back to the game's pencil-and-paper days.

Question 8

How long does a game take?

Accepted Answer

Typically about 15 to 30 minutes.

Question 9

How many people can play Buckaroo?

Accepted Answer

Two to four players.

Question 10

Is Buckaroo luck or skill?

Accepted Answer

Mostly luck and nerve. You can be careful with placement, but you never know when Roo will buck.

Question 11

How many items go on Roo?

Accepted Answer

Twelve, including a saddle, a bedroll and a cowboy hat.

Question 12

Who wins Buckaroo?

Accepted Answer

The last player left in the game.

Question 13

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 14

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 15

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 16

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 17

How many people can play Catchphrase?

Accepted Answer

Two to four players for this Drumond Park version.

Question 18

Is Catchphrase luck or skill?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 19

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 20

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 21

How many people can play Scrabble?

Accepted Answer

Two to four players.

Question 22

Is Scrabble luck or skill?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 23

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 24

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 25

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 26

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 27

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 28

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 29

How many people can play Connect 4?

Accepted Answer

Two players, one for each colour of disc.

Question 30

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 31

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 32

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 33

How many people can play Exploding Kittens?

Accepted Answer

Two to five players.

Question 34

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 35

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 36

How long does a game take?

Accepted Answer

Around 15 minutes.

Question 37

How many people can play Guess Who?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 38

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 39

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 40

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 41

How many people can play House of Games?

Accepted Answer

Three or more. With six or more players you split into teams.

Question 42

What games are included?

Accepted Answer

Games include You Complete Me, Totes Emoji, Rhyme Time, Correction Centre, You Spell Terrible and the final Answer Smash.

Question 43

Can the host win?

Accepted Answer

The host asks the questions for that game and cannot score, but the role changes with each game, so everyone gets a turn at playing.

Question 44

Is it luck or skill?

Accepted Answer

Mostly knowledge and quick thinking, with a little luck in the questions you get.

Question 45

How many people can play Hungry Hungry Hippos?

Accepted Answer

Two to four players.

Question 46

Is Hungry Hungry Hippos luck or skill?

Accepted Answer

Mostly speed and timing. There is some luck in where the marbles roll, but you have to react quickly to win.

Question 47

How many marbles are there?

Accepted Answer

Hasbro's instructions list 20 marbles.

Question 48

Is it suitable for toddlers?

Accepted Answer

Hasbro's instructions warn of a choking hazard from the small marbles and say it is not for children under 3.

Question 49

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 50

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 51

How many blocks are there?

Accepted Answer

A standard Jenga set has 54 wooden blocks.

Question 52

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 53

How many people can play KerPlunk?

Accepted Answer

Two to four players.

Question 54

Is KerPlunk luck or skill?

Accepted Answer

A bit of both. Where the marbles sit is luck, but a careful choice of stick and a steady hand help.

Question 55

Who wins in KerPlunk?

Accepted Answer

The player with the fewest marbles in their tray at the end.

Question 56

Can small children play?

Accepted Answer

It contains small marbles, so check the age and safety guidance on the box before giving it to young children.

Question 57

How many people can play Linkee?

Accepted Answer

Two or more. There are separate two-player rules, and larger groups split into teams.

Question 58

Is Linkee luck or skill?

Accepted Answer

Mostly knowledge and lateral thinking, plus a little luck in which cards come up.

Question 59

What happens if we guess the link wrong?

Accepted Answer

Your team is out for the rest of that round, so there is a risk in calling too early.

Question 60

Do I need to be good at trivia?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. You can often spot the link before you have answered every question.

Question 61

How many people can play Midsomer Murders?

Accepted Answer

One to six players, according to retailers.

Question 62

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 63

How many cases are there?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 64

What do I have to name to win?

Accepted Answer

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

Easy to Learn

Find a game

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Best for

Articulate Family Board Game

Battleship Classic Board Game

Buckaroo

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

Exploding Kittens Original Edition

Guess Who -the Original Guessing Game

House of Games Board Game

Hungry Hungry Hippos

Jenga Game with Digital Die

KerPlunk

Linkee trivia game

Midsomer Murders – The Board Game