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 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 10

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 11

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 12

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 13

How many people can play Catchphrase?

Accepted Answer

Two to four players for this Drumond Park version.

Question 14

Is Catchphrase luck or skill?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 15

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 16

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 17

How many people can play Scrabble?

Accepted Answer

Two to four players.

Question 18

Is Scrabble luck or skill?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 19

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 20

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 21

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 22

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 23

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 24

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 25

How many people can play Guess Who?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 26

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 27

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 28

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 29

How many people can play House of Games?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 30

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 31

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 32

Is it luck or skill?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 33

How many people can play Midsomer Murders?

Accepted Answer

One to six players, according to retailers.

Question 34

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 35

How many cases are there?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 36

What do I have to name to win?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 37

How many people can play Monopoly?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 38

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 39

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 40

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 41

How many people can play Mousetrap?

Accepted Answer

Two to four players, according to Hasbro.

Question 42

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 43

Is Mousetrap luck or skill?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 44

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 45

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 46

Is Pictionary luck or skill?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 47

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 48

What happens if the team does not guess in time?

Accepted Answer

The turn passes to the other team.

Question 49

How many people can play chess?

Accepted Answer

Two. You can also practise alone by working through chess puzzles.

Question 50

Is chess luck or skill?

Accepted Answer

Pure skill. There are no dice or hidden cards, so the better planner usually wins.

Question 51

What is checkmate?

Accepted Answer

Checkmate is when a king is under attack and has no way to escape. It ends the game immediately.

Question 52

How long does a game take?

Accepted Answer

Beginners' games can be quick, often under half an hour, but they can run longer as players improve.

Question 53

How many people can play RISK?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 54

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 55

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 56

What are RISK cards for?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 57

How many people can play Sequence?

Accepted Answer

Two to twelve people when played in teams. With teams, the players must divide evenly into two or three teams.

Question 58

Is Sequence luck or skill?

Accepted Answer

Both. The cards you draw are luck, but choosing where to play, when to block and when to use a Jack is skill.

Question 59

What does a one-eyed Jack do?

Accepted Answer

It lets you remove one of an opponent's chips from the board, unless that chip is already part of a completed Sequence.

Question 60

Can I use the corners?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The four corners are free spaces that count for everyone, so you only need four of your own chips to complete a Sequence using a corner.

Question 61

How many people can play Snakes and Ladders?

Accepted Answer

Two to four players.

Question 62

Is Snakes and Ladders luck or skill?

Accepted Answer

Pure luck. Your choices never change the outcome, which is why everyone has an equal chance.

Question 63

Where does Snakes and Ladders come from?

Accepted Answer

It comes from an ancient Indian game called Moksha Patam, in which ladders stand for good deeds and snakes for bad ones.

Question 64

Do you need an exact roll to win?

Accepted Answer

In the standard version you must roll the exact number to land on 100, but agree on the rule before you start.

Board Games

Find a game

Players

Play time

Age range

Game type

Best for

Articulate Family Board Game

Battleship Classic Board Game

CATAN 6th Edition – The Strategy Board Game

Catchphrase Official Family Board Game

Classic Scrabble Board Game (2 Games in 1)

Cluedo Classic Refresh

Guess Who -the Original Guessing Game

House of Games Board Game

Midsomer Murders – The Board Game

Monopoly Classic Refresh

Mousetrap Board Game

Pictionary Board Game

Quality Wooden Chess Set for Kids

RISK Strategy Board Game

Sequence Classic Board Game

Snakes and Ladders Wooden Board Game