My Top 10 Small Box Games for Big Gatherings

Рет қаралды 7,771

Күн бұрын

In this week’s video I discuss my top 10 favorite small-box games for big gatherings. I only included games I would be stash into a suitcase if I were traveling for a special occasion. I focused mostly on games that are easy to teach, entertaining for those who are watching but not playing, are easy to stop if necessary, and can play with at least 4 people.
Honorable mentions: Archaeology, Arboretum, Bites, Cartographers, Coup, Ganz Schon Clever, Just One, Oh My Goods, One Night Ultimate Werewolf, Point Salad, Shards of Infinity, Shipwreck Arcana, Silver & Gold, Sprawlopolis, Tussie Mussie, Star Realms, The Resistance, Tiny Epic Galaxies, Welcome To, Skull King, Herbaceous, Abandon All Artichokes
Great But Just Too Big: Rolling Realms, Just One, Codenames, Mysterium Park, Incan Gold, Avalon, Long Shot: The Dice Game
Top 10:
10. The Crew
9. Fantasy Realms
8. Deep Sea Adventure
7. Love Letter
6. A Fake Artist Goes to New York
5. Wizard
4. Sundae Split
3. Sushi Go
2. No Thanks
1. The Mind
Stop Playing at Any Time: • Top 10 Games You Can S...
Travel Friendly: • My Top 10 Favorite Tra...
00:00 - Introduction
01:20 - Honorable Mentions
02:00 - Great but Barely Too Big
02:38 - Top 4-10
11:19 - Top 3
Become a champion of this channel: stonemaier-games.myshopify.co...
podcast link: stonemaiergames.com/about/pod...
Intro animation by Jeff Payne vimeo.com/jaaronpayne and video proofing by Cody Simonsen

Пікірлер: 54

@johnbrown6230 2 жыл бұрын

Really good list of games and helpful remainder what games I could take for holidays this summer :)

@MrKeller13 2 жыл бұрын

6 Nimmt is an amazing big group game. Always a good laugh playing as smaller box. Also a new one I’ve found recently is Secrets. It’s a social deduction game and team game where you might not know who your team necessarily is.

@DenisRyan 2 жыл бұрын

Fantastic list! Would happily own every one on it, and the vast majority of the honourable mentions too! In fact, I already do own a fair amount of them all.

@tombosco6238 2 жыл бұрын

I traveled fairly recently to attend Mind Games in Portland, Maine so I won't likely be traveling this summer. However, if I were to travel for a big gathering(s), I would bring these small-box game favorites: 1. Coup 2. Citadels 3. Infinity Gauntlet 4. Lost Legacy 5. Zombie Dice 6. Monikers 7. Bang! The Dice Game 8. Rolling America 9. The Crew 10. Sushi Go! It is fun to compare these lists with others who enjoy bringing games to family gatherings. I am a huge fan of these videos. So, thank you for making them as I'm sure they take a lot of your time! I'm sure it helps that you enjoy making these videos.

@franciscorojas8088 2 жыл бұрын

No thanks feels like an evergreen classic, I'm always ready to play! I'd Include a couple of thinky games to your list like Ohanami and Ganz Schon Clever. I usually have a deck of Timeline with me. It's quite versatile and makes people engage in some interesting conversations.

@jecabreradc 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for the great ideas

@tonycork2pa469 2 жыл бұрын

Nice selection, Jamey - I would also have your 2, 3, 4, 8 & 9 on my list. Substituting for the others, I'd have Circus Flohcati, Money!, Claim, Ohanami and....Parade or Templari (if the box sizes of the latter two do not disqualify these selections).

@jayberrymiller1146 Жыл бұрын

Something very very similar to Wizard can also be played with a simple deck or playing cards, called “Up and Down The River”. Fantastic concept!

@brucebush5744 2 жыл бұрын

Lots of good choices there. I like to take Skull and/or Cockroach Poker on trips - although appreciate that not everyone likes bluffing games. Coloretto is a nice small card game that works well at 4/5. High Society can work - but can also be on the edge of being too gamer-y for some people.

@jameystegmaier 2 жыл бұрын

I've played Skull with my extended family, and we have a lot of fun with it!

@ChiiOMarteel Жыл бұрын

One I've tried recently, perhaps feels a bit more like an activity like The Mind but we had a blast is Medium. So so much fun specially with a group that reaaally knows each other

@stevef3663 2 жыл бұрын

Your timing is impeccable. My suitcase is right here in my home office next to me. It was ready to go. But, then I saw this video and had to take a look at what games I packed. I've packed Love Letter, Deep Sea Adventure, L.L.A.M.A., Spicy, and Enchanted Plumes. I didn't pack Fake Artist Goes to New York, Wizard/Skull King, The Mind, No Thanks, Sushi Go, or The Crew. Hey, I have to have room for some clothes! Now I'll have to find a copy of Sundae Split. I've got a copy of Fantasy Realms on hold for pick up when I get there. I'm flying out to California tomorrow. Thanks for the video. It was a fun one to watch.

@jameystegmaier 2 жыл бұрын

Sounds like a great trip!

@andysiegel725 2 жыл бұрын

On the slightly more complex side, Valley of the Kings is great small box deck-building game!

@jameystegmaier 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I need to try that.

@mikaeki5245 2 жыл бұрын

Fantasy Realms doesn't really need the box, it's just a deck of cards, you don't need the chunky stack of score sheets and it's anyways easier to do the scoring with the app.

@mcsegobia 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, just toss The Mind and use its box 😁

@Poiuytrew.Q 2 жыл бұрын

I’ll have to look up No Thanks. We just played For Sale travel edition and it was fun and easy. The box is so cute!

@jameystegmaier 2 жыл бұрын

No Thanks is on BGA if you want to give it a try. :)

@simonmcg23 2 жыл бұрын

Plenty of games can be unboxed or re-boxed. Just one is a deck of cards with a rubber band around it and the markers and the holders. That could squeeze in anywhere. Once me and my partner went away and I managed to get Stone Age, quacks of quedLindbergh, Istanbul and Jaipur all trimmed down to 2 player - all into the Stone Age box.

@rolling.reggie 2 жыл бұрын

Currently in Mexico on a trip with a large group and brought these on the plane: LLAMA Tussie Mussie Monikers Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza Sushi Go Exploding Kittens Codenames Great list! I really need to try No Thanks, so many people love this game. Also, I need to give The Mind another chance since you’ve rated it so highly. I own it and just need to try again.

@jameystegmaier 2 жыл бұрын

Nice! Tussie Mussie is a great inclusion there.

@keithrex1481 2 жыл бұрын

I just got back yesterday from a family reunion in which I was told to bring games. We drove (Oregon to Colorado) so I could take some larger games, too, but we did take the following small box games: Five Crowns, Qwixx, The Crew: Mission Deep Sea, Point Salad, Cartographers, Just One, and 6 Nimmt!.

@jameystegmaier 2 жыл бұрын

I'm familiar with most of those, but I'll have to check out Five Crowns.

@FeartheMalice 2 жыл бұрын

Damn now I wish I could play with you because you picked a lot of games I own

@blacksheep9950 2 жыл бұрын

I have the Adventureland version of Sushi Go as well, and I love it. I much prefer the art and the small box, and having scoring cards included is great. Going to be tough to find a replacement copy when mine inevitably wears out.

@tonycork2pa469 2 жыл бұрын

Best solution - I always sleeve my treasured games (that is, most of them).

@blacksheep9950 2 жыл бұрын

@@tonycork2pa469 Unfortunately I got Sushi Go before I started sleeving, so it has considerable wear already. Plus I'm not sure if the cards would fit in the box sleeved. But yeah, nowadays drafting games and deckbuilders always get sleeved.

@dapliff 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Jamey!! Love you videos man!! Have you tried skyjo?? Last week I tool it to a family reunion and we had a lot of fun and a lot of laughs!!

@jameystegmaier 2 жыл бұрын

I haven't! What do you like about it?

@dapliff 2 жыл бұрын

@@jameystegmaier Well, first is up to 8 players, so you can gather a big group around it. Is very easy to teach and learn, just 5 minutes explaining it and you are ready to go. It might sound like it is a simple game, but it have enough complexity to make it fun and very enjoyable. If you like no thanks, most probable you will like skyjo.

@dapliff 2 жыл бұрын

@@JJ_TheGreat depth then!!

@iceangelx 2 жыл бұрын

Crossing is a favorite of mine. If you haven’t tried it, check it out! Easy to learn; plays in 15 min. or less.

@liamhain2155 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Jamey, how do you feel about The Crew - Mission Deep Sea? I've been wondering which version to buy and I've seen reviews saying the sequel is better/more fun than The Quest For Planet Nine. Thanks!

@knolchi 2 жыл бұрын

They are basically the same game funwise. Planet Nine has 50 predefined missions in the captain's log, Deep Sea slightly less. But the system to varify the missions in itself is extended and more variable in Deep Sea. So buy either one. And if you like it, you can store both in one box by getting rid of one deck of playing cards (just different art).

@jameystegmaier 2 жыл бұрын

I think both are very good, but I personally prefer the original.

@daniellebackus819 2 жыл бұрын

Surprised to not see Bohnanza on the list at least as an honorable mention. My family really likes that game! It’s small, easy to teach, plays up to 7 (I think), and is competitive, but you do better competitively if you collaborate with others by trading.

@jameystegmaier 2 жыл бұрын

In this case, I only included games I own, and I don't own Bohnanza (but I think it's a great game).

@daniellebackus819 2 жыл бұрын

@@jameystegmaier Glad you like it, too! I bought a copy of Scythe this weekend and my hubs and I played it all day on Sunday. Despite me winning all 4 games, he really enjoyed it and was ready to play again! I was hoping I would like it, and I’m happy to say that I don’t like it… I LOVE it. :)

@jameystegmaier 2 жыл бұрын

@@daniellebackus819 I'm so happy to hear you two had fun with Scythe! :)

@tonycork2pa469 2 жыл бұрын

I like to strip small box contents (mostly cards) and simply ziplock them for travel

@pjlacey3990 2 жыл бұрын

You could likely pack two boxes worth of Rolling Realms in a big ziplock bag so you could get quite a large group playing. Any of theses small box games that still have extra space inside could be stored in small Ziplock games.

@pjlacey3990 2 жыл бұрын

Bags.

@jameystegmaier 2 жыл бұрын

That's true! I will be bringing it. :)

@StevenStJohn-kj9eb 2 жыл бұрын

Sometimes I wonder about these modern variants of trick taking games. The thing is, there are some great trick taking games (pitch, hearts, sheepshead) that you can play with a 52 card deck - for $3, you get a deck of cards, it's extremely portable, and you can play a variety of games with it - often games other people know. Is it worth getting a game like Wizard or The Crew or Skull King? Gamers often talk about "this replaces x for me" - we have this idea that we want one game of a certain type. Is the game play fun of, say Wizard, worth the extra money and shelf space over a 52 card deck you throw in a drawer?

@daniellebackus819 2 жыл бұрын

I grew up playing Pitch with my extended family, and I would gladly play it for hours. I definitely see your point!

@nib71286 2 жыл бұрын

If you are around a dollar tree, they sell a 2 deck pack for $1.25, or a better casino deck for $1.25 🤔. Standard poker deck is all that is needed for 12 player game of Skull, or if you have all the cards ranked listed, "The mind" also works.

@davebelcher3307 2 жыл бұрын

My wife are big fans of the many versions of Fluxx. We also travel with Enchanted Plumes, The Game, and Cabo.

@jameystegmaier 2 жыл бұрын

I really like Enchanted Plumes too!

@nib71286 2 жыл бұрын

Got to take a poker deck so you can play "Regicide" or any of the other card games that dont suck. You can easily play a diy'd version of the "The Crew" if you just say "whoever has the Ace of Spades" has to get a random card that is chosen. A deck for each player, so 5 decks for your has to be able to play 5 player criteria 😂 would be excellent because then you can play 5 player dutch blitz. If you like 6Nimmt, you should take that instead of "The Mind" because you can easily play a DIY version without needing the 2nd box. Also, since 6Nimmt has the 3-33 cards already, you dont need to take the "No Thanks" box. With the 1-100 deck you can also play "The Game", "Fugitve", "Racko", and "Popcorn!". Having the actual boxes are nice Ill grant you, but with two decks of cards (standard poker and 1-100) you can play so many great games.

@jameystegmaier 2 жыл бұрын

I'm curious to try Regicide; I wish there were a version of it with the abilities printed on the cards. Maybe that does exist?