Gift guide: The best cottage board games to gift this winter

Wordle The Party Game

We all enjoyed playing Wordle on our phones when it first came out, but now you can play with friends—on a real board! Players take turns choosing a five-letter word while the others try to guess it. You can play three ways: fast (the player who gets the word the fastest wins), timed (players race to figure out the word before time runs out), and in teams.

Pictionary Air Harry Potter Game

This Harry Potter-themed version of Pictionary is a fun twist on the classic. Plus, did we mention it uses a wand instead of a regular pen and paper? To begin, users have to download the free Pictionary Air app to a compatible smartphone or tablet. Once signed in, just point the device’s camera at the person drawing and they’ll show up on the screen. When they start drawing with the wand, that will appear on-screen, too. Bonus if you can cast the device to a TV for large-screen viewing!

Santa Cookie Elf Candy Snowman

If you haven’t played Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza, this game will probably seem a little strange to you. In this holiday-themed version, players take turns revealing their cards, each one with a word taken from the game’s name (Santa, Cookie, Elf… you get it). Once the player reveals their card, they mustn’t say the word on the card, but instead a word from the game’s title—in sequential order. Say you go first, you have to say the word Santa, even if your card says Snowman. The next person must say Cookie despite what their card says, and so on. Tricky! But pay attention: when the word on the card finally matches the word being said by the player, you need to slap your hand down on the card without being last!

Coca-Cola Checkers

Oh how simple and fun the game of Checkers is. This collectible, Coca-Cola-themed set is a great gift for any cottager (but especially the one who has vintage Coca-Cola bottles proudly displayed on a shelf in the kitchen). Instead of regular checker pieces, the set uses 24 bottle caps for a fun twist.

Clue

In this classic whodunit game, players take turns collecting clues and asking questions in order to determine which character committed murder in the mansion, in what room, and with what weapon. New to this edition are Clue cards, which speed up the game by forcing players to reveal secrets, including sharing a card from their hand and more.

Mind The Gap

This game promises fun for the whole family: Boomers, Gen X’ers, Millennials, and Gen Z’ers, especially! Players can work together in teams (with one person from each generation) to answer pop culture questions from different eras, or choose to battle against one another in a race to determine the most knowledgeable cohort. Be warned: Challenge cards will have you either acting, humming, or dancing to earn your point!

Vintage Bookshelf Scattergories

The classic game of creative thinking, Scattergories, was first published in 1988. This vintage version of the game evokes the original with its linen-wrapped box, original graphics, and iconic timer. Tuck it away in the bookshelf after you’re done playing, or keep it on display atop the coffee table.

The Hygge Game

What’s the longest line you’ve ever waited in? Have you tried anything for the first time this past year? Answer all of these questions and more in this game of cozy conversation. Known for bringing friends and family together through story and discussion, The Hygge Game is a great gift option for any holiday host, whether you’ve known them for years or just met them!

Anarchy Pancakes

Looking for a game that’ll spark up lots of laughter and competition over the holidays? Anarchy Pancakes promises all of that and more. Each player receives pancake cards with misfit toppings. At the same time (no, there aren’t any “turns”), players begin stacking their pancake cards on top of others, matching toppings in a race to be the first to get rid of their cards. Once successful, scream “Anarchy Pancakes!” to earn your prize: a slab of butter. The first player with two slabs is declared the winner.

Vintage Bookshelf Catch Phrase

Catch Phrase is one of the best games to play at the cottage because it’s easy to learn, has very few rules, and doesn’t require everyone to be seated at a table, meaning you can congregate anywhere (including around the fire) to play. Created to mimic the original 1994 model, this vintage version includes a sleek, fabric-wrapped box and a classic game board.