Over the last decade, Casey Grove has continued to carve out a name for himself in the board game industry. It started with his debut creation, The Big Fat Tomato Game. The family-friendly, fast-paced farming game was an instant hit. In addition to receiving glowing reviews and countless awards in the U.S., the title has also been translated into other languages.
His most recent venture is Wood 4 Sheep. The YouTube channel features playtests of new, recently-released games and reviews of vintage finds. It also chronicles the current projects that Casey Grove is working on.
Casey Grove also encourages others to share in this mission. Each roll of the dice or shuffle of the deck provides some much-needed, screen-free time for the entire family. That’s why he believes that board games are ideal interactive gifts for virtually every age. It’s a break from the boredom of endless scrolling and surfing.
With this in mind, Casey Grove deals out three board games that will make the perfect present this holiday season.
Betrayal at House on the Hill
Maybe your family game night needs a dash of horror. Betrayal at House on the Hill is an expansive, continuous romp that is constantly evolving. Three to six players construct and explore a haunted mansion. But, spoiler alert: there is a traitor in the midst. The remaining players must regroup and attempt to take down their former ally. Betrayal at House on the Hill checks all of the boxes. Not only does it come with 50 different chilling scenarios, but it’s also one of the more inexpensive options on the market. In addition to the mid-game plot twist, it’s no surprise that Games Radar labeled it best overall board game for adults in 2022.
Scythe
Scythe isn’t for the faint of heart. While there are definitely more casual, carefree entries on store shelves, Scythe is designed for gamers who want to invest serious time and effort into strategy. Set in an idyllic-meets-steampunk alternate reality circa 1920, players are tasked with gathering resources, scouring locations, and building engines. It’s a not-so-subtle homage to capitalism and pure competition.
Herd Mentality
Herd Mentality is widely considered one of the best party games for families. It currently sits on Amazon’s Best Seller List for 2022 and was labeled the “best party game ever created” by TechRadar. Fans of all ages enjoy the fun tokens and squishy cows. However, the biggest draw is its easy-to-learn gameplay.