Tag Archives: Party Games

Annual Game Night 2025 ?

Introduction

Theater brought some amazing people into our lives. Unfortunately, it took us a few years to realize just how amazing. But, we made up for it over the last few years. Two years in a row, we met them for trick or treating. Last year, we hung out with them for a Halloween party, too. Then, this year, early on during break Christine invited them over to our place for what we hope to be the start of a new tradition. I’m calling it Annual Game Night 2025.

They brought snacks; crackers and cheese, spinach dip, veggies, etc. We provided our own dip (buffalo chicken) and I made chicken sliders and beef sliders. Great food, good discussion, Some controversy when the topic of musicals came up. But, I left the room and came into the living room to hang with some of the kids. One worked on a puzzle while another commented how cool the corner of our couch was. Kids find joy in the simplest things sometimes.

Blockbuster (The Game)

We finally settled enough for several people to suggest starting a game. We offered about a dozen different games and our guests brought a dozen of their own. Ambitious, to be sure. Initially, we tried to play a phone game that supposedly could be cast to the television, but that technology failed. Then someone saw the Blockbuster game and suggested we play that.

Those that know me know my love for the old video store. I watched the documentary about the last store. It almost inspired me to drive to Oregon to visit them. Instead, as Christine mentioned a couple of times during the game, I paid $10 to walk through the Blockbuster Experience at comic con. Everyone else asked me how I liked it. I said, I’d do it again without hesitation. Cool experience and the right kind of nostalgia.

We played two teams of 8, which went surprisingly well. The only snags came when some of the kids didn’t know some of the movies. But, we helped them through and it made the game even more fun in my opinion. Oh, also, the games took so long that we didn’t have time enough for any of the other games. Hence, my “ambitious” comment earlier.

The Verdict

Every January, we try to highlight new games. While I haven’t updated the header yet, I want to keep things going on the page after all the momentum I built during break. Also, I wanted to talk about how much fun the Annual Game Night 2025 was and how much we want to do it again. Stay tuned for more thought on the actual game this weekend.

2021 Console Game of the Year

Introduction

And, so, we arrive at our last award, the 2021 Console Game of the Year. If you thought our other two choices (really just one choice) were farcical, this one will really blow your mind. Before we reveal the choice and get on with the Year in Review and Look Ahead articles, some background first. We promise to make it worth your time.

Are we going to pick some ridiculous retro Atari game? Stay tuned.

If you thought we might take the easy way out and pick some Atari 2600 or other retro themed game, you’re not right. But, you’re not wrong, either. If I remembered to set up my emulator earlier in the vacation, I might have been persuaded to cheekily choose “Frostbite” or “Pitfall” or even “E.T.” or whichever of the games I became addicted to over the last week. Alas, I only just hooked up the games yesterday and spent a half an hour or so this morning playing “Circus Convoy.”

We pick a game that I only recently played a couple of times with my family. Aiden discovered the games through his friends. I found it through a Twitch stream one night and it was a lot of fun to play Humble Bundle ran a deal for several of the games. Then, my laptop, as they tend to do, died on me. Also, our desktop memory fried. So, I downloaded the most recent version on the XBox in order to play. Our 2021 Console Game of the Year is The JackBox Party Pack 8.

Ta da!

2021 Console Game of the Year: The Jackbox Party Pack 8

In any other year, I played ridiculous amounts of Minecraft. Somehow, the XBox ended up in Aiden’s room again, so I never thought to load the game this year. I played some on my laptop, but solo Minecraft is boring. I suppose, then, that Minecraft is still a contender. But, having not played the new update, I wouldn’t do it justice.

Likewise, I haven’t played any Minecraft Dungeons in spite of the fact that Quinn and I planned to a few times. Mortal Kombat 11 died last year after I played through Kombat Pack 2. I received Hades for Christmas, so too late to give it any attention. Though, I asked for Hades for Christmas because Chris played and enjoyed it so much. Perhaps next year, we can have more variety in our game playing.

We played this twice as a family. The first time, we played “Job Job” by Liam’s request. Then we played “Wheel of Enormous Proportions”. Both got the family laughing and having fun. Then, I think I mentioned that we tried to play at Christmas, but a mishap with controllers prevented that. Finally, we played the other day. We played “Drawful” and “Weapons Drawn”. We actually played “Drawful” twice. We haven’t played “Roll Mine” yet. Christine didn’t like the “Weapons Drawn” game, but the others have all been a hit. If you want a party game that’s quick and a lot of fun, this fits that bill.