For many Sydneysiders, the appeal of puzzles is long gone, we’ve already attempted to make banana bread and we’ve binged every Netflix series there is. So, to help you lose the lockdown boredom, we’ve pulled together some fun games to play at home!
When the cabin fever hits, it can be tempting to reach for a deck of cards or scroll aimlessly through Facebook for the fiftieth time in a day. Luckily, there are games you can play that get all your loved ones involved – either in person or from afar. Keep reading to get our top picks of the best games to play at home.
1. Indoor Table Tennis
Players: 2-4
Unleash a furious table tennis tournament in your living room with an Indoor Table Tennis Set. This game is sure to give you endless hours of enjoyment that lasts well beyond lockdown. Most sets come complete with paddles, balls, and a mini net. Set it up across your dining room table and play.
Play one-on-one, or pair up to compete in a group of four. Make it a tournament, pour yourself a drink and you could be playing for hours! The best part about table tennis is that it’s a little more active than the average card game. It’s definitely one of the most fun games to play at home on rainy weekends as you can get moving without actually going anywhere!
2. Pandemic
Players: 2-4
This aptly named board game hits a little close to home right now, but that makes it all the more entertaining! In Pandemic, players travel across the board to different countries, trying to keep deadly diseases at bay by finding resources for cures.
Players have to fight to find the cure in time while outbreaks and epidemics continue to pop up around the world. The best part? This is a cooperative game, meaning that instead of playing against each other, all players have to work together to win in time.
3. Trapped Escape Room Packs
Players: 2-6
Looking for fun games to play at home with kids that don’t involve sitting around a table with everyone half asleep? Trapped is great for both kids and adults. Think an escape room, but at home! The game kits provide everything you need to transform any room in your home into an experiential game room.
Simply set up your room using the kit provided and solve the clues to escape. Each game kit has different themes and difficulty levels, such as “The Art Heist”, “The Bank Job”, and “The Carnival”.
4. Articulate
Players: 4-6
This is an oldie, but a goodie nonetheless! Articulate is essentially a word description game where players sight a word on a card and need to describe it to their team members without actually saying the word. It’s a simple game and there are set categories that make it slightly easier to guess your team’s words!
Articulate is one of the most fun games to play at home with your family, partner, or housemates, but there is also an online version of the game that means you can now play with a group virtually. Play the game with friends or family over Zoom with a glass in hand and a few snacks – you’re guaranteed a fun night where you might even forget you’re in lockdown!
5. Virtual Murder Mystery
Players: 6-20
If you’re celebrating a birthday in lockdown or you just want to try something different, why not try a virtual murder mystery? Red Herring has a number of different virtual murder mysteries to choose from that can be played completely virtually.
Simply get a group together, either in person or virtually (or both), and download your chosen game. Play over your channel of choice – Zoom, Facebook Messenger, Google Hangouts – the choice is yours. Players will be sent information about their characters just before the game starts so they have time to prepare, and one player will have the role of the “Inspector” who controls the narrative with a set script.
Got any other ideas for fun games to play at home? Let us know your top picks. If you’re still looking for things to do in Sydney in the lockdown, check out our favourite hikes in Sydney.
