At Telsaan—a vibrant tea shop which sells 140 plus teas and bulk coffees found in the small town of Mount Horeb, WI, right outside of Madison—once or twice a month, there is always one event to look forward to, Game Night. It is a popular, mostly family-friendly event which all can enjoy. This is a list of the most memorable games played at Game Night.
1. Killer Bunnies
One of the first games I played was a game of a little strategy and a lot of luck. Killer Bunnies starts off with the yellow and blue starter decks which hold Kabula Dollas, cabbage and water cards, magic carrots, 12-sided die and more—not to mention the Bunny cards. The goal of the game is simple: to collect the magic carrots. But there is a twist in the game; you try to do so without losing all your bunnies. Do you think you can keep the Bunnies alive?
2. Pandemic
An excellent, cooperative game which you try and kill all the viruses from destroying the world. You and your team have special abilities to kill the viruses through your strategic actions while you dodge outbreaks and epidemics. You must complete the game before all the player cards run out.
3. Guillotine
Based off the French Revolution, you have a matter of three days to collect as many heads as you can. The heads will total as little as -2 to +5 points. Using action cards, you try and move the game in your favor before the last head rolls.
4. Cards Against Humanity
A popular, adult game where you try and answer a question/fill-in-the-blank as creatively and strategically as you can. If you have ever played Apples-to-Apples as a kid, you will love this game as an adult.
5. Mysterium
An interesting take on a haunted clue game where you must solve the game as clairvoyants. You guess the who’s, how’s and why’s of the ghost’s murder before the time runs out. Do you think you are up to the challenge?
6. Flux
A random assortment of cards which makes and remakes the rules as you go. Where you end up, nobody knows!
Extensions which are also fun: Pirate Flux, Martian Flux, Monty Python and much more.
7. We Didn’t Playtest At All
A quick and easy game which goes fast as you play by the rules on the cards. You can win instantly or take a few rounds. Either way, you will find out if you win or if you lose!
8. A Betrayal at House on the Hill
When do you know whom your best friends are, and which one will lie to you? You find out in a haunted house, of course! First starting off cooperatively, you work together to unlock rooms and find secret weapons, skills and omens. The omen will get you though as eventually one player will be pitted against the rest. Can you trust them not to kill you?
(Disclaimer: not meant to ruin friendships.)
9. Settlers of Catan
A game of industrial prowl as you collect wood, stone, hay and wool to build roads and settlements to try and beat your components. You use the resources and combine them to allow you to stand above the rest. The more you collect, the faster you can win the game.
10. Cockroach Poker
One of the first things I think is this reminds me of the card game, Bull Shit. In Cockroach Poker, there are eight creepy crawlies in the deck ranging from Bats to Spiders and Stinkbugs. You pass out all the cards among your friends, and someone will start the game with: “This is a _____.” If that person said Scorpion, you must either decide to call their bluff, guess it is true or look and pass it on with another response that may confuse the next person. The person who collects four of one kind loses and ends up being the Stinkbug. Can you call your friends' bluff?
These are just some of the games I have encountered at Game Night. Come down and join us and learn some more or explore some for yourself with your friends. Either way, games are always a blast, and I cannot wait to learn a new game!
