Great Games For Six or More!

One of my favorite Christmas traditions involves only one participant- myself. Each year I read Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol from December 20 through the 24th. There are so many lines that have come to have great meaning to me. One such line occurs when Scrooge, along with the Ghost of Christmas Present, are attending a party hosted by Scrooge's nephew Fred. Someone at the gathering suggests they all play a game, and Dickens states that, "...it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child himself."

As we continue to near the end of the year, chances are that many of you will be in the midst of a group of people celebrating. Some of these people might be gamers, while others not so much. However, there's something about the holidays that make our friends and family more receptive to try and play new games. It's important to find games that have high player counts, but also are accessible. Here is a list of ten games that are great to play if you have six (or more) players.

Bang! The Dice Game

Player Count: 3-8

What Is It?

Bang! The Dice Game is a fast-paced dice rolling social deduction game with a wild west theme where your neighbor may be a friend, but he might be an enemy. Outlaws attack the sheriff (the only revealed role), deputies hunt outlaws, and the renegade wants them all to die.

Why I Chose It?

Rolling dice is a lot of fun and is a familiar concept for new-comers to the table. Figuring out the hidden roles can cause laughter as you may be forced to shoot a "friend"- unless he's lying.

Deception: Murder in Hong Kong

Player Count: 4-12

What Is It?

Deception: Murder in Hong Kong is a three-round social deduction game where a silent player gives players clues to help solve a murder that one of the investigators committed.

Why I Chose It?

Deception can easily accommodate a large player count (15, if you have the expansion!) and the similarity in the means and clues cards that everyone has and how they synergize with the information being given by the silent player makes sure that everyone has a chance to prove their innocence by shifting the guilt. In a game that heavily involves talking and accusations, it's good to play one where there's so much to discuss from the beginning.

Downforce

Player Count: 2-6

What Is It?

Downforce is a racing game where players first bid on car and power combinations and then use cards to move- usually multiple cars and not just their own. Three times throughout the race, players will bet on who they think will win and will be rewarded if they're right.

Why I Chose It?

In some racing games, whoever gets lucky will dice rolls or card draws will certainly be the winner. Downforce, however, allows players who don't cross the finish line first a chance to pull out a victory because the winner isn't necessarily the player who takes the checkered flag, but the one who makes the most money. Racers will win a sum based on the outcome of the race and will add their winnings on the bets placed throughout the race. But they must also deduct the amount they spent during the auction phase at the beginning of the game. It's so much fun to place third or fourth and win the game over the person who placed first.

A Fake Artist Goes to New York

Player Count: 5-10

What Is It?

A Fake Artist is a social deduction game where players collectively draw a picture one line at a time. Everyone knows what the picture is supposed to be except for one. Can you identify the imposter?

Why I Chose It?

Games with drawing need little rules explanation. This one might take a play or two to fully understand because of the "fake artist" concept, but after a few games, it gets very easy. Even people who complain that they can't draw can add a single line to an image. Extremely fun and quick- perfect for parties!

Hues and Cues

Player Count: 3-10

What Is It?

Hues and Cues is a hybrid color and word game. One player selects one of four colors on a card and gives a one word clue to try and get the other players to identify the secret hue.

Why I Chose It?

The rules of Hues and Cues are simple- choose a color and give a clue if you are the active player, and guess a color if you aren't. Finding the right clue to give can cause turns to drag a bit, but use a sand timer or a digital one to speed things up. Despite this potential drawback, players feel clever when a perfect clue is given and when a clue is deciphered just right.

Just One

Player Count: 3-7

Can you guess the secret word based on these clues? 

Write your answer in the comments below!

What Is It?

Just One is a cooperative game where the active player must guess the secret word. This is done by the other players writing a one word clue on their easels. However, before the clues are revealed the players must look at the clues the other players wrote down, and if any are the same (or too similar based on the rules), the active player does NOT receive that clue.

Why I Chose It?

Sometimes the simple act of competition prevents some people from playing games. In those cases cooperative games can be the answer to ushering in reluctant participants. Players only have to write down a single word, and, like Hues and Cues above, thinking of the perfect clue to write down makes you feel intelligent. As the active player, when you discover the link between words that don't seem to have anything in common and uncover the secret word, you feel brilliant!

No Thanks

Player Count: 3-7

What Is It?

No Thanks is a quick playing card game where the lowest points wins. A card, valued anywhere from three to thirty-five, is flipped over and the active player chooses either to take it or send it to the next player by placing a chip on it. This can continue until a player decides to take the card and all the chips on top. Each chip will shave a point off of a player's total. 

Why I Chose It?

Many people enjoy playing UNO, and while the rules are different, it's similar enough to pique interest. The rules might be not be exactly the same, but those changes give more player agency. Because of this, it feels familiar, but is more fair and balanced. 

Roll For It

Player Count: 2-8

What Is It?

Roll For It is a dice rolling game where players attempt to roll certain patterns on one of the three cards in the middle. Each card is worth either two, five, ten, or fifteen points. The first player to reach forty or more points wins.

Why I Chose It?

This one is as simple as roll and then assign dice to one or more cards. Extremely easy to teach, addictive, and can be played with up to eight people, if you have two boxes.

Second Chance

Player Count: 1-6

What Is It?

Second Chance is a "flip-and-fill" game where each player has a nine-by-nine grid and is tasked with completing it as best as possible. The player who has more of his/her board covered once everyone is out wins.

Why I Chose It?

I think these games get compared too often to Tetris, but it's the first thing everyone I introduce it to says. It's satisfying to see your board fill up, and the choices players get each turn make it both easier to play, but also introduce more strategy than might appear at first.

Starlink

Player Count: 3-6

What Is It?

Starlink is a drawing game where a player takes a card, decides which of the two objects to draw, and has sixty seconds to get another player to call out what it is. The catch? The player can only use straight lines between stars on a board creating a constellation. 

Why I Chose It?

This is a very easy drawing game. Sometimes players feel like their inability to draw puts them at a disadvantage, but in this game, you can only draw straight lines between fixed points. Everyone can draw a line. 

What are some games that you like to play with large groups? Share them below!