10 Board Games for Quarantine
Hey everyone! It’s Madison. I am the co-owner, along with my husband Luke, of Cross Roads Escape Games. It’s a weird time right now for everyone. Businesses are shut down and everyone is forced to stay inside. Everyone’s brain is going a little crazy because it is not getting its normal amount of stimulation or problem solving that it is use to. At least, that is how I feel.
I am the proud owner of a lot of board games. A LOT. So, if you need some activity in your life, here are a list of games I think anyone will enjoy!
I’m not too sure how many people or who you are quarantined with so I have given some guidelines as to who I think the games would be good for as far as age, group size, and complexity is concerned.
Let me know what you think! I would also love to hear of any board games you have been enjoying that I should add to my shelf.
1. SURVIVE! Escape from Atlantis
Ages: Kids, teens, and adults will all equally love this game.
Group size: 2-4
Complexity: Easy. You can learn it in 5-10 minutes.
BUY HERE
Survive! is super easy to learn, which makes it great for any age. I’ve played this game with my 7-year-old nephew, my husband, my siblings, and my parents. Seriously, it’s great for everyone. The game is pure chaos. But fun chaos.
About: “In this game, you try to lead your people from the sinking central island of Atlantis to the safety of one of four islands nearby. Your people can get there quickly by boat (if they find one) or more slowly by swimming. But it will be a perilous journey as they must avoid Sea Serpents, Whales, and Sharks.”
2. The Game
Ages: Kids, Teens, and Adults
Group Size: 1-5
Complexity: Easy
BUY HERE
This is technically a card game, but I like it so much that I actually carry it with me in my purse. The game is simple, but hard to win. Every time you play, you get a little better and better.
About: “Cooperative game that involves hand management and memory. You’ll have to work together with your friends to play cards into one of four different piles, with the hopes of discarding all 98 cards in ascending or descending order. The trick is, you aren’t allowed to tell anyone else what cards you have, so you’ll constantly be on edge as each card played could upset your best-laid plans.”
3. Codenames
Ages: Teens and Adults
Group Size: 4-6
Complexity: Easy
BUY HERE
I played this game last night with my whole family. Before you yell at me about social distancing, let me add that we were all in our own homes communicating through video! This game was pretty easy to play virtually, and you only need one person who owns the game. The Codename owner lays out the cards to create the playing board and takes a picture and sends it to everyone. From there you can look at the picture/board and make marks on it using the writing tool on your phone to mark what agents have been found. It was pretty easy, and a great way to spend time with family while physically apart.
About: “The teams compete to see who can make contact with all of their agents first. Spymasters give one-word clues that can point to multiple words on the board. Their teammates try to guess words of the right color while avoiding those that belong to the opposing team. And everyone wants to avoid the assassin.”
4. Pandemic
Ages: Teens and adults
Group size: 2-4 (I recommend just 2)
Complexity: Medium
BUY HERE
What better game to play right now then Pandemic? This is a great game to introduce people into the more complex games out there. Once you know the rules, the game is easy to grasp, but hard to win. I recommend playing with only 2 people, although you can have up to 4.
About: “Four diseases have broken out in the world and it is up to a team of specialists to find cures for these diseases before mankind is wiped out. Players must work together and plan their strategy of eradication before the diseases overwhelm the world with ever-increasing outbreaks. A truly cooperative game where you all win or you all lose.”
5. Catan
Ages: Teens and Adults
Group Size: 3-6 (you will need the 5-6 player expansion for more people)
Complexity: Medium
BUY HERE
This is a classic game. If you haven’t played Catan yet, what are you doing? The description does not sound that interesting, trading resources sounds kinda lame, I get it, but this game is a lot of fun. Trust me. Every time that dice is rolled and its one of your numbers, you get an instant boost of endorphins and you feel unstoppable. My family loves this game so much, we have even created a Catan crown, that the winner wears, until they are dethroned of course.
About: “Your adventurous settlers seek to tame the remote but rich isle of Catan. Get resources from Catan’s many harbors and regions: pastures, fields, mountains, hills, forests, and desert. Build your cities and rule of all Catan!”
6. Carcassonne
Ages: Teens and Adults
Group Size: 2-5
Complexity: Medium
BUY HERE
What I love about this game is that the board is constantly changing. It’s one of the few games where you get to create the board piece by piece, which also makes it completely different every time you play!
About: “Each new tile placed creates an ever-expanding board on which players can then add their followers.
As the map grows, so does the opportunity for players to disrupt each other’s plans. Everyone is adding to the same map and only one follower can be on any given feature at a time—so if you don’t place a follower on something, someone else probably will.”
7. Ticket to Ride
Ages: Teens and Adults
Group Size: 2-5
Complexity: Medium
BUY HERE
I was a little skeptical of this one at first, but it ended up winning me over after the first game. It is a lot like building roads in Catan, but with a lot more strategy.
About: “Players collect cards of various types of train cars they then use to claim railway routes in North America. The longer the routes, the more points they earn. Additional points come to those who fulfill Destination Tickets – goal cards that connect distant cities; and to the player who builds the longest continuous route.”
8. Pandemic Legacy Season 1
Ages: Teens and adults
Group Size: 2-4 (I recommend just 2)
Complexity: Difficult
BUY HERE
If you play Pandemic and you love it as much as I do, make sure to also check out Pandemic Legacy. Legacy games are really cool and really different. Every time you play, the choices you make and their outcomes affect the next time you play. There are stickers you put on the board that help you remember what happened last time, there are mystery boxes the game tells you to open up at certain times revealing new game pieces and new rules. Sometimes you even tear up cards and you can never use them again! Pandemic Legacy is mind-blowing, and a must play in my book.
About: “The world is on the brink of disaster. In Pandemic Legacy, your disease-fighting team must keep four deadly diseases at bay for a whole year. Each month will bring new surprises, and your actions in each game will have repercussions on the next. Will you let cities fall to the diseases? Will your team be enough to keep the viruses at bay for a whole year? Craft your own unique Pandemic experience with Pandemic Legacy.”
9. Terraforming Mars
Ages: Teens and adults
Group Size: 1-5
Complexity: Difficult
BUY HERE
I want to preface by saying this game was hard to learn. We were intimidated by the rule book, so we ended up watching a 30-minute video explanation of the rules instead, which helped a lot. Once we knew the rules, the game was easy to get started. It is a lot like deck building games, but you also have a game board. It seems intimidating, but the cards you play tell you exactly what to do. If you are up for a challenge and like complex board games, I highly recommend this game. Once we learned it, it ended up being a lot of fun.
About: “In the 2400S, mankind begins to terraform the Planet Mars. Giant corporations, sponsored by the world government on earth, initiate huge projects to raise the temperature, the oxygen level and the ocean coverage until the environment is habitable. In Terraforming Mars you play one of those corporations and work together in the Terraforming process, but compete in doing the best work, with victory points awarded not only for your contribution to the Terraforming, but also for advancing human infrastructure throughout the solar systems and other commendable achievements.”
10. Power Grid Recharged Version
About: Teens and adults
Group Size: 2-6
Complexity: Difficult
BUY HERE
Power Grid Recharged has all the strategy and fun of the classic first edition, but adds some updates that improve the (already great) gameplay. This game is also a little hard to learn, but what I loved about it was that it didn’t involve any reading, but it does have a lot of math. I recommend having a calculator nearby to make it easier. What is so great about this game is that it constantly makes the board an equal playing field for everyone. If you are doing good and you are in first place, the game gets harder, if you are in last place, the game gets easier. It adds a new strategy of maybe not advancing in order to stay low on the score board and receive better prices. This game involves hard core strategy, which is what I love.
About: “What better way to earn money than with electric power?!! But how should you do it? However you decide to generate the energy, you’ll have to compete with your opponents not only for the most attractive power plants, but for the necessary resources and the sites to build your network of energy distribution. You’ll need to watch your opponents closely, carefully manage your money, and expand your network thoughtfully in order to generate income. The player that is able to build the largest network AND successfully power it will be the winner.”
Geovanna Flores (RUBY): Geovanna Flores is a Los Angeles native and recent USC Thornton School of Music graduate. A classically trained opera singer, Flores enjoys performing opera as well as musical theatre, theatrical and commercial acting, and performance poetry. During her time at USC, Geovanna was seen with the USC Opera as a Nina in Ainadamar, played Lucy T. Slut in Avenue Q with the Musical Theatre Repatory of USC, and Consuelo in West Side Story in the historic first Kaufman School of Dance, Thornton School of Music and USC School of Dramatic Arts collaborative production. Flores is a proud Latina, speaks fluent Spanish and incorporates her passion for social justice and Latinx culture into her poetry. When not performing, auditioning, or in rehearsal, Flores teaches voice and piano in West Los Angeles. www.GeovannaFlores.com
Amy Melendrez (RUBY): Born and raised in L.A., Amy is a recent graduate of the University of Southern California and is excited to be jumping into the world of The Séance! Amy was most recently seen in Accidental Joy, a new musical workshop. While pursuing her B.A. in Theatre, she also attended the British American Drama Academy. She has appeared in various collegiate productions including Heathers, Mr. Burns: A Post Electric Play, Time and the Conways, The Penelopiad, and the staged reading of Hipster Sweatshop.
Tara Virgil (RUBY/ PUPPETEER): Tara Virgil is extremely excited to be a part of Cross Roads Escape Games newest addition: The Séance. She has had 7 years of theater acting experience and is thrilled to be trying something new. She has been in numerous productions over the years, including The Little Shop of Horrors as Mrs. Mushnik and Aladdin as Genie. Tara hopes to pursue acting as a future endeavor and will hopefully be attending CSULB in the spring for a degree in theater.
Brittani Prenger (PUPPETEER): Brittani has been performing all of her life. She is currently at Knott’s Berry Farm as a train robber and she just wrapped up her first year at Ghost Town Alive as the town’s medium, Marley Dixon. Her Séance’s were a whole lot different than this one. Soon she will be performing with the Mixed Company Carolers all Christmas season. For the last 6 Halloween’s she has been scaring at Knott’s Scary Farm and Dark Harbor on the Queen Mary. Brittani is a big musical theatre girl, some of her more recent roles were Inga (Young Frankenstein), Brenda Strong (Catch Me if You Can), Hodel (Fiddler on the Roof), Kate Monster (Avenue Q), Baker’s Wife (Into the Woods) and Gingy/Sugarplum Fairy (Shrek). She is excited to be joining The Séance cast this season. 
Desiree Nguyen (PUPPETEER): Desiree Nguyen is feeling spooktacular about making her debut at Cross Roads Escape Games! She graduated from UCI in 2017 and literally majored in Drama. While she considers herself primarily a director these days, it’s always a thrill to return to acting. Desiree has directed with OC New Voices Playwrights and UCI. She’s also stage managed and crewed at several Orange County community theatres including Chance Theater, Stagedoor Repertory, Newport Theatre Arts Center, and New Swan Shakespeare Festival. Desiree builds puppets, enjoys clowning, and loves supporting diverse talent and new works onstage. As an actor, she often plays dead people. It’s probably because she’s also a little dead inside. Desiree would like to thank her family and friends for supporting her and putting up with her morbid sense of humor. She tones it down on social media though. Follow her work on Instagram: @theatricaldez
Stepy Kamei (PUPPETEER): Stepy Kamei has been working in immersive theater and haunts since 2015. Her recent immersive theater credits include award-nominated Internal and the Captivated series, while haunt credits include Horror Made Here and Dark Harbor. She can currently be seen performing in The Séance as well as Dark Harbor for the 2019 haunt season, and is collaborating as a writer on an upcoming immersive theater production.
Madison Rhoades (Writer, Director, Producer, Scenic Designer, Puppet Designer): Madison Rhoades is the Co-Owner and Creative Director of Cross Roads Escape Games. She graduated with a B.A. in Fine Arts and Theatre from USC in 2013. She was the scenic designer for many small theatres around Los Angeles. She performed in the interactive theatre show, Delusion, for it’s first 3 years and was the Lead Scenic Painter for The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor from 2013-2015. Madison always dreamed of owning her own theatre one day. After falling in love with escape rooms, she opened Cross Roads in 2016 with her husband and has been designing games and interactive experiences ever since. 
Luke Rhoades (Asst. Director, Producer, Technical Director): Luke Rhoades is the Co-Owner and Technical Director of Cross Roads Escape Games. He graduated Vanguard University in 2014 with a B.A. in Theatre. Upon graduating Luke was the Master Carpenter at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Hollywood. He opened his own Escape Room business with his wife in 2016.
Ian Momii (Lighting Designer): Ian’s background ranges all over the live event spectrum, having his hands in anything from theatre and concerts to corporate events and award shows. Locally in Los Angeles he is likely best known for his work as Lighting Designer and Technical Director for Delusion from 2014- spring 2019. Ian has also been part of Ceaseless Fun with their production of They Who Saw The Deep, and most recently Scout Expedition Co’s The Nest. Ian is excited to be returning to Cross Roads having helped Madison and Luke with The Hex Room and The Fun House.
Lauren Orgill (Costume Designer/ Prop Master): Lauren is proud to be working at Cross Roads Escape Games again after assisting with costumes and props for The Hex Room, The Fun House, and The Psych Ward. You may also recognize her as Nurse Ratched promoting The Asylum mini-game. Lauren has a degree in Interior Design, and she has been sewing both interior projects and custom costumes for over 30 years. 
Christian Mutter (Special Effects): Christian Mutter is currently a Mechanical Engineering student at CSU Fullerton and enjoys tinkering with robotics and programming. He is excited to have the opportunity to apply those interests in The Séance. 
The Séance has been something I have always wanted to do since we very first opened. It was actually planned to be one of our very first experiences. Back in 2015/2016 immersive theater was still very new, and even escape rooms were only know by a small handful of people, so we decided to wait.
