5 Board Games to Play Instead of Drinking In Dry January
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For many people, January is a reset button. It brings focus back to healthier habits after months of holiday celebrations and indulgences. Some will take things a step further by participating in the Dry January Challenge and giving up alcohol for 31 days.
What began as a campaign from Alcohol Change UK in 2013 with just 4,000 participants has grown to over 130,000 documented participants each year. How has a month of sobriety become such a popular activity amongst people worldwide? Research from BMJ Open found that even short-term abstinence of one month can lead to lower blood pressure, better sleep, weight loss and more. [1]
You can reap all these benefits without hiding away or swearing off fun. In fact, the Dry January Challenge pushes participants to simply re-evaluate their relationship with alcohol and find new ways to engage with friends and family. One surefire way to have booze-free fun? Game night. Occupy your time this January with five of the best board games for adults.
Codenames
You and your friends can become a team of spies during your Dry January Challenge with Codenames. This board game combines Taboo with Guess Who for a simple, yet challenging affair. Two rival spymasters give one-word clues that can point to multiple agents’ code names on the board. Teammates try to pinpoint the agents on their side, while avoiding those that belong to the opposing team and the game-ending assassin. Play with as few as 2 people or as many as 8.
Quixx
This fast family dice game only requires 2-5 players and takes about 15 minutes. Players earn points by crossing off the numbers on their scorecard using different dice combinations. If it sounds a bit like Yahtzee, you might be onto something. Reviewers say it reminds them of a more engaging version of the classic game. However, in Quixx, everyone participates and can push the game forward during every roll for total engagement. Plus, this compact game fits in a pocket or purse, so you always have an activity on hand when temptation hits.
Wavelength
Do you and your friends think you have telepathic tendencies? Put it to the test with Wavelength. One player — dubbed the “Psychic” — pulls a card with two opposites on it. They then give a clue that falls somewhere between the two concepts. For example, the card says HOT-COLD, and the clue is “coffee.” The team then discusses and tries to guess where the psychic believes that clue lands on the spectrum. Even if you don’t get any points, you’ll have won an interesting conversation in the process.
Azul
This strategic tile placement game earns you points by placing different tiles to create beautiful mosaics. You can even foil your opponent’s game by taking tiles they would need, but be careful not to take too many or risk losing points. Not to mention, it’s a gorgeous design to add to a board game collection.
Tapple
If you remember the game Concentration 64 from childhood, get ready to enjoy it in a whole new way. Tapple went viral on TikTok as a high-energy, fast-paced word game for the whole family. The premise is simple: Take turns saying words related to a specific category before the timer runs out.
Sources
Mehta G, Macdonald S, Cronberg A, et al. Short-term abstinence from alcohol and changes in cardiovascular risk factors, liver function tests and cancer-related growth factors: a prospective observational study. BMJ Open 2018; 8:e020673. doi:10.1136/ bmjopen-2017-020673
