‘Tis the season… of gifts! And of spending more time with family and friends, which means you’ll need something to do once the turkey and eggnog are gone. That’s right… it’s time to break out the board games!
If you’re looking for gift ideas (or just want to expand your own collection), check out some of our favorite pop culture board games for 2022 below.
Best Pop Culture Game Gifts
Labyrinth Clue
The immersive fantasy world of Labyrinth comes to life in this version of Clue! Beyond the updates to the classic board game’s locations and characters, Labyrinth Clue adds cursed objects, “Intrigue” cards, and even dials that create (and block) secret doors and passageways.
We had the chance to check out this game earlier in the year, so you can read more about it here.
Alternate Clue picks: There are so many great pop culture Clue games, it’s hard to choose a favorite. You can also grab versions for Friends, The Office, Golden Girls, Dexter, Scooby-Doo and more here.
Yellowstone Monopoly
That’s right – one of the biggest shows on TV today is also one of the biggest board games. Yellowstone Monopoly lets players buy well-known locations from the series, while moving around the board as special cowhand-related tokens and paying with custom Yellowstone currency. Now the only question is… how are you supposed to choose between playing as the Bull or the Cowboy Hat?
Alternate Monopoly picks: Much like with Clue, there’s a ton of awesome pop culture Monopoly games to choose from. Some of our other favorites include Sailor Moon, Breaking Bad, My Hero Academia, and The Godfather.
Smash Up: Disney
Smash Up: Disney: because the only thing better than creating your own crossover is creating your own battle crossover! Shuffle the decks and draft your team of fighters from Disney hits like Frozen, The Lion King, Big Hero 6, Mulan, and more. Plus, the Disney version of Smash Up is compatible with other iterations of the game, so you can really mix and match for interesting team-ups.
Alternate Smash Up picks: If superheroes are more your jam, you can also duke it out as Marvel characters. Assemble your very own Avengers!
Hocus Pocus Yahtzee
Hocus Pocus Yahtzee: for those who like to get a little spooky all year ‘round. The cauldron design and bright green potion ingredient dice are sure to please any witch on your list.
We had the chance to check out this game earlier in the year, so you can read more about it here.
Alternate Yahtzee picks: Stick with the spooky theme with Nightmare Before Christmas, or chow down on Cup Noodles.
Trivial Pursuit: Horror Ultimate Edition
If a little spooky isn’t nearly enough for you, you’ll want to grab Trivial Pursuit: Horror Ultimate Edition. Prove you’ve got the stomach (and brain) to handle any scare in across categories including Paranormal, Killer, Gore & Disgusting, and more. This version of the classic trivia game has a great redesign, complete with a new board and macabre playing pieces.
Alternate Trivial Pursuit picks: Love trivia, but not horror? Check out other themed versions of the game, including Harry Potter, Dragon Ball Z, and Rick & Morty.
Kool-Aid Man Jenga
Imagine the nail-biting intensity of a good, competitive game of Jenga… And now imagine how much funnier that game will be with everyone doing their best Kool-Aid Man impression on their turn. “Oh yeah!”
You’re welcome.
Alternate Jenga picks: If you’re worried about your Kool-Aid Man impression, you can also check out Godzilla, Harry Potter, and Bob’s Burgers themed games.
Rudolph Operation
I couldn’t end this list without offering a seasonal themed pick. And what could be better than Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Operation? You’ll have to carefully pluck mistletoe, the Misfit Elephant, and more from Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster – or you’ll hear him roar!
Looking for more gift ideas?
We’ve got you covered. If PC gaming is more your speed, make sure to check out our Best PC Gaming Gifts. You can also find recommendations for movies and more pop culture gifts here.
