Board games: on the beach, at the bar, with the family… 10 games to take on vacation

> For the beach: Coastline

Isopods, shells, crabs, sandpipers, beaches, waves, rocks… In Littoral, you will have to accumulate as many tokens as possible on your beach to win the game. Each time you draw a token, you will have to apply its effects. For example, two rock tokens will allow you to collect all the crabs in the sea (the area in the middle of all the players), and to go and steal one from an opponent. It’s simple, it’s easy to understand… and above all, Littoral has the advantage of being resistant to water, wind, and of being able to be carried everywhere thanks to its fabric pouch.

Littoral, published by Randolph, for 1 to 5 players, ages 8 and up. Recommended price: €23

> To play as a couple in the garden: Solstis

In Solstis, a game designed for two players only, players will have to take turns drawing tiles from the center of the table and trying to reconstruct the mountain in front of them. But be careful, each tile, which has a number and a color, only exists in one copy… and so you will have to think carefully before choosing one. Depending on the placement of the tiles, you can collect spirits, which will allow you to perform additional actions. The one with the most stars at the end wins the game. The advantage of Solstis is its (beautiful) cardboard tiles that are less light than cards, and the simplicity of its rules.

Solstis, published by Lumberjacks studio, for 2 players, ages 8 and up. Recommended price: €13

> For a safe casino evening: Mega Jackpot

If you like going to the casino, but you don’t want to lose money, then you should like Mega Jackpot. In this new game, which mimics the operation of a slot machine, the concept is simple: you must try to line up three identical symbols to win cards (and therefore points)… and why not win the Mega Jackpot? Each round, you are entitled to a free “spin”: you can therefore turn over two cards (out of the three presented), to try to line up the symbols. If you are not satisfied, you can pay for previously acquired cards to try to win more points, materialized by coins on the cards. To win: you must have more points than the others, or manage to win the Mega Jackpot with a trio of genies (of value 7). If you don’t like games of chance, move on, otherwise good luck!

Mega Jackpot, published by Tiki Éditions, for 2 to 4 players, ages 8 and up. Recommended price: €12

> For a (crazy) evening with friends: Sync or Swim

Sync or Swim is the craziest game of the summer. You must, in cooperation with the other players, propose the best possible synchronized swimming choreography. During a routine (there are 15), all players have, in their hand, cards that they must play simultaneously in a very very limited time, respecting the constraints common to all swimmers. The game will make you go through all the emotions. A fun gem not to be missed!

Sync or Swim, published by Iello, for 3 to 6 players, ages 14 and up. Recommended price: €22.50.

> To play with the whole family: Dékal

If you are looking for a simple game that will please the whole family, you can opt for Dékal. In this little game, the concept is simple: you have to turn over one of the 16 face-down cards located in your playing area and place it in the center. The first player first chooses a card from the middle, and must then place it in their playing area. The only obligation: you must imperatively shift the cards by one row or one column to be able to play it. At the end of the game, cards of the same value that are side by side cancel each other out, which allows you to score fewer points. The player with the fewest points wins the game.

Dékal, published by Gigamic, for 2 to 6 players, from 7 years old. Recommended price: €15.

> To slip into your pocket: the Roy des Ribauds

You will hardly find smaller. The Micro Games range from Matagot offers small board games, the size of a card holder, which slip easily into your pocket. There are all types, and for all players. In Roy des Ribauds, taken from the eponymous comic book license, you find yourself immersed in medieval France and must try to play the right cards, in the right places, to manipulate the composition of the King’s court and accomplish one of the possible plots. There are four types of cards, each with a specific effect, and three ways to win. A very small game that can be taken out anywhere. Practical!

Le Roy des Ribauds, published by Matagot, for 2 players, ages 10 and up. Recommended price: €8.90

> For rainy days: Coffee Rush

There’s nothing like a good board game to keep you busy on rainy vacation days. In Coffee Rush, you’re the barista of a coffee shop where customers are passing through. Your goal is to respond as quickly as possible to the customers’ many requests. To do this, players move around the ingredients board to collect what they need (coffee, ice cream, milk, caramel, mint, etc.) to fulfill the orders. Those that are done on time earn you points, and possible bonuses, and those that you miss make you lose points.

Coffee Rush, published by Korea Boardgames, for 2 to 4 players from 8 years old. Recommended price: €32

> To play on the terrace: 1% – A game that is decimal

As its name suggests, in 1%, the game that makes decimal, you have a 1% chance of winning… and a 99% chance of losing. At least, at the beginning. To win: you have to manage to get two “0”s by throwing two 10-sided dice. But, to increase your chances of winning, you will have to unlock reward cards. To get the famous reward cards, which for example transform the “6” of your next throws into “0”, you must first win the round, based on bids made by bluffing. Bluff, manipulation and luck, these are the three ingredients of 1% – A game that makes decimal, which make it a must-have for the summer.

1% – A decimal game, published by Iello, for 2 to 6 players from 8 years old. Recommended price: €14

> To revisit the crosswords: Perfect words

If you like to do crosswords during your holidays, you should enjoy Perfect Words. In this cooperative game, nominated for the As d’Or 2024, you will have to create a crossword grid with the other players. To do this, you will have to make associations of words that will have to speak as much to you as to the other players. At the end of the game, the goal is for as many players as possible to find the same 10 words based on the associations placed on the table. For example, if you are told “Tree” and “Job”, do you think of “Lumberjack”? Us too. On the other hand, if you thought of “Landscaper”, you were alone… At the end, we count the points, and refer to the game for its score.

Perfect Words, published by Tiki Éditions, for 2 to 6 players, ages 10 and up. Recommended price: €19.

> For a royal atmosphere: Courtiers

In Courtisans, you are invited to the Queen’s famous banquet, where all the families of the kingdom want to show their influence. During your turn, you must place three cards: one in your domain, one in an opponent’s kingdom, and one at the Queen’s table to try to put the noble families in the spotlight… or on the contrary in disgrace, depending on the secret objectives that you must fulfill. Some courtiers have special powers, which will allow you to influence the game even more. At the end of the game, count your points, positive and negative: the one with the most wins the game!

Courtisans, published by Catch Up Games, for 2 to 5 players, ages 8 and up. Recommended price: €18