Thanksgiving Games
Thanksgiving is a time where families come together around the table, enjoy some food and give thanks for another year. Everybody is happy and all is right with the world. Until game time.
No, not the football games that pipe through millions of American homes every year, I’m talking about board and card games. You know, the kind with the picture of a happy family on front. Yeah, that’s not us. My extremely competitive family enjoyed a nice post-Thanksgiving game of Imaginiff and Phase 10. In the instructions of Imaginiff, they warned us that “lively debate” might ensue. We had our fair share of those. Then we brought out Phase 10 which is a never-ending card game in which the luck of the draw leaves everyone frustrated. Now, before you start thinking we were yelling at each other the whole time, think again. There were a few moments of laughter but most of the time we were having “lively debates.” Oh, the joy of games bringing the family together. ![]()
What’s your favorite party game?
Stephen

Devan on November 30th, 2008
Have you played Settlers of Catan! What a great party / group game!
Adam on November 30th, 2008
Imaginiff is great. We are a big fan of Cranium, and a oldie but goodie…Balderdash. OH how I enjoy that game. It’s insanely funny
reg on November 30th, 2008
We played strategy games, mancala and chess, on Thanksgiving at our house.
It was fun.
Patti on November 30th, 2008
You forgot to mention our fun game of Nertz of Thanksgiving Day.
Even though “frustration levels” were high, I still enjoyed playing games with my family!
stephen lechner on December 1st, 2008
@Devan - I’ve never played that game. Will look it up, though!
@Adam - I love Balderdash!
lindsey on December 2nd, 2008
@Phase 10: I’m done for life.
That’s all I needed.
Holley on December 2nd, 2008
Mexican Train (dominoes) is my favorite game and hopefully it wouldn’t cause any debates…unless you’re me then everything is competitive.
Megan on December 2nd, 2008
I agree… it was a fun/frustrating time! I guess that’s what you get when the entire family is so competitive! I agree with Lindsey: no more Phase 10 for me!
Let’s try “Scattergories” around Christmas!
Brad Ruggles on December 5th, 2008
We have a tradition to play Poker with my wife’s side of the family every Thanksgiving and Christmas. I would enjoy it more if I won but my Father-in-Law is just so stinking good.