Board games to offer for Christmas: the selection of specialists Michèle and Lionel from Escalibur to choose without making a mistake in Montpellier

Michèle and Lionel have agreed to play the game of selection for Christmas. Midi Libre – L. D.

Escalibur is the Montpellier haunt of all board game fans. Among the thousands offered in their store, the founders of the place were entrusted with the difficult task of making a selection of five games…

No hesitation, to find a suitable board game, the Escalibur store located at 7 bis rue de l’Ancien Courrier, is the essential must-see in Montpellier. Michèle and Lionel Moutin were therefore the most qualified to develop a top 5 of games to discover.

While they are in the middle of their 35th Christmas rush, the game specialists have accepted this most complex mission: the selection of five games intended for a wide audience. A choice had to be made. Here it is:

1. The favorite: “Mixed Forest”

Mixed forest or how to have fun creating a forest. Midi Libre – L. D.

Apparently there is no need to even raise an eyebrow, this is the game that you absolutely have to try. “It is simple and very rich at the same time. While being fun, it is strategic and instructive and in addition it is a beautiful game.” Michèle is dithyrambic, “all the more so since it is accessible to a wide audience.”

The principle is simple: you have to plant your forest by combining appropriate cards. But for it to be viable, you have to think about the entire ecosystem, not just the tree, by including the fauna and flora with a logical ecological balance. Because to introduce a squirrel, you have to have an oak tree. Some animals or birds bring in a lot of points because they make the forest prosper.

The trick is to combine intelligently to be able to attract wild animals that will develop your piece of nature thus created before the end of the three winters that can be drawn more or less quickly…

Mixed Forest, Kosh. From 8 years old. From 2 to 5 players. Max duration one hour. Less than 30 euros.

2. Favorite: Naéco

Naéco, the game to explore the seabed. Midi Libre – L. D.

“With its superb, refined design, this game is a real favorite and it's also published by Jeux Opla, which we love.” It must be said that the small French publishing house carries values ​​beyond the theme of the game.

The product is made in France, the publisher does not ship the box beyond 1,000 km, supports the NGO Sea Shepherd and a small informative booklet on marine biodiversity is provided as a bonus. It is therefore the perfect “eco” gift that is nice and committed.

But above all, this cooperative, tactical and strategic game – which for those who hadn't noticed is the word “ocean” backwards – is thrilling, fun and interesting for an incredible and fun dive into the depths of the sea.

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The player finds himself in the shoes of a researcher who will explore the seabed in order to collect new scientific data. Thanks to maps, he will have to collect points with discoveries on biodiversity, its observations and its preservation.

A real gem to have a good time.

Naéco, Florent Toscano and David Boniffacy. From 8 years old. From 1 to 4 players. Duration 15 minutes. About 15 euros.

3. The favorite and especially the Montpellier native: Smile Life

Smile Life, the game for good laughs. Midi Libre – L. D.

When she presents the game Smile Life, Michèle's eyes shine. “With this one we have a special story since we were the first store to put it on sale… I still have the first box, the adventure started here”, she confides with a certain emotion.

When Alexandre Seba from Montpellier created his game, he decided to entrust it to the specialists at Escalibur. It was a huge success and extensions were added. “It's such a great success.”

This strategic and atmospheric game is hilarious and completely offbeat. The aim of the game is to build your life while ruining those of others. Lots of laughs in perspective. And for those who are tempted, there is the trash version, the fantasy, the girl power and the apocalypse, not all of which are suitable for everyone.

Smile Life, Alexandre Seba. Ages 8 and up. 2 to 6 players. Duration 20 minutes. About 20 euros.

4. The revelation of the year: Trio

Trio, the smart and addictive game. Midi Libre – L. D.

“It's simple and effective and it won the As d'or this year at Cannes.” Trio is a card, deduction and memory game in which you have to find, as its name suggests, trios of cards, i.e. three identical cards. But while memorizing the cards of others and with those placed on the table. It will still be necessary to use cunning to achieve the expected result.

A fun game to spend good times with family or friends. “It's really nice…”

Trio, Kaya Miyano, Laura Michaud. Ages 7 and up. 3 to 6 players. Duration 15 minutes. About 12 euros.

5. The good idea: Animots

Animots, a game accessible even to the youngest. Midi Libre – L. D.

“It's really fun and useful. It's a super nice and family game that allows the youngest to participate.” Awith Animots, you will have to reconstruct the letters of your animal while trying to guess the other players' animals.

And to do this, you will have to put your hand in a bag at the same time to find the letters tactilely. “It's a speed game but it can also be used to help with reading and there are even cards in English.”

The youngest will be able to play with the older ones and everyone will be able to learn while having fun.

Animots, Anja Wrede and Bruno Faidutti. From 4-5 years old. From 2 to 6 players. Duration 15 minutes. About 12 euros.