Cards, dice or board: board games remain popular as gift ideas

Maël Cousinier : “Les gens ont vu qu’il y avait à faire dans les jeux.” Midi Libre – ALEXIS BETHUNE

In Alès, but probably also beyond, board games seem to be finding buyers for these end-of-year celebrations.

There is no shortage of customers at Casa’Jeux this week. In mid-December, the card and board game store on rue Estienne d’Orves, the only one of its kind in Alès, began welcoming children, parents and grandparents looking for their Christmas happiness. “It's not starting too badly indeed”, smiles Maël Cousinier, the owner of the place. “But for the majority of customers, purchases are still made at the last minute.”

Skyjo, team game and collectible cards

During the Covid-19 health crisis, board games, which brought with them an extremely abundant universe that made dominoes or Monopoly pale in comparison, had won over new audiences. “Not everyone necessarily remained players, but the crisis had changed some habits, believes Maël Cousinier. Lots of people saw that there was something to do.”

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Whether you're a big fan or a small occasional player, games, in addition to their sizes and prices (between €15 and €45 on average), seem to suit everyone. Among the current must-haves, we find Skyjo. A card game reminiscent of Uno, it pits up to 8 players against each other, where strategy and mental calculation are required to not win, but to lose the most points by the end of the game.“It has become a phenomenon,” believes the specialist from Alès. Other games seem to have won over customers: The Gang, a “poker game, but with cooperation between players”, as well as Bomb Buster, a funny game where the participants, all together, must try to defuse virtual bombs.

“There is a real demand for cooperative games, but what is still a hit today are collectible cards.” From Magic cults to the unshakeable Pokémon, players, especially the youngest, flock to buy Lorcana cards (Disney character universe) or even a new collection of Star Wars cards…

More personal favorites

Unsurprisingly, Casa’Jeux is linked to La Reine des Jeux, an Alès association that offers, every second Tuesday of the month, a dedicated evening at the Comptoir des Mousses (262 route d’Uzès). The club of enthusiasts does not hesitate to offer some personal favorites including Crazy Kick, a card game where the characters are football players, and that you have to place at the right time to win the game. “We who are not usually very into football, we loved it”, confides Isabelle Challier, secretary of the association, “we are even thinking about making it a championship! It gives a good atmosphere to start the evening.”

The player also highlights the game Trio, where the combinations to be made are reminiscent of those of the one-armed bandits, or else Pina Coladice, a dice game with more adult humor where the Yam's-style throw should help to make cocktails…

For her part, Maël Cousinier has a weakness, among many others, for Horizon of Spirit Island, a board game where players embody spirits from a desert island wanting to chase away a landing of conquistadors. Beyond the concept, the game seems reserved for the most seasoned. “To understand the rules, in this one, you have to have time”, admits the follower.

In short, there should, once again, be something for everyone.