This week’s Culture Club is all about the perfect party game - invite a few friends over for a good time!

It used to be that you’d invite your friends over and you’d spread out the Monopoly board - or maybe you broke out your DM book and your 20 sided die. With the rise of video games, there are more party friendly games being produced to attract the crowds. Here, I’ll talk about some great options to get your party rolling!

Board Games

Strangely enough, my friends and I love to play board games - with or without alcohol. It usually goes much smoother without.

Cranium

The original Cranium was named the best toy of the year in 2001. They’ve pumped out several different variations, such as Pop 5, Hoopla and Turbo Edition. They more or less have similar activities, such as trivia, charades, drawing and clay sculpting to get your message across. Why is this game so great? It melds several different types of classics together in one game, and the bigger your group, the more different talents you have at your disposal. Cranium also offers individual games - such as Cloodle and Scultorades.

Official Cranium Website

Catchphrase

This high energy and speedy game works with even numbered teams, with at least 2 on each team. The first incarnation of this game was a handheld disk with a manual button on the side and phrase cards. Each hit of the button produced a new phrase. There’s now a digital version that I’ve yet to try. It gives you the option to to play with all phrases or pick a specific category. The object of the game: the disk is passed around to each person. Each person presses the button on their turn and tries to describe the phrase without using any words in the phrase to their team members. They can do anything from give a definition to charades. Once the phrase is guessed correctly, the disk is passed to the next person of the opposite team before the time runs out.

This is a really fun game to play with those you know well. If you know someone well (like a really close friend or a significant other) it becomes really easy to figure out what they’re trying to do. With my friends, we like to mix it up to see what combinations are best.

Catchphrase on Hasbro Website

Trivial Pursuit

Ah, the original geek board game. This game has turned out games in different genres, some as specific as Disney Trivial Pursuit and modern versions, like Pop Culture DVD Trivial Pursuit. The DVD versions are a really great alternative to the plain old board game - it changes the pace from reading from a card to watching a scene or a visual puzzle. Object: The basic object of the game is to answer trivia questions correctly to gain a tile from every color. In DVD versions, it includes puzzles, sound clips, movie clips and more.

Official Trivial Pursuit Website

Scene It?

Similar to Trivial Pursuit, this game focuses only on movie and television trivia. Like Trivial Pursuit, this game has different varieties - Harry Potter edition, Marvel edition, etc. This game comes with a DVD. Play with movie clips, sound clips, and trivia to make it around he board.

Scene It? Website

Scattergories

This game is for more low-key and calmly paced parties. The game comes with 6 pads, so playing with more could be difficult if you have to pair up. Object: Players each receive the same card with a list of categories. The alphabet dice is rolled and depending on what letter it lands on determines the game. Each player must come up with a word that starts with that letter for each category. The goal is to be as unique as possible - players with the same answers don’t get points. Get double points for double words!

You can play a flash demo on the website!

Scattergories on Hasbro.Com

Video Games

Sing Star and Karaoke Revolution
We all know karaoke is a hit at parties. Don’t have the money to shell out for a karaoke machine? You can pick up one of these titles and a mic to go with it for less than a karaoke machine. Karaoke Revolution, produced by the same makers of the popular Dance Dance Revolution, let you play with up to 8 players, and in later versions, can sing with duets. They’ve also tacked on the American Idol label on it, which I found to be a bit unfortunate since it’s lost popularity. The lastest incarnation, Karaoke Revolution: American Idol Encore was released earlier this year for the PS2, Wii and Xbox 360. You can buy boxsets which include a headset.

Sing Star is the modern approach to karaoke, with different versions dedicated to certain genres and a well mixed selection. In addition to the words on the screen, the music video plays in the background. You can do the duet option on this as well - my friends like to do is challenge each other to see who can stay on the mic the longest! This is only available on the PS2. You can buy bundle packs with 2 mics or purchase a USB mic separately.

SingStar Website

Halo 3

Yes, I know we are all familiar with Halo, and similar FPS’, so I don’t think I need to delve too deep into this one. Any of these games are great as long as you have all four controllers and enough people to want to rotate in. Also a great opportunity to introduce those nongamers to a game they’d want to play again with friends. But just go easy on them for their first game - we don’t want to scare them away! This game is only available on the Xbox 360.

Halo 3 Website

Mario Party 8

Ahhh, there are plenty of great party games on the Wii. As we all know, the Wii gets you up out of your chair and move. MP8 is a more relaxed, sit-down game great for up to four people. Packed with new mini-games and challenging new boards, this game has great replay value, and is definitely very family friendly. The object of the game plays like a boardgame - each player rolls the die and takes their turn around the board, gaining coins and stars. Depending on which board you play with determine how stars are won - sometimes with coins, sometimes in buying property, or just making it to the end of the board. In between each set of turns, a minigame will be played to win more coins. The person with the most stars at the end of the game wins! This game is only available on the Wii. A DS version is available, but you’ll need multiple DS’s to play.

Mario Party 8 on the Wii Website

Wii Sports

Unless you’ve only got a few people over, try to stick with bowling or tennis. Just be sure you have plenty of room! This game, of course, comes standard with the Wii.

Rockband

Rockband brings out everyone’s inner rockstar. From the creators of the wildly popular Guitar Hero, Rockband is for up to four players on four different instruments - lead guitar, bass guitar, drums and vocals. You can buy the set (1 microphone, 1 guitar, 1 drumset) or buy them separately. Create a band and rock out to your favorite songs! This game is currently only available on the PS2 and Xbox 360.

Rockband Website

Super Smash Brothers Brawl

We’re familiar with the Smash Brothers series, and its newest incarnation is indeed the best. I had the opportunity to try it out (and the whole series first time ever, for that matter) at E For All in Los Angeles last year, and the game is amazing! Brand new characters and lots of new special additions, everyone is itching for this game’s arrival this weekend, March 9. Don’t forget to reserve your copy, it’s not too late!! This game is only available on the Wii.

Super Smash Brothers Brawl on Wii Website

Trying to plan your party? Here’s some ideas for a good time:

Family Friendly Party

Try: SingStar, Cranium, Trivial Pursuit, Mario Party 8, Wii Sports, Super Smash Brothers Brawl

Intimate Party

Try: Scattergories, Karaoke Revolution, Trivial Pursuit, Scene It?, Halo 3, Wii Sports, Rockband

10 or more people

Try: SingStar, Cranium, Catchphrase, Halo 3, Super Smash Brothers Brawl, Trivial Pursuit

Have fun!