Cardboard Gamer's Guide to Shopping for Gamers for Xmas
Hello all and happy holidays! This is Cardboard Gamer. I’m sure all of you have noticed that we’re starting to get close to the biggest holiday of the year. By close I mean, it’s 16 days away. Eep. Hope you finished all your shopping. However, if you’re still having trouble finding gifts for people, especially the gamers on your list, I’m here to help. Here are the top five games that I would recommend picking up for the gamers on your Christmas list.
Number Five: Game of Thrones: The Board Game
I say Game of Thrones, but you can easily substitute a board game version of any popular TV show or movie here as well. For fans of the show, it’s sure to be a hit. These types of games tend to accurately represent the universe they came from and allow players to live in it for a little while. A word of caution: games based on movies or TV shows tend to have lengthier and more complicated rules. However, fandom often compensates for this. A big enough fan will want to learn all the rules and more.
Number Four: Descent: Journeys in the Dark
Do you know a gamer that’s really in Dungeons and Dragons, Pathfinder or other tabletop rpgs? If so, Descent should be on your list of presents to buy for that person. Although Descent is a board game, it functions very similarly to a tabletop rpg. The great part is that the game comes with pre-made scenarios, very much like a one night campaign. One person gets to play as the dungeon and all its baddies, while the rest of the players become the adventuring party and try to defeat it. Another plus? Figurines. Descent comes loaded with figurines to represent the adventurers and monsters. This is a must-have for any tabletop rpg fan. Speaking of tabletop rpgs...
Number Three: Tabletop RPGs
There are so many flavors of tabletop rpgs out there, but to the people that play them, owning every book becomes a near obsession. For the fantasy players, try Pathfinder or the old standby of Dungeons and Dragons. Have a tech-savvy friend that’s into tabletop rpgs? Try introducing him or her to Shadowrun. The World of Darkness books are great for fans of zombies, werewolves and other supernatural beasties. Know your player and you’ll be sure to find something he or she can enjoy. Plus, there’s so many books for each game, that even someone that has all the core rulebooks, is sure not to have a handful of the optional ones.
Number Two: The Resistance: Avalon
Do you enjoy having secret identities? How about being overly suspicious of your friends? Avalon is a spin-off of The Resistance, in which everyone has a secret identity and is trying to either complete or disrupt quests to lead their team to victory. Avalon expands on the original game by adding new roles besides the good guys and the bad guys. You’ll run into people like Merlin, Morgana, Lancelot and Percival. Each role comes with its own unique skill, intended to lead its team to victory. This game is great with a large group, but with all the accusations flying around, things tend to get loud.
Number One: Cards Against Humanity
Really, you can’t go wrong with this one. As long as the person in question is not one of those “easily offended” types, Cards Against Humanity is a must-have for every gamer’s collection. The game will get a lot of playtime, trust me. Probably one of the best times to play is during a party or large gathering of friends. There will be so many laughs, that you may even wake up the neighbors. Currently there are four expansions, the base set, the Christmas set, some PAX promos and the aptly named Bigger, Blacker Box to put them all in. That’s a lot of Cards, folks.
Hopefully this has helped you guys out. There will not be any more Cardboard Gamer reviews until after the Christmas season. Stay safe. Stay warm. Play some games. Have a wonderful holiday season, from my corner of the internet to yours.

















