Most of Australia’s ten most popular board games are sitting on the shelves of the Lane Cove Toy Library, ready to borrow.
With membership starting from $30 for five toys or games at a time for three weeks, it’s one of the cheapest ways to fill the school holidays.
From bird-watching strategy to exploding kittens, the list covers games for every age and every kind of player. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on boxes that end up gathering dust, local families can try them out, swap them over and come back for more.
Some of Australia’s top ten board games
Wingspan is a beautifully illustrated strategy game where players attract birds to their wildlife preserve. It plays 1 to 5, so it works even on a quiet afternoon alone.
Catan is the modern classic of trading and building. Players settle an island, swap resources and race to expand; it’s a favourite for 3 to 4 players.
Exploding Kittens is a fast, funny card game where nobody wants to draw the kitten. Expect lots of laughter and loud groans.
Sushi Go! and Sushi Go Party! have players passing cards around the table to collect the best combinations of sushi dishes. They’re light, fast and great for younger players.
Codenames splits players into rival spy teams trading one-word clues. It’s a brilliant party game for bigger groups and older kids.
More party favourites on the shelf
The top ten aren’t the only crowd-pleasers you can take home. These four party games are perfect for family gatherings and holiday get-togethers and are loved by The Lane Cove Toy Library Volunteers:
The Chameleon is a game of bluffing and deduction. Everyone except one player knows the secret word, and each person gives a one-word clue. The chameleon must blend in, while everyone else tries to work out who is faking it.
5 Second Rule asks a simple question: can you name three things in a category before the timer runs out? It sounds easy, but with only five seconds on the clock, the answers that come out are often hilarious.
Block Party swaps drawing for building. Players pick a secret object and build it from colourful wooden blocks, scoring points when someone guesses what it is. Challenge cards add bonus points for building fastest or with the most blocks.
Hues and Cues is a colour-guessing game played on a board of hundreds of shades. One player gives a one- or two-word clue for a colour, and everyone else tries to place their marker as close to it as possible.
But wait, there’s more
The toy library also has puzzles for older kids and the popular SmartGames range. SmartGames are single-player logic puzzles with challenges that get harder as you go. Because they’re designed for one player, they’re great for keeping one child happily occupied while siblings play something else.
We can’t wait to see you at The Lane Cove Toy Library (and if you join as a volunteer and do four sessions your membership is free).
Contact Details
The Lane Cove Toy Library
47 Burns Bay Road
Join Here
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.thelanecovetoylibrary.org.au
Facebook: @thelanecovetoylibrary
Instagram: @thelanecovetoylibrary
Online Toy Catalogue here