The best board games excite. Board games entertain and accompany us often a lifetime. Exciting social games offer a simple but gripping game principle that captivates players and does not let go. Despite digital entertainment opportunities of all kinds, card, dice and board games are still a popular pastime for Canadians and the afternoon or evening of playing games is a regular part of leisure time for young and old.
In the meantime, of course, many classics have gotten a digital edition as an app or online version and popular board games have long since made their way into the online casino. We look at the top 10 of the best board games that are popular in Canada and then examine which titles can also be found in the online casino as a live dealer variant or as an online slot.
These are the most popular board games for Canadians
Classics like chess, checkers, nine men’s morris or backgammon are truly timeless and are often found as part of popular game collections, which is why we have excluded these games from our overview. Other popular titles among board games are Malefiz, Scrabble, The Crazy Labyrinth, Scotland Yard or the more recent Codenames.
For dice games, Yahtzee is clearly in the first place, while popular card games include Uno, Crazy Eights, Doppelkopf, Skat or poker variants. The following top 10 board games are popular in Canada:
- Ludo
- Monopoly
- Game of Life
- Taboo
- Risk
- Trivial Pursuit
- Settlers of Catan
- Clue
- Activity
- Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
1. Ludo
Ludo is an absolute classic among Canadian board games and continues to enjoy tremendous popularity. The inventor Josef Friedrich Schmidt developed the game in 1907 based on the English game Ludo, which itself is a descendant of the Indian game Parchisi. This makes Ludo one of the most traditional parlor games.
Ludo first appeared in Canada in 1910 and series production began in 1914. After more than 100 million copies sold, the annual sales still amount to around 100,000 games today. The publisher is Schmidt Spiele. In addition to the classic version for 2 to 4 players, there is also a variant for 6 players and numerous rule variants.
The players move their four game pieces from a start area to a finish area and rely on dice rolls to do so. Nevertheless, Ludo offers room for tactics and strategy, since with several pieces in the running, the choice is free as to which one to move.
The rules are extremely easy to learn and the fun of playing as well as the game title stem from the fact that the other players and their intentions pose an obstacle.
2. Monopoly
Monopoly is a world-famous board game that has given players around the globe hours of fun and despair since its release.
The inventor Elizabeth Magie patented the game as early as 1904 as “The Landlord’s Game” and later disputed with Charles Darrow, who sold the rights to Parker Brothers, who eventually acquired all rights. Today’s brand owner is the U.S. game manufacturer Hasbro.
The game’s mascot or Rich Uncle Pennybags is modeled after banker Otto Kahn. Canada, Austria and Switzerland each have their own game boards with adapted property names. 2 to 8 players move their tokens around a square game board, thereby acquiring ownership rights and paying or demanding rent. The so-called Community Chest and Chance cards represent random elements here. Anyone who cannot increase their starting capital and goes bankrupt is out of the game. Monopoly is known to many players as an endless board game, but this is usually due to changes in the rules. Sticking to the original rules allows you to limit the playing time.
3. The Game of Life
The Game of Life is a board game that has excited players of all ages since the 1960s. The inventor is considered to be Milton Bradley, who already published “The Checkered Game of Life” in 1860.
In the USA, the manufacturer Hasbro sells the game today under the title “The Game of Life.” The game aims to live as successful a life as possible from school days to retirement and accumulate capital and status symbols.
To do so, the 2 to 6 players can make different decisions with more or less risk. Ultimately, however, it is a game of pure chance with relatively little interaction with the other players.
The easy-to-understand principle makes The Game of Life accessible to children from the age of 8 and the duration of play is much shorter compared to Monopoly, which is why The Game of Life continues to rank among the most popular board games in Canada.
4. Taboo
As an exciting party game, Taboo requires quick thinking and communication skills. The players form two competing teams with at least 2 players each and try to guess as many terms as possible based on verbal circumlocutions before a preset time runs out. Each team has its own list of taboo words that cannot be used. The game not only promotes communication and expressiveness but also empathy, as it helps to know how teammates “tick.”
Numerous variants like Taboo for kids or Taboo with special terms like celebrities allow the fun of the game to continue. The author of the game is Brian Hersch. Since its release in 1990, Hasbro has published the game with worldwide sales of more than 20 million games.
5. Risk
Risk is a strategic board game about conquering the world. The classic among strategy games require clever tactics and negotiation skills, but also luck of the dice when conquering countries and commanding armies. The goal is to control continents while defeating opponents’ armies at the same time.
Despite a simple and abstract level, Risk was formative for the genre of strategy and board games and remains popular to this day. The inventor is the Frenchman Albert Lamorisse and Risk first appeared in 1957. The worldwide rights holder today is the game manufacturer Hasbro.
6. Trivial Pursuit
Trivial Pursuit is a knowledge game that puts players’ general knowledge to the test. The game consists of different categories such as history, sports or entertainment and players answer questions to collect proofs of their knowledge. The winner is the first player to be successful in all categories. Trivial Pursuit is available in different editions and with add-ons to experience new questions and challenges.
The game was released in 1981 and was invented by two friends Scott Abbott and Chris Haney. Meanwhile, Hasbro owns all rights to Trivial Pursuit and distributes the board game around the world with over 100 million copies sold.
7. Settlers of Catan
The board game Settlers of Catan is a modern classic and popular among fans of strategy games. The game is one of the most successful Canadian board games and was released in 1995 by Kosmos Verlag. The inventor is Klaus Teuber. Since 2015, the title has been “Catan – The Game” and there are now numerous variants and expansions.
The aim is to settle the island of Catan, collect resources and build cities and roads. Trading with fellow players and strategic thinking are required to obtain resources. The game offers a balanced mix of tactics and luck and, thanks to arrangeable tiles, different starting situations.
8. Clue
The board game Clue is a detective game that allows 2 to 6 players to take on the role of investigators who have to solve a murder case in a mansion. By collecting clues and questioning fellow players, the goal is to uncover the perpetrator, murder weapon and scene of the crime. The game requires logical thinking, combinatorial skills and a bit of criminalistic flair.
The Briton Anthony Pratt developed the game with his wife Elva Pratt under the title “Murder!” Hasbro acquired the rights and sells the game as Clue to this day. The title “Clue” is a portmanteau of “clue” (for clue) and “ludo” (for game). The Canadian (actually incorrect) pronunciation “Kloo-eh-doh” emphasizes the silent “e” in the middle of the word.
9. Activity
Activity is an Austrian party game that was released in 1990 and is suitable for 3 to 16 players aged 12 and over. The players have to assert themselves in different categories such as drawing, explaining and charades and guess as many terms as possible within a time limit. Activity largely corresponds to the well-known game Charades.
10. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
The board game Who Wants to Be a Millionaire is based on the TV show of the same name with Günther Jauch. As in the TV show, players try to answer the famous million-dollar question and have to work through a repertoire of quiz questions on various topics. As in the original, there is the possibility to rely on the audience, phone a friend or the 50:50 option to find the correct answer.
The top 10 board games and party games in the online casino
Board games and party games in the live casino are especially exciting as a live dealer experience. A presenter guides players through events here, sets a wheel of fortune or Lostrommel (drum filled with numbered balls) in motion and is often also up for joking around. The leading company here is Evolution Gaming, which specializes in live casino games and offers numerous titles with a game show character. In addition, numerous slot games implement popular board game hits differently in minimum deposit 1$ online casinos.
- Monopoly Live Casino
- Monopoly Big Baller
- The Game of Life
- Trivial Pursuit
- Cluedo
- Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
- Deal or No Deal Live
- Fan Tan
- Crazy Time
- Dream Catcher
1. Monopoly Live Casino (Evolution Games)
Monopoly Live from Evolution Games adapts the popular classic among board games as a casino game with live dealers. The Wheel of Fortune is the central element of the game show experience. Players bet on the number fields and have the chance to achieve extra winnings with multipliers, Chance and Bonus rounds. For the bonus game, Mr. Monopoly moves across a real board with well-known fields. We have summarized all the details and winning probabilities of the Monopoly Live Casino game.
In addition, numerous manufacturers have adapted the Hasbro board game into online slots. Popular titles here include Monopoly Megaways from Big Time Gaming, Super Monopoly Money from WMS or Monopoly Big Event from Barcrest Games, for example.
2. Monopoly Big Baller (Evolution Games)
With Monopoly Big Baller, Evolution Games also adapts the popular board game as a game show and live casino experience. Instead of the Wheel of Fortune, 20 bingo balls are used in a Lostrommel here. Players try to complete one or more number rows. Here, too, the board game comes into play in the bonus round and Mr. Monopoly strides across the game board, allowing additional wins but also losses.
3. The Game of Life (WMS)
The online slot provider WMS, in a series called Big Event, releases well-known board games as online slots. The Game of Life and The Game of Life Career Day adapt the popular board game. The Game of Life offers an unusual layout with 17 paylines and multiple game boards. Free spins in the bonus round and the Payday bonus game can, with a bit of luck, turn the online slot into a lucrative gaming experience.
4. Trivial Pursuit (Fremantle)
The manufacturer Fremantle designed Trivial Pursuit with 6 reels, each with 3 rows, as an online slot. Here, the reels correspond to the different knowledge categories of the board game. If symbols on one reel match the category, extra winnings are possible. With 225 ways to win, Trivial Pursuit is a popular online slot, and the numerous bonus games provide plenty of variety while gambling.
5. Clue and Cluedo
The detective game Cluedo has been adapted by several providers of slots for online casinos. Popular variants here are Cluedo from IGT, Cluedo, Cluedo Cash Mystery and Clue Spinning Detectives from WMS, or Cluedo Mighty Ways from SG Gaming.
6. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire would be ideal as a live game show á la Evolution Games’ entertainment offerings. But so far, the quiz show is only available as online slots from various providers. Big Time Gaming is at the forefront here with Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and the Megaways, Megapays and Rush variants. However, there are also great adaptations from Slingo and Ash Gaming.
7. Deal or No Deal Live (Evolution Games)
Deal or No Deal is a TV game show that Evolution Games has designed as a live casino experience. Players must first qualify for a round before choosing one of a total of 16 briefcases in the guessing game.
A presenter opens them one by one, allowing players to decide whether to accept the offer contained therein and the winnings, or whether to continue playing. One reason why Deal or No Deal is a popular live casino game is that viewers can cheer on the candidates of the round with bated breath even if they haven’t qualified themselves.
8. Fan Tan (Evolution Games)
Fan Tan is a traditional Chinese game of chance played with beans, which is still played in the casinos of China and Macau casinos today. Evolution Games brings the ancient game to modern live dealer casinos. In Fan Tan, players bet on the number of beans or pearls remaining at the end after a selection and counting process. In live casinos, players can choose from two different camera angles and place different bets.
9. Crazy Time (Evolution Games)
With the Wheel of Fortune game Dream Catcher, Evolution Games has had great success, which is why they launched Crazy Time as an extension that offers even more entertainment and chances of winning. Players bet on the 54 fields of the Wheel of Fortune, whereby multipliers and bonus games like Cash Hunt, Pachinko, Coin Flip and Crazy Time represent additional winning opportunities.
10. Dream Catcher (Evolution Games)
The original is still popular in live casinos. Dream Catcher was the first game show live dealer game from Evolution Games. Players bet on the number fields of the wheel of fortune and hope to hit one of the lucrative multipliers.