Fun Board Games for Online Gamers

Ever wonder how to get your online game addicts unplugged and engaged in face-to-face contact with humans? Try one or two of these off-line games. They are creative, fun and can stir a little friendly competition.

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These board games will attract even the most avid online gamer. — Photographed by Ted Morrison

1. Telestrations
(telestrations.com; $29.99)
Number of players: 4 to 8
How to play: Billed as "the telephone game sketched out," it involves drawings rather than whispers. Each player gets a "secret word" and makes a sketch that's passed around and reinterpreted artistically. At the end is the big reveal, when players find out how "doggy bag" turned into "man purse."
Why it's fun: Allows players to unleash their inner Picasso.

2. Zip-It
(bananagrams.com; $14.99)
Number of players: 2
How to play: Each player gets 12 cubes with letters on all sides and has to build a Scrabble-like word grid out of them all as fast as possible. The first one to do so calls out "Zip!" and scores a point. Because it's in a portable little bag, it's easy to keep handy for spontaneous play.
Why it's fun: Manages to be speedy, challenging and super-simple at the same time.

3. Anomia
(anomiapress.com; $15.99)
Number of players: 3 to 6
How to play: Anomia means "a problem with word finding or recall," and that's what this game tests. Players draw cards with words for categories ("frozen food," for instance) and try to be the first to come up with examples in the category.
Why it's fun: Under pressure it's even trickier, and funnier, than it sounds.

4. Spot It!
(blueorangegames.com; $13.99)
Number of players: 2 to 8
How to play: There are eight cartoon images on each card, and players need to spot matches between their cards and those of their opponents.
Why it's fun: Fosters fast thinking among all age groups. And it comes in a little round tin that travels nicely to parties.

5. Tenzi
(ilovetenzi.com; $13.95)
Number of players: 2 to 4
How to play: "The World's Fastest Dice Game!" definitely is played at a frenzied pace. A set comes with 40 dice in four colors, and each player gets 10 of the same color. The basic rules: Everyone rolls their dice at the same time, aiming to get all of one number — say, 4. Each time you get a 4 you put that die aside. The first to get 10 of their number wins.
Why it's fun: It only takes a few minutes per game, and there's no waiting for turns. 

6. Dixit
(us.asmodee.com; $34.99)
Number of players: 3 to 6
How to play: Everyone has a hand of cards with interesting illustrations. A player secretly chooses one, and briefly describes the image. The other players decide which of their cards is the most likely match, then put those cards together and try to determine which was the original.
Why it's fun: It's simple and imaginative, and players can drop in and out of the game at any point.