Hype This! From bikes to boards: fun, games, and strategies for dark winter days!
Cold, wet, and uncomfortable probably best describes what bike rides are currently like. But don’t despair! We’ve gathered 7 games for you that will help you pass the time, divert your thoughts, and make the most of the winter break, getting cosy indoors, and having fun with friends & family.
Monopoly Deal
We’ve all been there: a “quick” game of Monopoly drags out into a painful, multi-day saga, and you wish you had brought a sleeping bag with you. However, Monopoly is now available in a quick and convenient card format. According to Hasbro, the entire game only takes 15 minutes and is made for 2 to 5 players. The handy format consists of 110 cards, is available for € 10.49, and should fit comfortably in most pockets. So, if you like playing the proud landlord in the original Monopoly and enjoy collecting rent, but you’re not in the mood for a games marathon, you can now rile up your friends in just 15 minutes.
Price: € 10.49
Manufacturer’s website: products.hasbro.com
Backgammon
Olden but golden. The history of this wooden board game dates back to 500 AD, and it’s still a popular board game in many homes today. So, there’s nothing to stop you from enjoying a cosy games evening with grandma and grandpa – after all, most grandparents are probably very familiar with Backgammon. The timeless classic is available in countless variants, like this roll-up (bike) travel version, and it usually only takes 15 minutes to play. It requires some strategy, but in an emergency: roll the dice and run! The model shown here sells for € 69.90, but you can find the game for significantly less. That’s if you haven’t already got it lying around somewhere in your house.
Price: € 69.90
Manufacturer’s website: langbrett.com
Kendama
This Japanese game of dexterity consists of a ball with a hole, connected to the handle by a thread, and it’s a perfect off-trail activity. If you want to switch off with a quiet activity that trains your hand-eye coordination and concentration, you can soon impress your friends with the Kendama lighthouse trick – with enough patience and practice. How quickly and where you can get the ball to rest on the handle is a question of skill.
Price: € 22.99
Manufacturer’s website: kendama.com
Operation
For those with a steady hand and some dexterity, Hasbro offer the Operation game. Yes, we know this is a children’s game, but aren’t we all still children inside? Besides, it lets you practise your first aid (and surgery) skills for possible accidents while riding. Paul, the patient, waits on the operating table for you to pull off various procedures. Each treatment usually takes about 15 minutes. You don’t need a medical degree for this, all it takes is € 21.99 to turn you into the chief physician. Nice!
Price: € 21.99
Manufacturer’s website: products.hasbro.com
Traxxas TRX4 Land Rover Defender
If you haven’t yet fulfilled your dream of owning a Land Rover Defender, you can at least get your hands on the remote-controlled mini version from Traxxas. The electric Traxxas is perfect for all action-seeking riders who can’t get enough when the sun goes down earlier in the winter. With the TRX4 Land Rover Defender, your living room turns into a race track and a pack of noodles morphs into a rock-crawl challenge where you can use the winch. You can have fun for as long as the battery lasts, or until something breaks. At € 179.95, it’s a slightly less daunting prospect than the real thing.
Price: € 179.95
Manufacturer’s website: traxxas.com
Wizard – 20th Anniversary Edition (German)
While this strategic card game seems like black magic at first, it’s quite the insider tip in our office. If you treat yourself to the rare 20 year anniversary edition, you get 7 special new cards, which make the game even more unpredictable, but also much more expensive. While it’s exclusively available in German, you should find translations of the rules online. Of course, the standard version also offers plenty of off-season fun. Wizard allows for 3 to 6 players and one game is claimed to take about 45 minutes, but it’s more like 3 hours from our experience…
Price: € 8.99 for the standard version (€ 100 for the 20th anniversary edition)
Manufacturer’s website: amigo-spiele.de
LEGO Technic Liebherr LR 13000 crawler crane
If you’re expecting to spend more than a few hours off the bike, the LEGO Technic Liebherr LR 13000 crawler crane is the right choice. With 2,883 pieces, it’s said to take about 10 hours to build, according to Lego, so constructing the crawler crane should keep you busy for about 3 to 5 days. This remote controlled vehicle isn’t especially action packed, but provides a sense of achievement and satisfaction.
Price: € 679.99
Manufacturer’s website: lego.com
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Words: Benedikt Schmidt Photos: Hersteller
