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The best board games to gift this holiday season...

Engadget ·

1 month ago

Board games are a great gift for anyone who wants to spend time with friends and family without staring at the TV. They’re interactive, fun, and you get to tell everyone to put away their phones and tablets for a while. But instead of pulling out the same old classics like Monopoly and Scrabble, we recommend giving some new titles a try. Here, we’ve compiled a list of games that you might not have heard of, but will still make excellent gifts this holiday season. Some are perfect for fantasy and video game nerds, while others are likely to be a hit with the whole family.Trails: A Parks GameKeymaster GamesTrails is a great little board game for anyone who loves hiking or even just the idea of it. In Trails, players hike on picturesque nature paths while gathering resources, taking pictures and encountering wildlife, earning points along the way. Whoever gets the most points wins. The art in this game is beautiful, featuring 11 national park illustrations from the Fifty-Nine Park Print series. Trails makes an especially great game for nature lovers, as a portion of every game sale is donated to the National Park Service.Buy Trails at Target - $20Sleeping GodsWill Lipman Photography for Engadget / Red Raven GamesIf your loved one is a fan of open-world video games such as Skyrim or No Man’s Sky, Sleeping Gods could well be the perfect board game for them. In this cooperative game, you and up to three friends play the part of Captain Sofi Odessa and her crew, who find themselves lost in the Wandering Sea. With a game atlas of connecting maps and a thick choose-your-own-adventure style storybook, players will have to explore the land to uncover its secrets, fight beasts, complete quests and make game-changing decisions. It all adds up to an engrossing and immersive experience sure to please anyone who loves a good story.Buy Sleeping Gods at Amazon - $85Marvel UnitedWill Lipman Photography for Engadget / CMONMCU fans will definitely appreciate it if you give them Marvel United, a game where the player and their friends have to work together to defeat the forces of evil. They can take on the role of one of seven heroes such as Captain America, Iron Man and Black Widow, each with their own unique powers and abilities. To win, players must choose their cards carefully and also collaborate with their partners to combine each other’s actions whenever possible. They’ll have to fight off henchmen, rescue civilians and, of course, take down one of three super villains: Red Skull, Ultron or Taskmaster. If X-Men is more their style, you could get them the Marvel United: X-Men version instead, where they get to play as characters like Professor X, Cyclops and Storm.Buy Marvel United at Amazon - $35CanvasWill Lipman Photography for Engadget / Road to InfamyCanvas is perhaps one of the prettiest board games we’ve ever seen — it’s so lovely that we almost want to hang the cover on a wall. It’s apropos because in Canvas, players are painters in an art competition. They collect art cards, layering them on top of one another to create their own unique “painting.” As they do so, certain icons will be revealed or hidden, which will determine the resulting score, depending on the objectives for that round. It might sound confusing, but Canvas is a beginner friendly game that should make a great gift for art lovers of all stripes.Buy Canvas at Amazon - $45Space InvadersBuffalo GamesSpace Invaders is an enjoyable dexterity game for the whole family, even for those who don’t remember playing the classic arcade title of the same name. In this game, players have to work together to defeat descending aliens plus the UFO mothership before their health runs out. But instead of smashing buttons, they’ll take turns launching battle tokens with a mini catapult, and each player has a special ability they can deploy as well. It all adds to a bunch of silly fun that anyone aged eight and up can partake in.Buy Space Invaders at Target - $20Summer CampBuffalo GamesAnother excellent family game is Summer Camp, which will have your loved ones recalling fond memories of canoeing, making friendship bracelets and roasting marshmallows. In this game, players are racing against each other to earn merit badges in different categories such as adventure, arts and crafts, cooking, friendship, outdoors, games and water sports. They’ll want to buy the right cards, build the best combos and beat their opponents across the finish line to get the most points possible. It might not be as fun as actually being at summer camp, but hey, at least they won’t get eaten by mosquitos while playing.Buy Summer Camp at Target - $25Summoner Wars 2nd EditionPlaid Hat GamesIf your loved one isn’t new to the world of tabletop gaming, then consider giving them Summoner Wars 2nd Edition, a tactical dueling card game that pits them against a rival to see which one will reign supreme. Players take on the role of powerful summoners that each control a large army of units in the form of cards, which are then placed in a head-to-head board. They also choose one of six different factions, each with unique attacks and moves. Some wield dark magic that can drain enemies, while others utilize brute strength to force their way through. If they’re really into combat games with a lot of tactics and strategy, Summoner Wars would make a thoughtful gift. The only downside is that you'll have to gift this a bit late as it comes out on January 12, 2022.Buy Summoner Wars at Amazon - $49Wrath of the Lich King: A Pandemic System Board GameZ-Man GamesFor those who are really into World of Warcraft but might not have a lot of board gaming experience, Wrath of the Lich King: A Pandemic System Board game is the perfect introduction to the pastime. Based on a WoW expansion of the same name, players will take on the roles of legendary characters such as Thrall, Varian Wrynn, Sylvanas Windrunner, Tirian Fordring and Jaina Proudmoore, all of which will be familiar to anyone who’s ever played WoW. They’ll travel around the frozen continent of Northrend, completing quests and setting up strongholds in order to defeat armies of the undead and, eventually, the Lich King himself.Why the long name? Well, the game utilizes similar mechanics found in Pandemic, a much beloved board game about eradicating the world of diseases. Those who are already familiar with Pandemic should be able to learn the game quite easily as a result, though Wrath of the Lich King has enough differences that it won’t feel like the same thing.Buy Wrath of the Lich King at Target - $60Cuphead: Fast Rolling Dice GameWill Lipman Photography for Engadget / CupheadOne of the most popular video games in 2017 was Cuphead, a run-and-gun style video game that features a hand-drawn 1930s art style. If you know someone who loved it when it came out, they might be interested in this card and dice version of the same game. Players play as Cuphead, Mugman, Elder Kettle or Ms. Chalice, and will attempt to defeat a gauntlet of bosses by rolling dice. Players can roll the dice as many times as they want per round, but there’s one problem: the time limit. It all adds up to a chaotic experience that really emulates the insane adrenaline rush of the original video game.Buy Cuphead at The Op - $50......

12 most enchanting Cinderella movies for when you need a little magic...

Mashable ·

3 months ago

Once upon a time in a faraway land, there was a special fairytale we just couldn't stop telling. In 2021, the story of Cinderella — a kind maiden whisked away by her fairy godmother from a terrible life with an evil step-family to a picture-perfect romance with a charming prince — has been told more times than you can count. From Broadway to TV and film, good ol' Cinderelly has been played by icons of all ilks, including pop star Camila Cabello in Amazon's latest adaptation.But which of these tellings is the most magical of them all? We've scoured the many, many options available across streaming platforms and picked the 12 (yes, just like the strokes of midnight!) best for you to consider cuing up next time you need a little magic. Enjoy!Note: Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella (1957), featuring living legend Julie Andrews, is not available to stream. But if it was, you can bet it would be very high up on this list. 12. Cinderella (2021) Naturally, Billie Porter crushes it as Ella's fairy godperson. Credit: amazon studios Who plays Cinderella: Camila CabelloWhat this adaptation does best: Writer-director Kay Cannon, perhaps best known for her work on New Girl and the Pitch Perfect trilogy, delivers high production value and some solid comedy with Amazon’s 2021 adaptation, featuring Billie Porter, Nicholas Galitzine, Idina Menzel, Pierce Brosnan, Minnie Driver, and more. You’ll find Cannon’s reimagining lacks the heart or elegance of titles higher up on this list, but it does have some great covers of contemporary songs and an ear-worm of a title track in Cabello’s pop ballad “Million to One.”How to watch: Cinderella (2021) is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.11. Another Cinderella Story (2008)Who plays Cinderella: Selena GomezWhat this adaptation does best: In the first of three sequels to A Cinderella Story (2004), Selena Gomez stars as an aspiring dancer plagued by a terrible home life and an equally bleak existence at school. But when fate lands her slick moves in front of a hunky pop star, played by Drew Seeley, a modern miracle begins to unfold. It’s a fun blend of DCOM vibes (though the movie was release by Warner Bros., Gomez is at peak Wizards of Waverly Place fame) and aughts dance films like Step Up that makes for a descent, if not particularly substantive throwback. How to watch: Another Cinderella Story is available for rent/purchase through Amazon Prime Video, iTunes, Google Play, YouTube, and the Microsoft Store. 10. Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child Season 1, episode 10 (1995)Who plays Cinderella: Voiced by Daphne ZunigaWhat this adaptation does best: Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child is a multicultural anthology series reimagining classic stories for children of all backgrounds. Its take on Cinderella, released as part of Season 1 in 1995, offers vital onscreen Mexican representation for the genre as well as adorable illustrations you'll enjoy at any age. How to watch: Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child is streaming on HBO Max.9. Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella (1965)Who plays Cinderella: Lesley Ann WarrenWhat this adaptation does best: If you were a child of the ‘80s or ‘90s, then chances are you crossed paths with a VHS copy of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella circa 1965. While the movie hasn’t aged in all the ways one might like (the spotty camerawork and video quality make it feel a bit like community theater), the breakout performance of Lesley Ann Warren as Cinderella stands the test of time. Not only does the actress deliver melodious vocals, her girl-next-door-charm makes this fairly straight-forward retelling feel special. Plus, she's wearing that iconic fur-trimmed gown. You know the one.How to watch: Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella (1965) is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.8. Cinderfella (1960) Jerry Lewis delivers a charming 1960s romp with amazing dancing. Credit: FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty Images Who plays Cinderella: Jerry LewisWhat this adaptation does best: Comedy legend Jerry Lewis leads as the titular Cinderfella in this 1960 gender-swapped telling, featuring Anna Maria Alberghetti as Princess Charming and jazz icon Count Basie as The Bandleader. With fantastic music and some seriously skillful dancing, this telling is very much of its time. It won’t be for all audiences but if “Fred Astaire-meets-fairytale” intrigues you at all, cue it up. How to watch: Cinderfella is available for rent/purchase through Amazon Prime Video, iTunes, Google Play, YouTube, and the Microsoft Store.7. Sesame Street: CinderElmo (1999)Who plays Cinderella: Voiced by Kevin ClashWhat this adaptation does best: Yes, CinderElmo is as adorable as you’re imagining, but there’s even more to be excited about with this magical children's special. Come for the promise of seeing the Muppets take on this classic fairytale with all their zany Muppet-ness. Stay because Keri Russell is Princess Charming, Oliver Platt is the Fairy Godperson, and Kathy Najimy is the Evil Stepmother. It’s a stacked and stuffed cast that will sell you on every second of this 65-minute delight.How to watch: Sesame Street: CinderElmo is available for rent/purchase through Amazon Prime Video, iTunes, Google Play, and the Microsoft Store. 6. A Cinderella Story (2004) Who plays Cinderella: Hilary DuffWhat this adaptation does best: We have so much to thank A Cinderella Story for that it’s hard to even know where to begin. Is it the rain-soaked kiss between Hilary Duff and Chad Michael Murray? Is it Regina King’s speech about never letting the fear of striking out keep you from the game? Is it Jennifer Coolidge holding a cookie and saying, “so moist”? Regardless, this is an aughts film for the ages — one that takes the classic Cinderella story and adds so many great scenes you almost forget it’s based on anything.How to watch: A Cinderella Story is streaming on Netflix.5. Disney's Cinderella (2015)Who plays Cinderella: Lily JamesWhat this adaptation does best: It’s the #1 title on our ranking of Disney live-action remakes: Cinderella (2015). Directed by Kenneth Branagh, this film has the shot-by-shot visual loyalty of The Lion King (2019) but the updated narrative smarts of Mulan (2021) — a winning combo that helps its star-studded cast shine. Lily James is a magnificent Cinderella, opposite an especially dashing Prince Charming from Richard Madden. But it’s Cate Blanchett who steals the show as one truly wicked Stepmother. Going forward, hers will be the performance to beat.How to watch: Cinderella (2015) is streaming on STARZ.4. Ella Enchanted (2004) 'Ella Enchanted' is an all-time great fairytale with or without its Cinderella similarities. Credit: miramax films Who plays Cinderella: Anne HathawayWhat this adaptation does best: Based on Gail Carson Levine’s YA novel of the same name, Ella Enchanted expands on the original Cinderella story in myriad ways. There’s a curse akin to Sleeping Beauty but with obedience instead of narcolepsy; a band of mythical creatures who come together to rebel against the king; and even a jazzy cover of “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” complete with show-stopping choreography. Anne Hathaway stars in one of her first and most iconic roles. How to watch: Ella Enchanted is streaming on HBO Max.3. Ever After: A Cinderella Story (1998)Who plays Cinderella: Drew BarrymoreWhat this adaptation does best: Ever After is a ‘90s title so beloved and so particular to its time that it can be hard to remember it has anything to do with Cinderella — but it most certainly does. Directed by Andy Tennant, this historical romance stars Drew Barrymore as Danielle de Barbarac, an orphaned maiden of Renaissance-era France. Living with her cruel stepmother, the Baroness Rodmilla de Ghent played by the incomparable Anjelica Huston, Danielle faces an uncertain future until the promise of art and love sets her free. This telling may be a bit dark for children, though adults will appreciate its melancholy, yet hopeful tone and complex themes. How to watch: Ever After: A Cinderella Story is streaming on Disney+.2. Disney's Cinderella (1950) Who plays Cinderella: Voiced by Ilene WoodsWhat this adaptation does best: Only the eleventh movie made by Disney, Cinderella (1950) is without question the most universally recognized film adaptation of this fairytale — and with good reason. Beautiful songs, characteristic of Disney’s unique approach to musicals at the time, and artful animation make it stand out as a particularly exquisite approach to the story. From Ilene Woods’ enchanting vocals on “A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes” to that unforgettable fairy godmother transformation scene, it’s a fairytale, plain and simple.How to watch: Disney's Cinderella (1950) is streaming on Disney+.1. Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella (1997) Of course, Brandy reigns supreme as the best Cinderella ever. Credit: disney+ Who plays Cinderella: BrandyWhat this adaptation does best: Although it was divisive among critics at the time of its release, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella (1997) reigns supreme as the best Cinderella story available in 2021. Spectacular performances from music icons Brandy and Whitney Houston as Cinderella and the Fairy Godmother are an obvious sell. More important, however, is the diverse representation director Robert L. Freedman's musical film provides with a cast that also includes Paolo Montalbán, Victor Garber, Whoopie Goldberg, Bernadette Peters, Jason Alexander, and more.How to watch: Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella (1997) is streaming on Disney+.......