Holiday gatherings are a perfect opportunity to bust out a board game or two--after all, you've got a large selection of possible opponents, the weather outside is potentially frightful (location depending), and the learning curve is usually pretty slim. But you don't need to dig through your parents' or in-laws' dusty closets this year: simply bring along your iPad and fire up some of these ace adaptations of classic board game favorites. Not only are your guaranteed to have all the necessary pieces and instructions, but additional games can be also downloaded in a snap, whereas actual retail stores may be shuttered. Get the family party started with these eight apps!
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For some, the thought of Monopoly's real estate-grabbing experience brings back a flood of fond memories, while others simply remember sore losses and the resulting hard feelings. Whatever your experience, the iPad version of the game offers a fully featured rendition that supports up to four players, letting each sit on one side of the device and have the interface oriented in his/her favor when needed. You can even customize your own "house rules" if your family has a certain way of playing Monopoly--assuming this surprisingly divisive game is even welcome in your home.
Carcassonne may not have the age-old clout of some other games on this list, but this decade-old German tile game has a pretty devoted following, and for good reason: it's a smartly designed and strategic game that's unlike anything else out there. This fantastic universal iOS version makes the game--in which players alternate placing land tiles to build and claim roads, fields, and cities--an absolute joy to play, with an interactive tutorial, voiced narration, and the ability to swap between five players, plus computer opponents are available to fill in gaps if desired.
The classic and ever-competitive word game comes to life in a stellar iPad iteration, which includes pass-and-play and local network options, as well as the ability to face off against a computer-controlled opponent. But the most interesting feature by far is the Party Play mode, which lets you link the iPad up with up to four iPhones or iPod Touch devices--using the free Scrabble Tile Rack app for each --to create an amusingly accurate simulation of the board game, where you can keep your tiles secret and flick them onto the board when your turn comes up.
Jenga's tactile bricks might seem an odd fit for the iPad at face value, but while we certainly wouldn't dispute that apparent incongruity, the actual experience is surprisingly sharp and enjoyable. Like the physical game, you'll push and pull small wooden blocks while maintaining the stability of the tower, creating a tense party game that favors steady hands and careful planning. Jenga HD for iPad includes a pass-and-play mode for four players, a more freeform classic mode, and a faster-paced, score-based arcade mode for more competitive players.
Just in time for the holiday season, The Game of Life is finally available in a native iPad version, with stellar high-resolution visuals that help convey the virtual journey through the ups and downs of modern life. Up to six players can take part in the pass-and-play mode, where each commands a car through a winding board that includes college, jobs, marriage, kids, vacations, lawsuits, accidents, property ownership, and all sorts of other events. And when you finally reach retirement, the game displays a colorful journal of your accomplishments--a nice touch for this well-made digital adaptation.
The Settlers of Catan is another hugely successful semi-recent German board game, and this iPad iteration brings the colonization and resource management hit to life with four-player pass-and-play support and an included tutorial. Catan HD isn't a tremendously difficult game to learn--the game essentially centers on building colonies and amassing resources as you take over the board--but offers a wealth of strategic opportunities for skilled players, plus the ability to trade resources with competitors when mutually beneficial scenarios emerge.
Nothing brings to mind the warm and fuzzy sensations of the holiday season like worldwide warfare, but that's just what this board game classic provides. Up to six players can jump in and control soldiers on a map of the Earth, building up troop formations and rolling the dice in an attempt to conquer nearby lands. It's a mix of strategy and the luck of the roll that comes across well in this glossy iPad iteration, which makes it easy for pass-and-play sessions with or without computer opponents, plus it includes tutorial tips for those who didn't grow up with this beloved favorite.
The iPad version of Boggle offers a solid conversion of the speedy word-building game, all the way down to shaking the device to reset the letters before each game, as well as being able to rotate the orientation of the letters to get a fresh perspective. Boggle's a fun cooperative game, as you can sit with another person or two and freely pick out words amidst the jumble, or you can jump into the pass-and-play mode when you want a head-to-head battle against anxious siblings. You can even enter a self-scoring mode if you somehow find the standard Boggle rules too confining.
