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Even if someone's family hates board games, there's always one I recommend trying; it's the perfect blend of easy to understand and low pressure, with plenty of fun sprinkled along the top as a garnish.
I tend to recommend Herd Mentality around this time of year, and the reason is simple. It's a triple-threat party game; up to 20 people can play at once, it takes less than half an hour to finish, and you don't need to know anything special to join in. The most important bit, though? Even folks who hate playing the best board games won't mind getting involved, because it doesn't require any of the usual strategizing, competitiveness, or being put on the spot that turns them off. Actually, the whole point is to avoid standing out.
I spend most of my year reviewing board games, so it says a lot when one sticks around on my shelf - and Herd Mentality earned a permanent spot long ago. Besides being incredibly straightforward (it's the kind of game you can explain in under a minute), it's the kind of goofy fun that's near-endlessly replayable.
Your aim is to build up the most points, but you don't do that in a mad scramble to the finish line as per usual. Instead, you've got to stick with the crowd. Each round, someone draws a card with a topic like "best sauce" or "best Disney film." You don't write down what you personally think, though. Instead, you have to put what you think the majority of players are going to write... and you score by going with the herd. That means knowing those around you or being observant is far more important than any amount of tactics. This is why my mother (who refuses to play the best family board games under any circumstances) will agree to join in with Herd Mentality.
Sure, this makes life harder for newcomers who don't know the group. But on the flipside, it's one hell of an icebreaker.
I adore Herd Mentality's quirky sense of humor, too. If you're the odd one out, you're lumbered with the squishy pink cow of doom (or the Pink Cow of Shame, as my family calls it). Meanwhile, the points you earn are represented by tokens with weirdo cartoon cows. These are stored in a 3D cow pen. It's completely unnecessary and very fun.
Basically, I'd highly recommend giving Herd Mentality a try if you're looking for a mass-appeal family board game this Christmas.
- Catan (2025 edition):
$54.99$29.99 at Amazon - Ticket to Ride (2025 edition):
$54.99$29.99 at Amazon
Looking for more recommendations? Don't miss the best 2-player board games or the best adult board games. It's worth checking in on the best card games, too.
