It's less than 2 weeks away from Christmas and you're looking for the perfect gift to fulfill the Christmas list item that reads "board games". At Black Dragon, we know exactly what you're thinking: "Boy, that's specific!". With thousands of games to choose from, how do you pick?
Who are you shopping for?
Picking the perfect game starts with a few factors, one of the easiest ones to answer is: What kind of gamer are you shopping for? Do they not have an active group of friends to play with or maybe just prefer to play alone? Then you're shopping for a Solo Gamer.
Solo Gamer Gifts
$10-$50: Final Girl: Happy Trails Starter Set
Final Girl has been a solo favorite for several of our patrons. The game is based on the "final girl" horror movie trope, putting the player in the role of a female protagonist who has to kill the slasher if she wants to survive. This starter set includes the Final Girl Core Box & the "Camp Happy Trails" feature film box and will set up your giftee with a new board gaming obsession. After they have completed the included expansion, several more expansions can be found to continue the thrill.
$50-$100: Wyrmspan
Many board gamers are familiar with Stonemaier Games' "Wingspan", but have you heard of Wyrmspan? This game offers a little more complexity with similar features to Wingspan. In Wyrmspan, you are excavating caves, then enticing dragons to come live in them. Some of these dragons may give you different rewards for playing them, where others might give you abilities when you go exploring in their caves. In solo mode, you play against the "automa" part of the game and try to beat its score. This game can also be played by up to 5 players, so whether your giftee is on their own or with a friend group, they can enjoy this beautifully crafted game.
$100+ Etherfields
Etherfields is a story-driven game that can accommodate 1-5 players. You'll start by exploring the Dreamworld - finding clues to what it is and who you are by restoring memories from scattered pieces. As the game goes on, rules will change and evolve and you'll be challenged by escape-room like riddles and tactical encounters. This game also features beautiful miniatures that make the game more immersive for any gamer.
If solo games just aren't the vibe, maybe a gift that can be played at your family Christmas is the way to go. If you're looking for a game that can be learned fairly easily and played in less than an hour - you're might want a Family Game.
Family Game Gifts
$10-$50: Duck & Cover
Duck & Cover is a quick and simple card game that will leave your family Quacking for more. This game can be played by 1-7 people ages 8 and up and taught in less than 5 minutes. If you're curious about how to play, check out our video. As each round can be played quickly, this game takes about 15-20 minutes to play.
$50-$100: Finspan
At 45-60 minutes, Finspan is an easy game to bring to the table after Christmas dinner and suits ages 10 and up. Also brought to you by Stonemaier Games, like Wyrmspan & Wingspan, this game is lighter but has similar game features to Wingspan. Players will collect fish, discover eggs, and hatch eggs to form schools. Each beautifully illustrated card includes a fish, a fact about the fish, and different abilities and point levels.
$100+ Quacks: All-In Edition
This 45-minute game for 2-5 players can be played by family members as young as 10. In Quacks, you're playing the role of a quack doctor who is brewing a potion, one ingredient at a time. This bag building game features a colorful and fun design, with improved acrylic tokens that surpass the previous editions cardboard tokens. Quacks is sure to be an instant hit for any family!
Maybe you're shopping for a friend that plays board games all the time. The gamer that has everything and enjoys a bit of complexity. If that's the case, you're shopping for an Experienced Gamer. 
Experienced Board Gamer
$10-$50: Ink
In Ink, 1-4 players work to place tiles to form harmonious patterns. This game has simple mechanics that can be learned quickly, but 225 bonus actions that add challenge to the game. Ink features beautiful components, including vibrant ink bottles and colorful tiles that will leave your favorite board gamer satisfied with their work. Ink has a play time of approximately 45 minutes.
$50-$100: Arcs
Arcs is a "space opera" game where 1-7 players represent officials from a decaying and neglectful empire. Players vie for dominance through battle, gathering resources, and diplomatic acts. This game features many mechanics that will thrill your experienced board gamer friend into playing it over and over again. Arcs takes approximately 2 hours to play.
$100+ Andromedas Edge
In Andromeda's Edge, 2-4 players lead a faction seeking to build a new civilization on Andromeda's Edge. You will work to gather resources and populate your planets while also battling opponents and competing with others to rise on progress tracks. This game offers a unique set of challenges for your board gaming friends and takes approximately 2-3 hours to play.
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