Electronics Overload

minskat30 · July 2013

H and I are spending wayyyy to much time in front of TVs/computers/electronic gadgets when we get home from work at night. We are planning a game-night one night a week without electronics on and a night where we cook in candle light only, then eat without any electronics on. Any other date-night activities that are home-based and not too expensive? Also, any board game suggestions for two people?

H's first language isn't English so Scrabble/word games might be a little harder and I'm not a fan of chess/card games. We are going to try Clue tonight but I have a feeling it will be way too easy with only two people. Suggestions?

radleyboo · July 2013

H and I have cracked a bottle of wine and spent snowy/rainy Saturday afternoons doing a huge puzzle or even (dork alert) Star Wars related Legos. We actually intend to invest in and complete the Death Star someday, and I cannot wait. Sounds silly, but it's so relaxing and we both love Star Wars, so win for us. Our conversation flows along with the wine and we usually end up in bed for sexytime.

As for other games, how about Jenga or Pictionary?

AprilH81 · July 2013

How about just date night away from the house? Go on a walk, have a picnic, go to the zoo... All of those things can be done with minimal electronic involvement. Does your area have any free museums?

KeptInStitches · July 2013

BF and I play Monopoly when we want to shut off the electronics. However, keep in mind that for the two of us ... there's no such thing as electronics overload as far as we're concerned. Pretty much electronics overload only comes in when he checks his phone during dinner, but I've cured him of that. (By being an insufferable nag for 4-5 months. I don't recommend it.)

buddysmom80 · July 2013

I understand the whole elctronic overload thing. In the winter it's hard, since there is NOTHING to do around here. Now that it's summertime we're getting better. We'll go for a walk with the dog. On Tuesdays our town green has concerts so we usually bring a bottle of wine (for me) and some lawn chairs and check that out. We hang out in the pool or sit around the firepit. We're going to do some camping too this summer which will help "unplug" for a while.

We play Yahtzee, Uno, Monopoly, Connect 4, Pass the Pig (or something like that). We stocked up on a ton of 2-player games before Hurricane Sandy. Best investment EVER.

Peaseblossom55 · July 2013

I love puzzles! our cats are assholes and would probably ruin it although we have enough space now to do one in a room without cats

FI & I love the game Dominion it's a deck building game. We also like rumikub and Thunderstone.

Swazzle · July 2013

I vote for Yahtzee, Uno, Parcheesi, Life, and Monopoly.

Or there's always sex.

leia1979 · July 2013

To give you an idea of the kind of people we are, H added "with or without Internet" to our wedding vows. We often watch TV while on our separate laptops.

We used to play Rockband together a lot. Yeah, it's still electronics, but we were doing something together. H's family also plays Canasta. He tried to teach me. It's a freaking complicated card game. I bring Uno when we go camping.

bethsmiles · July 2013

I love boardgames! BF and I just bought Axis and Allies and love it! It's a bit intense and time consuming for just a relaxing date night though.

Life is one of my favorites. I also have a game called Pandemic that is really fun. It's a cooperative game, as in either you both win or you both lose. It's a good time. Sorry is another good game that's pretty simple and fun.

And Clue won't really work with two people.

minskat30 · July 2013

Thank you, I love the board game and other suggestions. I'm going to pick up some games at the Target tonight!

minskat30 · July 2013

Swazzle said:

I vote for Yahtzee, Uno, Parcheesi, Life, and Monopoly.

Or there's always sex.

Ha! I suggest that one all the time.

minskat30 · July 2013

bethsmiles said:

I love boardgames! BF and I just bought Axis and Allies and love it! It's a bit intense and time consuming for just a relaxing date night though.

Life is one of my favorites. I also have a game called Pandemic that is really fun. It's a cooperative game, as in either you both win or you both lose. It's a good time. Sorry is another good game that's pretty simple and fun.

And Clue won't really work with two people.

I love Life. I never heard of Pandemic but will look it up. I don't think Clue will work with two people either but its all we have in the house. Going to head to Target tonight to remedy that with all these great suggestions for games.

minskat30 · July 2013

AprilH81 said:

How about just date night away from the house? Go on a walk, have a picnic, go to the zoo... All of those things can be done with minimal electronic involvement. Does your area have any free museums?

We do go on walks at night with the dog. I think we are just getting into a routine of work till 6-6:30 (or later), home...I cook while he is on the computer, I watch TV while he finishes up on the computer, eat at 9 in front of TV, watch some more TV, bed.

We do have some free museum days in Chicago...a good suggestion as well.

minskat30 · July 2013

radleyboo said:

H and I have cracked a bottle of wine and spent snowy/rainy Saturday afternoons doing a huge puzzle or even (dork alert) Star Wars related Legos. We actually intend to invest in and complete the Death Star someday, and I cannot wait. Sounds silly, but it's so relaxing and we both love Star Wars, so win for us. Our conversation flows along with the wine and we usually end up in bed for sexytime.

As for other games, how about Jenga or Pictionary?

I've never gotten into Star Wars but H might like it and I'd certainly give it a try (not opposed to it, just never really paid much attention to it). I suck at drawing and H sucks even worse so Pictionary might actually be a riot!

minskat30 · July 2013

Peaseblossom55 said:

I love puzzles! our cats are assholes and would probably ruin it although we have enough space now to do one in a room without cats

FI & I love the game Dominion it's a deck building game. We also like rumikub and Thunderstone.

I hear you about the pets and puzzles. One swipe of my big dog's tail (and he's tall enough that he can swipe our kitchen table with his tail) and the puzzle would be lost. I'll check out these other games though, thank you.

Swazzle · July 2013

Oh also Mancala is pretty fun. It's easy to learn and you can only play with 2 people.

Blue & White · July 2013

We play Sequence a lot. It's pretty fun - kinda like bingo but a bit more high stakes. It works fine with 2 people but can also be played with groups of like..8 people? Monopoly is also pretty popular in our house.

I personally love Scrabble, but FI doesn't like spelling so we don't play it much

Oh! And we play phase 10 a bunch.

I stink at Pass the Pig lol.

KeptInStitches · July 2013

Blue, you play Sequence, too? BF's family is obsessed with Sequence, they have Sequence tournaments at every holiday. I've told them I'll take it up if they take up pinochle or Set. No takers so far.

500days · July 2013

BF and I have lots of trivia games. We love playing Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader? and Trivial Pursuit. Or just bust out the Twister and take @swazzle's suggestion.

minskat30 · July 2013

I've never heard of Sequence. I'll look it up. Trivial Pursuit games would be fun but I'm not sure if H would be at a disadvantage (he didn't come to the U.S. from India until he was older). Twister though....love it!

500days · July 2013

@minskat30 they have versions of Trivial Pursuit (90's, 2000s Pop Culture, Disney, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, etc.) I'm nerdy and also enjoy a game called "Where in the World?". It's a geography game for all ages.

Electronics Overload

Re: Electronics Overload

Choose Another Board

Search Boards