The geeky editors may not often delve into board games due to their longer setup and playtime compared to digital games, but we've discovered some updated entries for 2024. As we get ready for the fall and winter holidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, it's time to update our board game selections for 2024 with some truly unique options. These games provide both challenges and strategic depth, making them ideal for holiday game nights. You can also check out last year's list of the best board games we compiled.

First, we’ve included a board game based on popular video game franchises, along with other interesting options that deserve a place in your collection:

• Cyberpunk 2077: Gangs of Night City
• Mind MGMT
• Race to The Raft

Fans of computer games often have a positive opinion about board games, especially those that incorporate elements from video games, like events and character behavior. Cyberpunk 2077: Gangs of Night City is a tactical strategy game featuring detailed figures, inspired by the popular video game Cyberpunk 2077. Join the fight and take control of the city. In this neon-lit city, legends are born as battles for influence and resources unfold. Amidst tall buildings, thick smog, and the grip of criminal organizations, gangs determine the fate of the streets.

Cyberpunk 2077: Gangs of Night City board game transports players into the dynamic and treacherous world of Night City, reflecting the vivid universe of the Cyberpunk 2077 franchise. Conceived to capture the essence of futuristic street warfare, this board game invites players to engage in strategic battles and cunning maneuvers. Designed for 1 to 4 players, it offers an immersive experience for ages 14 and up, with gameplay sessions ranging from 90 to 120 minutes.

The game begins with players setting up the board based on the number of participants, preparing a central hub for intense gang rivalries. Tokens representing contraband, eurodollars, and corporate secrets are placed nearby, while players select their gang—be it netrunners, solos, or techies—and receive corresponding figures, markers, and action tokens. Each player has a unique set of gang members, including solos with pentagonal bases, techies with octagonal bases, and netrunners with square bases. Players aim to control districts, obtain resources, and enhance their reputation by recruiting gang members and outmaneuvering rivals. The game unfolds through turn-based actions where players can activate their gang members or recover resources, strategically planning their moves to accumulate 25 reputation points or fulfill the plot card’s victory conditions.

Cyberpunk 2077: Gangs of Night City provides a unique gaming experience with storylines and scenarios that change based on player decisions, ensuring each game feels new. Each gang has its own abilities and goals, adding strategic depth. The game includes extra tasks and bonus levels, which enhance replayability and allow players to try different strategies. You can recruit characters from Cyberpunk 2077, known as Edgerunners, who have special abilities that affect gameplay. Players have multiple paths to victory, encouraging creative strategies. The game box includes 46 figures, 12 color bases, 1 game board, 1 rulebook, 4 gang dashboards, 130 cards, 164 tokens, and 2 dice, providing everything needed for an engaging experience in Night City.

Additionally, you can download the rulebook PDF

Credits: The City Of Games

On Cat Island, a peaceful place is suddenly thrown into chaos by a spreading fire, leaving the last few residents—confused and scared little cats—behind. The fire is advancing quickly, and the paths back are blocked. The only chance for rescue is a raft on the opposite side of the island. You and your team need to carve a path through the flames to guide these cats to safety. But with each passing moment, time is running out and danger is getting closer. Help the trapped cats reach the raft in the game Race to The Raft, which is the last game on TheGeekyThings' seasonal festivities board games list.

Race to The Raft is a cooperative board game for 1 to 4 players aged 10 and up, with an average playtime of about 60 minutes. In this game, players must work together to rescue cats stranded on an island facing rapidly spreading fires. Its strategic depth and variety of scenarios make for an engaging experience each time you play.

Players start by selecting one of the 81 available scenarios, each with distinct challenges and layouts. These scenarios are part of various campaigns that provide unique setups and difficulty levels, allowing players to tailor their experience. The game begins with setting up the island using location cards that depict various terrain features, alongside placing the raft and initial fire tiles. Each player takes on a collaborative role, drawing from four separate decks of path cards to create pathways and guide the cats to safety. The primary objective is to manage time and resources efficiently, ensuring all cats reach the raft before the fire overtakes the island.

During gameplay, players draw cards each round and strategically use them to either lay down paths or move cats across the island. Each decision is crucial, as fire tiles are added each time a path is extended, simulating the growing threat of the encroaching blaze. While players can discuss strategies, communication is intentionally limited, adding to the challenge. Winning requires careful planning and teamwork to navigate the cats to the raft while avoiding the spreading fire and depleting resources.

Race to The Raft offers a dynamic gaming experience with its array of scenarios and campaigns, ensuring high replayability. The game introduces strategic complexity through disaster cards, prompting players to swiftly adapt their strategies. Each scenario presents unique objectives, providing fresh challenges and setting it apart from others in its genre. Inside the box, you'll find a campaign book, 31 fire tiles, 22 fire cards, 12 location cards, 4 raft cards, and 12 cat figures, along with 100 pathway cards, 4 large and 4 small island boards, 12 objective tokens, 3 water tokens, 2 meow tokens, 2 talk tokens, and 16 disaster cards.

Also, you can download the rulebook here

Wow, we've got an awesome mix here with a futuristic world from a video game franchise, a fan detective game, and social puzzles, so this list is truly diverse. These games stand out with their unique themes. Each title offers its own set of challenges and strategic depth—whether it’s navigating gang rivalries in Cyberpunk 2077, solving mysteries in Mind MGMT, or collaborating to rescue cats in Race to The Raft—all of them are unique for upcoming holiday nights, including Halloween. They’re perfect for family board game sessions, promising engaging stories and plenty of fun for everyone involved. With the holiday season on the way, these games are sure to add some thrilling stories and/or interesting gameplay to your collection.