Board games may have waned in popularity in recent years, but you can guarantee almost every house in the country has a copy of Monopoly or Connect 4 stored somewhere in the attic.

There's been so many board games down through the years, but which are the best? Risk or Battleship? Guess Who or Cluedo? Here's our ranking of the best of the best.

 

10. TRIVIAL PURSUIT

Very much a grown-ups game, Trivial Pursuit had archaic rules that involved understanding the rules of space-time and something that looked like a packet of Dairlyea Cheese. Of course, the trick was to memorise all the answers and ruin the game for just about everyone.

 

9. MOUSE TRAP

Mouse Trap was one of those boardgames that took at least an hour to set up and about ten, maybe fifteen minutes to play. Usually played on the Christmas morning you got it and then consigned to the attic next to your Mam's wedding dress and the broken telly.

 

8. CLUE

Also known as Cluedo, this murder-mystery game had a complex set of rules. Most likely the first you encountered a Vicar and, sure enough, they were implicated in a murder.

 

7. GUESS WHO?

Does he have red hair? --No. *click-click-click* --Does his name start with a T? --YOU CAN'T ASK THAT, IT'S ONLY WHAT'S ON THEIR FACE.

 

6. DISCOVERING IRELAND

A distinctly Irish boardgame, Discovering Ireland saw you traverse the island. Probably developed by Geography teachers to be deployed whenever they wanted to read the Irish Press / Times / needed to sleep because of a hangover.

 

5. MONOPOLY

Undoubtedly responsible for more fist-fights amongst siblings, Monopoly was an awful / amazing game. You literally had to bankrupt your other players and short the housing market in Dublin. Your Da probably made umpteen jokes about being mugged in any one of the streets and having all your money taken.

 

4. CONNECT FOUR

More strategic than Chess, Connect Four was what sharpened the minds of Irish children for many years. Now usually found in hipster pubs and played half-cut after a Jenga block fell into your fifth pint.

 

3. BATTLESHIP

B5. --Miss. I KNOW YOU'RE CHEATING STOP LYING MAM HE'S CHEATING AGAIN --A2. 

 

 

2. RISK

A single game of Risk could potentially last for days, even weeks. Nobody was really sure of the rules, other than the fact that everyone had to start with the same amount of Cannons / Cavalry. That part was hugely important. Plus, as well, the giant board itself required you to clear off the kitchen table. You had to commit to Risk if you wanted to play it.

 

1. BUCKAROO

The sport of Kings, Buckaroo balanced strategy, finesse and the ability to put a small cowboy hat on a spring-loaded horse. A slight miscalculation in pressure could result in unceremonious defeat. A successful land ensured glory for the ages. A true test of mettle and character.