Christmas! It’s that magical time of year when families gather, feasting ensues, and the age-old tradition of arguing, sorry competitive board gaming comes out to play. Forget the silent night; it’s all about the strategic fight to find the jolly old man in red. Yes, we’re talking about the game that’s been sleighing the holiday season: Seeking Santa.
Picture this: the fireplace is crackling (or just the image of one on the television screen), the tree is twinkling, and there’s a faint smell of gingerbread in the air. It’s Christmas, and after the feast has been devoured, it’s time to clear the table – not for dessert, oh no – but for the real treat, the board game extravaganza. And what better way to bond, or lovingly bicker, than over a festive game of Seeking Santa? Ho-Ho-Ho!
Seeking Santa is a fun and competitive Christmas-themed board game where players race to meet the big man himself. It is a game for 2 players, age 5+, and has a playing time of around 30 minutes. Every move could lead you to the jolly man in red himself.
In the box:
- Game Board
- 32 Christmas Forest Cards
- 29 Snowman Pawn Pieces (11 Red, 11 Blue, 2 Black, 2 Green and 3 Transparent/White)
- 1 Santa Piece
- Rules / Instructions Booklet
Seeking Santa is a board game, a festive face-off, that is designed for two players, offering a fun, intimate and intense gaming experience. It’s the perfect opportunity to bond with a sibling, challenge a parent, or determine once and for all who among you is the true seeker of Santa. And let’s not forget the sheer joy of claiming bragging rights at the Christmas dinner table. But it’s not just about racing to the finish, being the first to reach Santa in the centre of the game board; it’s about outsmarting your opponent with a mix of skill, planning, and a little bit of Christmas magic.
The beauty of Seeking Santa lies in its dual gameplay. For the thinkers and planners, the strategic path beckons, where every choice is a calculated step towards victory. For those who prefer a twist of fate, the randomised elements bring surprises at every turn, ensuring that no two games are ever the same. It’s like choosing between roasting chestnuts and whipping up a batch of eggnog – both are quintessentially Christmas, but oh, so different!
There are two ways to play Seeking Santa, you’ve got two paths to victory:
- Twist Game: this version lets you use magical Christmas items that you find in the forest to aid you in your battle to meet Santa. More suited towards younger players.
- Strategy Game: Players will need to focus on using skills, strategy and cunning planning all without the aid of magic items.
The aim of both games is to try and get 2 of your snowmen pieces to Santa is the centre of the board.
Setting up to play is easier that spotting a bright red nose on a reindeer. Place the game board in the centre of the table and place Santa in the centre square. Each player takes their army of snowmen pawns (red or blue) along with their 2 Grand Snowmen pieces (black for the blue player, green for the red player), these are placed on the ends of the board for each player. The cards are shuffled and placed near the board and the 3 transparent (called White in the instructions) snowmen are placed near the cards.
Playing is also simple. The red and blue normal snowmen can move one space (left, right, up or down), while the Grand Snowmen move the same way as normal snowmen but once (and once only) in the game they can take unlimited steps (after using this special move they need to be swapped out for a red or blue normal snowman as their powers are then gone). On the board there is a series of footprints in the snow, these are shortcuts to another space – land on one on these to be transported further up the board and closer towards Santa. Land on a space occupied by your opponent’s snowman and you can capture their piece and remove it from the board. Take a Forest Card to gain helpful magical items (or not) to aid you in your quest.
On each players turn they can move a normal snowman, a Grand Snowman or if playing the Twist version can pick up a Forest Card to try and find magical items and follow the instructions on the card. The Strategy Game is played the same as Twist, just without the Forest Cards and magical items to aid you.
Players must get two of their snowmen into the same square as Santa without being captured.
Overall, Seeking Santa is a game of wit, luck, and festive fun, perfect for those cosy nights in with a family member or a friend.
So, if you’re looking for a festive frolic that will have you and your kin laughing all the way (ho ho ho), Seeking Santa is your ticket to a holly jolly good time. Just remember, when it comes to Seeking Santa, it’s not just about the winning – it’s about the glorious, giggly, game-playing journey. And maybe, just maybe, it’s also about proving you’re the ultimate Santa seeker in the family.
It is a fun game of strategic planning, decision making and forward thinking. It is a simpler version of classic strategy games such as Chess or Draughts with a bit of Christmas jolly thrown in. And it comes in a travel sized box so is perfect to take with you when visiting relatives over the festive season.
A fun Christmas-themed strategy game that will appeal to children as they race to the Santa figure in the centre of the board.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £12.99 (currently £8 on Amazon)
For more information, visit www.xmasboardgames.com. Available to buy from Amazon here.
