Playing Games

This is one of those dates that plenty of people won't get past the title before saying, "Oh, sure..." and start flipping the pages. Until you explore some of the resources we list in this date, the chances are you won't know how many fun and engaging games there are these days—games with the potential to make for a truly fine date.

You can stick to the more traditional, family-rated board and card games like Clue, Monopoly, Bridge or Hearts, or you can take a walk on the wild side by trying adult games with names like Spanky Spanky, Bumps and Grinds, or Spin for Sin. There are other non-kid games with names like Grass, Sue For A Million and Galactic Takeover. There are even games like BS, where you compete with your date to see who is the best liar.

The fact is, every date can't be a wild night of clubbing or a romantic evening at a trendy restaurant. And once you discover some of truly entertaining games that are available, you might just be glad that you and your date gave them a try.

COST

Board games can be a little spendy, from $18.95 to $39.95 or more. But board games are reusable, and you can always trade with friends. Card games are much less expensive. Either way, be sure to allow a couple of weeks for the game to arrive if you order it. You'll also need to buy food and drinks, because all of that card flipping and dice rolling is sure to work up a mean appetite. If you are going for a game that leaves one of you with his or her clothes in a pile next to the couch, you might include a six pack or bottle of wine.

PREP TIME

In addition to finding the game or games you will be playing, you'll also need to shop for food and then there's the sometime not-soinsignifi cant task of cleaning up your place. This can take from one hour to an entire week... The games themselves will take from two to four hours.

WHERE TO FIND EXCEPTIONAL GAMES

For great games and puzzles for people of all ages, check out www.areyougame.com or (800) 471-0641. In addition to the usual board games, they have an array of dating/romance games ranging from Enchanted Evening to a card game called The Date Deck which is a break-the-ice game for couples who are just starting to date. There's also The Card Game for Lovers if you're past the early stages and willing to take more risks. In addition to games, this site has kits for doing magic tricks, although their magic kits aren't the kind that will magically cause your date to make mad, passionate love on the spot. You'll need to figure how to do that kind of magic all on your own.

For a fine group of games that are aimed for adults but don't have an overt sexual edge, go to Cabin Fever at www.cabinfever.org or (909)659-2169. Cabin Fever's games range "from mindless to mensa." They sell very cool card games that run the gamut from Canasta Caliente and Mille Bornes to Pit, Quiddler, Set and Flinch. They also sell award-winning brain teasers such as Lunar Lockout, Rush Hour, and Galactic Takeover. Or go for Dirty Minds, the world's cleanest dirty game, where seemingly filthy clues point toward the most innocent of answers. It's the kind of game where people with truly dirty minds simply can't win. Trust us, we know. For a game of naughty adventures for couples who think they've done it all, try Wildly Sexy Dares at www.innocentfun.com/. If you've been at it hot and heavy for a couple of months or years, Wildly Sexy Dares might be worth looking into. It requires you to take sex out of the bedroom, and even out of the house, and the games can go one for weeks or months.

Then again, maybe you'll want to play games like Grass, Subway Vigilante, Soap Opera or Sue For A Million. If that's the case, check out www.eurogamesny.com or (631) 473-3943. Grass is a cutthroat game that allows players to peddle cards that total $250,000 worth of "the devil weed." During the game, players get busted, fined, ripped-off, double-crossed and wiped out. Grass was selected in the Top 100 favorite games by Games Magazine for several years running. They tell us that Grass has also been used in classrooms to educate young people on the negative aspects of dealing pot. Sure. With the Subway Vigilante Game, you clearly take the law into your own hands. If you decide to play the Soap Opera Game, you will begin in a small Midwestern town and travel to The Big Apple with high hopes of obtaining stardom.

HOSTING YOUR OWN MURDER MYSTERY PARTY?

If you want to invite friends over and play a group game, there are special kits that allow you to have your own murder mystery party. Check them out at www.cabinfever.org or (909)659-2169.

SEX GAMES AND THEN SOME

This is a book on dating and some of you may have the silly notion that dating should occasionally lead to sex. If that's the case and you want to skip the romantic dinner or clever date ideas, why not cut to the chase and go straight to www.adultgamecompany.com? They have a rather robust selection of adult board and card games. Please be forewarned that the entry page to this site contains a rather diverse grouping of adult website banners, so go to www.adultgamecompany.com/page2.html if you want to skip all of that. Here's a sampling of what you can order:

Spin For Sin: "Have you been unhappy with adult games that promise more than they deliver? Are you looking for something that could bring a little spark of enjoyment and fun to your usual mixed gathering, whether for 2 or for 20?" Spin For Sin has even been specially approved by groups of swingers.

Strip & Hard Up: Strip is "much more than your basic ‘strip poker' game. Winning hand results can vary from amusing seduction scenarios (While you are straddling your partner's lap you will remove your bra using your partner's hands) to steamy seduction (While you are erotically caressing your partner, your partner will remove your underwear/panties using only teeth)." Hard Up takes over where Strip leaves off. If you are really old, you might consider getting their version of Strip Bingo.

Ecstasy II: "The path around the board is intended to create stimulation in both partners. It is a chance for each to learn more about what pleases the other. Most of all it is an opportunity to do things not usually done before as a regular part of foreplay."