The festivities are over, and you’re suffering from serious cabin fever. Sabrina Lee finds the retro and newcomer games to keep the post-holiday doldrums at bay 

Classics 
CLUEDO (1949, Parker Brothers) 
Some might know this popular classic as ‘Clue’, but by whichever name you’ve come to know it, Cluedo is the quintessential whodunit game. When CSI investigator Grissom was still playing with bugs at UCLA, it had already been weaving murder mysteries – and entertaining young and old the world over – for generations.
Plot Set in a mansion, six dinner guests find their host, Dr Black, murdered in cold blood – and everyone’s a suspect. But instead of state-of-the-art scientific and technical methods to solve the mystery, Cluedo calls on players to rely on good ol’ instinct and intuition. The game ends when one enlightened soul cracks the case. 
Catch phrase ‘Who murdered Dr Black?’ 
Tips from a player ‘If you’re cunning enough, you can ask for cards that you already hold in your hand,’ says Ivan Quek, assistant outlet manager at The Mind Café. ‘The other players will think the cards aren’t being held by anyone, thus fooled into thinking certain combinations are correct.’ 
Verdict Play if you’ve always wanted to be a detective but couldn’t be bothered with the paperwork. Where to play The Mind Café, 60A Prinsep St (6334 4426, www.themindcafe.com.sg) and Pitstop Café, 14B Circular Rd (6535 5383, www.pitstopcafe.blogspot.com). 
Where to buy $46.90, Toys ‘R’ Us #06-17/18, Paragon Shopping Centre (6836 4865). Go to www.toysrus.com.sg for full details. 

RISK (1957, Parker Brothers)
Before boardgamers became wide-eyed computer zombies with the rise of World of Warcraft, there was Risk. Both games require a player to conquer territories strategically and eliminate fellow competitors for land and resources. Risk rose to become the first commercially successful war game – there have also been Lord of the Rings and Star Wars versions of the game, and a yet-to be- released Transformers version as well. 
Plot As a player, you’re given a little army of your own to place on any part of the ‘world’ you wish to conquer. Combat starts with the roll of the dice; cards depict countries, infantry, cavalry and artillery symbols. Once a player collects three cards, he or she may trade them in for reinforcements. 
Catch phrase ‘World domination!’ 
Tips from a player ‘This is a game of “better of two”, meaning you should be fortifying your own territories or attacking someone else’s, should the opportunity arise,’ say Yap Yew Hing and Garret Yap, owners of De Coder’s Café. ‘Also, do not trade in your Risk cards early so that you can have a better trading rate.’ 
Verdict Perfect for those with the Messiah complex. 
Where to play De Coder’s Café, 271 Bukit Timah Rd (6235 2160, www.decoderscafe.com) and Pitstop Café. 
Where to buy $59.90-$79.90, Toys ‘R’ Us. 

THE UNIQUELY SINGAPORE SPECIAL EDITION MONOPOLY (1935, Hasbro/Parker Brothers) 
Monopoly went loco for local in 1987, featuring our city’s street names like Queen Astrid Park, Nassim, Havelock, Geylang and Ang Mo Kio. A newer version of the game was introduced in 2005. In collaboration with the Singapore Tourism Board, the new board includes tourist sights like the Esplanade-Theatres on the Bay, Singapore Botanic Gardens and Boat Quay. 
Plot You’re given legal tender to invest in property and build houses. The idea is to make as much paper money from your opponent as possible. However, much like real life, not everything’s under your control. A roll of the dice might just land you a night in jail. 
Catch phrase ‘Pass Go and collect $200’ 
Tips from a player ‘Try to purchase as many places as possible – nothing beats collecting rent,’ says Bernard Sim, owner of HideOut Café. 
Verdict For those who aspire to own property in the Orchard and CBD area, but don’t have real moolah to buy it with. 
Where to play HideOut Café, #01-45, Blk 84 Bedok North St 4 (6242 2426, www.hideoutcafe.wordpress.com) and Pitstop Café . 
Where to buy $46.90, Toys ‘R’ Us. 

Neo-classics 
SETTLERS OF CATAN (1995, Kosmos/Mayfair Games) 
Settlers of Catan has gone through multiple editions but was originally published by Kosmos. It won the 1995 Spiel des Jahres, Germany’s Family Game of the Year award, and is considered by many to be the game to revive the industry. It has several spin-offs, including Seafarers of Catan, and Cities and Knights of Catan. 
Plot Players try to dominate the island by building settlements, cities and roads. The game starts with each person rolling the dice to determine the size of their population. From there, players will have to collect raw materials to build up their civilisations and earn victory points. 
Catch phrase ‘You wanna trade resource cards?’ 
Tips from a player ‘Negotiating wisely and having an accurate assessment of the values of the various goods will help you win the game. You must trade wisely, aggressively and decisively,’ says Javen Tee Yin Leong, operations manager of Settler’s Café Central. 
Verdict For those who were nomads in a previous life, this is a great escape from the trappings of the city and its skyscrapers. 
Where to play Settler’s Café Central, 39 North Canal Rd (6535 0435, sg.settlerscafe.com) and Pitstop Café. 
Where to buy $71.50, The Mind Café; $69.80, Paradigm Infinitum Orchard, #03-01 Midpoint Orchard, 220 Orchard Rd (6734 3858, www.pi.com.sg).  

TICKET TO RIDE: SWITZERLAND (2004, Days of Wonder) 
Created by Alan R Moon, Ticket To Ride was just one prototype in a bag of games when its creator took it to the World Boardgame Championship in Hunt Valley, Maryland. It has since won the 2004 Spiel des Jahres (which can be considered ‘the Oscars of board games’). Just a nomination would usually guarantee an increase in sales.
Plot Players have to build railroad tracks across countries while disrupting the plans of others. At the start of the game, each player is given goal cards, which will determine which cities you’re to connect. If you complete the path successfully, you receive points. The player with the most points wins. 
Catch phrase ‘Let’s link it up!’ 
Tips from a player ‘Collect as many train cards as possible, then try to link up stations according to your ticket card to gain as many points as possible,’ says Sim of HideOut Café. 
Where to play HideOut Café and The Mind Café. 
Where to buy $44.80, Paradigm Infinitum Orchard. 

THE THIEF OF BAGHDAD (2006, Rio Grande Games) 
Recently nominated for the 2007 Spiel des Jahres, The Thief of Baghdad can be enjoyed by the younger age group of eight and up. It also serves as a great two-player game and is relatively easy to learn. Plot You are part of a group of thieves trying to gain loot and booty (not of the Beyoncé variety – it’s a PG game, people). The palaces of Baghdad are heavily guarded, and you and your group of light-fingered compadres have to outplay and outsmart the beerbellied guards. 
Catch phrase ‘The treasure is mine! Haha!’ 
Tips from a player ‘Some players win by sabotaging other players via moving their guards around in circles. It is difficult to conclude one fixed way of winning, since you can either focus on claiming your own points or by sabotaging others [or a mix of both]. Choice of card usage is critical,’ say the Yaps, of De Coder’s Café. 
Verdict For kleptomaniacs who love a sense of adventure and exoticism. 
Where to play De Coder’s Café, The Mind Café and Pitstop Café. 
Where to buy $70, Paradigm Infinitum Orchard.